Otomo followed Her Majesty and Nienna into an adjacent room and gazed at the stone slabs and the intimidating elf that lay within. Lost in thought he was suddenly struck with the possible lethality of the ritual about to be performed. His death would most likely be the only result. He was about to speak up when the Captain did it for him.

“One of the humans cannot perform the ritual, has a bad reaction to magic. It could kill him!”

Well bless yer elven heart Captain, I'll find sum way to thank ye.

The "Overseer" reached within his robes, and produced three herbs. They were fairly plain to look at if somewhat faded, wilted, and reminiscent of brussel sprouts.

“Take 3 of these, chew slowly. The taste is sure to bother you, and while it may sicken you, you’ll be alive. There isn’t another way.”

Otomo took them with gusto and began to chew rapidly. He was right, however "bother" was a bit of an understatement. The taste was similar to the grain at the bottom of the granary that was used right before the summer harvest. It tasted spoiled and it was as if they hadn't just let the rats get to it, but roll around in it as well. He managed to suppress his gag reflex but only after a considerable fight. Once it was forced down Otomo wondered whether there was going to be physical effects or not.

There was. He felt his blood heat up, as if rising towards a rolling boil, followed by an extreme drop where it seemed as if he'd taken an ice bath, and then it was done. He wouldn't call the feeling reinvigorated, or renewed, but there was a sense of equilibrium that had been reached. He felt it in his gut.

"A'right, let's do this."

Eloise twirled her hair around her fingers while she lent against the wall, impatiently waiting for the Overseer to finish the ritual's preparation. She gazed around the area, gaining impressions from the group that would be undertaking the ritual. They seemed tired, weary and kind of dull. She hoped they would prove her first impression wrong and actually be fun to hang around. This lead straight into her next thought, who would she be paired with. Eloise dismissed the thought because she thought it would be more fun as a surprise.

About five minutes later the Overseer had finally finished the preparations. Eloise perked up as the old man walked towards them. "The preparations are complete. Please try and relax while the spell takes hold."

Eloise lay down on one of the stone slabs placed around the patio. She closed her eyes and felt the magic pulling at her conscious. It was unnerving in the way that it felt too good to possibly be any good for you. She gave in quickly, eager to jump right in. Her body felt weightless and for a moment Eloise thought she might be flying. But, to her disappointment, it returned. "Aww... The ride's over."

She opened her eyes and everything was still pitch black. A cold feeling formed in her chest. Her breath shortened and her heart rate quicked. She blinked several times and touched her eyes to make sure they were open. When Eloise confirmed her eyes were open the cold feeling in her chest exploded. Her chest felt like it was being crushed as she doubled over. "Why? Why this?" Eloise sobbed. By this time, she was a wreck. Her legs gave out and she fell to her knees, tears beginning to roll down her face. "I-I want... I want to go home."

She heard something not to far away from where she was, and this made her panic even more. She wanted to get out of here, or at least into a corner where she could curl up and hide until some form of light appeared. Though what she wanted even more than that was her family there to comfort her, to tell her it was all going to be okay.

By biting almost all the way through her bottom lip, Eloise found the strength in her to stand up and try find a way out. Tears streaming down her face, she took a few shaky steps forward before tripping over something. She lay on the ground for several moments, too afraid to get up. She turned around slowly, a small trickle of blood dripped from her lip dripped down her chin. Her face lightened when she saw what she had tripped over, her wish had come true. "Father! What are you doing lying there..." That small dream-like moment had quickly turned into a horrific nightmare as she noticed what condition her father's body was in. It was bloodied, torn and mangled. It's face was the only thing left clean and untouched.

Eloise backed away, horrified. The cold feeling returned with a vengeance, crushing her throat with a vice-like grip. "No... No way." She tried futily to choke back her tears. "T-This can't be happening."

She bumped into another object. She recoiled quickly and turned to face it. This thing was one of her brothers, his body left in much the same condition as the her father's. Except her brother's face seemed to look at her accusingly, as if blaming her for his death. "Why? Why are you looking at me like that!?"

Eloise was on the edge. Her fear and the bodies of her family had pushed her to breaking point. She stood up and tried to run away from it all. Only to see a sea of bodies, a few she reconized and many she didn't. This was the straw that broke the camel's back. Eloise screamed, the noise echoing around her as she collapsed, hyperventilating.

Maylia tucked her wings in close--suddenly realizing an uneasiness in the air. It had gotten very quiet...and a glance around the room revealed that the Lady was now the only non-company member of the group present. Why? She felt her feathers ruffle and her fingers felt along the seam of fabric along her wrists concealing her weapons--knowing they were there made her less anxious...but not entirely. The look on the Lady's face was chilling.

