Pyre | MxB

Chapter 2 | Summit

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Aster's eyelids felt like leaden weights, refusing to open as he partially regained consciousness. He struggled and strained, croakily groaning in frustration at his body's refusal to cooperate. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his eyes cracked open to reveal a world of blurred shapes and distorted shadows. He attempted to focus and adjust to the dim lighting, it being evident that it was well into the evening. The shifting darkness surrounding him heightened his confusion, finding it difficult to discern reality from hallucinations formed by his mind. He closed his eyes tightly again and took a few deep, shuttering breaths before mustering up the courage to open them up once more.

He attempted to raise his head, only to find that it was just as heavy and unwilling to obey as his eyelids had been. His cheek was pressed against cold, rough stone, making it impossible for him to look around without sitting up first. Fear welled within his empty stomach as he realized he was unable to move to do so.

Adrenaline heightened his senses, the area around him seeming to tilt and sway as his delusions grew more intense. His thoughts felt detached and surreal, like he was caught in the thrones of a feverish dream. The moving shadows caught his attention again, appearing to contort in strange and unsettling ways. What seemed to intrigue him even more however was the distinct scent of campfire smoke. It was a familiar smell, yet there was something subtly different about it this time— it felt closer, more intense.

Aster let out a choked cry of relief, realizing that the shifting shadowy figures were illusions created by the erratic movements of a fire. The panic that had gripped him was able to dissipate slightly, replaced instead with a rush of gratitude that the creatures his mind was conjuring up was nothing more than tricks played by the dancing flames.

Aster drew strength from his relief and manage to force himself into a sitting position. His back was stiff and sore from being pressed against stone for what must've been a long period of time. His body was still battered and weary from his previous ordeal, but at least now he was able to survey his surroundings.

Aster winced, glancing down to find rope still attached to one of his forearms. The runic symbols burned into the cord prevented him from shifting, and that was painful in and of itself. It was digging into his skin, the rough fibres abrasive against his already blistered wrist. He took a moment to further assess himself, discovering that his clothing was far more tattered than it had been before. He could feel a stinging sensation on his throat, and as his reached up to touch it he felt a shallow but painful cut running across its surface.

Memories of the creature that had lunged at him flashed through his mind. The image of those sharp tallons reaching for him, the panicked blur of movement, and then the abrupt blackout that followed came flooding back. He shuttered, the question of how he had survived the attack lingering in his mind. The realization that he was even alive at all seemed almost surreal.

Aster snapped back to the present as he realized he was no longer lying on the familiar soil of his village's alter, but rather a rocky outcropping. His eyes widened in shock as he observed his surroundings more throughly, taking in the rugged terrain and the stark slope of the mountain beneath where he sat. The eternal flame flickered nearby, its glow still casting an eerie light over the desolate landscape. He also took note of the cold, crisp air, colder than anything he had ever experienced before.

He wasn't just on the mountain... he was at its summit.

Aster remained seated, feeling completely at a loss. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do or where he was supposed to go now that he knew he was at the mountain's summit. He wasn't necessarily scared, but he was keenly aware of his helplessness in this situation. He was grappling with the sense of isolation that had begun to creep in on him.

As Aster looked down the mountain, his gaze fell upon a breathtaking sight— The moon hung low in the sky, its silvery light casting the world below in a pale, ethereal glow. In the distance he could see the faint flickering of lights in his village, tiny stars against the darkness of the tree line. The sight of his home so small from his perch sent a pang of insignificance through him. His presence seemed almost inconsequential against the backdrop of the massive mountain and the tiny lights of his village far below. It was a humbling realization, one that served to make he feel even more alone. He shivered, hugging his knees to his chest as he huddled closer to the eternal flame.

Aster was pulled from his ruminations as a faint whirring or humming noise began emanating from within the mouth of the mountain. He glanced behind himself wearily and gazed at the ominous opening, the sound drawing him in like a moth to a flame. Despite his lingering feeling of uncertainty, he found himself compelled to investigate, as if the noise was a quiet invention to enter the dark cavern.

Aster was already standing before he could think twice. He thought back to the legends and tales he had been told his whole life about the deity that called this very mountain home. Despite the trepidation he felt, he knew that confronting the god would be the only chance he got to salvage the fate of his village. With a deep, shaky breath he cautiously stepped towards the cave's opening.

Aster hissed in pain as he trudged into the cave, sharp rocks piercing into the delicate soles of his bare feet. He was hardly even a few steps into the opening when he began to shiver violently, the cold seeming to be even more intense in the enclosed space. His breath was visible, little puffs of fog leaving his quivering, blue lips. He hugged his arms to his chest, the rope that still hung from him now tapping his knees with each step. Annoyed, he attempted to untie the cord from his wrist as he walked, repeatedly tripping over his own feet in his distracted state. After many unsuccessful attempts to slip his finger between the knot, Aster gave up with an exasperated huff.

To his surprise, Aster found himself facing the end of the cave far sooner than he had expected. The narrow passage ended abruptly in front of a smooth, reflective wall that appeared to shimmer and ripple like liquid mercury. In the dim light Aster could just barely make out his form, however it was slightly distorted similar to how water would reflect an image. He stared back into his weary, sunken in eyes. He was almost repulsed by his haggard appearance— his clothes torn and dirtied, his throat stained with dried blood, and his blue eyes lacking their usual spark of life. He hardly recognized himself.

He observed himself for a long time, the wall's shimmery surface almost hypnotic to gaze into. Swirling, fragmented patterns seemed to dance around his reflection. He could just barely see the eternal flame's light swaying behind his shape in the mirror.

Aster leaned in closer, confirming that the low humming noise he had heard earlier was indeed coming from the strange metallic surface. The closer he got, the more pronounced the hum became. It was almost like an endless chant or mantra being whispered just below a perceivable level. Aster strained his ears to make out the low hum, convinced that he could faintly hear the words "come here" or "come closer" being whispered in between the pulses of sound. He quickly shook his head and dismissed the thought, chalking it up to his exhausted state of mind and the otherworldly environment of the cave.

That was until a jet black arm shot through the wall, snatching up the rope that still encircled his wrist. Aster screamed in horror as the arm yanked on the cord, pulling him closer towards the wall's now rippling surface. He fell, his back hitting the ground hard as he frantically tried to free himself. He thrashed and fought back against the impossibly strong grip, but it was futile. He was being dragged closer and closer to the wall, the smooth metallic material looming over him like a gaping maw ready to swallow him up.

Any sign of Aster disappeared into the wall, as did he. The humming noise abruptly ceased and the entire cave was plunged into a deafening silence. The only sound left was the faint howling wind outside.

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