2004-11-13 - 2:50 a.m.

EMPEE
-The Origin-
By Dei Fortuna

There was no change in the cave except that the light grew steadily more defined in the distance. It was now no longer just a spot, but an intersection of paths lit up ahead of him. The light seemed to be emanating from around a wall to his right; he would reach it and see its source in a moment. It seemed to take an eternity, yet it might as well have been an instant later that he reached it and turned towards the source of the strange glow.
Lance turns towards the light and suddenly the ground gives from under him. Images flash through his mind. A black figure surrounded by scenes of destruction, always smiling and looking down at him; A cold, gray moon shines over unfamiliar lands; A mountain smolders, covered with the bodies of angels and demons alike; these and so many other visions pass in an instant. He sees an eye opening, blood red with a thin slit pupil like a serpent’s. He feels himself trapped in the claws of a great beast, arching a venomous stinger over him. The last thing he sees before the monster strikes is Eve lying lifeless on the cold stone floor.
Lance awoke in a sweat, confused and frightened, but he could not, for the life of him, remember just what he had been dreaming of.
* * *

"So, what do you think is in there?” Lance asked as he brushed a lock of brown hair from his eyes. He strained forward attempting to penetrate the thick darkness of the cave.
"I...I don't like it. It scares me,” came Eve’s reply. “Is this why you brought us out her again?” Lance continued to stare ahead. Is that a light in the distance, or just my imagination? She really shouldn’t have come here if all she’s going to do is complain. He responded as if her protests couldn’t dampen his spirits.
"Of course, this is perfect! Just what I’ve been looking for all these days.” He undid his pack and leaned over to set it down next to the cave mouth. I really should have brought something for light…
"Wait, you’re not actually going to go in there are you?" she whimpered. Surprised by her objection, Lance’s tone was harsh.
"Well why wouldn’t I? Think of what we might find in there, it’d be silly to go back empty handed.” He stood up to face her.
“This is a bad idea, we should tell someone else—“
“No!” Lance surprised himself with the suddenness his reaction. Eve was silent. “Look, everything is fine. You can stay here if you’re scared, I’ll just look around and then come right back, okay?”
"But what about you, Lance? Who knows what could be in there. What if there are monsters? Daddy tells me that we shouldn't even be going for these walks because there have been so many of them. Anything could be in there." Her pleas reached Lance’s ears with a feeling of desperation. He hadn't thought about monsters. But to go back now… he had already come so far. Besides no one had seen anything dangerous around Varil. News from outside was that monster sightings had increased nearly double, but the valley was still safe. He looked to the cave again and was sure he saw a glimmer of light. The dark shadows of monsters vanished from his mind. He would risk it.
“I’ll be right back,” he turned and began walking.
“Please don’t go!” Lance heard her shout behind him. He turned around intending to tell her how foolish she was being, but was taken aback by the tears forming in her eyes and the look of fright on her face. His tone changed from mockery to reassurance.
“It’s okay. I’m not gone yet,” he said. “I know it looks scary, but I’m sure there is nothing to worry about.” He tried to sound confident, but the images of monsters began to resurface in his mind. His mom had told him stories about fearsome creatures, like enormous beasts with twisted features that stalked through the night and all the dark places of Fulgerus. They had claws to rend flesh and armor alike, gaping mouths filled with teeth that could crush bone, and insatiable appetites that led them in endless search of prey. It took everything he could muster to resist giving a visible shudder. Still, his voice sounded confident as he continued his attempt to calm her. “Besides, if I don’t at least explore a little, it’ll be a waste coming all this way.” Her expression did not change. “Listen, I promise to come back real soon, so please cheer up, okay?” He tried to give her a smile, but she bowed her head. Maybe this wouldn’t work out after all.
Eve paused for a moment, then fidgeted with something on her neck and pulled away a string. She took Lance’s hand in hers, and placed something in it as she looked up at him again. It was the necklace her father had given to her for her seventh birthday. “Just bring it back, okay?” She said quietly. “Otherwise I’ll never forgive you, so make sure you keep your promise.” Lance stood there for a moment, looking into her eyes, just now realizing that he actually had made a promise. He had never seen her look so serious before. He felt something deep inside him move, but it was a sensation he didn’t understand. He merely nodded, and, vowing to himself that he wouldn’t let her down, he turned and entered the cave.
