Nightmare (2)

We both walked outside of the mansion. It was a serene night, with no clouds in the sky, and stars could be seen, staring down at us from the high skies above. It was magical, and I instantly fell in love with the sky. It was possibly the first time I had seen them so clearly. Usually, I would sleep before they even opened their sparkling eyes.

The moonlight hugged the area as everything was covered in its presence. We continued to walk into the ranch where I used to practice daily exercises with my uncle. I followed Y's pace, steadily floating toward the middle of the ranch. He had an emotionless face as he treaded onwards.

"So, who exactly is this Nocturne, primordial nightmare guy?" I asked him. "Was he your close friend?" I gave him a huge grin as I continued to ask him.

"Okay, first of all, Nocturne is known by many names. It's a surprise that you don't know him at all. Second, never stick me with that guy," he sternly replied to my questions, a bit infuriated.

"Alright then, so why are we here outside?" I inquired.

"We will let this key absorb the light that is radiated from the moon and use it to find the altar," he replied in a solemn voice.

Y told me to raise up the key that I was holding. I did not question what he said and just did it. As soon as I did, the purple crystal began to emit a glow of radiance equal to its color. It gave off a mysterious glow that attracted the night's gaze, and the winds breathed around it until it gradually shone brighter and began to violently shake.

"That should be enough. Let's go back in," he said without explanation.

"Wait, that's it? Nothing else? No special ritual, incantation, or something that would make it much cooler?" Of course, I asked. There should be something more, right?

"You think magic is always that complicated? There are things in this world that are already complicated. Learn to appreciate the simple ones," he casually replied while waving goodbye at me as he walked back to the house.

We walked up the elegantly made wooden stairs that shone even at night. The clean, glowing red carpet continued to stretch in every possible hall and corridor in the house. It was unbelievable how people could keep them this clean while doing other assigned chores.

We went up the stairs and gently walked through corridors and halls, walking aimlessly. I was beginning to feel bored and tired when he abruptly stopped. It wasn't even in the right location or spot that I remembered the altar used to be.

"Hey, what's the matter? I don't think this is the right place," I started to talk to him, but before I could continue, he interrupted me.

"No, this is where the altar should be. The reason why we weren't able to find it was because we didn't follow the proper steps in opening the night," he gave me a solid reply. "It should be here somewhere." I followed closely beside him as he asked me to wave the light of the key near the floors and walls.

I carefully ensured that no spot was untouched by the bright light emitted from the key. I went through each centimeter and inch, slowly moving around the area with my hands steadily running back and forth through the same spot and to another area that I had yet to explore.

I scoured the area with sharp precision, ensuring that I wouldn't miss a thing. This one thing meant a lot to me. This was the first time that I was this close to finding a proper answer that could affect my life. I realized the weight of this mission of finding the altar. Everything meant nothing. This time, I gave all my focus to locating this one small detail that could be easily lost in the light.

"Throw it, hard," Y, who was behind me, suddenly said.

"What? Throw where?" Confused, I asked him. "I know it's frustrating not to be able to find this hidden altar, but isn't it too much to throw the key?" I gave a long sigh. "Which direction?"

He gave me a creepy smile. "Anywhere you want, as hard as you want."

I got permission to throw the key, and it felt good. The key flew across the hall, flying in a dramatic state. The shining glow in the night made it feel like something magical would happen.

Contrary to expectations, nothing bad happened. It landed on the ground across from us. The light stood still in an awkward placement, motionless and bright.

"Looks like we found it," Y said as he steadily walked towards the glowing key with smoke engulfing him.

"Yeah, looks like we did," I looked toward the place where the key landed.

An outline began to show itself, and the contours of the altar slowly began to shape through the shade of the night. It was covered in the essence of the night and the reaver of the ethereal and living realm. Gradually making itself known to the world, the altar slowly unveiled itself to the world. The outline of the altar slowly became empirical. It was oozing with an eerie and ominous aura that pulsed through me. It was a tabernacle.

"So, it is a tabernacle. It is usually constructed as a small, freestanding cabinet or a fixed niche located either behind the altar or on a side altar," Y began to slowly explain the fascinating sight that he just witnessed.

"Nocturne really likes to conceal things, does he?" I observed the altar, and most importantly, the tabernacle.

Its eerie presence sent a shiver down the spine of anyone who dared to approach. The tabernacle altar, once radiant and beautiful, now exuded a foreboding atmosphere. Its structure, forged from weathered iron, appeared twisted and deformed, as if its very essence had been corrupted by dark forces. The metal surface bore the scars of time, covered in rust and patches of flaking paint, giving it a decrepit and neglected appearance.

Then I saw it, a keyhole.

"Place the key in, Enzo. If you are ready for the world to move forward, it will continue to move. Even without you, much even better without you," he said while shrugging his shoulders.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what the consequences might be if I inserted the key into the tabernacle's keyhole. The foreboding aura emanating from the altar made me question the true nature of this act. Yet, deep down, I knew that this was the culmination of my journey, the answer I had been seeking. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, I approached the tabernacle, clutching the glowing key tightly in my hand.

As I reached the altar, a gust of wind swept through the corridor, causing the surrounding candles to flicker and casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air grew thick with anticipation, as if the entire mansion held its breath, waiting for the key to fulfill its purpose. I glanced at Y, who stood at a distance, his eyes fixed on me, his expression unreadable.

Summoning my courage, I slowly inserted the key into the keyhole. As it made contact with the mechanism, a low, rumbling sound filled the air, reverberating through the mansion. The rusted gears within the tabernacle groaned with resistance, as if they hadn't moved in centuries. A surge of energy coursed through my body, tingling in my fingertips and spreading through every vein.

The altar trembled, and the tabernacle door creaked open, revealing a pitch-black void within. Shadows seemed to writhe and dance inside the recesses of the tabernacle, whispering secrets and ancient incantations. I could feel an irresistible pull, a beckoning from the darkness that both terrified and fascinated me.

Without hesitation, I stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the abyss. The moment I entered, the tabernacle door slammed shut behind me, engulfing me in complete darkness. Panic threatened to consume me, but I fought to steady my breathing and calm my racing heart.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, faint glimmers of light began to emerge. Stars, similar to the ones I had admired in the night sky, appeared to float within the confines of the tabernacle. They cast a soft, ethereal glow, illuminating the space with a mystical ambiance.

I cautiously navigated through the dimly lit void, guided by the twinkling stars. Each step I took echoed with a hushed resonance, as if the tabernacle itself whispered ancient secrets. The air felt heavy with potent energy, tingling against my skin and sending shivers down my spine.

As I ventured deeper into the abyss, the darkness seemed to take on a tangible form. It curled around me, wrapping me in its embrace. Whispers, barely audible, brushed against my ears, filling my mind with fragments of forgotten tales and forbidden knowledge.

"Enzo... I suggest we stop for now. It is something that you can't handle at the moment," Y looked at me with concern. It was the first time he did so. Whatever it was, I knew I wasn't ready for it. I was prepared for what I was about to witness. I steeled my courage and determination to see this through. I thought I was strong enough to see it until I did.

It was more than I could handle. Nightmares and chaos soon stared at me.