The Raven Thief
Born of the wastelands, Spheris Arnadel, a young skilled thief, finds himself subject to a twist of fate when he steals a powerful relic and becomes a Bearer — humans gifted with powers from the Gods. As a punishment for his theft, he is cast into an otherworldly realm alongside other Bearers, where he faces off against monstrous beasts and powerful enemies. Yet, in his determination to return to the Continent and save his dying mother, Spheris is hell-bent on surviving the abyssal world. Even if it means giving his body to the Dark God whose powers he had stolen... even if it means losing all of his humanity.
• Setting The Stage
Yes, Spheris admitted to himself. That was frightening. He had even felt his heart skip more than one beat as Linne's words hung heavy in the suffocating air.
He swallowed, then listened as she continued narrating her nightmare. "Its form seemed to change and it was smiling at me, even though it was furious that I was there. Then slowly..." She began to panic again.
"Slowly... I felt its dark tentacles wrap themselves around me. I couldn't touch it, or see it, all I felt was the air leaving me, I was suffocating under its grasp and it just watched with a sadistic, evil look in its eyes... drawing me closer and closer to its endless corruption. And then... and then..."
"And then?"
Linne's voice croaked, then she sniffed. "I woke up."