He moved forward quickly, as if sure of his intentions. The darkness soon enveloped him, and he suddenly remembered how foolish it was for him to not think of bringing a torch. There was no time for that now, however. He couldn’t afford to reconsider after what had just happened. Anyway, he could still make out a faint glimmer in the distance, so he pressed on hoping that he wouldn’t need a light after all. The cave was narrow at first and his shoulders brushed against the cold rock wall. He felt something scitter away and started.
Probably just a bug. Besides, the cave seems to be broadening out now. He gritted his teeth and continued. His foot hit a small stone and causes him to falter in his step. The stone was sent rolling and clatters about the cave for a moment. For a moment, the sound of the rock takes over his senses, deafeningly loud, and then, all at once, it is quiet. He stood there motionless, listening, expecting something. Still silence.
Again he continued on. There was no change in the cave except that the light grew steadily more defined in the distance. It was now no longer just a spot, but an intersection of paths lit up ahead of him. The light seemed to be emanating from around a wall to his right; he would reach it and see its source in a moment. It seemed to take an eternity, yet it might as well have been an instant later that he reached it and turned towards the source of the strange glow.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined such wonders! Through a narrow passage he could see light dancing off gold and silver relics. He moved towards it, dazed. He passed through into a strange shrine and looked around in awe. Is this real? Is it possible that I’m still at home in my bed, imagining what lies in this cave? Not even while listening to his mother’s stories had Lance imagined such wonders! Torches lined the walls burning with unreal white flames. Altars bearing strange relics, vases and tools and weapons surrounded a center pedestal. His eyes were instantly drawn to the strange object on the platform. It was a jewel, silver and transparent, with perfectly smooth and even sides of triangles. It reflected the pale light back in all directions as dazzling prisms and it gleamed and sparkled at every point. Deep within the center of the stone seemed to be a faint orange glow.
Lance reached out for the stone, but something caught his attention from out of the corner of his eye. Behind the altar there was a strange sort of writing on the wall. It was in a language that he had never seen, but as he looked at the characters, they began to feel familiar to him, perhaps as if he had dreamt of them. Looking at a circle of lines points and shapes surrounding a strange bulge on the far wall, he was overcome by one piercing feeling: Danger. He couldn't justify it, but he felt that he must leave at once. He turned to hurry from the room but then stopped.
It was at this point that unknown forces presented a young boy, not yet a man, but too old to be a child, with uneven fates. Something called to him, from a place that even the Gods could not see. He looked back, to see the stone shining so brightly. I shouldn’t! …But it would be such a shame to go back to Eve empty handed. Is it really so dangerous? He moved back to the pedestal and stared for a long while at the stone. Finally, he reached out and grasped the stone. At once, everything changed, and it took him a moment to realize how the cold gem felt against his hands. So this is what it feels like.
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than he began to regret his decision. Suddenly the ground under him shakes causing him to stutter back. He stared about wildly. The walls were cracking and the strange bulge on the opposing wall peeled away revealing a blood red eye with a long slit pupil. He backed away as debris fell from the ceiling of the chamber. He jumped past the threshold just as the entire chamber caved in sending dust up in the air in huge clouds. As it cleared, the light of the now scattered torches revealed a looming silhouette of rubble.
Lance stood paralyzed as the pile of dirt and rock shifted and then began to unroll. A giant tail tipped with a gleaming spike rose from the top. The rest of the mound split into two great claws revealing a massive body behind them with a single red eye set atop a vicious mandible jutting out from what looked like the remains of the altar the stone had sat on. The creature, a giant scorpion, extended its tail and claws as if stretching and then ripped many pointed feet from the cavern floor causing even more tremors.
The cold feeling of the stone in his hand brought Lance back to himself. He turned to flee and did not look back. He felt the ground shake as the beast began to pursue him. The cave was wide enough even for such a massive monster to move through, but Lance remembered that entrance had been much smaller. He turned so sharp at the intersection that he almost lost balance, but kept his footing and hurried on. The scorpion’s momentum carried it past the turn, and it screeched to a stop before back tracking and racing after Lance towards the entrance. Lance could see the entrance in the distance now. He was going to escape... halfway... just a little further and—
Crack! He hit something hard and fell over. He got up, unsure of what it was, but too panicked to care, the scorpion was still right on him. He turned and began running, but stopped suddenly. He heard a girl scream. It was Eve, and her shouts were coming from within the cave.
