As she approached the chamber where the ancient being resided, Alara couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. She pushed open the ornate doors and stepped into the chamber, her eyes immediately drawn to the imposing figure floating miles above, near the transparent dome ceiling.
"Something is very wrong," Alara began, her voice strained with urgency as she addressed the venerable Lothran. "I just had a horrible vision."
"Hello to you too, Alara," High Elder Arioch replied, his voice calm and measured as he turned his attention to the distressed Lothran.
"I don't know what it means, but it's a bad omen, and I didn't know the source showed bad omens," Alara continued, her words tumbling out in a rush as she struggled to convey the gravity of her revelation.
"From the beginning now," Arioch instructed, his voice gentle but firm.
Taking a moment to compose herself, Alara recounted the chilling vision she had witnessed—the desolate land, the screams of tortured souls, the flames of destruction consuming everything in their path.
"That is quite troubling," Arioch remarked, his milky skin tone and features betraying no hint of emotion as he descended to meet Alara at eye level. "What are we going to do?" Alara asked, her worry and masked panic evident in her voice.
"Inform the Lumerians," Arioch stated simply. "Get them to swiftly take action to prevent any situations that might arise with the potentiality for such chaos. We must be extra vigilant about anything that happens. For now, we act strictly and abruptly to end any situation that may pose a bigger threat, such as you described."
Arioch rested his hands on Alara's shoulders, his presence easing her troubled mind. "Of course," she sighed, relief washing over her as she nodded in agreement. "Smart."
"You look like you've been up a long time. Go and rest," Arioch advised gently, his voice carrying the weight of millennia of wisdom.
"I have," Alara confessed, grateful for the permission to seek solace in sleep.
"Rest," Arioch repeated, his reassuring presence lingering even as Alara turned to leave.
"Okay," she murmured, a sense of peace settling over her as she made her way to her quarters.
"And you're positive that's what you saw?" Arioch called after her, his voice tinged with concern. "
I am," Alara assured him, her dread palpable in the air. "Should I inform the Lumerians?" she inquired, pausing at the door.
"I'll do it," Arioch replied, his attention already turned elsewhere as he contemplated the implications of Alara's vision.
"Thank you for listening," Alara said softly, her heart heavy with the weight of the task ahead, before she slipped out of the chamber, leaving the ancient being to ponder the mysteries of the celestial realm.
Lying in her quarters, the soft glow of candlelight cast shadows across the room. The air was heavy with the scent of dried herbs and exotic flowers, remnants of her lifelong pursuit of knowledge in the healing arts. Books adorned the shelves, their worn spines a testament to the countless hours she had spent pouring over their pages in search of remedies and cures. But tonight, sleep eluded her.
The vision she had seen haunted her thoughts, refusing to be cast aside like a fleeting dream. It was unbelievable, surreal even, and yet the memory of it lingered in her mind like a ghostly spectre. With a frustrated sigh, Alara sat up in bed, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns of the silk sheets beneath her. She needed something to occupy her mind, to distract her from the unsettling images that threatened to consume her thoughts.
Rising from the bed, she crossed the room to a small table adorned with various trinkets and treasures collected from distant lands. Among them lay a delicate necklace adorned with sparkling jewels, a gift from a grateful traveller whose life she had saved. A long time ago.
Picking up the necklace, Alara turned it over in her hands, the cool metal soothing against her skin. Memories flooded her mind—the faces of those she had helped, the lives she had touched—and for a moment, she found solace in the knowledge that she had made a difference in the world.
But even as she lost herself in the memories, the vision lingered in the back of her mind, a constant reminder of the uncertainty that lay ahead. With a heavy heart, she set the necklace back down, the weight of the world pressing down upon her shoulders. Turning away from the table, Alara crossed the room to her bookshelf, her fingers trailing along the spines of the volumes that lined the shelves. Perhaps, she thought, a distraction could be found within the pages of a familiar book, a refuge from the turmoil that threatened to consume her.
Selecting a well-worn tome from the shelf, she settled back into bed, the book open in her lap. As she began to read, the words on the page blurred together, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of the vision and what it might mean for the future.
But for now, in the quiet solitude of her quarters, Alara sought solace in the familiar embrace of knowledge, hoping against hope that she might find the answers she sought within the pages of a book.
A knock on the door jolted Alara out of her reverie, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind. She hurried over. Another knock followed, and then another, until she finally reached the source of the disturbance.
"Master Yhulthad," she called out as she flung the door open. But standing before her was a familiar face, one she hadn't seen in far too long. "Eli!" Alara exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise as she instinctively pulled the man into a tight embrace. Eliza, her family's steward and lifelong friend, grinned from ear to ear as he returned her hug with equal enthusiasm.
"Oh, how I've missed you," he chuckled, his voice warm with affection as he squeezed her tightly. "What are you doing here?" Alara asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I was summoned from my homeland to come to the capital," Eliza explained, his expression turning more serious. "Xalandra told me the Aratheans are coming, and he wants us to gather there."
"How are things in the south?" Alara inquired, her concern evident in her voice.
"Good, uneventful," Eliza replied with a shrug, glancing around the room with interest. "Nice place you've got here," he added, taking in the surroundings with a nod of approval. "But if what I've heard about what's going on is true, then I'd rather settle for the uneventful."
"What have you heard?" Alara pressed, her brow furrowing with worry.
"Nothing good," Eliza recalled, his expression growing sombre. "Something about a few of the guards going insane. The details were... gory," he added, his voice trailing off as he shook his head in disbelief.
"That's about right," Alara replied solemnly, her mind still reeling from the horrors she had witnessed.
"But aside from all that, I came to see you," Eliza continued, his playful demeanor returning as he raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Thought you'd want to travel back to your castle with me." A flicker of gratitude crossed Alara's features as she gazed at her friend, thankful for his presence in such uncertain times. With a small smile, she nodded in agreement. "I would be honoured to accompany you," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil brewing within her. "Let me gather my things."
"What things?" Eli asked, his gaze wandering around the room, noting the abundance of books and little else.
"Just wait downstairs for me," Alara replied dismissively, feeling a twinge of embarrassment at her lack of variety in possessions, yet also a sense of pride in her dedication to learning. "I'll need to inform Master Yhulthad and Arioch that I'll be taking leave," she continued. "You know I have very important responsibilities, so going away with you is sort of like a favour," she added with a playful jest.
"Yes, yes, you're very important these days," Eli retorted, slipping into mock reverence and archaic speech. "How lucky I am to bask in your presence, oh great oracle. Accompany me on my travels so the light may watch over me and grant thee blessings," he said, unable to contain his grin.
"Or thy." I can't remember, he says as he thinks on it briefly. "Get out," Alara demanded, though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she shook her head at her friend's antics. Eli made a quick retreat to the door, his unrestrained smile still plastered on his face. "Just so you know, I'm actually here to take all three of you back to the capital," he informed her. "Not just you."
"So, you're on escort duty," Alara remarked, raising an eyebrow, and giving him an incredulous look, her hand resting on her hip. "I can't believe you. And here I thought you just wanted to spend some time with an old friend," she confessed, feigning offense. "How I've missed you, Alara. Accompany me, Alara," she mocked, mimicking his words with exaggerated emphasis. "Well, to be frank, I did volunteer. And I did miss you," Eliza admitted, his smile softening into something more genuine.
Alara rolled her eyes in response. "Made you smile though," Eli pointed out with a chuckle as he shut the door behind him. "If you're slow, I'll leave you behind," he called out teasingly from the hallway.