Re: [Round Two; Set Two, Lysis] The Devil's Furnace
Shadowy figures danced around a raging fire, always staying just out of sight. The orange blaze provided no light, nor did it produce any heat. Its only products were death, destruction, and tragedy. Whispers filled the air, the hidden secrets of intangible spirits; but they were impossible to decipher over the ethereal sound of wailing and crying. Clouds filled the dark night sky and hid the palely lit moon and glistening stars, and mystical green lightning fell from the heavens. Amidst it all stood a figure formed of darkness, his captivating bright orange eyes the only distinguishable feature...
* ^ * ^ *
Kartaikian awoke suddenly, to the feeling of his horse nudging him with its muzzle. He stood up and brushed himself off, looking to the Sun for the time. The sky was overcast with clouds, and thick gray smoke. Noticing the smoke for the first time, Kartaikian looked to the horizon to see where it was originating. In the distance he could see a mountain, or rather a volcano, pouring smoke out from the crater on its summit.
"Let's check it out, Tempest," Kartaikian said. He hoisted himself up onto his horse's saddle, and the horse began to gallop toward the distant mountain. As they approached the mountain, the air became filled with ashes and the smoke made the skies much darker. All around, the environment gave evidence that the volcano had erupted before. The ground was covered in a thick layer of cinders, and there was no plant life to be seen. Where the sky could be seen through the smoke, it had taken on a sulfurous yellow color.
"Okay, stop here, Tempest," Kartaikian said when they'd traveled within ten yards of the volcano's base. Stormcloud dismounted his horse, and readied his equipment. Touching the cool metal hilt of his sword, he thought he felt a presence. He drew the longsword, closed his eyes, and concentrated. The blade began to glimmer green as its dark magics began to flow about inside it. Kartaikian detected two spirits, but they were too far away for him to determine anything about them.
Life? Out here? Interesting... he thought. He figured that the lifeforms must be on top of the volcano, and decided to climb up to the summit. The smell of burning mineral filled the air, and the atmosphere was filled with asphyxiating tephra. Stormcloud found a strip of gray cloth, and wrapped it tightly around his face, covering his mouth and nose. He then pulled his hood up over his head, leaving his cloud gray eyes the only visible part of his face, and even they were mostly covered by his hair. "Stay here," he said to Tempest.
Kartaikian approached the volcano, and looked up its jagged slope. It looked fairly climbable, with plenty of footholds. Thus he continued, climbing hand over hand, foot over foot. As he ascended, the heat began to become hard to bear. He found himself wiping sweat off his forehead every couple of minutes. Eventually, though, he found himself on the rim of the volcano. He dared not peer over the edge, as the heat was already strong enough from where he was.
Looking around, Kartaikian was surprised to see someone else on the volcano. It wasn't exactly the presence of the person that surprised him, but rather her appearance...