When the tremors started, Eve began worrying about Lance and, having conquered her fear, slowly entered the cave. She couldn't see anything through the darkness, but was relieved when she heard footsteps. She was about to call out to Lance right when he plowed into her. Dazed from the collision, she wasn't sure what was happening. Gradually she realized she was being dragged off by something—something cold, scaly, and sharp. With realization sweeping over her she began to scream and struggle.
Lance turned back to the darkness. All fear suddenly left him, and he was taken over instead by a fury of boldness. He grabbed a branch that had fallen next to the entrance and began to run into the cave. "Eve!" he yelled, "I'm coming!" But they were already deep in the cave. He got reached the turn and rounded it sharply once again, this time sliding to his knees momentarily before regaining his balance and continuing ahead. He could see the back of the scorpion, it was in the alter room, tale poised for attack. Lance jumped for the tale and struck it hard with the branch. The scorpion seemed to notice, but the club had splintered. The monster released Eve and turned slowly towards Lance. "Leave her alone, I'm the one you want." He yelled holding out the stone. The scorpion hissed and began advancing on him.
"No Lance! Run!" Eve screamed. He didn't need the advice. Lance had already begun to flee. As long as it followed him, everything would be okay, unless... Lance felt something sharp dig into his sides and squeeze.
Lance struggled, but it was useless, the scorpion had him in its grip. He felt it turn and bring him back to the shrine. He opened his eyes to see Eve crying on the floor. Her clothes were torn and she was bleeding. She looked up to him and saw the scorpion arching its back. Lance screamed for her to stay back as she threw herself at the beasts tail, but it was too late. The beast shrugged her aside as if she were a doll and sent her flying into the wall. She fell to the ground and lay there, still. Lance looked down at her slack body, lifeless, he imagined, and he screamed as he prepared himself for the monsters attack. How could this have happened? Any moment now and he would feel the icy venom coursing through his veins.
Suddenly, the scorpion gave what seemed to be a scream of agony. Lance fell to the ground and began to clutch at his sides. He looked about to see what had happened. A rock had fallen from the recently cracked ceiling and landed on the scorpion. It was not dead, but it had turned the other way.
A cave in? But then he saw something shining on the ground. A silver arrow was lying on the ground near the recently fallen rubble. What was going on here? Lance suddenly began to feel that he couldn’t quite grasp what was happening.
"Hyaaa!" came a shout as the he saw a young man jump behind the scorpion and stab it with a long sword. The scorpion shrieked, but the man didn't stop. He pulled the blade out, and with one quick stroke, the scorpions tale fell limp to the ground. It didn't even get a chance to see its attacker. Before it could turn around, the unknown savior had killed it. After the beast stopped moving, he approached Lance.
"Are you okay?" he asked. Lance stared blankly for a moment, and then he pointed to Eve’s body.
“Please help he—“ but he couldn’t finish as he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back after moving his left arm. He doubled over groaning, and heard the man gasp. The ground was a blur before Lance, and he felt his tunic sticking cold to his back while something warm trickled down his sides. Soon all was darkness.
In the night that surrounded him, Lance dreamt that he saw a young man in armor leaning over a boy’s body, hopelessly examining a long black tear on his back. He didn’t understand why the man seemed so upset by the situation though. It seemed quite obvious to him that all the man needed to do was to remove the poison. So why wasn’t he doing it? All you have to do is put your hands over the wound and use your power to neutralize it. The man put his hands on the boys wound, and he looked startled as the gash seemed to shine under his touch for a moment. There, that’s right. The wound began to foam and seethe and then seal itself. The man raised his hands to his face and inspected them, but couldn’t see anything unusual.
Really, I don’t understand what he was so concerned about. I really do need to sleep now though. Lance was dimly aware that the man went over to check on the girl that lay nearby him before rushing from the cave. I wonder what he’s in such a hurry to do? But Lance’s dream ended there.
When he awoke, he did not know how much later, his back ached terribly, but he felt it, and he was not bleeding. He looked up to see Eve sitting over him, eyes wide. Relief washed over him when he saw her, he almost felt like laughing, but something wasn’t quite right. For some reason this all felt very familiar to him. Who is Kellie?
“Lance.” She said, almost whispering. “What happened? How…” she trailed off and looked towards the lifeless body of the scorpion. “How did you kill it?”

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