“You seek our piece of the Awarthiel Sword, so that I may address it clearly. And I know you did not expect to simply come and take it without any resistance.” Her gaze did not stray from meeting each group member in the eye: she was looking beneath the surface. “So I ask of you a test: to not judge you worthy, but your skills worthy. I ask you to face your inner demons, and I ask of you to succeed.”

Nienna spoke up, tensing.

“And? You plan to fight us against ourselves?” The light flickered deviously.

“In a sense. There is an Overseer who performs powerful magic, meant for captivating the mind. He would cast a spell, rendering you unconscious. In the dream realms you will fight your worst fear, whatever it may be, alongside one of your companions. If you succeed in overcoming your fear and destroying the monster you find there, you shall awake totally unharmed…” Her voice trailed off as she turned her back to the group and approached a single candle stick with a live flame. She ran her fingers through it while appearing thoughtful. “If you do not, however, you shall perish.”

Maylia felt her blood run cold. Against elves she could handle. Perhaps even against their own company..but there were dark places in her mind. Places she even now attempted to avoid. Places that this..test...would surely find and force her into. She felt her wing muscles bunch--as if preparing for flight.

Nienna attempted to object but the Lady cut her off,

“If you want the sword piece, you’ll do it. I will not hand it out idly to those I do not deem worthy.”

Nienna and the group had no choice it seemed.

~~~~

They followed the Lady past two double doors to where an old elf waited--though he had this strangely unnerving presence about him that felt as if he'd been watching them. After explaining the process--which Maylia paid little attention to--and handing some herbs to Ootomo to keep the magic from killing him...he arranged each of them on slabs..as if preparing them for death. Maylia balked in front of them at first--wings snapping open defiantly before she took a deep breath to steady herself. This was neccessary. She would not hinder the party.

The magic took effect almost as soon as she lay down. It felt odd--like being drugged while in the medical wing back home. And she fought it at first--like a stubborn child. But--in the back of her mind she felt as if she could hear the old elf laughing appreciatively--liking her struggling, her stubbornness...she would need it. Things were about to get unpleasant.

Otomo climbed on to the slab of stone and lay down. The rock was chilling and unfriendly, whether that was the effect of the Elvish Overseer attempting to unnerve him or simply his mind already working against him Otomo couldn't tell. He was however ready to get this over with. The room began to lose color, it's various hues dripping out of his eyesight and fading away. Next to go was shape, everything seemed to lose its boundaries and began flowing into one another eventually reaching a point where only nebulous blobs could be seen. And finally he was forced into the depths of his mind.

The spell was cast and Otomo went out like a light.

Otomo stood up in this new mindscape that was presented before him. It was fairly empty, Otomo hoped that wasn't a reflection of his intellect.

That felt like Thomas was cleaning meh clock again.

The sky was blank except for occasional flashes of violet and red, the brightest right above a structure a many yards away. He removed his scythe from his sling and began a slow walk towards the massive structure, even though he felt a physical revulsion towards the place.

Ach, I hope meh partner arrives soon, this places looks like hell.

Otomo saw Fong and quietly rejoiced to himself. He thought he'd been tricked and they'd make him face his fears by himself. Luckily the Elves were true to their word and hopefully they'd have the piece of the Sword with Otomo sanity still intact. He'd hoped for a simpler adventure, slay a dragon and save a village or something along those lines, but when the World proclaims it's your duty to save it like some helpless princess one usually can't turn that obligation. It is his home and he couldn't turn his back on it now.

The vibrant, if macabre, lightning in the sky began to strike more often, sometimes chaining together and leaving yards of ground charred and blackened.

"We best be goin' this place look like it don't want us here."

He began walking towards the structure again, and it slowly began to loom over him. Unfriendly and unkind the place would be their graves if they failed now. Otomo swallowed harshly but resumed walking except with a faster pace.

The sooner we get this over wit', the sooner we can be on our way.

Otomo saw the entrance of the structure. A high arch with daemonic figures carved into the frame itself. Otomo also saw the first path in the building, one leading left and the other leading right. Both extremely narrow. He felt his palms form a thin layer of slick sweat and his knees felt as if they could no longer support him. His mind began racing through a thousand different possibilities.

He couldn't swing his fist in there let alone his scythe. His breathing increased and he became acutely aware of the daemons and their dances along the arch. They jeered at and mocked him and there was only shame.