Chapter Seven: Away from the Light A slow breeze picked up and swirled around Mar, causing him to stir. Struggling to open his eyes, Mar lifted himself onto his elbows. He felt the grass beneath his fingers as he fumbled through trying to find himself. A cold shock ran through the skin of his hands as he found a small stream. Mar cupped the clear liquid in his palms and plunged his face into the chilly water. The tiny droplets trickled down his face and washed away the invisible bonds (you originally had “bounds” here, I think you meant “bonds” as in something restricting his sight) on Mar’s eyes. In the gloom, his eyes peered around the room as they quickly flashed back and forth. He looked towards the tree, the hole was still there, glowing. The tree brought comfort to Mar, and shortly thereafter, he realized that this place, ever so slightly, began to bring him peace. His daggers laid motionless on the ground, the tips shattered over the bark. He stood, grabbing and sheathing the blades in their leather homes on the sides of his legs. Something was different about this place now. His previous vision comforted him, and strangely, Mar felt as if he were home, and felt as if he were now a part of this place. The vision had brought him closer to the tree. The Stranger seem to pull him here. Mar felt comfortable, but wrong. It only just began to dawn on him that he didn’t feel like himself anymore. Something seemed to have change within himself, only he couldn’t place his finger on it. Instead, his mind slowly started to drift back to the present, and what he must do now to move forward. But, there was nothing to do; he had no way out. His ghost lifted up from behind the trees, twitching in an unfamiliar way, and said, “Mar, what happened?” “I don’t know, I think this...artifact... spoke to me. I don’t think I can give this to the Beast. I just...I don’t know...something doesn’t feel right about that creature.” “I agree there,” Mar’s ghost said. “A force that can deactivate me and take all of my systems offline is nothing good. Though, we don’t know the way out of here, unless you think the tree will tell you.” The ghost twitched in a way that Mar knew well; it was mocking him. “Look, I can’t describe what it was or what I saw, exactly, but I do know that I feel different somehow, something seems to have changed.” Mar paused slightly a bit before continuing. “Either way, we need to find a way out. That thing back there might be our only hope.” “So, let me get this straight, and correct me if I’m wrong, but you want to go back and try to reason with it?” “Do we have another choice?” The ghost looked down. “I suppose we don’t.” “Alright then, let’s get going,” Mar said as he adjusted his gear and began to walk. Mar walked back along the path, and it seemingly stayed the same. There were only several places that had changed. He didn’t know how he knew the way back to the cave, in which the creature dwelled, but the walls in the long corridors helped guide him back. The trip did seem shorter. A little too short for the likes of Mar. He did not want to face the Beast, and he felt his extremities tremble ever so slightly as his nerves began to run rampant. He walked up to the entrance of the gaping black hole and stopped dead in his tracks. Mar wasn’t sure if he was ready to walk in or run away. Mar worked up the courage and looked to his ghost, who nodded supportively. Step after step, he finally entered the cave. The air began to freeze and the darkness took hold. This time, however, despite his earlier feeling of dread, Mar did not feel afraid, nor did he feel uneasy. Then the sound of scales along rock returned. Scraping stone against stone, slowly coming towards him. The deep voice resonated through Mar’s bones. “Child of Light, you return. What have you brought me?” Mar stepped forward and stared into the gloom where the voice seemed to originate. “I have brought you nothing. I know the artifact is not yours, it belongs to something else.” The voice laughed, causing the rocks to vibrate. “You are truly a child. That thing you found, it is was taken from me. It has convinced you that I am not the proper owner; it lied to you. The artifact is mine, child. I need it before we can leave.” “I trust, whatever it was. I do not trust you. So tell me, why do you want it so bad?” “I grow impatient. It belongs to me, and I cannot find the way out of here without it. We cannot leave this place. Now, go and fetch it for me like a good boy.” The voice grew stronger, fiercer. Mar knew It would come kindly. “I have seen many things, creature, and I know it is not of the darkness like you. It is something else. I do not fear you beast.” Mar grabbed the handles of his daggers and moved into a better stance. A humid blast of air rushed over him before withdrawing quickly. The voice sounded like it was further back than before. “Oh child, it has taken a hold of you. That artifact was not to reach out to those of your level. Only those of true power can wield the immense amount of energy that trinket has to offer. And in case you haven’t noticed, it has stripped you of your precious Light; it has made you mortal.” The voice moved closer towards Mar, and it was filled with confident vileness. “Your little Light cannot save you now. It has nothing to help you here. You have been taken by a raw untapped power that will kill you.” Mar looked to his ghost, waiting for a response. “Is this so (insert ghost name here)? I know I don’t feel the same, but does this creature speak the truth?” His ghost trembled slightly. “Yes, I thought my sensors were broken, but it appears the Light has been removed from you. A different energy courses through your body now. With much sorrow, I cannot say I know what it is.” Suddenly, Mar fell backwards, only catching himself at the last second. He was no longer filled with Light, he was mortal, not able to come back from death this time. No longer was he a child born in the brilliant Light of the Traveler; he was all alone. Fear rose through Mar’s whole body and soul. He had no power now and his mind ran away from him. If it was not Light inside him, what energy was keeping him alive? What life force did they mean? Mar was filled with an overwhelming sense of terror as his mind raced faster and faster. “The only thing other than Light, is darkness. Am I filled with darkness? That would explain why I am so comfortable now. Why you have no mind control over me. I am a bearer of darkness now, but how?” The image of the stranger in armor, resting by the tree, brought him some peace and comfort. He didn’t know why, but it was there. Mar had not realized the beast had come closer to him. “Oh child of nothing, you are weak and tired. You should rest. You will find the darkness is much harsher, and you will soon know what pain I can cause. I have no need of kindness anymore and I really want that heart. You will suffer until you tell me, dear child mine.” A sharp pain broke from Mar’s torso as a sharp talon had pierced through. It pulled Mar up off of the ground, bringing him face to face with the source of the voice. . “Oh, how you will suffer.” Chapter 1: The City https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/120713153 Chapter 6: A Walk among the Daises https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/124965125 Chapter 8: Painful Visions https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/130399718