Testimonium Noctem | TBATE

Is It to Your Liking?

Mernir Nyrus

Dying was not a fun experience. A phantom pain passed through my body, reflecting the battle that I just had before. There was no light anywhere - simply an infinite void to accompany me as I pondered over the short life I had.

And truly did I ponder over it while I floated. I had a good few first years - and, in retrospect, the only years - that I lived through. Memories of my mother's white hair, that I had lost after that, and my father's long beard that my mother liked to braid for some reason. It was always lively with them.

And then, despite becoming more than strong enough, I couldn't manage to find their killer before they died. Dytirn had escaped my grasp, and my quest for strength is over. I looked at the infinite void, not that I had anywhere else to look at.

Suddenly, the scenery changed. I watched as rivers and mountains formed, a beautiful garden coming to reality infront of me. The infinite void was no longer a void - or were we no longer in said void? - now that this magnificent place filled it.

"Is it to your liking?" A deep voice echoed as my head snapped, not even noticing a presence enter my net of detection. I absentmindedly noticed that I was no longer a floating spirit-something entity, but I now have a physical body.

I looked at the man who sat before me, a quaint chair that really did not match his appearance. There was a simple chair and two tables - probably meant for me, if I thought correctly - yet one of the chairs was noticeably bigger than the other, meant to fit for a bigger figure. I took a second look at the figure, noticing the unique appearance.

He stood tall, over seven feet, with a muscular frame wrapped in shadowy, obsidian armor etched with what looked to be runes of some sort. His skin is an ashen graywhile his eyes glow a piercing, hellish crimson.

His gaze felt sharp and calculating as he looked at me, a stragetic detachment that seemed to asess every move, person and asset as if they were simply another part of the board that has to be moved to the wanted place for the wanted results.

The same gaze I see in the mirror.

I took another look at the garden as I stood, refusing to sit. I felt his eyes on me as I looked at the garden. My mother liked flowers, and tended to her garden every chance she could. I remember playing there with her as she taught me how to take care of specific plants, what they need... I looked at the figure, sitting down infront of him as I sipped the cup of tea infront of me.

"Are you not afraid it's poisoned?" He asked as he watched me sip from the cup of tea, and I merely shrugged as I kept drinking. The tea was sweet, easily the most amazing taste that I ever felt from anything. It flowed through my throat as I gulped, putting it down.

"I am already dead." I stated as I looked him in the eyes, watching the same gaze. I reached for a flower below me as I took it, sniffing at it and confirming my suspicions. Really, this is a pain - but I can deal with it.

"Came to the correct conclusion." He said, reading my mind. I simply nodded as I set the flower on the table, reaching inside me and summoning destruction energy. A sword formed in my hand as I spun it around, testing how limited I am in this space. Yet, it seems like no limits were placed on my power.

I am either so inferior to him that he doesn't see the need to do so, or that he simply can't - but, considering what he demonstrated so far, that's unlikely.

"You want something from me." I said as I thought back to his gaze, cold and calculating. He wants to move me on the board, but I won't do it if it doesn't help me.

"I do. And I think you'll be wise to accept, considering what I could grant you in return." He said, leaning back on his large chair.

"Not like I got anything else to do but hear you." I said, and it was the truth. What would he do if I rejected? Either torture or send me back to the infinite void where I'll likely lose my mind - or, well, lose it further - so this was the best option, as far as I could tell.