The voice from the past

As Elladan's unconscious form lay still, his mind descended further into the depths of a mysterious and otherworldly realm. Within this ethereal expanse, time lost its hold, and the boundaries of reality blurred. Shadows, like elusive spirits, twirled and twisted before his closed eyes, their dance accompanied by faint whispers that resonated deep within his subconscious.

Slowly, the veils of the unknown began to part, revealing a hazy landscape that flickered between familiarity and estrangement. Elladan found himself standing in a place that seemed to exist beyond the confines of space and time. The air was charged with enigmatic energy, tinged with a soft luminescence that cast an otherworldly glow upon the surroundings. And there, amidst the gentle radiance, he beheld his parents—two figures embraced by the ethereal light. His heart leaped within his chest as relief and longing surged through his being.

With an outstretched hand, he called out to them, his voice filled with a blend of hope and desperation. He yearned to bridge the vast distance that separated them, to find solace in their familiar presence.

"Mother! Father!" Elladan cried out, his voice carrying the weight of his yearning. "Please, wait! It's me, Elladan!"

But his parents continued their relentless march, their figures growing smaller and more distant. Panic seized Elladan's chest as he frantically tried to catch up, his footsteps echoing in the void of his subconscious. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bridge the gap that separated them. With each passing moment, his hope waned, replaced by a profound sense of loss and isolation.

As his parents drew nearer to the radiant light, its intensity increased, casting an ethereal glow upon their forms. The flickering illumination seemed to embrace them, engulfing their beings in its mesmerizing embrace. Elladan's eyes widened, his heart pounding with a mixture of awe and trepidation, as their bodies gradually dissolved into the radiant brilliance. His desperate cries echoed through the mysterious realm, pleading for them to stay, to turn back, to acknowledge his presence. But the pleas fell upon deaf ears, lost within the cosmic currents that carried his parents ever closer to the heart of the luminescence.

The light expanded and pulsed, as if devouring their essence, consuming their physical forms and leaving behind only the fading traces of their existence. A sense of helplessness overwhelmed Elladan, his outstretched hands trembling with disbelief and sorrow. Tears streamed down his face, merging with the infinite darkness that surrounded him, as he watched his parents vanish into the very fabric of the enigmatic light.

At that moment, all that remained was emptiness—a void that seemed to echo the depths of his soul. Elladan collapsed to his knees, his heart heavy with the weight of his perceived failure. Despair gnawed at his spirit, threatening to extinguish the flicker of hope that still lingered within.

The world around him seemed to fade into a realm of desolation, mirroring the desolate landscape of his own despair. The once vibrant colors of his surroundings drained away, leaving behind a monochromatic palette of grays and shadows. The absence of his parents' presence echoed through his being, leaving an indelible void that felt impossible to fill.

Grief became his companion, its icy grip tightening around his heart. The weight of unanswered questions bore down upon him, suffocating his spirit. Why had they turned away? Why had they rushed towards that blinding light, leaving him behind? These questions swirled within his mind, tormenting him with their relentless chorus.

In the depths of his anguish, Elladan's eyes were drawn to the flickering glow that still lingered in the distance. It called to him, both beckoning and haunting, as if promising answers that lay just beyond his reach.

"Elladan!" a voice, faint yet resolute, whispered in his mind.

Startled, Elladan turned towards the voice, his eyes searching for its source. Standing before him was a figure clad in armor.

"Who are you?" Elladan asked, his voice laced with curiosity and confusion.

Tall and regal, the man stood with an air of ancient nobility. His eyes, a piercing blue reminiscent of a stormy sea, held both sorrow and determination. His weathered face bore the weight of countless battles fought and wisdom gained, etched with the lines of a life fully lived. A mantle of dark robes draped his broad shoulders, billowing slightly as if stirred by an unseen breeze. His voice resonated with a timbre that seemed to echo through the depths of Elladan's soul.

"My name is Ansgar. The first man to carry the name Magnus" he spoke, his words at once gentle and commanding.

Elladan's eyes widened in astonishment. The realization that he was connected to this old warrior filled him with awe.

"Where have my parents gone? Why am I here? What is happening?" Elladan inquired, his voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and eagerness.

Ansgar's gaze softened, and he spoke in a soothing tone. "You, Elladan, stand now in the Gray Marches. A place that is between the Mortal Realm and the World of Deities for those who stand above the abyss of death, but who can still return back to the world of the living."

"But why am I here?" asked Ell.

"I don't know, I had no power to observe your fate and I never will. Try to recall what has happened" said Ansgar.

Elladan furrowed his brow, delving into the depths of his memories, searching for the missing pieces of the puzzle. Fragments of images flickered in his mind's eye—smoke billowing, screams piercing the air, and a great winged creature soaring above the chaos. A surge of realization coursed through him as he pieced together the events that had led to this moment.

"The dragon," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of awe and fear. "It attacked our town. Mother and father... they must have tried to escape. But…"

"They are gone! No need to think of that anymore." replied Ansgar. "The thing I am wondering is the dragon. Tell me more about this… Please!" the last word seemed to be hard to say for the old warrior.

"It was the One-Eyed Black Dragon…"

"From the Great Dungeon?!" Ansgar was surprised.

Elladan nodded in response.

"But why did you call him One-Eyed? And don't you dare to say something like Because he has one eye. I need more details!"

"Understood. He is called One-Eyed because, during the Age of Heroes, Albert Waldstein has cut one of his eyes in the battle, before it fled away."

"This son of the bitch couldn't kill this beast?! Then why the hell I did sacrifice myself?!" fury and metal clanged in Ansgar's voice.

Elladan didn't say anything. Ansgar tried to say something else, but he suddenly ceased himself from doing so.

"Well, I have plenty more things to ask from you. But unfortunately, we don't have much time left. Now, Elladan, answer me, do you want to continue your life in the Realm of Mortals?"

The boy was shocked by this question.

"I don't even know what to say…"

"YES OR NO?!" Ansgar's voice became brutal again.

"Yes!" instantly said Ell, being afraid even to take some time for any thoughts.

"Good, then go back and live your life!" said his ancestor.

"But… I also have questions to a…" before he could finish his words, Ansgar placed a hand on Elladan's shoulder.

"The answers will reveal themselves in due time, young one," he said.

Elladan could not anything but nod.

"But remember, Elladan," Ansgar continued, his voice resonating with wisdom. "You are not alone…"

As Ansgar's words faded, the visions dissolved, giving way to the darkness of unconsciousness…