The Inner Odyssey

Alden stood leisurely in the middle of the arena.

Opposite him, he faced a fuming Caelum and an equally displeased Varnel.

The Keeper's Apprentice paid them no mind.

Contrary to his disdainful act, Alden knew the fight wouldn't be as easy as he made it out to be.

The speed demon was incredibly swift, while the illusionist possessed the capability of messing with his mind and senses. It was an incredibly dangerous combination, and bound to be extremely effective, as well.

However, at the same time, it was also too good an opportunity for Alden to pass up.

After all, he didn't know if he would ever get a chance like this again.

…A chance to not only temper, but test himself.

Participating in the duel would doubtless aid him in his quest for strength, if only for the sole reason of adding to his combat experience, especially against new powers he hadn't come across before. Similarly, the bout would not only help him gauge the veracity of his belief - that he was among the strongest of [Adept]'s -, but also pit him against other promising youths of his generation.

In other words, it was an irresistible choice.

'It's too late to worry about the attention now, anyway. I've been itching to fight. May as well let loose.'

Alden grinned to himself beneath his indifferent mask.

He locked eyes with Celeste for a brief moment, before she gave him the smallest of nods and turned to leave, heading for the tunnel. The crowd, meanwhile, murmured, numerous conversations merging together in a low, but persistent hum.

Of course, the subject was obvious.

"My bet is on Caelum and Varnel! No one can survive a simultaneous assault physically and mentally."

"He's the Keeper's Apprentice, though. There must be a reason why the Keeper chose him. Think about it."

"Yeah, if anyone's capable of overcoming the odds, it has to be him."

"I'm still not sure."

Alden closed his good eye and exhaled, tuning out the noise.

His mind was like the surface of a still, calm lake.

When he opened his sole eye again, the crimson in his gaze deepened, like a pool of rich, scarlett lifeblood.

"Any last words?"

The corner of Alden's lips twitched into a smirk as he addressed his foes.

"How dare you insult me! I'm a Chosen of the Divine Sovereign."

"I, Varnel of the Thunder Isles, have never been so disrespected."

His two opponents spoke over each other.

…Although, the former's outburst was far more intense.

Alden just chuckled.

Moments later, his expression turned cold.

It was time to hunt.

***

As soon as the announcer's horn shuddered and groaned, Alden disappeared from his spot.

…And just in time.

His sleeveless black mantle fluttered in the wind. However, its edge sizzled, charred from Varnel's lightning. Alden knew the speed demon was beyond swift, but even he was slightly surprised at just how fast the purple-robed youth was.

'I guess it's true that knowing something and experiencing it are two completely different things.'

Banishing the thought, Alden prepared to teleport again.

Only, just then, he sensed an alien force enter his mind.

His sole eye flashed.

Rather than exhaust his mental defenses fighting Caelum, the Keeper's Apprentice allowed the illusionist in.

Suddenly, his vision swam.

In the next moment, Alden found himself in the centre of a shattered plain. Large fissures ran through the sky above, leaking nothingness - strange shapes writhed within.

Meteors raced across the broken sky.

Only, Alden realised a breath later, they weren't comets or strange celestial objects.

They were stars.

…Dying stars.

The world was ending.

Abruptly, reality trembled - a fallen constellation had just crashed on the horizon.

Alden gasped as he tried to kept his footing.

He tried to remind himself that this was merely an illusion. A trick of the mind.

But, what he saw just felt too real…

The sky wept as it continued to crack.

An acrid, pungent smell permeated the air. It was as if all the eggs in the world had just turned rotten.

Alden gagged and almost retched.

Suddenly, three figures materialised around him.

With the backdrop of the shattered world behind them, they appeared like dark spectres assigned to do the Reaper's bidding. Alden's breath hitched as he recognised the features of the first one.

Broad-shouldered. Stalwart. Vibrant orange hair and a beard.

…It was Alistair.

And he wore a baleful scowl on his face.

"We should have never let you in!"

Alden flinched.

He shifted his gaze to the other two figures.

As expected, they were Celeste and Elara.

The former pierced him with an intense and scornful gaze.

"I regret ever falling for you."

A moment later, the mother mirrored her daughters with a sneer:

"You are no son of mine."

Did Caelum's powers revolve around tapping into one's deepest fears and constructing an elaborate, very life-like illusion out of them?

…If so, it was very effective.

Alden gritted his teeth.

A heavy pain settled over his chest. Sorrow clawed its way from the depths of his heart.

At the same time, ghostly shadows seemed to strike out at him. The Keeper's Apprentice had the presence of mind - the small little part of it which remained, at least - to sidestep these attacks.

As it turned out, though, there was no need to.

He discovered they just phased harmlessly through him.

Alden's good eye narrowed.

Could this be a manifestation of Morrigan's Art?

He had no more time to ponder, as just then, five alarming presences suddenly erupted from within the large fissures. A nebulous light shrouded the broken firmament, and a moment later, five vague forms hovered over the shattered plain.

The ground erupted in their presence, and it felt like all existence came to a standstill.

Instinctively, Alden knew who these five beings were, and what they represented.

"Give us the Key."

The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

The Keeper's Apprentice tried to resist, but he found that a golden key, weaved out of brilliant light had suddenly manifested right in front of him. And before Alden could do anything, it shot off towards the five beings.

'No!'

He reached out, desperately trying to stop it.

However, it was no use.

…The Asterons now possessed the Key.

Severe fear gripped Alden's heart.

It trembled even further when the unbearable presence of the constellations washed over him, slamming into Alden with a ferocity that caused him to stagger and sway.

Blood leaked from his lips.

The Keeper's Apprentice clenched his fists, a wild light appearing in his sole eye.

A tenebrous energy shrouded his figure, hissing and roiling.

It seemed to snarl as it registered the existence of the constellations.

Alden launched himself at Alistair, Elara and Celeste.

He surrendered fully to Caelum's illusion, straining his senses to the limit.

Before too long, Alden found what he was looking for.

Without any hesitation, he hurled all his mental defenses towards a certain spot.

And in the next moment, a vast explosion tore through the shattered world.