I looked down in time to see a figure falling, arm stretched out reaching upwards, eyes wide with shock, staring directly at me only for a moment before he was swallowed in the void. In that moment I felt everything. His pain, regret, sorrow, fear, anger all washed over me in an overwhelming wave. My eyes stung and vision blurred knowing it was I that brought this upon him.
“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” I whispered to no one, “I’m sorry.”
Someone laughed. It was a cruel, wicked laugh that seemed to come from ever where and nowhere. I turned to face a dark figure who’s cloak seemed to be woven out of darkness itself interrupted by glowing silver runes. Though his face was hidden beneath a hood I could feel his smile as he stood there mocking me.
“‘Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.’ That is your rule is it not? You knew what the price would be when you started on this quest,” he chuckled. “Do you see now what happens when you through caution to the wind?”
At his words my sorrow turned to rage. I let out a cry as I charged towards him, feeling the sparks of electricity flit up and down my arms as I channeled my anger into a final spell. As I ran he stood unmoving patiently. I leaped up to cover the last few feet as a gust of wind blew back his hood to reveal his familiar grinning face.
“You?’ I gasped in shock, but it was too late.
A blinding white light filled my vision, then darkness.
—-
What a strange dream.