--
Just how commonplace might these stones be? Furthermore, for what reason would there be stones in not only a secluded forest clearing, but a blocked off cavern as well? According to Aisen, entire civilizations were built around these stones--but in the case of these stones, there was not even the slightest hint that was ever the case. As he surveyed the dimly lit cavern, he could not make out anything remarkable whatsoever outside of the stone itself.
Despite his best efforts, Terakiel could not sense where the slight draft in the air was coming from, nor could he discern the source of the ambient lighting. In fact, the lighting seemed to come from everywhere. It was equally distributed throughout the cavern in an eerie, otherworldly way. The stone itself did not appear to be glowing, but he had little doubt in his mind that it was responsible.
Is this a dead end?
He couldn't imagine climbing back down the tunnel. Even with a light source it was likely a very difficult task--and unless Aisen made it through, he wouldn't have a source of light anytime soon. Although. . .that wasn't necessarily true, was it? All he had to do was conjure another--another fire.
Terakiel felt his stomach clench. How had he gotten himself into this? There was little he wanted more than to make it on his own--without resorting to using vile forces he couldn't even begin to understand. Aisen seemed to think they were essentially harmless, but where he came from, people were taught some form of discipline. Terakiel had never had such training--and the danger inherent in that was painfully clear.
When he was pressed against the wall with no other options available to him. . .What could he do? He's decided long ago that he wasn't going to lie down and die. He was going to do what was necessary to progress--not just for his sake. Aisen had been spirited away from whatever normal life he'd had. He'd likely been happy. Maybe he'd had a family that he saw on a regular basis. Perhaps he too had a brother. Certainly he had friends as well? It was important that he get the opportunity to see them again.
Terakiel hadn't the faintest idea how he might make that happen but he would not give up.
"Terakiel!"
Aisen's voice, frantic almost to the point of delirium, drifted up out of the tunnel. Alarmed, Terakiel rolled over on his stomach and peered down into the hole, immediately catching the ghostly glint of the fire he'd conjured earlier. "Aisen! Can you pull yourself up? I made a hole!"
"I--I think I can make it. I can just b-barely see what's ahead. I must be close!"
"Have you been calling for long? This is the first I've heard you!"
"For some time, yes! I-I think I may need to discard the light if I w-want to hold on." His voice was quivering with fear.
Terakiel considered for a moment what might happen if Aisen were to fall. It would be his fault. More blood would be on his hands. He had to make sure his new companion made it through.
"Y-you shouldn't have much issue climbing the rest of the way," lied Terakiel. "Listen, I can light the way for you. Don't worry about the light. I-I'll make another."
There was a pause. Terakiel got the impression that Aisen comprehended the enormity of what he'd just said. "I could throw it to you! Don't worry about conjuring another!"
Terakiel shook his head, even though he knew Aisen couldn't see him. "No. You need to maintain a grip on the rock formations. I just climbed through there. I can do this."
There was more confidence in his voice now. He almost believed that he could do it. It wasn't a big deal to. . .to grasp the twisting energies in the deepest recesses of his mind. It was something that had to be done. There was no reason not to use the resources available to him.
Once more he felt himself slipping into the darkness. The air grew colder and his blood froze to ice. Before he could think about what he was doing, his outstretched palms glowed blindingly white, flooding the entire chamber with vivid light. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly as the temperature rose considerably. The air was warm on his exposed flesh now, and he was dimly aware of Aisen's wail echoing off the tunnel's walls.
"That's much brighter than I expected!" excaimed Aisen. "Perhaps you might tone it down a bit!"
The light rushed through him. It was hot in the chamber now, uncomfortably so. He felt his mind floating in a starless world and subsequently began to loose the sensation in his limbs. He was still only vaguely aware of his surroundings, of the fiery heat licking at his flesh.
"Terakiel, stop! You must stop!"
His blood was lava now, sloshing through his body and destroying him from inside out. He felt himself crumble into dust and blow away in the wind.
"Snap out of it! Wake up! You have to wake up!"
He was on his knees. He felt himself twisting around--though he was unsure whether or not he actually had control over his actions. The planar stone--that perfectly featureless surface, uniform in every way. It was glowing.
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