The Lake of mirrors
During the time That I had been sent on many Adventures and quests there was 1 day well I guess night Where I met someone very interesting
The moonlight glared down into the forest piercing through gaps and the trees
Owls hooted out echoing off the sound of the tree trunks
And a light gust of wind would ever so often blow through
Hooty on my shoulder puffed his feathers and said to me
“Master elarion?”
I nodded still maintaining focus on environment
“ Well you see as of most recent events you have grown a lot It’s also been very exciting to see all the adventures we’ve been going on. Have a question, That is would you ever considering retiring?”
I turned my head stopped the horse
“ No I don’t ever see myself retiring from this, Unless 1 day going and I have a kid But even then I highly doubt it”
As I look back into the road I saw out of the corner of my eye they ever-increasing almost blue-white light Getting closer and closer
“Hooty something is here pre-”
Unknown
“Seeker! I’ve been waiting for you”
Interrupted by a most unusual being, As I looked over I saw A white human wearing A Wizard like a tire But her skin glistened like Stardust and her hair was long But most of all her voice was soft
my spectral horse Started to materialize As I got off The owl is still on my shoulder
I called out to her
“ You might be lady of the woods?”
From the first glance I could tell she was a little bit different She wasn’t threatening oddly comforting But strangely distant
She spoke out
“ You have been chosen seeker and anointed one, do you wish to Help others?”
The wind had a slight gust that move my roves in the wind
“Yes and what do you mean Seeker?”
She stepped closer to me walking slowly arms Inside her robes She came close to me as I heard
Veilrender
“She’s different, but I can’t place my finger on it”
She by the time I noticed had gotten within arms reach
Unknown
“Let me see”
As I felt the presence of another being entered my mind, It started to search around almost as if I had a worm in my head My hands tingled and my brain felt Disoriented
Her hand was lifted towards my head as Her facial expressions changed as if she was searching
She spoke to me and an almost anguish Tone
“ You’ve been on a Great many journeys.. You’ve seen many great entities defeated catastrophic foes and save to this realm multiple times, But yet there’s something else something unanswered”
I took my hand and grabbed her To take her hand off my forehead
Elarion
“ Sorry but I’m not the biggest fan of people touching me, What kind of question do I have answered?”
She smiled
“ You will find that out in due time, My name is (Alicia stone) White wizard of the woods, and you elarion reed faelora known by many name’s”
She paused for a moment
Alicia Stone
“Seeker you have been chosen, Come follow me and pass these tests To learn your earning question that you do not know For the lake of mirrors shows all that is and could be”
She started to walk Into the Woods as I followed her Summoning a special staff that I leaned on
As we were walking she didn’t make too much noise So I tried to make some conversation with her
“ What are you some sort of guardian of the garden protector of the lake Also I’ve never heard this lake of mirrors before care to explain”
She answered me without stopping her pace
“ Seeker is in your name You have questions that will be answered but for now I will tell you this, I have been here since the beginning, And only few have made it through these tests, But the ones who have are changed forever”
We continue to walk what fun like forever
We all have a sudden stopped as she reached into her bag and pulled out what looked like salt glistening from the moonlight As her hand waved over the salt spread out across the forest
“We are here”
The forest began to shift trees turning The moonlight stretching across The woods began to focus more Towards the center
The wind blew Strong and the rocks trees leaves and ground all started to make way
Until What lied in front of me Was a massive maze constructed of trees tightly knitted together rocks That stretches high as a building And hedges broken up by weeds and dead branches
She turned to me said
“ Welcome seeker to the trial of Moon labyrinth”
The moon focusing its light Started to form A Dome of light around This growth in front of me
I looked at her Slightly confused but more interested in what This is all about
“ You know after many years of experience I’ve never seen someone create a Labyrinth of moonlight And branches, Whoever you are Whoever you serve must be strong.”
She nodded her head
“ Seeker I’m a conduit for the moon and stars. The only thing I ask of you is to listen and get ready. Do you wish to know the truth of what you are?”
