The Shamaness and the Blightlaird

Welcome, Arrow. Thou art still confined to thy perpetual dream, locked into a continual nightmare that can only be broken free if thee hast solved the query to thy desire to find us in the first place. Alas, we shall not abandon this one. As we guide thee down a disheveled path, thou find thyself afflicted with a strong negative energy, a miasma pathogen. As thou trudges forward through the wooded brush, thy eyes attempt to focus on the person in front, but the delirious intensifies, followed by an intense urge to slumber. Upon clearing the twisted brambles, thou stumbles and succumbs to thy illness. That's all we can do for thee, Arrow. Find us once more. A flickering torch illuminates a small room as warped visages begin to take hold. A shadowy figure dances across thy vision, bringing alongside a cacophony of anguished whispers. Suddenly, you're snapped away from us. Wake up! Don't fall prey to their persuasion. I need you to focus, or you will be forever consumed within that deep divide. Erusuelma Balleras. Erusuelma Balleras. Erusuelma Balleras. Are you with me now? Good. Hold this talisman and breathe in the alleviating vapors. Inhale slowly. Good. Now exhale slowly. Repeat until your mind is fully opened. And as urgent as your eyes remain closed, don't ask questions. Do it now. Good little one. Erusuelma Balleras. Erusuelma Balleras. Erusuelma Balleras. The Blightlord is here. Step back and stay strong. Don't give in to their sweet words. Erusuelma Balleras. Erusuelma Balleras. Erusuelma Balleras. Now listen closely, for we may have become separated when we delve into the epicenter of your affliction. This is the first of seven trials. You have made it thus far, so don't wither. When letters stray and lost, focus your mind onto that talisman. The Broken One opens their eyes to be met with confusion. Once what was a room is now a callous, cold cavern with no discernible features other than an endless expanse of black liquid all around them. Think the All-Mother that you awakened. No, do not get up just yet. The six trials ahead will surely be an arduous journey, but it is the only way to free thyself of the Blightlord's control. But beware, they will use whatever at their disposal to have you succumb to their will. You cannot hold that. I'll enchant the talisman I gave you to aid in your resolve. Erduainzu. Erduvalberis. Can you start? Now follow my lead and recite verbatim what I enchant. Do you think you are clear-headed enough to do so? Good. Turn your hands over so that your palms are heavensward. Place your dominant hand over the submissive one and pray. All-Mother, we beseech thee to grant us thy blessing for the trial ahead. Excellent. Now gaze upon the black waters that encapsulate us and dispel the regret you've been holding onto. Tis not your fault that life dealt you this hand, and thus the second seal has been broken. Why, if it isn't our favorite sparrow, hast thou decided to return to us, brought us a gift as well? No, Blightlord. We have come to dispel your hold over this little one. As you not have already enough toys to play around with, there's no need to claim this soul when they have so much more life left to live. Is this coming from thy concern over their well-being? Or is this thy foolish attempt to resolve thy guilt? Seems curtesy are beatitudes to our design. Come, little child. There's no need to be frightened. We said come now! Why dost thou continue to fight the inevitable? Those wounds afflicted upon thee won't ever leave, and the pain shall never wither. Don't resist, little mortal. Thou already knows the conclusion to this story. So, thou choose to lay aside luck upon a brunted shamaness? Very well. We shall show thee that this once trust is misplaced. Lack thy gaze upon the carvings on the cave walls? Tis not enough? Then gaze upon the flashing images we shall inscribe into thy memory. Don't thou cease now? Thy kind humans have always come to us for when their pathetic little lives need a purpose. Don't dare turn away thou impotent little mongrel. Tis true thy fabrication. If we wanted to create anewer, we'd do so in more effective ways. Don't thou cease that what we offer is closure? Rest? The power to no longer be affected by the realm of mortals? Thou still doubt of us? We only ever gave thy kind the ability to thrive in a world where any and all we wanted to do is consume you. This sacred pyre is not a gift, but a privilege little one. All we ever asked in return is a sacrificial offering. Of which thy kind hastily accepted till they had had enough of our production. Tossing us aside as a wild beast turns their head upon carrying, we... Let them go Blightlot. Their mind is fragile and young. Why take them? Haven't humans already paid their fair share? They're valuable creatures. So why does your grudge have to extend to this little one? Cause we are dued what rightfully belongs to us. Belongs to you? Humanity surely would have continued to persist without your intervention. They accepted your proposal because they were scared. Of course they continued to feed their young to a ravenous dark being that vowed to vanquish them all if they did not comply. They never even knew this was the price to be paid. Foolishness. Of course the price must be paid. Nothing is freely given. All blessings must come with an equivalent exchange. Preying upon a scared race doesn't make it justified. You of all beings ought to know this Blightlot. Thou darest listen to the words of a decrepit shamaness than us? This cannot stand. We shall take what is ours. With fire burning more brightly than the sacred pyre, the Blightlot ceases further discussion as they drag the shamaness and the broken one to the bottomless pits. The darkness cloaks them all except for a singular scene playing out in the center. The vision that plays before thee is one from the distant past of whom this little mortal places their trust within. Blight, cease thy stunt, hypocrite. Thou pledge fealty to us and proudly forsaken us when twas beneficial for thee. Since we lost our community, we must find another. You. You took advantage of me. You. I was so young and your words were honey. You promised me sanctuary, Blightlot, if I continue to perform that carnal task. Sanctuary was given to thee and thou played a little role in claiming the lives of the tributed youth. Not even batting an eye. Who's the master now, shamaness? Ah, now come, little one. We have chosen thee to become the new communitant. For us thou hast witnessed the life before us has disregarded their sacred duties. Doubt thou agree, little one, that this deceiver ere us is truly not on thy side, or ours, but selfishly fulfilling their own will instead of maintaining the greater good. Would this mortal still live to find faith in our carnal facts? I never claimed to be a perfect being, Blightlot, but I was terrified. All humans were terrified, and we played your game. But I broken free, and I showed the way to break free from you, cause this world no longer needs a void boar to urge us along the way. We can, and we did, forge our own path. We will without you. I, I am still haunted by all those lives I claimed in your honor. In your name. Please come to me, broken one. As I can assure you, the endowments are not worth the price paid. Even now, thou still deemest their words more fair than ours. We were left to oblivion. We were left to oblivion. We were left to oblivion. Well, Aro, our time this week has come to a close. Just as the lacrimosa of that fallen apparition, Thoth-Flow, the renewal of thy protective aqua is completed. However, even though our veil is casted over thee, thy nightmare still holds fast and strong. Henceforth, this delusion shall continue till extirpated. So, brace thyself, Aro, as the tempest persists to our next encounter. We hope you enjoyed this delusion-devolved episode, Aro. Due to the nature of this fable, we will be breaking it up into two parts. After all, a tale cannot be left unopened. If you enjoyed thus far, we ask that you would subscribe so that you don't miss out on the continuation. Well, we won't hold thee any longer than necessary, so stay tuned in for the next installment and may the protective aqua be ever stronger so that no storm scatters thee.