Post by Monday
((
Storybook))
Arya stood up as she processed the words, hardly noticing the audiomancer die beneath her. “Come,” she beckoned to her elemental. “It’s time to go report.”
I’m afraid it’s much too late for that...Arya gasped in shock, turning around. The cavern was still empty. “Who’s there?” she called, and a bolt of red lightning kindled to life in her hand. “Show yourself!”
Nothing answered her.
Absolutely nothing.
The waves of the underground lake washed serenely on the rocky shore.
The stalagmites from above, looming like broken fangs, dripped water steadily into the lake.
The sand beneath her feet crunched quietly as she looked around.
Nothing answered her.
Absolutely nothing.
She frowned at her water elemental. “Thank the Light this isn’t too creepy or anything,” she whispered. She didn’t move a muscle. In front of her loomed the underground lake, which she had no desire to return to. Besides the fact that swimming made noise and she wasn’t all that good at it, a new feeling had arisen after the audiomancer had died. She knew that something was in the water, and she didn’t want to see what it was.
Behind her stretched a barren section of cave, which loomed threateningly and eventually faded into blackness. Arya took a few hesitant steps towards it, then stopped, glancing back. The darkness behind her brooded and gave no hints as to what it contained. Shuddering, Arya started forward with a firm stride, elemental floating behind her.
The cave opened up into a large natural corridor, which flowed for several hundred feet. Arya strode down the corridor, glancing upwards every once in awhile, trying to ignore the blackness that extended above her, from which drifted disturbing noises. Flesh sliding over rock, panting and grunts. She nearly sighed in relief when the ceiling closed off, flowing into another room.
Arya held her other hand aloft, and pure, white light bloomed from it, startling her for a moment. Eventually, her vision adjusted, and she inspected the chamber. It was of moderate size, about twenty feet by twenty feet, and carved straight from the hard, jagged, black stone of the cave.
However, that was all background data, and Arya filed it away absently, her attention caught by the room’s real feature: A large ritual circle inscribed into the floor. Seven circles, to be precise, with several flowing symbols etched between them. In the center rose a small model of Tirisfal, perfectly craved. And in the center of that, a single symbol, which burned painfully in Arya’s gaze and which brought perfect understanding: N’Zoth.
“Oh Light, Light,” she gasped, wrenching her gaze away from the horrifying carvings before they drove her mad. “I need to get this data back. If the Kirin Tor only knew what was going on...”
Who says they don’t...?Arya whirled around, moving her shining hand to illuminate every nook and cranny.
Nothing.
There was absolutely nothing.
“Who’s there?” Arya all but screamed.
They know, little one. They know exactly what is going on. They mean for you to die, to be rid of your troublesome inquiries and studies.Arya frowned and studiously ignored the voice. Focusing on the circle for as long as she was able, she took a mental snapshot with a technique her old teacher, Torvin, had taught her.
Why do you persist? They mean for you to die down here, alone and forgotten. Who would truly miss you?Arya’s composure cracked. “Torvin, that’s who! Torvin would care!” she screamed.
A rumbling laugh pulsed through the deep. The door behind her swung shut.
Who do you think it was that sent you here?Arya gasped, and quickly moved to the door, trying to open it. As she watched, the door’s edges melded with the rock around her, sealing the entrance. The only way out was forward. Gathering her courage, she stepped out the far door, which also sealed behind her.
Arya shuddered and started forward down a long, dark hallway. On either side of her, more corridors branched off, leading into complete blackness. Arya ignored those, and kept on her current path, but was startled when a burst of mist blew into the hallway. She cursed and stepped back in surprise.
When the mist cleared, the hallway had shortened considerably. Or perhaps her perceptions were the ones that had changed. Or maybe they had been changed since the beginning.
You have freedom, the Voice mocked.
But what is that worth?Arya frowned, confused. “What do you mean by that?” Then she stopped, and laughed hysterically. “Light, I’m talking to the voices. Isn’t that supposed to be bad?”
You’ll return to the Kirin Tor, half mad and anxious for them to return here and destroy this place. They will refuse. They will call you a liar, deceiver. You will be mocked, imprisoned, scorned, and eventually executed. One will return here, however, and leave with the madness among him, and it will spread.
Or, you could go tell Torvin. If you do, that future will be averted.Arya hesitated, then asked, “What happens if I do tell him?”
That I cannot tell you. Is it not simpler, easier?Arya nodded slowly, then faster. “I will do as you bid.”
Then go. I will return you to Dalaran.Arya opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, her surroundings blurred. She gasped, suddenly nauseous, and found herself sitting on her bed. She stood, and staggered, falling back onto her bed, clutching her head with both her hands. A minute or so later, the door to her room burst open. Arya glanced up to see an older human male, with greying hair and a long mustache, Torvin, standing in the doorway, gasping for air.
“Arya,” he panted. “I felt you return and came as quick as I could. Are you alright? Why did you send no message?”
Arya ignored his words. “Torvin,” she asked. “Can I ask you something?”
Torvin frowned at her tone, but nodded, and entered the room. “What is it?” he asked.
“Did you know what was lurking there?” she asked dully.
“Lurking where?”
“You know where, dammit!” she yelled, standing and immediately overbalancing, crashing back down onto her bed. “The mountain!”
Torvin shook his head. “No, which is why we sent you.”
“Don’t lie! You knew!” she screamed.
“I swear to the Light I didn’t know, Arya. And we still won’t know if you don’t tell us!” Torvin said earnestly, leaning forward. “What did you see, little one?”
Arya laughed, laughed until tears started streaming down her cheeks. “The Voice said you’d deny it, he said you all would! But it knows the truth! You all knew. Admit it!”
“I don-”
“ADMIT IT!”
“I didn’t know!” Torvin said, eyes widened in shock. He leapt to his feet and started backing away. “Just calm down, Arya. Calm down, and we’ll get somebody here to help you. What happened?”
Arya stopped laughing abruptly. “You lying, filthy, deceiving scum. It said you would react this way,” she said quietly, standing up.
Torvin leaned his head slightly to the right, looking at her uneasily. “What said that?
What is it Arya?”
Arya took a step forward. “The Voice, the Master. It said you would react his way.
It knew you would. That means that it was right about everything! You knew what was down there!”
Torvin turned and started to run. “Gua- hurk!” He staggered and fell, gasping. “Why... wha...” he turned slowly, sluggishly, to look behind him. Arya’s knife protruded from his back. She stood above him, eyes dilated, panting.
Torvin laid back, eyes drifting to the ceiling, and watched as it faded away into darkness. The last thing he heard was Arya speaking.
“It knew.”