Elarion
“ Yes And I shall listen for I know I must earn trust and credibility”
She pointed into the only opening left In this labyrinth and the moonlight dome
“ You must go find the way out seeker, For knowledge wisdom and patience is key Safe travels seeker I will see you on the other side”
She began to walk away as I heard in my head
Veilrender
“What in the hells is all this for-”
Elarion
“She has her reasons let’s trust in fate shall we”
As I began to walk in I could feel the shift and change I could instantly detect how I was not able to use any magic here Of at least any high level
And as I walked in the moon Closed the door behind me of celestial light as I entered the labyrinth of light
I walked for many minutes I Sought Out of path and scope everything out before continuing and getting lost more or less
I started to create arcane marks on the ground that I could easily read
I got up Off the ground wiped my hands of the dirt Grabbed my stuff to lean on And help my arm out
Hooty then appeared Perched on my arm
“ Master elarion What is Thy wish”
“ I want you to fly around To the North and loop back to me after you have scouted as far as you can, If for some reason we are in a loop you will see this arcane symbol in the ground”
As I gestured towards it
“ I will not be able to view through your eyes or hear through your ears you are alone on this one”
The owl nodded took off flapping its wings and headed North as I made Towards the East
Many hours of traveling Only led to many hours Of misleading
I headed back towards the center And as I got there the moon Was at the pinnacle of its height in the sky
Hooty came flying back
“ This place is massive master I do not see Is anyway out North But I was not able-”
All of a sudden the trees and the hedges started to shift rocks began to move
I looked around me as I saw a labyrinth shift again Noticing that this wasn’t anything hostile it must have something to do with the time of night
I ran around trying to keep myself from getting squished in between these trees rocks and hedges And within due time the forest settled as a new path emerged completely different from before
I spoke aloud
“ What an interesting magic this is It’s able to sense the time to shift and change making it nearly impossible for the most common man to escape, Luckily I see for what things can be”
And as I looked up towards the moon I noticed all the stars were connected
The constellations in the sky matched up perfectly with the new maze that was just formed
“ For wisdom knowledge and patience is key.. This is the way”
As I looked up I began to follow the line of stars in the sky and before long about only an hour’s worth of travel I came to The exit
The moon in the sky still as peak as it has been I focus for adjusting my eyesight seeing Alicia
And as I walked forward and came closer she smiled as I exited the maze
She looked at me And snap her fingers
“Well done seeker son of valen”
I stood next to her
“ Very clever using A magic suppressing field, If it wasn’t for the stars I wouldn’t find my way.”
Alicia
“ Truly are blessed with knowledge And perception Not many make it through there as quick as you did Seeker”
And after a moment of the snap echoing in the forest the trees and moonlight began to lift as everything was moving back in place and the deer Jumped and scared away from the sound of the woods turning
Elarion
“ You said trials not trial there’s more”
She started to walk as I followed
“ You know I’ve been trying to Keep an eye on you mostly because I thought you were going to hurt me but now that I see you are Merely here to help And for that I thank you and leave your privacy to yourself”
Alicia
“You are a very capable wizard seeker capable of many things that you have done and are yet to come, Trust is something that is earned I’m grateful I have earned it”
And as we walked through the forest and deeper towards The northeast I felt a strange presence in this woods
She stopped and held her hand up
“ This is where I must leave you seeker, For your next trial has come.”
