I was doing my best to shake off the bad feeling I got from my earlier actrions, carrying Fae on my shoulder. Lately the tunnels have been getting darker, which is impressive since the tunnels have only seemed average to me due to my ability to see in the dark with ease. The fact it has been getting so dark is somewhat worrying, as it could be the work of some sort of monster.

Finally, I turn a corner, and find a wall of black shadow. The darkness was so complete, the only indication it wasnt a wall of obsidian was the coiling black mist coming off of it. I felt Fae climb to get a better view, almost excited. With immeasurable caution, I placed a hand against the wall, my hand sinking into it as if through a fog. Instantly, my hand was spiked with the cold, but not any worse then cold water. Fae rushed to the end of my arm, and lept through without hesitation.

"Fae!?!?", I rushed in after her, surprised at the sudden action from the noramlly reserved Fae.

I suddenly found myself in a silent land. One ruled by a black fog which circled around me, the only sound being the sound of snow crunching under foot as I searched the darkness for Fae. Even the vision enhancement of my mask couldn't pierce through this utter black. I could barely see three strides out, the sounds around me muffled by the snow and fog.

I searched around for Fae, finding her rolling in the snow on the edge of my vision, like a child during the first snow of winter. I managed to pick her up, as snow began to fall from above, and placed her in her spot on my shoulder.

Suddenly, a shape lurched from the black fog, slamming into me with the force of a cavalry charge, throwing me through the air. I tucked and rolled to absorb the impact, listening, and looking around for what attacked me, but I was knocked aside once again without warning. Whatever was attacking me, it could do so without making a sound, and it's shape was almost part of the fog.

I waited a few seconds, before dodging to the side, the shape charging past. this time I saw it, clearly, before it vanished once more into the fog. What I saw was a horse in a state of decay, it's skin black as the fog around it, white smoke huffing from the nostrils, the ribs exposed in a way that made them seem like daggers, or claws. Overall it's form was gaunt, as if it had died of starvation, grey bone visible between gashes in the skin, the eye sockets left hollow and void, a singular spiral horn atop it's head, the tip stained red. A Nightmare.

Now that I wasn't knocked away, I could see that the hooves left scorch marks on the surface of the snow, as if the water itself burned on contact. I bolted, as fast as my legs would take me. There is no way in any hell that I am going to fight something I can't even detect getting close. I heard a haunting whinney from behind me, as if in laughter. I searched for cover as I zig zagged, trying to avoid a charge from behind, only to slam face first into a ghastly white tree, one which looked vaguely humanoid, what appeared to be a face formed from the folds of the bark twisted in a look of sheer terror.

An Ent, one which died of fear.

I climbed up to hide in the branches, the ground lost from view. Now, all was silence, and still. Snow continued to fall from above as I hid amongst the branches of the dead ent, as my heart calmed it's pace. Checking on Fae, they were infact sleeping of all things, wrapped in my hair like some sort of security blanket.

A massive shape loomed within the darkness, causing me to hide further within the branches with fear. The only thing I saw of this shape was an arm as large as the ent I hid within moving past in the darkness, the hand I saw as large as a horse. Yet, I still heard nothing, and the ground did'nt tremble under this behemoths tread. It's as if whatever enchantment was apon my armor was a natural ability to ever creature here.

Looking around once more, I tried to see through the darkness, but this failed miserably. Suddenly, a magical pulse went past, originating from the left, and consolidating on my skin, causing it to glow brighterunder my gaze. Could this be scrying magic perhaps? I felt light headed as I worried about this, but even as I worried, the glow faded back to normal.

While I can't scry myself, I knew the basic theories behind it, such as how one can use magic to lock onto the magical signature of another, and view them from any distance, possibly even across dimensions. Though I don't know if that is possible, as I myself can't even scry someone in an adjacent room, let alone in an entirely different dimension. However, I did know that it could allow one to share the senses of another, allowing them to spy on them without being anywhere close to them.

I slowly climbed back down to the ground, full stealth mode as I crept through the snow, doing my best to make no sound at all. However, it seems my armors ability to silence it's movements didn't extend to the snow under foot, making my steps sound out for the first time in awhile. After some time, I managed to find the wall of some structure, as the ashen bricks were set in even rows like back home, but they seemed old and worn, so there was no garentee that this would be a safe place to make camp. I was certain it has been quite awhile since I last slept, but I didn't feel tired at all.

