Victor and the Seven Circles of Darkness

Chapter 1 - The Nightmare

Another nightmare disturbed Victor's sleep. These series of actions unfolded in his sleep every time the clock struck three in the morning. It was a quest very familiar to him, at a place he had been before—the Black River.

In his dream, he was alone in a place overgrown with tall, dense grasses. It was serene, but deceitful. He perceived that these grasses had wits and will of their own; they know how to delude intruders and trap and kill them with their simple tricks. He had been in this place a few days back and likewise ready to counteract these killer grasses. Before he made a step, he drew out his sword and prepared to slash every strip that dare hinder his way.

To his wonder, a glint from the sword was enough to cripple the grasses in fear. It was like a signal for them to make a path for him, or else, they will taste the sharpness of his blade. The grass bowed before him and cleared his path going to the river.

As likely to happen, he reached the Black River with ease. The water was placid and created silver spikes from the strong touch of the midday sun. He searched around, hoping to find Rower, but to his dismay, he wasn't there, and not a single rower or a boat was there.

At the opposite side of the wide river, he noticed a man standing still. His white tee-shirt was prominently visible contrasting to his dark color. He wore an abaca hat, his brown cotton pants were folded up to his knees, and apparently in deep thought.

"Rower!" he shouted and waved his hand at him. "Rower, is that you?"

The man heard him and cast a glimpse to his direction, but he refused to wave back. He remained standing with no expression on his face, not even his presence could make a difference in his mood. The man turned his attention back to the water as if he's waiting for something to happen.

"Rower! It's me—Victor! The traveler without a rooster! Remember?" he shouted once more. He was certain it was Rower. He gazed at his bare hands and realized he had no white rooster with which to pay back. He was supposed to come back with a rooster, that was his promise to him, that was their deal, but he came back empty handed. He was confused more than ever.

All the while, nature changed its course. The wind whipped strong and began to howl, dark clouds mantled the surrounding gray, lightning flashed across the sky, thunder rumbled and crashed above and below. The water began to whirl and into the air swirled up high, its hungry mouth searched for Rower and positioned to swallow him in.

"Run, Rower, run!" he shouted, his voice competing hardily against the angry wind.

Rower remained calm. He didn't move a step. It seemed like he was expecting it to happen and doing nothing would mean of his complete surrender to the grudge of nature.

Victor raised his hands, palms toward the whirlpool to stop it from reaching this man, but his magic power was of no effect. He brought out his wand from his coat pocket and whizzed it in the water, and it didn't work either. He realized his power was useless in this world.

Rower submitted himself freely. He didn't run or shout. He was brave. The whirlpool descended slowly back to the surface of the river and sucked him down into the deep.

Dust and grass joined forces with the angry wind, totally blocking Victor's vision. He dived into the water, hoping to rescue Rower from drowning, yet a strong wave belched him back fast to the riverbank.

He got the message. He should stay away and never interfere with the rage of nature. An invisible power was doing it for a reason. He took off his coat and tied it around his nose and mouth, and with twitching eyes, he watched the whirlpool bound to its purpose.

Lightning and thunder stopped, the wind mellowed down, and dark clouds dissolved into rain and gave way to the sun to shine again. The water became as placid as it used to be, just like the first time he was there.