I looked closer and saw A dark cave more like a grotto On the outside have these strange crystals growing pointing towards the sky
She pointed towards the cave
“ You must enter the grotto And retrieve a moonstone”
I prepare myself checking if I had what I needed on me
Elarion
“ I have heard of these Moonstones Apparently in history for some unknown reason the moon lost a small chunk Of its mass Merely a handful of rocks landed on our Plain Said to be powerful and mysterious legends are told none that I can recall. I’ll do it”
And as I started to walk she grabbed my shoulder and looked at me in the eyes as I got a closer look
Alicia
“ Be careful For this moonstone is guarded By a being That is supposed to be matched evenly against you”
I bowed to her
“ If it is then it shall be, but nothing can stop me”
As I walked in The darkness overwhelmed the Damp interior of the grotto
I then cast a light at the end of my staff Creating a deep red hue as I traveled through
The sound of water dropping and it never so often listen with crystals on the wall pointing towards the exit
I noticed that these crystals were not formed from natural means but almost as a repercussion from something else
And as I walked deeper into the grotto I heard loud breathing as if something was asleep
The cave came to an angle and around that angle I peaked ever so carefully to see
Lying there asleep Among the crystals that hung above him was a giant crystal beast
It Shimmered and snored Growling in a sleep as a twitch
I heard the creature start to breathe heavily and the Head picked up off the ground
It’s 4 eyes of dark purple locked with me and as it breathed in and out I could see the cold almost winter air come from its mouth
I looked over its shoulder A shimmer caught my eye
The moonstone twinkled from a single source of light pouring through the grotto
I looked at the creature momentarily as its eyes locked with pine trying to stay as still as possible I raised my hand and uttered the words
Trying to suppress my magic I cast the spell invisibility
I then walked out Keeping eye contact with the Beast As I walked its eyes started to shift and follow me
I spoke out loud to the creature
“ Guardian of the moonstone Protector of the grotto let me pass For I Come to seek this Stone for knowledge-”
It started to breathe heavily as a growled and it’s crystal almost hair like structure stood up resembling A dog’s scruff
I then realized I could not speak nor communicate It had no mind just a purpose
It rushed me as I weaved to the side Avoiding it’s attack however barely scratching the side of my face
I noticed even the small cut burned with a tingling feeling deep into my veins
I then drew my sword and ran up behind the creature and slashed it 3 times
However the creature is high was strong and cannot be penetrated through normal means
Veilrender
“You can’t penetrate that he’s made of pure magic you simply-’
Elarion
“You’re right”
As I was evading the attacks of the Beast multicloud and massive strikes
I’ve got a brief moment to cast dispell magic as a multicolored beam of light hit the creature its body stretch and then within a few seconds reformed
It’s body couldn’t be torn by normal means or magical prowess
I then realize that the Beast hasn’t even landed a full hit on me
So then I needed to take a risk knowing it’s attacks hurt maybe it wasn’t about fighting it off maybe it was about gaining its trust
I then undid the invisibility showing myself to the beast
“I don’t want to fight you, you’ve been here for a long time haven’t you?”
It’s eyes changed from a deep purple to a neutral blue as it shape shifted into a human form
Still covered in crystals wearing a black hood and clook I couldn’t see his face but it Spoke
“many moons. You seek the crystal, but we protect it. What would you offer in return?”
I then paused for a moment thinking to myself
“freedom you’ve been guarding this for many moons and yet you stay faithfully, you could be free to see this world isn’t that what you want”
The man put a hand out as he pointed at me
“I have no name or memory, only the stone. Why should I trust you?”
I put my hand over his arm and looked into the void of his hood
Elarion
“because I know what the chain’s freedom breaks, even if your scared there’s people many people who will have known that pain and won’t let you suffer such as I have”
He then came to me closer and reached his arms around me and said
“thank you, you’ve passed the test, take it”
He then proceeded to walk out of the grotto as I heard voices talking the other being Alicia
I then walked over to the stone and picked it up and felt it’s cold surface
I walked out to the white wizard as I picked up the last of their conversation
White wizard
“you’re telling me your done?”
Monster
“I will still be around but this seeker you speak of is like no other”
His head turned over towards mine and waved and transformed into the beast and ran off into the woods
I walked over to her and opened my hand showing the stone
She smiled
“You’ve done well, seeker. Not only did you retrieve the stone but you also managed to save that one”
Elarion
“save?”
