Chapter 2: Finding Alto

Tiafell had pleasant dreams for most of the night. Visions of epic adventures, awe-inspiring landscapes, and “rendezvous” with manly knights, sultry princesses, and orgies with all kinds of people. However, his blissful dreams suddenly turned into a nightmare.

Tiafell awakened inside a dark void. Other than barely visible ground, there was nothing in every direction. He called out, hoping for a response, but heard nothing. “Vasati? Alto? Anyone? Someone, please answer me!!” The scared elf walked forward, continuing to call out, only to hear his own voice absorbed into the void.

“Where am I? Is this a dream?” Tiafell wrapped his arms around himself as he ventured deeper into the emptiness. After what felt like hours of aimless wandering, he sensed a presence behind him, sending chills down his spine. Turning to see who or what was with him, Tiafell’s eyes widened, and his blood ran cold.

Hovering before Tiafell was a ghostly black figure, floating three feet above the ground. Its body was only a torso, a head, long arms, large hands, and fingers with white, claw-like nails. Its long, white hair moved as if blown by the wind, though the air was still. The figure’s long face lacked a nose, mouth, and ears. It had glowing yellow irises with black slits for pupils, and no visible sclera. Black ribbons flowed from its back. Dark red, vein-like markings lined its body and arms. It was six feet tall from the top of its head to the bottom of its trunk, which lacked a waist and legs.

“E-Excuse me? Who are you, and where are we...?” Tiafell, almost too frightened to speak, squeaked out his question. The creature’s malice caused the air around them to become dense and heavy. Tiafell had never felt such a terrifying presence in his life. He wanted to run, but instinctively knew doing so would be futile.

“This place is nothing more than a figment of your imagination, Tiafell. But I am quite real. You will know everything when the time is right. For now, you need only concern yourself with leaving that damned village. Your ‘destiny’ awaits, after all.” It spoke in a deep, raspy, and creepy male voice with a slight echo.

“Could you please tell me who or what you are? And how do you know my name?”

Suddenly, a throbbing pain shot through Tiafell’s head, and fleeting images from a newborn’s perspective flashed through his mind. He saw the bars of a crib around him. Then, black fingers wrapped around four of the bars at once. The final image was of the same creature peering over the crib’s railing. He chuckled as he reached for the baby inside as a woman screamed.

Snapping back to “reality”, Tiafell held his aching head.

“Who I am is not important to you, yet. But I will tell you this...” The figure raised its hand, pointing its long finger at the frightened elf. “You have more in common with me than you do with those spineless cowards who hide behind their barrier.”

“How so? What do you mean by that?” The creature merely chuckled at Tiafell’s question. “Stop messing with me!! If you’re not going to answer my questions, then leave me alone, monster!!” He demanded, growing agitated.

The creature grabbed Tiafell by his throat and squeezed tightly, lifting him and bringing him in close. “Such a pretentious little elf, you need to be taught some manners!”

Tiafell felt his throat clamping shut, which triggered his fight-or-flight response. He retaliated by punching the creature’s chest hard enough to plow his fist through and out of its back. Unfazed, the monster yanked Tiafell away, landed a stiff punch on his face, and sent him crashing to the ground. The hole in its chest closed with squishing and crunching sounds.

“Pitiful,” the figure hovered toward Tiafell. “You have limitless potential, yet you have not begun to tap into it. Right now, you are pathetic at best!”

Tiafell jumped to his feet. His brown irises had turned blood-red. He gritted his teeth, which had grown sharp, and he growled like a monstrous feline. “I can give you more...” Tiafell’s voice deepened and became aggressive. “You will only have yourself to blame if I end up killing you!” Tiafell glared at his opponent with fierce, sharp eyes.