Chapter 3: From One Hell to Another

'Curiosus kor estrettis citius cadertre.'

Curious hearts fall quicker.

***

An eerie wind howls across a desolate land. Kiora's eye lids flicker open. She presses her forehead. The Daemik's energy is drained from her battle with… 'Who was that again?' Her mind wanders in a haze. The trauma to her head causes Kiora to stagger. She squirms uncomfortably while feeling physically bogged down. Her armor seems to drag her deeper into the ground. Frantic hands skim across steel. They fumble in search of a belt or rope.

Once her black fingertips tug onto a buckle, the lone soldier removes her armor. Beautiful plates of silver fall to the ashy ground. Kiora stands in a simple tunic and pair of pants. Her tail droops from her body's fatigue. She stretches while inhaling a deep breath. The lone soldier draws out a long sigh of relief.

"Grattis, Diu!" Kiora exclaims.

The young Daemik struggles to lift a foot forward. After the exhaustion of her magika, Kiora reverts into her previous form. She shuffles barefoot across the dusty ground. 'I must investigate!' Her mind insists. The lone soldier notices that she is indeed alone. Her heart is too tired to feel afraid. Instead, Kiora presses deeper into the unknown territory.

The land is arid and dry. Grey rock litters the floor. Kiora trudges along at a slow pace. Her poor movement exasperates the timelessness of the trek. 'Is anyone else out there?' She asks. 'After all of this walking, I should have found some sort of life…right?' Kiora catches a piece of dust in her throat. She coughs while dreading the dryness of her mouth. The lone soldier deems that locating water is more important than another soul.

Kiora walks aimlessly through the realma. Unfortunately, she has no luck in finding a spring or even a trickle of water. Her exhaustion brings Kiora to the ground. She collapses onto her knees. A wave of anger passes over her. Suddenly, Kiora shouts while pounding the dirt. As salty tears stream down her cheeks, Kiora admits defeat. A loud rumble echoes from within her gut.

"I'm starving!" She bares her fangs in despair. "Is there 'anyone' out here?"

The question is repeated in a growl. Despite her bleak situation, Kiora's anger boils. As far as she knows, the lone soldier arrives unwillingly in the strange land. 'Was I hexed?' Her mind continues to reel. Unfortunately, the more negative thoughts that rise impact her fortitude. Kiora shortly finds herself overwhelmed by confusion and doubt. 'Am I even supposed to be here?' A sharp sound pulls her towards the surface.

Kiora's gaze scans the dim environment around her. Two blue eyes widen in surprise. In the distance, stands a child! His brown hair hangs below his nose. The boy's clothes are tattered and frayed. The lone soldier attempts to gauge the situation. Kiora cannot discern whether or not he is simply a child. As she tilts her head, the boy mimics. The boy regards her with a small smile.

"Who are you?" Kiora demands.

"Pourquoi la dame est-elle en colere?" He asks with a frown. "Ne te souviens-tu pas de moi?"

Although the boy doesn't speak Daemmik, his language is similar enough to grasp. Kiora regards him with a curious gleam. 'Does 'he' know me?' She tilts her head in perplexity. 'I don't recall him.' She finds his speech a bit odd. 'I'm not necessarily angry at him.' Her lack of a reply brings the boy to tears. Now, Kiora feels guilty. As her heart saddens, Kiora reaches out towards the boy. Suddenly, he darts away!

"Where are you going?" Kiora shouts after him. She pursues him despite her body's complaints. "Please, tell me where we are!"

The boy doesn't answer. Rather, he proceeds with his flight away from the angry 'lady.' During the chase, Kiora notices a shift in scenery. Tall crags just skyward. A mountainous path lies out in front of her. The child's cries echo against the rocky walls. His shrill screams feed Kiora's soul with dread. In spite of her dull senses, the lone soldier continues her pursuit of the mysterious child.

With one foot in front of the other, Kiora's limbs work overtime. A migraine violently emerges upon each step. The lone soldier's brain pounds against her skull. Running makes matters worse. Her chest heaves up and down while trying to maintain the pace. However, the overexertion exasperates her body's condition. Her vision begins to haze. Soon, Kiora loses sight of the boy as her face crashes into the ground...

***

...While her body is immobile, Kiora's dream self appears in a dark landscape. Unlike the terrain in the present, she recalls the location. As she rises to her feet, sharp rocks pierce into her soft flesh. Kiora's feet bleed as she walks deeper into the realma.

"Ouch!" She shouts in pain.

Kiora sits down onto the shale. She pauses to gather her breath. Carefully, she rubs her injured feet. Her sights turn to her tunic. Kiora rips pieces off of the fabric. Once her feet are wrapped, the Daemik rises. 'I have no other choice.' Kiora asserts. The lone soldier returns to her march with a surge of determination.

