Chapter 3 - The Void From Far Away

“That night, my dreams were so vivid they felt tangible, as if I were truly there. A voice called to me from a distance, its tone stout and commanding, resonating as though it were right beside me. Over and over, it chanted, ‘Caelestia signa, viam tibi pandant.’ Suddenly, I was yanked forward, pulled by the voice itself. I found myself in a grand room—a temple, perhaps—its sandy tan walls adorned with intricate rune etchings. At the far end stood a massive door, sealed tight with heavy chains. My eyes traced the runes; they were familiar, etched into my memory. Yes, I’d seen them before—on the scroll I kept at home.

Before me, an altar held four gleaming gems: one red, one blue, one green, one yellow. Hesitant, I reached out, my fingers trembling with anticipation. But just as I neared them, the scene dissolved into darkness.My body shook, and a voice pierced the void, calling,

‘Sondra… Sondra… Wake up!’ My eyes snapped open. It was Tad, his face frantic. ‘We have to move,’ he urged. ‘There’s a group of people coming.’ I scrambled to gather my gear, my mind still reeling from the dream. What did it mean? If only I’d had a few more minutes. The chant echoed in my head, familiar, like a melody etched into my childhood. We stamped out the fire’s embers and fled, the clamor of approaching footsteps rising from the east.

This way,’ Tad whispered, leading us toward a spot he’d scouted by a river while I slept.

‘You left me alone?’ I snapped, incredulous. ‘Well, yes,’ he admitted with a shrug. ‘You were fine. The noises you were making in your sleep sounded like a Dire Bear.’ No one would’ve approached the cave. I glared at him, appalled by the jab.

We reached a trickling stream. ‘This isn’t much of a river,’ I remarked dryly. He chuckled. ‘No, but we follow it.’ Pushing through trees and ducking beneath hanging brambles, he parted the brush to reveal a roaring river beyond. Its surface shimmered like a field of diamonds, teeming with fish that leaped in graceful arcs. My stomach growled—I hadn’t eaten since the night before, after leaving work. Tad glanced at me. ‘This way. I see a clearing across the river.’ He paused, scanning the water.

‘What are you doing?’ I asked.

‘Looking for a way to cross,’ he replied. Speaking under his breath ‘If I get some vines and tie them to this tree, I could swing us over.’

Before he could finish his plan, I summoned my staff and cast Chilling Breath. A wave of frost swept over the river, freezing the surface just enough to bear our weight. Tad smirked. ‘Oh, you think you’re all fancy with your blue magic?’ I grinned. ‘Can you not cast chilling breath it’s a novice spell?’ He shook his head. ‘I specialize in Brown Magic. Nothing like that.’

A sudden clatter of snapping twigs and rustling leaves jolted us—someone was close. ‘Hurry,’ I urged. ‘The ice won’t hold long.’ I led the way across, the frozen surface creaking beneath my boots. Before I could turn to check on Tad, I felt the bridge shudder. It was breaking. I reached the far bank and spun around, heart pounding. Tad was still midway, struggling to keep his balance. ‘Jump!’ I shouted, stretching out my hand. He lunged, but the ice gave way beneath him. ‘Tad!’ I screamed as the torrential current swallowed him, sweeping him downstream into the churning depths.”

Entered by: 0xD9f7…1b90 and preserved on chain (see transaction)