Iorrjaer

Chapter 33

The black and evil shadow that surrounded Kârael engulfed him entirely. To those outside of his immediate purview, now saw only black mist that closed in around him like a great shadowy hand or monstrous maw. Inside the shadowy nothing, Kârael was bombarded by an endless void that bore him neither standing upright or upside down, neither sitting nor standing. It was like he was inside his closed eyes and thus stretched the empty abyss. No light nor sound; nothing existed inside or outside. He was completely and utterly alone in the great empty expanse.

Even though he was lost in a place that was neither his mind nor physical space, his mind was still, clear, and calm. No thoughts of panic penetrated his interior, instead he found himself aware and unafraid of the despair that would have most likely have taken anyone else into unending madness. He felt his body, uninjured – so he had not been physically bitten nor swallowed by a tangible being. He was aware of his physical self and its place inside the emptiness that sought to claim him. With this reasoning, he kept his breath steady and his nerves loose without losing his guard completely. He brought his legs up and crossed them so if he was to be sitting, he would be in a relaxed position. One familiar to him and one that kept him centered.

In the nothing there was a growl. To his elven ears it was distinct, but had it been someone else inside this expanse, surely the pitch of the distant growl would have been madness inducing. The growl seemed angry, as if denied its insatiable desire for anguish and panic. The growl was changing its pitch, trying to find the one that brought its prey the greatest feeling of dread or whatever was needed to break the steel will that kept him defiant.

Kârael betrayed nothing to the void, trying as it might to frighten him into submission, to break his will and give it the despair that it wanted.

The creature was cunning and did not allow its prey this power for long. For Kârael was still mortal and it was a being called from the shallow yet darkest parts of the Infernal Abyss - for its abysmal hunger for despair. Powered by celestial purpose this creature defied its origins for the promise to taste mortal flesh once again and thus live on the physical plane. If growling would not work to break this prey's will, then it would have to approach with greater aggression.

It roared and it was loud and terrible. It shook Kârael's very core and still he held his eyes closed but the immense roar was like a great cavern of endless noise. As endless as the vast void that he found himself ensnared, the roar pierced his mind, breaking the defiance of his ears.

Kârael snapped awake, finding himself strewn prone on the leafy ground of his homeland woods. He scrambled to get up, to rid himself of the thoughts of his home, for surely the being that gave the creature that ensnared him its power, would use this knowledge to harm his kin. The imagery of the trees was so vivid that it was exceedingly difficult for him to not fall for the illusion but since his cognition was capital and his mental fortitude incomparable, he knew that it was impossible for him to be where his foe wanted him to believe that he was. He turned his surroundings into an expanse of unending trees. Row upon row of poplar and fir trees filled the expanse and he felt the roar of his adversary in his soul.

This battle of wits was, however, taking its toll. He knew that what reserve of mental fortitude he was drawing from was quickly draining and he had no way to judge the state of his opponent. Was it weakened, as well? Or were his attempts all in vain? Regardless, he was not one to give up. He would see this through, to either his release or to his mental collapse. The key was to remember the most fundamental part of his training, control over his breath. It's what made him an untouchable archer, it's what kept his mind calm and clear. As long as he could keep his breath, his mind would never falter.

The trees were in uniform rows, perfectly trimmed and pruned. Any way he turned, the rows extended into infinity, and he felt a slight breeze moving through, as if it itself was lost. He heard its roar, not as it had been, not the soul rending, rage filled thundering roar that had nearly torn his soul in twain, no, this time it was lost, and the mournful roar sounded like nothing more than the pitiful mewl of an enormous predator that had lost its prey.