Moon's Heart - Wayward Ties

Chapter 1

"Awake."

His heart thumped like a thunderclap.
Who said that? Alexx thought. His eyes were shut from exhaustion and ears rang from indistinct noises. Efforts to recall how he wound up here -wherever 'here' was- only produced shattered memories. A map in a bottle, an old maze, glowing cage, symbols, creatures, portals, and darkness. Alexx wished he knew how long it'd been since he passed out. Thinking back, it was midday at the time the door to the Labyrinth closed behind him.
Previously muffled noises were coming in clearer. From all around, fire cracked from fresh wood, animals screeched and far off people screamed as if in terror. The stench of smoke muddled the air, a dense moisture helped him remember he was still on an island off the eastern coast.
I can't move my body, am I in shock?
Alexx could only feel a numb sensation, as if having sleep paralysis. He was familiar with the feeling, so he knew to keep calm, and wait for it to pass. No pleasant sounds filled his ears, so a dark, blissful ignorance seemed better at the moment. Perhaps if he played dead for a little while longer, whatever was out there would pass.
Time inched forward and the noises of the unknown never vanished, save the screams of people.
Alexx still couldn't move, but he had all but pieced everything back in his memory. A monster's den had just opened, its occupant mysteriously vanquished. In a race to get there before the other pirates, he won. It was meant to be a trap set up by the Crusaders, but Alexx met a mysterious old man that gave him raggedy maps in a bottle. The maze layout for the Labyrinth would mean Alexx will be the only person to explore one of the only secrets left on Rediew. It was finally his chance to shine.

But now he lay paralyzed on the Labyrinth's ruins, realizing those creatures are his doing. The deepest part was nothing but a seal, holding back a geyser of Kagdral. A horde of evil unleashed on an island now marked another failure in his journey.
Nine years, and nothing to show for it. He thought to himself,  I s'ppose I'll just move on, but...
Though afraid to open his eyes, curiosity urged him to find out where he was and how close to death.
"I know that you have awakened." A voice said, "Rise, sea thief."
He quickly understood; he was already dead.
Alexx recognized that archaic, deep voice; the man being from the cage.
"I thought for a moment you had given up on living. Hearken to me now, vessel; your master needs you."
Master? Alexx attempted to open his eyes. Surprisingly, it took no effort. Nothing but a dark night, fire and smoke billowing from all directions.
A black, unnatural plume transformed the sky. Flying, snake-like creatures circled under the clouds, shrilling and scouring for food. To his right was the man, sitting upon a crude, throne-like pile of stones inches from the edge of a giant hole behind him. His long hair was blood red, and his skin darkened to a grayish hue. He wore a pair of ragged britches, but his thin, weathered arms were spread wide in a gesture of welcome. An air of kingship was about him, from the tone of his voice to the aristocratic look in his eyes. He sat erect, back straight and head high.
Questions stirred in Alexx's head, but no pleasant or sensible answer followed. Questions pondering if his crew managed to survive, or barter yet, his boat. Yet one question above all could not be overshadowed.
Who is this guy?
All of these thoughts disappeared as a new sensation emerged. The feeling was returning to his body. Moving became pointless as the only sensation he felt was pain. The cold embrace of stone and warmth from the flames gradually embraced him. Sensations of pressure swarmed all over his body, altering into severe pain. Alexx glanced toward the ground and noticed blood -his blood- on the stones, in a pool. With fear feeding his energy, he forced his head up to see his body covered in bite marks, gashes from claws, bruises, and seeping wounds. The agony intensified, and his voice failed him.
"Yes, you're in an injured state. The Kagral were without mercy on your body." Alexx heard the man say.
His breathing grew heavier, his mind frantically reeling. He wanted to scream, cover his injuries, hold the blood in, call for help, something, but it seemed the only realistic idea was a slow, asinine death. He tried lifting his arm, but it popped. The torment was enough to push Alexx to cry out. He continued to groan as his arms fell atop him for comfort. That failed to help, but it was all he could do, besides gasping for air.
"Worry not. You will live, seafarer," the dark master said calmly, offering no immediate help, "Your body will regenerate in time. Now you must pay attention, for I have important things for you to hear."
Alexx gritted his teeth and groaned again. The pool of blood in his mouth tipped over his teeth. Moving his head, he looked towards this strange man. After all, he was the only hope for staying alive in the moment. "H-help... me!"
"I am Senkazital. There has been a great plan in the works for years to bring my return back to Rediew. It was no coincidence that you were given a map in a bottle. You, a treasure-seeker who could not resist, became the most pivotal part in my freedom. My assistant, Ze'elle, has watched you, and considered you the best for this task among all others."
"What?" Alexx gurgled.
"I know what it is you seek, and I can find it with you. In return, you will help me become a god."
Alexx screamed out again. The pain was too intense. Senkazital removed a ring from his index finger and let it splash in the blood next to Alexx's face.
"That ring is imbued with Energy, and upon wearing it, you shall recover. However, it will not protect you from the Kai, and they will most likely seek to devour you."
The pirate stared at the jewelry and remembered the old man, Ze'elle, holding them in his hands as Senkazital collapsed from the cage.
"I can't use Energy," he coughed.
"You need only put it on. The ring's purpose is to bestow healing powers unto the wearer."
Alexx reached for the ring, wincing in pain. Once he worked his finger into it, an overwhelming force flowed through his body. A blue, wispy shroud enveloped his cuts and bruises, and any open tears tingled and fizzled. He was not sure how it worked, but the pain lessened. His bones mended at an unnatural rate.