Aoife was not often graced with a good night’s rest. Between Korr’s baiting and her own witnessed horrors she frequently woke during the early hours. The hours would bleed into one another until dawn crept through the gap in the curtains and if she was not already off on a walk, Leaf would take her usual path around the ramparts to clear her mind.
In this instance, the path trod, felt off, her pace slowing to a stop as the feeling refused to subside. Focusing her senses the Champion surveyed her surroundings, taking in the palace grounds and walls, the city stretching out beyond. It seemed normal, yet the feeling of uncertainty refused to unwind the tension gripping, coiling into knots in her shoulders.
[color=#0074d9]“...Korr?”[/color] inquiring if this was the demons doing or…
[color=#c14700]No. Not I. But it is amusing how your own experiences cause you such terror. [/color]
Aoife felt her stomach drop, her attention given away to the blast of what sounded like trumpets sirening. The scene before her changed from the crisp morning cityscape into a barren wasteland as a black hurricane expanded, consuming and scorching the land ahead of her.
[color=#0074d9]This is just a memory. [/color]
Pinching her eyes closed, Hawke would attempt to reassemble her mental fortitude. The invisible, intangible shield around her mind had weakened with the lack of true rest. Each new block that she managed to add took enormous effort, her will trembled against the weight of pain and doubt that sought to overwhelm her. Around her, Leaf could feel the wind, the nicks of the debris sent through the air with the approaching Nightmare.
[color=#0074d9]It isn’t real.[/color]
Blue eyes only peeked open, her jaw clenching at the sight developing before her. The storm raged behind the massive creature, its legs finding purchase, crushing the ground underfoot. Fear crawled up from her gut, clawing at her throat to scream, but Leaf held herself together. [color=#0074d9]This isn’t real,[/color] ran as a continuous mantra while she tried to focus and push aside the hell seeking to crush her from all sides.
[color=#c14700]You are struggling more than usual, mage. [/color]
Her demons taunts only helped sharpen her focus, causing her grimace to curl slightly. [color=#0074d9]“A-Are you… helping me?”[/color] Leaf’s brow arched in question.
[color=#c14700]HA. Oh you are amusing. [/color]
Whether the creature would admit it or not, the brief humour helped break the tension, another block fell into place. Leaf let out a deep sigh as the barrier around her mind settled, pushing back the memories. It still left her shaken, uneasy that she hadn’t awoken, still momentarily trapped in her own subconscious.
[color=#c14700]You took far longer than usual. [/color]
[color=#0074d9]“... Is that disappointment I’m hearing?”[/color] she’d wearily reply.
[color=#c14700]No. Just a statement of fact. I know what it is you fear seeing again. [/color]
While normally she would scold the creature, Leaf remained tight-lipped. Her expression turned icy. The blue of her eyes sharpening, as if her look could freeze one’s blood.
[color=#0074d9]“Anything else, demon?”[/color]
[color=#c14700]No. Other than to hope that the rest of your dreams, and evening are uneventful. [/color]
Hawke scoffed, her body crouching and then taking a seat on the ground. Focusing, she'd eventually wake up to the cold night air, the embers of her fire had long gone out. Good? While it was probably the longest she'd slept, it wasn't restful at all. Her body moved on autopilot, dressing and gathering her cloak for an early dawn walk.
In this instance, the path trod, felt off, her pace slowing to a stop as the feeling refused to subside. Focusing her senses the Champion surveyed her surroundings, taking in the palace grounds and walls, the city stretching out beyond. It seemed normal, yet the feeling of uncertainty refused to unwind the tension gripping, coiling into knots in her shoulders.
[color=#0074d9]“...Korr?”[/color] inquiring if this was the demons doing or…
[color=#c14700]No. Not I. But it is amusing how your own experiences cause you such terror. [/color]
Aoife felt her stomach drop, her attention given away to the blast of what sounded like trumpets sirening. The scene before her changed from the crisp morning cityscape into a barren wasteland as a black hurricane expanded, consuming and scorching the land ahead of her.
[color=#0074d9]This is just a memory. [/color]
Pinching her eyes closed, Hawke would attempt to reassemble her mental fortitude. The invisible, intangible shield around her mind had weakened with the lack of true rest. Each new block that she managed to add took enormous effort, her will trembled against the weight of pain and doubt that sought to overwhelm her. Around her, Leaf could feel the wind, the nicks of the debris sent through the air with the approaching Nightmare.
[color=#0074d9]It isn’t real.[/color]
Blue eyes only peeked open, her jaw clenching at the sight developing before her. The storm raged behind the massive creature, its legs finding purchase, crushing the ground underfoot. Fear crawled up from her gut, clawing at her throat to scream, but Leaf held herself together. [color=#0074d9]This isn’t real,[/color] ran as a continuous mantra while she tried to focus and push aside the hell seeking to crush her from all sides.
[color=#c14700]You are struggling more than usual, mage. [/color]
Her demons taunts only helped sharpen her focus, causing her grimace to curl slightly. [color=#0074d9]“A-Are you… helping me?”[/color] Leaf’s brow arched in question.
[color=#c14700]HA. Oh you are amusing. [/color]
Whether the creature would admit it or not, the brief humour helped break the tension, another block fell into place. Leaf let out a deep sigh as the barrier around her mind settled, pushing back the memories. It still left her shaken, uneasy that she hadn’t awoken, still momentarily trapped in her own subconscious.
[color=#c14700]You took far longer than usual. [/color]
[color=#0074d9]“... Is that disappointment I’m hearing?”[/color] she’d wearily reply.
[color=#c14700]No. Just a statement of fact. I know what it is you fear seeing again. [/color]
While normally she would scold the creature, Leaf remained tight-lipped. Her expression turned icy. The blue of her eyes sharpening, as if her look could freeze one’s blood.
[color=#0074d9]“Anything else, demon?”[/color]
[color=#c14700]No. Other than to hope that the rest of your dreams, and evening are uneventful. [/color]
Hawke scoffed, her body crouching and then taking a seat on the ground. Focusing, she'd eventually wake up to the cold night air, the embers of her fire had long gone out. Good? While it was probably the longest she'd slept, it wasn't restful at all. Her body moved on autopilot, dressing and gathering her cloak for an early dawn walk.
10-25-2023, 10:31 AM
