The Ancient One

Sentinel Island - Haven
JP with Omni and Lorem

Gonyaul was visibly shaken and fear-induced tremors ran through him as he recalled the images of that vile monster in his mind’s eye. Never before had he seen something so horrific. Yet when he thought about it again, that wasn’t true. No, what had him rattled was what he had felt more than anything else. The sheer amount of cruelty and malevolence from that dream was beyond anything he had experienced in either real life or imagination. And he had seen a large portion of worldly evil recently.

Gonyaul began to recover as soon as he realized those entering were familiar faces. It was strange that his captors would calm him, but they did. He began to pull himself back together and thanked them for helping. He took one final deep breath to calm his frantic mess.

He looked worn out and still a bit shaken, much different than the other times they had seen him. His eyes scanned each of them and offered an apologetic look for his present state.

He looked to Ilyra and nodded. He wanted to say the first thing in his mind in response; however, refrained as a puzzled look crossed his face as he self reflected. He had visited dreams many times. This was true, he always seemed to dream when sleeping his entire life, and he was also notorious for daydreaming. “It felt like no dream?” His hands went up to where his chest had been flayed open and then proceeded to hug himself gently for comfort. He then briefly met eyes with Ylja and put on a braver face and a gentle reassuring smile. He didn’t want to frighten her or let even an ounce of the evil feeling reflect off of him towards innocence.

Gonyaul then looked to Ilyra as if she had the answer to his interrogatory statement.

Ilyra and Draza exchanged a glance, a silent communication passing between them. It was clear that Gonyaul's words had struck a chord, possibly aligning with something they knew or feared.

Ylja stood wide-eyed, holding the tray food. Then she stepped closer and in her tender, youthful voice piped in before her elders in the archaic Helian tongue. "Thou hast beheld the Ancient One.”

Her voice carrying the weight of experience despite her innocent years.

"He doth intrude upon thy slumber, weaving dreams that feel as real as waking life. 'Tis as if he doth stand right beside thee, casting his dark shadow upon thy thoughts."

Then she turned to Ilyra and asked her something in Allosi.

Gonyaul’s attention was redirected back to Ylja. He was surprised that she replied first, but was not in shock. In his culture wisdom could come from anyone, it was not only for the elderly. He let her words sink in.

He had never heard any tales of an ‘ancient one’. He had also never heard any stories which depicted that monstrosity he met in his dream. This was all uncharted territory and reminded him on just how little he knew about the world. It was another humbling experience of a very long line of humbling experience.

Gonyaul looked down at himself, thinking with a furrowed brow of ignorance. He then glanced at Ilyra, Draza and then Ylja.

“I think I scared it?” He said with an equal mixture of both confusion and certainty.