She nodded
“he’s been under a curse even I couldn’t break that bound him to the stone”
She grabbed the stone from my hand
“ You’ve completed your test seeker and you’ve surpassed my expectations and her expectations you’ve done well”
Elarion
“ Thank you for these trials and allowing me to prove myself to you now please What’s next”
She smiled at me
“ It’s time for the seeker to know the truth”
We then walked in the woods again for what felt like maybe miles Until I came across a Small stream of water that glistened from the moonlight heading North
She said to me
“ We are almost there seeker, This place is known as the lake of Mirrors. It’s been said that whoever completes The test We’ll be awarded of either a memory of vision or the future, It reveals Things that we have no knowledge of And therefore few have ever ventured this close to it seeker”
Elarion
“ It reveals things how interesting-”
She spoke to me in a soft whisper
“ It’s time for us to be quiet This place is tranquil and will not tolerate Avoidance of any type Or Noise, Once you have gotten to the lake gaze upon it And know your life will be changed”
And as we pushed through large brush We came to A very beautiful place elegant And as the night was Close to fading We made it just in time
It was quiet and lush colors seemed to Grey out a bit and I felt a strange pull almost like I was going to be suched into the lake
I walked over and gazed upon myself for a few minutes
NONTHING happened then I heard her voice in my head
“it must see YOUR real face”
Then out of surprise I spoke back to her in my head to
“But only 1 has ever seen my face promise me you won’t ever-”
“I promise you seeker”
I then shocked myself that I could do that but nonetheless dropped the hat to the floor where I gazed upon the water
And as I looked into the water the moon and starts started to disappear as a vision appeared to me
My mother and father when I wasn’t born yet had a conversation about me
Valen
“HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU HAVE A BABY ON THE WAY MORGANA?”
Mother
“I SWEAR TO YOU I WASN’T WITH ANOTHER-”
my father shaped her
Valen
“Why should I believe you?”
She started to cry
“Because I prayed for him valen I wanted a son and never got one because YOU WOULD NEVER GIVE ME THE CHANCE!!. SO I GUESS ITS GOD THEN OR I DONT KNOW MAYBE I WAS SICK OF YOU GETTING WITH OTHER WOMEN VALEN”
and as the dream shifted into the room I was born in they took DNA tests of me and my mother and father
The doctor said
“This is abnormal your child doesn’t have either of your DNA, in fact were not even sure what this type of blood is.”
They sat and talked for a while with each other with the Doctor and he mentioned This
“ You know your child’s DNA is strange because of it doesn’t link to either of you but also it changes and is shifting constantly Because I’ve never seen DNA like this
I sent forth a cleric I thought to myself maybe this wasn’t the work of science but maybe of gods And you know what he said to me”
( This doesn’t look like dna this looks like A universe constantly expanding constantly changing)
And as my vision Continued it started to get interfered with and I heard a new voice speak to me directly As my vision went to black
The voice split as it sounded like my mother But gave off this other worldly feeling
Unknown
“ You were chosen disciple You’re the only one that we can come through, We are not evil we are not death We are a new beginning and it starts with you”
As I heard the sound of thousands of whispers I saw figures and places as it flashed before my eyes
As it spoke to me last time
“destroyer or savior that’s your choice”
I said in my mind
“i’m Longing for your arrival”
I smiled and started to Giggle only to catch myself realizing not to lose myself
My vision returned and I was still gazing upon the waters as the White wizard of the woods watched over me
She said to me telepathically
“I saw what you just did…”
She looked distort and scared
“I’ve never felt such horror and fear, but yet I can’t help but notice you’re eyes are now glowing this permanently golden”
Veilrender
“I i- couldn’t speak I couldn’t do anything elarion to stop him I tired”
Elarion
“It’s okay”
As I gazed into the water what reflected were a pair of golden eyes staring back at Mr
She said to me
“Seeker I’ve only ever seen those eyes on those that have been touched by the Divine. You could be a aasimar?”
I responded looking back at her
“I’m sorry that you’ve seen this, I wish this burden upon Noone”
She got down on one knee
“Rejoice for you know more then once ago, you are strong and wise don’t let your burden Barry you”
A few hours of walking later still eyes glowing
I said to her
“Thank you Alicia I’ll be back someday when I need answers”
She held my hand and grasped It
“You know where to find me and when you do I may teach you a thing or two about all of my magic too, for both of us are Scholars of the weave and that I am proud of!”
I summoned my horse and got on as I left
And with that in the back Of my mind I knew something had changed forever