Battling Demons Within and Without

"It's so cold," I muttered to myself, struggling to get up. I couldn't help but replay the scenes of the arrow striking my guide's neck and Nathan's unceremonious kick on my poor body in my mind. My mind was racing as I realized that I wasn't in the gloomy, dark forest anymore. Instead, I was standing amid an endless expanse of darkness. As I stood there, a white-lit path materialized in front of me. The path reminded me of ancient tombs and snow-filled ossuaries, covered in mystical words of ages unknown that were closely similar to Latin. I was intrigued by the path, but my eyes were drawn to an enormous cathedral visible on the horizon. The cathedral was reaching out to the dark-filled sky of this reality as if inviting me to unlock its doors and witness all the secrets obscured within its golden-light walls. With each step I took, I felt my heart beating faster and faster, urging me to enter the cathedral and close its gates shut before the darkness swallowed everything in this plane. It was a strange feeling, like a gentle, angelic voice softly whispering in my very essence of existence, urging me to safety and protecting me from primordial evils until I was all nice and safe under its soothing wings. Despite the cold that was starting to form on my body, I rushed towards the cathedral, deciding to heed the warnings my soul emitted. It was clear that whatever was happening around this mysterious place was not under my control, so it would be wise to pick up my pace. Took me a minute full of dread and agony to reach its steps when a blinding light, followed by a loud bang, stopped me right in my tracks. In front of me were the gates of the Cathedral, with some words, clearly in Latin, pulsating vividly.

"Schola lucis et diei. Reserans divina teipsum assimulat Deos," I whispered, repeating the words to myself over and over again. Divine light started to surround me as I walked down the huge hall of the Cathedral guiding me towards a small mural of an angelic figure. Apart from this mural, the Temple was empty and devoid of anything but holy light, flickering on and off like a symphony of droplets on a stormy night. The mural, made of light and stone, depicted a faceless figure kneeling, staring at the starless sky while the feathers of its heavenly wings were slowly turning into dust, giving off a macabre feeling of loneliness, pain, and sadness.

"Suscipis me qui sum vere mortalis?"

the figure in the mural whispered in my soul. I was startled by the sudden appearance of the voice in my mind. But the voice was soothing and angelic, calming any doubts and fears I had within me, prompting me to touch the mural, answering its call for salvation. A blinding light, like the first ray of sunrise peeking out of the snowy mountains, announced its presence once again to the whole world while simultaneously casting away any semblance of darkness. It engulfed my soul and my very essence of existence as everything around me slowly turned into dust.

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Ciaphas bolted upright in his bed, his heart racing and his body slick with sweat. For a moment, he stared into the darkness, disoriented and unsure of where he was. Then, the events of the previous day flooded back into his mind, and he let out a deep sigh of relief.

It had just been a dream.

He glanced down at the Rune that was embedded in his chest, the pulsating light that had accompanied the dream still lingering. It was a reminder of the power that coursed through his veins, a power that he had struggled to control but to no avail.

The demonic aura that had emanated from his eyes during the dream was something else entirely. a reminder that he could never let his guard down, not even for a moment.

Ciaphas shook his head, dispelling the last remnants of the dream. He rose from his bed, donned his armour, and set about his daily routine.

The sun had just barely reached its zenith in the sky when Ciaphas woke up. Despite the early hour, he felt energized and awake, a feeling that only occurred just before a major event or mission. He gulped down a glass of water, which was cold to the point of being uncomfortable, and brought it to his chest. As he sat on his chair, lost in his thoughts, there came a knock on the door.

"Enter," he called.

"Good morning, Ciaphas." He turned around to see Nathan standing in the doorway, a cup of hot coffee in one hand. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair looked like he had come from a night of heavy drinking and not a cup of coffee. Ciaphas was startled, but he hid it well.

"Good morning, Nathan," Ciaphas replied, trying to keep his tone neutral. "How was your trip?" Nathan snorted. "It could be worse" Ciaphas nodded, understanding the sentiment all too well.

"What's on your mind?"

Nathan took a sip of his coffee, looking down at the floor.

"I was constantly thinking about what happened in the forest. About how we got lost in the forest and stumbled upon that demonic ritual. It was like something out of a nightmare." Ciaphas felt a shiver run down his spine as he thought back to the events of that day. "Yes, it was a close call. But we made it out alive, and that's what matters." Nathan looked up at Ciaphas, his expression serious. "Ciaphas, I know we've been through a lot together, but I have to ask: what's going on with you? You seemed... different. Like there was something else inside of you." Ciaphas felt a lump form in his throat, and he looked away. He had been hoping to avoid this conversation for as long as possible, but it seemed that Nathan had picked up on something after all. "It's nothing, Nathan. think of it as a dream, nothing more." Nathan didn't look convinced, but he didn't press the issue.

"Alright. If you say so. But if there's anything you need to talk about, you know I'm here for you."

Ciaphas nodded, grateful for the offer.

"Thanks, Nathan. I appreciate it."

Nathan refilled his coffee and headed towards the door. "We should get going. We have a long day ahead of us." Ciaphas nodded and followed Nathan out of the room, his thoughts still lingering on the dream and the power that lay within him. He couldn't let it consume him, not when there was so much at stake. But for now, he would focus on the task at hand: rebuilding his barony and uncovering the secrets of their family's past.

Nathan, finding a suitable spot near some outdoor chairs, took a sip of his coffee and grimaced. "We've got a problem," he said, setting the cup down on a nearby table, trying to change the subject.

"The Prybarrow Barony has agreed to sell us a portion of their steel, but the costs are too heavy. They want to be paid in food."

Ciaphas scowled. "Food? That's our only means of profit. We can't just give it away."

"I know," Nathan replied, his eyes troubled. "But the Prybarrow Barony knows that. They're trying to weaken us with this move."

Ciaphas rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

"tell me what happened."

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The negotiations with the Prybarrow Barony were long and tense. The Baron of Prybarrow, a cruel and authoritative man, sat across from Nathan, his eyes glittering with avarice.

"Why do you need this steel so badly?" the Baron demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.

Nathan cleared his throat. "We need it for weapons," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "We're facing a serious threat, and we need the best weapons we can get to defend ourselves."

The Baron leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "And what threat is that?" he asked.

Nathan hesitated, knowing that he couldn't reveal too much. "We've heard rumours of an impending attack," he said. "We need to be prepared."

The Baron snorted. "I find that hard to believe. You're a small barony, barely able to feed your people. What could you possibly have that would attract an attack?"

Nathan clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists. He could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken threat that hung between them.

"Believe what you will," he finally said, his voice low. "But we need that steel. And we're willing to pay for it, with food or otherwise."

The negotiations continued for hours, with neither side willing to give ground. It was only when Nathan revealed that he had a cache of valuable resources that the Baron finally relented, agreeing to the terms of the deal.

As he left the Prybarrow Barony, Nathan let out a long sigh of relief. "That was close," he said, his eyes wide. "I thought I was done for."