Saito eyes peel open. He feels his body directly compiles and obeys the foreign entity orders; yet this vision doesn’t shift from an endless banquet of darkness. The once golden rays which defiantly refused to die, are now forgotten phantoms in the blanket of night.

Isolations breeds despair. Saito mind boils in turmoil as the chilling cover has enveloped him.

He closes his eyes, wishing to face the artificial darkness of his own creation; then suffer will the awaiting hell of emptiness.

Yet a voice roughly invades his mind.

No sound was felt from this voice, but Saito spirit felt a tsunami tidal wave wash over himself. A destructive force with an unquenchable hunger. Something Saito doesn’t understand.

The incoherent muttering refined itself to a cooperative falsehood; the hunger died and in its place a murmur of controlled madness. Filled Saito’s mind with an untold story of confusion.

Soon the singular voice spilt into a coherent two the anger, belittle and foul which chant an endless battle cry; defines it voice in harsh tones, which floods parts of Saito’s mind. Worlds of an unholy broken beast destroyed and torn away unwilling from his home. The other a controlled turmoil. A presence resting in a peaceful panic; one which focuses on questioning instead of mindless threats. This voice of a soul wishing to know a way out.

Two distinct voices there were to Saito.

Both were trapped like Saito.

Each one crying for some sort of attention, a desperate plea to summon fate to free them. The endless cage tightening itself to surround them in a boundless echo of their pleads. Saito couldn’t help but listen to their desires; their misery uniting with his own despair from leaving home in such a forceful manner.

At the thought of those left behind; Saito own heart whales, he can faintly feel tears up in his eyes as his soul beckons and yearns to go home, Saito clings to the fable and lies that this will be over soon.

Yet as Saito could only confuse on his own despair, he couldn’t help but notice how his own soul beckons and calls. Soft replies from the previous raging inferno of a mad beast and the longing of freedom both seemly acknowledge his own pain. Even if physically Saito was alone.

Saito if that moment convinced his heart he had company. Afterall, misery loves company.

Three separate voices, three separate people, three separate souls uniting to call in a single cry for freedom. Saito feeling the pull and grasping what little mental strength to bound his cries to unite with these unknown voices.

Pain and lose ravaged in an infinite rage.

A controlled meltdown of a caged animal desperately waiting for a chance to break free.

A confused and overwhelmed youthful spirit.

All brought together to light a plea from a single spark. This line flicker attempting to gain an audience in the horrors of a endless midnight. Trying to drag their destiny and savour to appear before them in the boundless sea of the faceless darkness.

Their prays were heard

It was quiet, barely a faint whisper in the drown sea of a voice trying out to the stranded to pull them away from the claws of the damned; the light grasp in which Saito felt touch his very being lulled him to feel hears. This savour, much like the dancing lights of the illusioned warriors he saw before brought a sense of peace. Much like before the presence of night seemly drove a thick wedge between those horrors, casting a protective light which bound those in the good graces to remain unburdened.

Even the other mysterious souls in which Saito could detect had a sudden lull much like his own and calm themselves in this new being’s presence.

“Who’s t’ere” A heavy accented voice calls.

Saito rushed to swing open his eyes. Madly fluttering as if they needed to adjust to the stillness of the pitch-black room. He feels his body roughly turn to glare around, as if trying to sense where that voice originated from.

But, as his eyes dart around fanatically, three beams of moonlight rays float to highlight three circular spots. Forcing away the darkness as the light shadows as the light rains above.

Pressing his hand against the rays Saito found himself shocked at the sudden and unexplainable solid form stopping him from progressing. As if the light itself was a think stone like substance caging him inside. His hand glide and explore, yet at no point this heavenly trap found any sort of weakness

Saito stared in wonder; his vision fixated on the pale rays which sparkle with purity as it rains over him. The light rest peacefully over his head, completely encompassing him within a circular cone. Yet as Saito went to peer at the other rays, he was greeted with a sudden appearance of two foreign bodies. Breaking the status-oi of the isolation the night brought, illuminating two guest which had apparently been standing quite close to him the whole time.