Time passes and Kiora approaches a thorny forest. The black trees appear as though they have endured a fire. When Kiora stands beside a tree, she startles at the barbs poking out from the bark. 'I haven't seen a tree like this one!' A tinge of curiosity compels her to touch one of the barbs. Carefully, Kiora runs a finger along a spike. 'How odd!' She thinks. Kiora goes to shake a branch when a voice prompts her to halt.

"I wouldn't mess with them if I were you." A raspy sound comes from behind. "I hear that they become violent once they've tasted blood."

Kiora turns her around. She sees a figure clad in dark, burgundy robes. The stranger's face is concealed beneath a heavy hood. Kiora's curiosity piques at the odd statement.

"The trees…can attack you?" She stares up at the thorny plant. "How so?"

"Indeed!" The hooded figure cackles. "They have their methods. Though, it seems that you're still as curious as ever!"

Kiora takes a cautionary step towards the stranger. 'He 'knows' me?' Her heartbeats in a panic. 'Who is he?' The lone soldier stands in front of the stranger. As she stands closer, Kiora notices more of the figure's features. The old and raspy voice emits from a hunched physique. The man goes to move his hand-further, revealing a skeletal hand!

The lone soldier opens her mouth in surprise. Her thoughts run in circles. In truth, he does know her. A moment of silence pervades in between the two. Kiora rubs her temples in an attempt to draw out a name. 'The barren wasteland!' The young Daemik recalls. She pries deeper into her memory. Soon, a name rises to the surface.

"Zarvael!" She mutters.

"Ah!" He cheers while clapping his bony hands. "You do remember me, my dear!"

How could any forget such a horrific visage? Kiora simply nods in reply. Although the terrain calls for caution, her heart is more at ease from the familiarity. She watches as the skeleton tilts his head.

"So, since you remember, my dear," Zarvael muses. "That means I shouldn't have to warn you again."

"Warn me of what?" Kiora crosses her arms while swishing her tail side to side.

"Curb your curiosity!" The old skeleton wags a pallid finger. "One can be too curious for their own good!"

"What's wrong with wanting to learn?" The young Daemik's voice squeaks in protest.

A grim laugh explodes from the skeleton's maw. Zarvael shakes his head in disbelief.

"Clearly, you haven't learned." He places a hand on her shoulder. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be here."

The lone soldier takes a step back. She glares at the old man. 'What does he mean?' She grimaces. 'I didn't ask to be come.' Before she can inquire further into his meaning, Kiora hears a howl break in the distance. She glances around in terror.

"What's there?" Her heartbeat pulses in panic.

The ghastly howls transition into screeches. 'Something terrible is coming!' Kiora's mind reels. She turns to face a calm Zarvael. The skeletal man appears unfazed. He extends a bony finger to Kiora.

"You must wake up, dear," he advises.

"I don't understand," she replies.

"Wake up and run!" Zarvael shouts.

Kiora concedes to follow through with the second portion of his words. She takes flight in the thorny forest. The sound of wolves, no beasts, surrounds her. As Kiora glances behind, the figure is no longer present. 'I feel lost.' She thinks as her heart aches. An explosion rings across the unforgiving woods. The sound reverberates and causes her ears to scream...

***

...Kiora doesn't know where the explosion comes from. However, as she stands in the mountainous path, the lone soldier understands that she is being hunted. Her eyes scan across the dark rocks. 'There!' Kiora's focus heightens. She can detail several beasts of many forms. In one direction prowls wolf-like creatures. On the other side of the mountains, lion-esque predators seek to claim prey for their own. Kiora is beyond herself with two beasts competing with one another.

"Sh**!" The lone soldier grits her teeth.

Her body aches from the lack of sustenance. No matter, the adrenaline pulsating throughout her body provides enough raw energy to bolt. Kiora doesn't have enough spiritual energy to aid her. Thus, she must rely on her own feet. 'If only I had magika, then this would be a cinch!' Kiora darts through the mountains in search of cover. Her heart beats rapidly as the howls and growls ring closer to her heels.

The canines are now on the same field as their target. The lion creatures, on the other 'paw,' remain overhead. 'They're trying to pounce from above!' Kiora observes. As the lone soldier continues her flight, Kiora's adrenaline starts to waver. Her feet cut against the rocks below. The traces of blood entice the beasts into a frenzy. 'I don't think that I'll make it!' She huffs.

Suddenly, a black door appears in front of Kiora. Without another thought, the desperate soldier turns the knob. There are wolves close behind who snap their jaws at her ankles. Fortunately, Kiora lands on the other side of the door. She struggles to close the port-further, fighting against hungry muzzles. A burst of determination explodes from within her belly. 'Finally!' Kiora cheers as the door slams shut. Once the black frame closes, the portal disappears.

Kiora laughs in a fit of hysteria. 'I can't believe my luck!' Tears trail her face. 'I was sure that death would find me.' Her heartbeat struggles to steady. As exhaustion consumes every fiber of her body, Kiora is unable to focus. Her fatigue makes standing difficult. Carefully, the lone soldier lays down on the ground. Within another moment, she falls asleep.