"What is this place?" I asked. "This... this is your tomb. " came his answer. "Why are you here?" I asked. "I challenged the Council eons ago, and failed. As a punishment they stuck me here to babysit all who displease them. Why are you here? I can generally tell what one has done to get sent here, but you, you are a mystery. " he asked. "I SURVIVED", I said sternly. "Survived?" he asked jokingly. "I am the last of my people, everyone I've ever known was slaughtered." I said trying to hold back tears. "Tears won't help you child, you must be strong," he scolded me.
"Why?" I cried. "Because child, if you ever want to bask in the light of day again, you must first get out of this prison." He said. "How do you suppose I accomplish this?" I asked. "The Crucible, a glorified coliseum. It has a hundred levels each more challenging than the last. " What hope have I, I've never killed anything in my life?" I asked with disdain.
This child has no idea of the power he possesses. He thought to himself. "I will train you, young Nephilim" another voice announced from the shadows. "Reveal yourself!" I shouted. "Who are you?" "My name was lost once I was banished to this foul place" the reply sundered throughout the emptiness. "You may call me Orion" he said. "Orion? As in the Orion?" I asked. "Yes, now if you're finished we have a lot of work to do to prepare you for the Crucible." Orion commanded. "How long until I'll be ready?" I asked hurriedly. "That depends on your skills Nephilim, which brings us to your first day of training. You start tomorrow, get some rest, you're going to need it" Orion said.
I slept for what seemed like years, I dreamed about strange places, a tower of light and a pillar of pure darkness. In these dreams I was ethereal, a phantom. There was one dream, however, that rattled my bones. I was back in my realm. I was standing there as my father slaughtered my people. Cleaving some in half in one strike. I woke up screaming, sweat beaded my brow. Orion spoke "It was only a dream, child, calm yourself, the real horror has yet to come." I hated it when he calls me child, but of course he is eons old, and I'm 19 years old. "How can you be so calm in this place, Orion?" I ask. "I have been here for many eons, after so many years alone with no company but your own thoughts. You tend to get used to the silence." He replied in a wary tone.
"Now that you are awake Nephilim, we are to start your training." Orion said. "Prepare yourself, the events that brought you to my domain, are the easiest it will ever be." "Do your worst, I've fought for my life for this long, it will not be ended here!" I scolded him. He looked at me in awe, "Anger is weakness, you must learn to harness all of your emotions if you wish to survive the Crucible" he said. My blood began to boil, I grabbed a rock and threw it as hard as I could into the darkness. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN MY SHOES!" I shouted.
A sinister laugh echoed through the chamber. "Child I was the pinnacle of sorrow, I am immortal, the only one of my kind to be granted this curse. I was forced to watch all of those I love whither and die. DO NOT TELL ME YOUR QUARREL IS WORSE THAN MINE!" Orion shouted, his voice echoing throughout the chamber.