He could just never of seen them.

The first Saito could only describe them as a warrior of legends of old. Burly, hulking humanoid towering high above Saito. His gaze needing to lower to peer into Saito eye’s. Faint greyish green skin completely covering his body. Messily clean shaved head with odd bits of hair remaining around the side of the beast face, while leaving a slick bun on the top. From the creature’s mouth two twining teeth protrudes and sharply points and hangs from the beast lips. His hulking stature dominates his being. Standing close to (and what Saito could roughly guess around 6f10) a whole foot taller than he was; probably even more so. His torso was covered with a metal chest-plate and gauntlets on both wrists. Tight skinned leather books with woven straps bend around both legs. While resting in the beast hands, a large stocky hammer.

Which dripped with blood….

A Saito stared longer. He could see that this monster was covered in blood. His armour had loose collective of red stains, his skin had small marking of various hand imprints, epically around the gaps from the gauntlets on his arms.

“Homzers, uid Cistus? Ufibe mus” The gruff voiced beast directed at Saito. Utilising his massive body and towering figure to harshly glare into Saito. His piercing glare makes Saito faulter. His instincts screaming and yelling about danger. Hidden pray instincts overwhelming his body with a sensation of wishing to flee. Weltering under the pressure as if this beast wrapped his gigantic hand around him. Saito simply could barely muster enough courage to look at the figure in their eyes.

“Homzers! Uid Cistus ulo du meo maumon!” The harsh voice continues. Pushing his body against the light ray’s prison walls. Trying to force his body though. Yet no curve or dent appeared within the walls.

Saito couldn’t understand the mad rambling of the barbarian like brute, the words he spat with a viscous snarl flew over his head. Words which lacked any relevance of known language, yet he could feel this beast anger though every syllable.et he could tell the beast was angry at him.

The towering body which stood high above Saito which dominated the beast presence, force Saito to be relegated in a invisible shadow underneath the beast form. The grunts and tone spelt doom. Between the wild and chaotic muttering from the beast, Saito could easily detect the faint common callings of someone’s body language. If not for the light seemly keeping them apart, Saito truly thought this monster could (and probably wanted to) kill him.

Turning his head away from the beast. Saito stared at the other ray of light. Standing a couple of paces away practically separated from the core where both the beast and Saito stood; this seemly human wore primitive tactical clothing of a would-be killer. Stitched black fine cloak covers the entire body in a vale of darkness, Yet the fine cloth had rough stitches and torn fabrics of light differing shades showing their how worn these must be. What could be seen of their under clothing matched though missed match layers of painted metal and patched leather belts holding pockets and other shelved items which Saito couldn’t get a proper glance too. However, their knee-high skin guards could be seen to be wrapped with rope to case them together. The face of this mysterious stranger remains hidden under a mask which tightly clings to their face.

The mask itself appeared quite basic in design. It covers the entire face in a plated metal covering, yet its deep stillness and mocking silence of black cast an image of a threatening shadow. Staring into two soulless eye sockets, he could wonder into the endless obis. It made him feel unsafe after everything.

He just wants to see his sister. To keep the promise, he made. His flippant line of seeing her later he feels drift further into fantasy the longer he remains wherever he may be.

Breaking the silence, a sudden voice rings from the fibres of reality.

“You have all met the terrible fate in which everything shall become if nothing is done.” The voice softly speaks. His calm tone clashes with the horrid threat of the meaning behind their sentence.

“The endless night drifts closer each day as more fall to ancient sickness which bears the illness. The darkness rises with the turning tides of malaise and malice to blind reality to its insufferable misery. The ancient curse bore by the unspoken tongue of vivid nightmares seep and steam into our worlds. The awaken nightmares drags our very known idea of reality into question as we battle for answers outside of moral and supernatural comprehension.” The voice rattles.

