"She's never going to wake up, it's just insane to believe such childish things," a young sounding man says. "Hush, don't say such things here. We need to give her hope, it's the least we can do for her," an older woman counters. "Gran it's been two years, nobody can survive that long without nourishment," the man argued. "I said hush Zika, nevermind be useful and get the doctor," that lady said in a gravelly voice. A sigh escapes her mouth, "That boy needs to watch his tongue," she muses to herself.
The pain is too much, like a ship crashing into my skull, the heat behind my eyes is like an inferno of stars being molded by unseen beings. Slowly they begin to open, weighted down by the pain of an unknown affliction. "My head, it's on fire," I try to say, but it comes out as a painful exhale. "My Gods, you're awake," the lady says hurriedly as she wraps her arms around me. "Yeah, and who might you be," I state planely with a confused expression on my face.
As I say this the door creaks open, a man clad in a white uniform, with a tan mask over his mouth walks in. "Oh so you're awake," he says with a slight curve to his cheeks. "Oh doctor, she's saying that she doesn't know me. Please I beg of you help her," the old woman pleads. I look at my hands, they're pale, as if they are made of porcelain. I look up, "excuse me, but who am I?" I say confused and still hazy. "Oh, I see. She's suffering from amnesia. Worry not, your memories will return in time. As for who you are, all I can tell you is your name. Azura, lady of crimson," the man in white says to me as he sits down. My head is still throbbing, I lightly say the word, "Azura." It feels alien on my tongue, I look up to see the old lady on the brink of tears. "You're the kingdom's savior, you protected all of us from certain death," the lady says in a low sorrowful tone.
I close my eyes, trying to recall anything. A light strumming of what feels like a massive expanse invades my mind. My eyes jolt open, as if I've been shocked. Wide in fear, I try to continue the conversation. "And you, who are you?" I ask the lady trying to forget what I just felt, the unimaginable fear that almost crept into my mind. With a slight glint of hope in her eyes she says, "I'm Sera, I was your scribe for some time. Then when you faced the terrible monstrosity, it almost killed everyone, but somehow you stopped it. Just by your presence. It fled after cursing you with the slumber you've found yourself in." Her eyes now squinted and slightly glazed remembering the past. I stay silent for a few seconds trying to grasp the sheer amount of information that was just dumped on me. "So what, I'm some hero now. What if I don't want to be your hero, listen all I want is my life back," I say in a defiant tone. Before Sera can talk again the doctor says, "You are whoever you want to be, nobody is trying to make you something that you aren't. Come Sera, let's let Azura rest for a bit." Outreaching his hand as to lead her out of the room. Hesitant at first she begins to walk with him, whispering to him.
As the door closes, I'm alone. Looking around the room, I can see what looks to be a modest bedroom. The window is partially open, and a gentle breeze is wafting through. My mind is still ringing. I try to silence it, but as I do, I can hear whispers. Not corporeal, but within my mind. It's a dark voice with the tone of a madman. "Who is that," I pleaded. "Show yourself," I say. The voice only gets louder, it's speaking in a language I don't know. Shoonth dair Zihnx, the voice says over and over again. "I, I don't understand. Please stop this," I cry as I cover my ears. Tears begin to roll down my face, in a fleeting attempt to silence the voice. The voice now a roar in my mind spits out in an unholy scream, Shoonth dair Zihnx, Jhoo kull rahs.
As my head begins to ring again, louder this time I begin to scream, a cry for help. Moments later the doctor and Sera both rush into the room with pale faces. "Azura, what's wrong," the doctor quickly beckoned. "Make it stop, Stop them. Please Stop them," my face a wellspring of tears. "Stop what," the doctor says calmly as gently puts his hand on my shoulder. "The voices, they're so loud." I cry holding my head. "Doctor do something, she's in pain," Sera pleads. "I'm going to give you something to help you calm down," the doctor announces while prepping a syringe. As he pricks my arm, my body goes limp, although the voice is still roaring in my head. "Welcome, Ancient one. It's been some time since you've visited us." The words echo around me, "Who is that, why is it so dark," I say but not with my mouth, I can't move, I can't see. But I know I said something, somehow. "Ah your will is as strong as ever, although it would seem that you've forgotten your duty." The voice said with a mischievous tone. Before I can even process what they told me, they plunge me into a blinding purple light, "Do not fear the unknown my Keeper, or it will devour you." the voice says as I wake up on the bed again.
It's late, the window is drawn closed, the still air of the room I'm in gives me a moment to breathe. They said something about a keeper, and what was with that light? What the hell even was that place, it was so cold. A long drawn out silence follows my thoughts, the whispering, it's gone. I go to stand up, as I do my entire body seems to hum with an odd energy. The once still air now dances with energy. I feel waves of something familiar, but I can't quite place it.
As I look into the mirror I see myself for the first time. A snow white elf with beautiful black hair, a slight shimmer of red glosses the depth of it. My eyes are dark purple nebulas with crimson stars twinkling with unknown horrors. My face has a gentle and fair beauty hidden under the dry tears and dark circles under my eyes. My hand lifts to my face as I brush a strand of hair back, "That can't be a normal look. Perhaps I've been cursed and my appearance was altered," I muse to nobody.
I lift my hand to touch my face, as I do the door creeks open. My eyes snap towards the door, but nobody comes in. "Hello? Is someone there?" I ask hesitantly. A few moments pass, with no answer. I walk towards the door, as I go to reach for the handle it closes with a click. Trying to twist the nob, but it simply doesn't budge. "That's not very funny, can you unlock the door now? I'm feeling a bit better, and would like to have a chat." I say knocking on the door.
A chill slowly creeps down my spine, "Something isn't right," I say quietly. I step slightly back, as I begin to think about the voice I heard. It called me "The Keeper" keeper of what though, and why couldn't I understand the voice before I passed out. Is it even the same voice? " I have so many questions, and yet a simple door stands in my way." A hum rings throughout the room, the door begins to warp and shimmer. The lock clicks again, as the door slightly opens revealing an impossibly dark space.