Arriving At The Fire

JP with Winteroak and Cindy

As her mind cleared from the last few experience and following down into the maw of darkness, a sense of familiarity crept over Islana as she walked towards the fire.

The woman sitting next to the fire had a shawl over her head obscuring most of her features. She was poking at the embers trying to make the fire burn bright, stronger.

For a heartbeat the young witch thought that she was approaching Omen, but her eyes were drawn to a shape at the edge of the clearing.

Her eyes widen in shock when she realised where she was. Back in the forests of Ostiarium near the sacrificial stone. The dread rock seemed to glow in the low light and darkness of the forest. It was covered in dark arterial blood instead of moss.

"Welcome Islana Annora. Welcome back to Slivikhi's fire..."

There it was, the rock. While it was a dream and it had appeared in her illusion after drinking the elixir Nicholas had given to her, this felt more real.

Why she would be back here the young woman couldn't guess. Almost instinctively Islana looked around as if expecting something to happen, then her eyes focused back on the old woman.

The old woman looked up from the fire with scorn in her face.
"The final test is about power, its use and its purpose. It is also where you learn about the consequences of your actions." She said looking fron Islana to the sacrificial stone and back again.
"You were to die here a few months ago. So that the blessing of Slivikhi would spread over a new season. So that the world would continue to turn." A low growling could be heard from the bushes around the fire.

"Sit. Look into the fire. Let us look into what your actions have brought to the world having escaped your fate."