“The sickness is spreading, and my home needs the treatment to prevent our collective doom. Riding the source of the ability to plague the realm of mortals; removing our known reality from that in which the fates dictated. The deceptive truth in which hides our minds from what we know and can’t perceive or observe lie in the hollow-hearted soul of the bringer of the sickness.”

“You already met the terrible fate in which destiny has chosen for every living creature in existence. The fabric of time itself is threatened. And now I see three lost and out of place souls stand within the golden glow before me.”

The sudden voice echoes within the once silenced room. Clear authority dripping and spilling onto the endless overflow to address the three figures.  

“Yet even in the harsh silence and disease of the dark, light is there to guide those back to the righteous path.” The bodyless voice encases the darkness; the fine rays of gold expand forcefully, sieging the night successfully to force them to flee, and as it does the room unravels. The thick golden light shrinks and twines itself to a peaceful stand of pure beams which leak from a high-strung window, stretching across a now revealed wooden floor.

Littered and scattered around tables form and break into the light from the blacken night. With these tables, matching chairs and other basic décor lay strung and discarded close by, some lazily half tucked, and hap hazard left abandoned, while others lay dead on the floor. A chivalrous chandelier brightly blazing waxed candles with fickle embers from the very centre of the formed roof. Casting a ever presence sombre light above Saito and the others.

Across the room ancient décor of metal suits of worn armour and mounted weaponry hangs from the rocks. Two twine blades carefully mounted over an open fireplace; a bow stationed on a far pillar though a lone nail which clings to the bow string. Many steals or craftsman innate craftmanship decorate the room. Almost mimicking guards withstands rigorously posing with a lose sword between their cuffed hands to dangle against the floor.

Saito peered with wonderous vigour, glazing into primitive world before his time. He could feel a faint breeze rub against his body from the thatched roof, held together by thick wooden beams to maintain its structure. Standing direct behind a table, he cast a look to peer onto it, the abandon game (in which he believed had something to do with cards) lay unfinished with some turned over to hug the table tightly, yet clean carved wood figures also appear sporadically across the table, almost as if they were part of the game as well. Turning away he directly looks in front, being attention to a huge collection of barrels and kegs stacked against the wall, with a carved wood front aligned with imprinted images of would-be warriors or token of whoever’s culture dance and twine with the wood. A few stranded stools also appear waiting to be used. Saito would guess that this building is some sort of tavern or primitive bar. The obvious signs of entertainment and alcohol immediately allows his mind to conclude that fact immediately.

Taken back by the sudden change; Saito remains stood still as the other figures start to venture further into the room. No longer remaining stationary. The beast briskly strides straight to the counter. Loudly slamming their arms while quickly twisting his head from left to right to check for any signs of the barkeep. While the cloaked figure carefully monoverse themselves to cruse to the outer wall. Their hand lightly brushing against the suits of amour and weapons which hang around them.

Taken back by the sudden change; Saito remains stood still as the other figures start to venture further into the room. No longer remaining stationary. The beast briskly strides straight to the counter. Loudly slamming their arms while quickly twisting his head from left to right to check for any signs of the barkeep. While the cloaked figure carefully monoverse themselves to cruse to the outer wall. Their hand lightly brushing against the suits of amour and weapons which hang around them.

 

Yet Saito still didn’t move from his spot. His legs rooted to the floor with his fear tightly woven to the ground, slowly sweeping though the boy in the unknown tavern.

Saito knows this force keeping him still is imaginary. He eyes the proof of the others wondering aimlessly, as if to guide his body to copy them. Yet his mind is convinced of a fictional hoax.

Until the voice came back.

However, now (greeting with the voice) a new figure emerges.

A figure (obvious male) dressed in fine fading green cotton with a large brown sash drifting across his torso, an enlarged steel buckle clips together to maintain a tight fit. Across his upper chest, steel engraved plates rest over both of his shoulders, with matching forearm plates just hidden underneath the cotton fabric. Swaying as he walks, his silky red trousers bunch together and excited dance with amusement, matching the man’s speed. The man’s hair slightly overgrown, yet neatly maintained to rest on his head and away from covering his vision. Yet perfectly blending with the man’s suitable brown bearded face.