Or hungry and thristy for that matter... I know this might actually just be part of that labyrinth, but what if I was in a different dimension? From what little I know about such things, dimension travel being an advanced magic limited to the wisest archmages, and ancient artifacts, being in a dimension seperate from your birth can halt your bodily functions, rendering you without the need for sleep, food, or such. In more extreme cases one didn't even age. If this is what's occurring, what dimension is this?

Fae moved from my shoulder finally, leaning out where I could see them. They seemed to peer into the darkness like I had, but it was impossible to tell if they saw anything. Suddenly, they dropped to the ground, stretching before walking around, as if this was some sort of vacation. Before I could lift her back to my shoulder, Fae flopped to the ground, and stretched again, much like one would when laying on spring grass on a warm day.

I picked her up, much to their apparent annoyance, and worked my way around the structure, trying to find a door or window of some kind. Eventually, there was an iron door found, nearly off it's hinges as if something had knocked it aside from within. Peering within, there was a surprise, as it seemed the fog stayed outside, so the inside was clearly visible to me... Though I wish I could unsee what was within.

Shriveled corpses, seven of them, their skin dry as a mummy, and the color of ash, their eyes left empty, and void, gazing out without seeing anything. The corpses themselves were in varying positions, one even leaning against the wall with the arms crossed, and another plastered to the ceiling, a hammer in their hand. It was as if they had been taken by surprise, their bodies drained of all vitaility within an instant. Seeing this, of course, I refused to enter, even if this was the first structure I've found since entering that black portal.

Turning around, I skulked away, farther into the darkness. Eventually there was an old well, seemingly worn by time, like what one may find in an abandoned town, or homestead. Within, instead of water, it was filled to the top with snow, perhaps having collapsed long ago. This wasn't too far from the structure, roughly forty paces away, so it's likely that this was the water supply for the building. What is the reason for a building and well to be here?

Wondering around revealed that this was an entire village built around the well, every one who likely lived here having been made into mummified remains, though oddly none of them were without armor, or weapons. Only one of them seemed to have known what happened to them, the one plastered to the ceiling. This entire situation was chilling my blood.

What kind of creature could do this to people? Nothing in my recollections held any beast able to mummify people in an instant, let alone slam them into the ceiling. What manner of demon came across this town?

It couldn't have been the giant, or else the town would be leveled, and it couldn't have been the nightmare, or else I would have been dead in an instant. Whatever it was, I hope I don't meet it. A basilisk was a fearsome beast, without question, but at least the majority of victims would know what hit them... Whatever attacked this place did so in a much more sinister manner.

Remembering the giant from earlier, I decided to stay here for now, as here something was, but out there things are. If something comes here, at least I can hide amongst the buildings. Trudging to what was once the inn, I closed the door as best I could, before heading into the cellar. But then I heard wings.

A raven sat apon the window, feathers black even against the fog outside. The scarlet eyes watched me, as it tipped it's head from left to right. With a flutter of wings, it dropped to the ground and approached me, the aura around it causing me to back away, as if from some great dragon. Then, with a voice both hoarse and deep, almost a croak, it spoke.

"The queen welcomes you to her realm, and hopes for you to entertain her better than those before you. If she grows to favor you, Masked Raven of the Shadow Sworn, the queen may deem you fit for her blessings. If she is displeased, you shall become as shrivled and forgotten as those you are now amongst."

I felt Fae shift in my hair, even as my own blood began to freeze in fear. I have no idea what is happening, what queen im meant to impress, or where I am in all of creation. The raven noticed Fae, and before I could hide her, let out a croaking chuckle, before turning around, and flying out into the black shadows.

I shivered, as I slumped to the floor, my legs now refusing to hold me up. Where the hell am I?... Shadow Sworn? Masked Raven?

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!?!?!?

I stopped my sword drills as a cold fear traveled up my spine, the instructor turning to yell at me to continue. But I ignored them, as I searched my feelings. Was this Kara?

The instructor marched over, and smacked me upside the head, yelling in my ear to continue my drills, and so I did, but now my mind was wondering. What is happening to Kara to cause such untamed fear? I can't recall her being afraid of anything really. My mind was split, my focus shattered for the rest of the day, earning me a scolding from the instructors, and seven days worth of stable duty. Yet my mind stayed with Kara.