It was a delicate time for the empire.
The loss of the 4th sector came as a jab to humanity, they had lost nearly 30% of their population.
Along with that, they had also lost suppliers of multiple resources.
Construction of infrastructures halted due to the loss of Mjiormire the major supply of wood.
They had also lost Jeiher the major distributor of animal feeds, and multiple fishing villages.
This led to a shortage of food.
As terrible as it sounded, it would've been worse had they been any survivors from the fourth sector.
The fourth sector couldn't be labelled safe due to the fear of the unexpected, this led to a recession.
***
Leo was in a deep dream.
"Where am I" He was in a dark space filled with fog, adorned in a white robe.
(He who awakened without the use of the chant) A voice said in his head, it was that of a female.
(He who tempered his body before walking a path.) The voice added.
"Show yourself…
Who are you?!" He flailed his arms around to disperse the fog.
It was in vain, as it scattered more came in to fill their place.
(He who thinks inside the forgotten void) The voice resonated in his mind.
Leo looked around trying to find a way out, the voice made him shiver.
(He who received their inheritance, yet not being one of them) The voice said.
"Leave me alone!" Leo knelt as he covered his ears.
He looked to be in pain.
"WHO ARE YOU!" He screamed into the void.
(He who has been cursed by aether, bearing no ring nor thorn.
Unable to form a single crown.
Go forth…) The voice faded away.
[Huff, huff] Leo was breathing hardly.
[Thump! Thump!!]
He was sweating profusely, his heart was beating hard and fast.
Tears flowed out of his reddened eyes, his body felt weak.
He wrapped his hand on his neck as if to strangle himself.
He was distraught, the voice had almost put him in madness.
-
After about some time he just laid on the ground coughing, his breathing had calmed down.
He finally mustered enough strength to sit.
"That voice, wha-
No I don't want to know" Leo halted his thoughts.
For the first time he wasn't curious, he still had goosebumps.
"?!"
The fog started to clear up, revealing the place he was in.
"What is this place…" His jaw dropped at the sight.
The sky was filled with dark clouds raging with lightning.
The land was a desert, with black sand.
Raging winds blew on the dunes and the desert floor.
In the distance he could see seven lights.
"Does that lead out of here?" He looked around.
The lights were all he could hope on.
With no other choice he stood up and ventured into the unknown lands.
-
"How long has it been…
Hours, days, weeks?...
It is barely getting any closer" Leo muttered to himself as he walked into the void.
Wind blew against him, the sand particles cut into him.
"It's barely getting any closer.
This place is messing with my sense of time." He looked at the seven lights that that had grown only a bit larger.
His steps were heavy.
-
An unknown time had passed again.
" I'm almost there, just a…little bit more" He uttered from his lips dried by thirst.
The lights were now larger than previously.
He nearly stumbled multiple times, almost gracing the ground with his body.
He had no more sweat in his dried up body, as he walked up the large dune.
-
Time had passed once more.
His body was malnourished, the desert was unkind to him.
"Just…one…more…step" His voice was all dried up.
The lights were now in front of him, their true form had been revealed.
He had beared everything up until that point.
At the next step his legs gave in-
Never hitting the ground, the fog cushioned his fall.
Then it dispersed slowly, softening his fall.
-
Leo's eyes opened, he looked at the seven lights — they were doors, with an inscription at the top of each of them.
All the doors were bundled in chains except for the red one to the right.
On the floor in front of him, was a bowl of liquid with an inscription on its body;
Body of oneness.
Leo didn't even read the inscription, he was led by his thirst.
He chugged it down not sparing a thought.
The change started from his arms, giant pores formed on each.
Then they popped up all over his body, even down to his legs.
A substance flowed through it; it was aether.
He grit his teeth baring the pain, his head felt like it was split in two.
Just when he felt he couldn't take it anymore then holes closed up.
The liquid nourished his body his thirst had vanished, his cuts were healed and he didn't look malnourished.
"The pain is gone…" He checked out his body.
"Now all that's left is these" He was looking at the doors in front of him.
"Gold, white, yellow, grey, green, red, blue"
"The illusion of choice.
Showing me all these, when only one is open" He palmed his face.
"Red it is…" He walked towards the red door.
But then he got distracted.
"I wonder…what lies around these doors" He acted upon curiosity, walking past the blue door.
He turned then tried to take a step.
"?!"
Something invisible blocked his path, even pushing him back.
Like an invisible wall.
"I guess not…" Leo let out a sigh.
-
He stood before the red door then opened it.
As he took a step into it, the door was engulfed by another door.
The colour of the door and the inscription changed.
Black - path of obscurity.
He took another step into it and immediately left the space.
-
He laid on a small bed, his hands were wrapped with bandages, so were his feet.
Leo's eyes opened, the bandages on his body were burnt away by a black flame.
He was clothed in patients clothing, in what looked like a room in a hospital.
It was mid-day, the light pierced through the w
"This place…, where is this" Leo looked around.
The nob of the door twisted.