Yet Saito couldn’t see where this person appeared from.

There were no doors.

Quickly scanning the room once again, he conquered with his previous thought, they shouldn’t of been another entrance.

So how did this person get here?

How did he get here? His thoughts purpose.

As Saito was lost in thought, the previous two entities prey their eyes away from the common distractions of the room: directly greeting this new body with lingering stares and emphatic mistrust.

They notice the man holding a small box. This figure calmly strolls past. The loud grunts from the wild beast do little to dismay the being path. Walking fixatedly to the bar. He opens a latch to the side of the counter. Swinging open a wooden half door to go around the counter.

“Ca ,ou ta casu?” the being ask, slightly turning his head, addressing everyone within the room.

Saito saw how both the beast and cloaked figures stare at the being. Before noticing how the cloaked wonder, slowly protrudes from the outer edges to the bar itself. Casually leaning against the hard wooden frame.

Putting the box on the counter, the figure turns to open a barrel behind him. Forcing his nimble figures to awkwardly wedge themselves between the cork; before an echoing pop erupts.

A strange smooth golden liquid pours from the overhanging barrel. Dropping from the sky forming an archway similarly from a natural waterfall. The liquid riding on the winds of freedom becomes caged by different cups catching the liquid to contain it inside of them. The being smoothly slides each one down the counter to land in a neat horizontal line, all equal distanced from each other. The cloaked figure (already at the bar) lifts the cup and calmly eyeing the drink itself.

Whereas the beast with a layer of hesitation and mistrust still stood away from the bar. Staring down each figure with caution.

Saito finally free from the weight of nothing, beings to move himself to break the stalemate; each step being him closer to the bar. Each movement floods the room with lingering eyes.

Until he is stood hanging over the drink. The shadow of his body cloaking the gold into a murky husk of its former bright glory.

Carefully, Saito grips the decorative glass. The cold metal tightly binds itself to his hand; slowly drifting to his mouth. Before taking a few steady gulps.

As the liquid danced within his mouth, he felt the rush and tingle of a warm fuzz build inside his body. A foreign feeling bubbling with ecstasy within his own soul, under the rouse of this drink. Each gulp twines with a sudden rush of furore and comfort; overwhelming any previous sense he might of had.

He gulps the drink to sit within the containment of his body. Taking and savouring every droplet which lingered within its cage; obsessing to devour the liquid. Saito knew this was strange desire was abnormal, yet truly in this very moment he didn’t care, he truly never tasted anything like this before.

The beast, still off to the side made his way to the last remaining cup. Eyeing Saito and seeing no negative consequence he plucks the drink into his over sized hand before matching the boy.

Both beast and boy drinks in lacklustre harmony. Under the watchful gaze of the barman.

It wasn’t until that the barman spoke again that Saito knew something has changed.

“I do hope you enjoyed the drink. Truthfully, I’m quite impartial to this taste. I normally prefer ale or Gossberry beer.” The being spoke, now perfectly understandable to Saito.

He almost earnestly response. The drunken high from the beverage tainting his sense to miss the critical detail.

He didn’t understand this person before.

Yet now almost with complete clarity, the words which cleanly rattled from the being standing before him are perfectly normal.

Saito couldn’t help but become suddenly overwhelmed.

Teared pricked at the edges of this eyes, some leaked and swoop solemnly to the floor. Dragging his head to follow. The drunken vigoro of the beverage being quickly tossed away after the sudden spill of confusion and anxiety. He could see the greyish giant attempt to wonder closer and gaze in his direction.

“Dear child, I truly am sorry,” The being said. Bring his hand to Gentilly rub Saito hair as the tears continue to stream from his eyes. Even bring an handkerchief from a lone pocket to help wipe his eyes, carefully clearing his skin kindly as the tears flowed freely.

For this singular moment. Saito could just be an overwhelmed child