Crawling out of the ruined pit, my senses took to the surrounding scenery. Taking it in silence, the area was ripe beyond compare vegetation- Full of plants and fauna permeated to the ground and to the treetops, the assumed green was replaced with an autumn like orange. And not unlike that of a jungle hanging vines coupled with swaying leaves aimlessly drifted at the corner of one's eyesight. Subtly my heart beat rose at the sight, it was out of place.

Measuring the floor as I rubbed the ground's particles between thumb and finger it only reinforced my notion, a forest teeming with life? Looking up a undeniable fog resided the mark of the astral plane no doubt, deeper into the abyss a large tower-like silhouette. Something strange was at work, a part of the test perhaps, but nothing akin to a forest living should be taken at face value not in this place.--"Strange.." Escaping my lips the words echoed, a soft crumble shook beneath my feet. Gazing down from my exit the floor had caved, a little too late now that I'm up here.. I couldn't help but sigh, what was that other than a tell sign of something amuck.

There was no cowering like some scared animal either, even if the path before hadn't crumbled under its own weight. The surroundings are thick peering eyes could be laid just out of sight, knowing the topology and working of this scenery should be the first avenue, what would be more idiotic than ignorantly walking down a path with nothing but hope. I couldn't think of such, though knowing stupidity it always finds a way... Cause of my newfound friend most of my own magic is a death sentence, much similar to a cannon that shoots both ways; yet my capacity shouldn't be limited to the extent of outside mana, in the very least I should be able to sense my surroundings.

Elrax is in no small way a detriment to my survival, the slimey tendrils may wiggle their way out and burst from me one of these days, but I'll have to find the point on which my paths lie. It is a risk but I'll have to try. As I cleared my mind, an ache was notably within me, like roaches under the skin it was an insufferable itch. It was the presence of Elrax a feeling I' have been- Have to grow to be with, disgusting I tried to disway the feelings to some far reaches of my mind. Magic is mostly mental, though by process of this place and lest the parasites' presence I can feel my body change within here.

Trying to vision my inner mind, flashes of the guttural place of shackles came to mind; deeply breathing I quickly forgo such images, instead to a blinding all encompassing white. The form on which I perceive the essence of life itself, a force opposite of that of death and darkness yet entangled with it.. A wave of sweat washed over me as my mind turned, swirling I took in the light reaching for it.. Calmly I opened my eyes picturing the same in my nearest surroundings trying to focus it all to a singular point within me, in brief moments the area flickered.

Small particles of light moved like wind, floating waves twirling around all I saw, then something else higher concentrations of the same light enveloped the treeline like webbing.-Coughing instantly, abruptly as it started the mana faded from view, a surge of pain enveloped my chest as a trickle of blood ran down the edge of my lip..' Huffing I caught breath, wearily returning to my feet,"At least I ain't dead."

...

Sorrowfully Ceron smirked, though it receded just as it came as he looked to the treeline in scrutiny, particularly the hanging vines. This momentary pain was likely my body reacting to the mana, there was no glaring response of yet to Elrax.. Ceron took slight pleasure in that, the light mana opposed the demonic parasite within him, as long as it doesn't impede its hold over me, what course would it take? Hmph, even if I don't use magic of its nature it'll still grow an invisible dead man's clock hangs over me, rising my light magic will help' But I need to rip this damned thing out of me just the same-

Any normal priest would probably shriek in terror at the sight of it, or some material with divinity, light based properties then? Mulling it over Ceron drew from his mind and back to reality, staring up at the tower beyond the fog. The only landmark visible could be very well the way, or merely a red herring to distract one from some tiny mis-noticed detail? Ceron felt it wasn't the case, it surely wouldn't be that complex no? But in his gut the possibility couldn't be ruled out entirely. Still Ceron could not stand here forever to the point of questioning reality itself lest one wishes to become a skeleton.

Ceron pulled off the rag acting as a mask, though kept dagger at bay waist-side as he went lightly keeping a keen gaze on the surrounding shrubbery and plants, that should n' well be dried and withered considering the normal nature of this place. 'But even some things are not obvious to me. I'm not an all knowing god after-all...' In the undisturbed isolation, Emotion slowly stirred as the sound of his feet lessened; it was something he had no wish to feel. No matter the time, it still never left even now as he started to account old memories almost as if a light shrone within...

...

..

...

..

Wake up..

Salt. A constant sound of rushing, thumping again. And again, rushing? It pertained to more exaggerated motions; it was fierce. Not only sound but of force, the sensation hitting me again. Like a torrent it came over me, this time with taste, salt. A prickly feeling came but I couldn't discern from were; where was I?.. Death? Had I died.. Death.. An unshakable undeniable darkness shrouded me nor could I feel anything but the constant rhythmic force and bellowing sound in each clash. Hitting then coming down unto me bringing the salt.

It-.. Was calmer than I thought it would be. Trickles of something ran along me, in this dark, the reoccurring sensations and sounds were like something I had seen... Rolling over each other endlessly in an open expanse of deep blue. Crashing like that of a hundred warhammers against staggering and ragged rocks more akin to spikes and teeth ready to skewer any folly. The roaring tide spraying becoming cold raindrops.

Wake. Up..

Somehow I felt this, though as I raced my thoughts it escaped me still. Calmer than I thought?' Why did I think that, was death supposed to feel like this? An endless cycle of wet droplets in the absence of light? If I had a mouth I feel I'd scream, or maybe I was unable. It felt like I had eyes. A ghost like sensation very much to that of an amputee? I'm a ghost lost and disembodied? Destined to feel a recurring melody,-Wake. Up

A voice. Mine?-WAKE UP. Something pulled me as I slid on what seemed slick stone then breathing came in sporadic huffs. The voice wouldn't stop, as it continued to speak to me-A odd sense of pain struck me at the last of it's words with images of people and foggy buildings lost to my recollection. WAKE UP.. Pulling just like before and with it I tried to respond, and tried again, as I realized the dark settled and the breathing was mine.".." Blankley my vision returned or came, the longing of something I couldn't yet comprehend filled my mind as a wet ceiling dripped down on me.

I leaned forward first faltering, weight sunk deep as my arms felt like stones at the bottom of a lake.

Slowly my eyes adjusted, the darkness slowly receded as walls of eroded but smooth rock, to my side a theme of ramming waves against more rock. leaving where I laid in trickles of salt, the sea? My mind stood muddled as I came to the scenery around me, then bitter cold struck me. Clothing that resembled bedsheets of bundled rags drenched and stuck to my skin.

Raging and swirling my mind turned, images and my reasoning came to me in quick bursts. They were troubling as I recalled in somber tones'...leave me behind' I..- The burning pain didn't stop and before I knew it vision went red, my eyes wandered to the corners of the surroundings, instinctively without consent. Something within far stone, beyond the dribbling water had shifted. A reflective sheen peered back at me in that quick moment I caught it. Pondering now to the healthy state of my condition, if my eyes had played a trick just as the clothing was wet.

But in those moments what I didn't know was that my mind was clear. And what I began to understand begged why the ones closest to me thought otherwise; but in my naivety looking back that was only half of it.

...