The azure waters glistened under the golden rays of the sun. The soothing melody of the waves clashing with my raft set a welcoming tone for the mesmerizing spectacle unfolding. From the distance, the verdant oasis surrounded by a halo of white sand was in view. Palm trees waved their greetings as I drew nearer. The mingled scent of tropical fragrance filled the sea breeze. The mosaic formed by the coral reefs just beneath me teemed with life. All sorts of creatures of the sea glided through the waters in a majestic dance.

  I reached into the warm waters, watching the sea find a way around the obstacles placed in its path. It reminded me of the flexibility of mankind, adapting to situations as needed. We always manage to find a way to complete the task, to climb over the mountains that block our view, slay the goliaths that challenge our being. We are created in God’s image, and as such, we are limitless.

  As the raft landed on the pristine beach, I dipped my toes in the toasty powdery grains, feeling them sink in. I took a deep breath, enjoying the paradise that lay beneath me. I finally arrived in Faltheris, the sacred island to the northeast of the Citadel.

  I carried nothing but the torn rags on my back and the shepherd's staff in my hands. It was a pilgrimage of humility, taking the dangers of the world with nothing but a pair of simple robes, a staff, and faith in the Lord. No money, food, sandals, weapons, just God. It was to remind us of our beginnings and to test our trust in our Heavenly Father. Many of the most respected and renowned members of the Church completed this from time to time. It was a period of fasting and prayer, of reflection and transformation. I've completed it a dozen times in the past, and I needed to do so once more.

  It felt different this time. There was no otherworldly peace. Yes, it was as serene and beautiful as I remember, but only In a worldly sense. There wasn't that feeling of tranquility provided by the Holy Spirit. I pondered the possibility of the Angels, the guardians Heaven assigned to us, being truly gone. It seemed surreal to me, impossible, even. Necros was truly powerful, but he stood no chance against the entire force of the army of Heaven. There was no chance he could defeat God’s soldiers in such a way, or he would not have been defeated by our greatest heroes. Yet, my logic held no power here. It did not stop me from feeling a disconnect in the holiest island in the world. The air was thick. Normally, Holy Essence was pure, weightless, completely temperate. Here, it was humid and a bit musky. I could still feel the Holy Essence, but only a fraction of its former glory.

  The wind swayed the branches of the trees, causing them to dance about. Aside from that, it was quiet. No sound of animals. No songs of birds, no rodents running about. It seemed impossible. This land used to teem with life of all sorts. The creatures here could not have migrated except perhaps the birds, for they had no means of doing so. I do not understand. The food here was still plentiful, the weather fair, there was no reason wildlife should have shifted in any way. The island was barren, as if there were a mass extinction somehow. Perhaps… no, I must not entertain those thoughts.

  The wind began to howl, bending the trees more than I have ever seen in Faltheris. The sound of rustling leaves echoes about. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought a hurricane was approaching. Faltheris had no such storms, as it was protected by the Oheriens, a perfectly shaped bridge between our world and theirs.

  Still, I had to brace myself, raising my arm to cover my face as the wind continued to roar. A drop plopped on my head, then another, as it began to rain. The plants lost their pallor and began to crumple up, dried and withered in a matter of seconds. The waves grew higher and more violent as they attacked the island in an unrelenting assault. The sun hid itself from me as dark clouds blanketed the skies. Thunder reverberated, not so much as half a mile from where I stood. The winds picked up ever further, tearing trees from the ground. I struggled to proceed, yet I continued to press on, determined to seek the disturbance causing this anomaly.

  Something struck my head. At first, I thought it had been a fruit, but when I inspected the object, I saw it was a dark avian creature, filled with maggots but still squirming about. The fear in the beast's eyes as it crowed and squirmed. More began to pour down from the skies, each following the same fate. A deluge of blood followed shortly after, as the birds continued to fall hard and fast. The trail, I thought. I must continue, no matter where fate shall take me.

  From the distance, I spotted an Oherien, wingless and defeated, by dozens of avian carcasses and soaked in a pool of blood. I ran as fast I could to try to heal the giant bipedal creature, its once amber armor now a slick crimson. The Angel grasped my rags hard, pulling me with a force that would tear the clothes from my skin had I resisted.

  “Retreat while you can. Nothing awaits but doom.”

  I looked upon the guardian with pleading eyes. “Where are your people? What happened here?”

  “Leave!” He roared with angelic might, that of a high ranking warrior.

  “Let me help you!” I shouted back, attempting to hoist him on my shoulders, but the warrior resisted.

  “You can not! The Oheriens are no more! They are gone, have abandoned a godless people in a godless time! We will find no mercy, no refuge here any longer.”

  “But what has changed?” I inquired. The Angel grew tired of the conversation. He fell into a rampage, wrapping his hands around my throat as he attempted to strangle me.

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  “Let…go…” The warrior did not relent. I sensed the hatred and fear within him. He was an Angel no longer. The creature that lay in front of me no longer served God, but was now a lackey of Satan, whether he realized or not. I dipped his head into the blood that pooled around us. He resisted, using all his might to struggle against mine, but he had grown weak and weary compared to when he was at his glory, and I had still been anointed with strength beyond mortal capabilities. He struggled and turned for several seconds before I jerked my hands, snapping the warrior’s neck. His arms grew limp, so I let go and stood up. The pain that filled me, the guilt. I could not save a child of my Lord. I failed and took its life with my own hands. Surely if I had not fallen out of favor, now I have.

  I looked to face him one last time before continuing to press forward. Arms of bones clutched the Oherien, pulling him into the blood before they attempted the same to me. I moved about frantically, tearing off their limbs as I felt their grasp on me tighten. The ground beneath me began to fade, replaced by a sea of blood. The hands kept coming, but what concerned me was the hundred foot tsunami of blood that was quickly approaching. As it crested, I became fully submerged. I felt the clutch of death’s minions on my body, pulling me deeper into the abyss. No matter how much I struggled, it was futile. I closed my eyes, accepting my fate. Then, I heard the chirp of birds and serene waves. As I opened my eyes once more, I was prone, on my raft that had just docked on the shores of Faltheris.

  I observed the branches swaying in the breeze, the smell of the salty sea air and the melody of nature all around me. It was just as I had seen earlier, in my dream; a vision, perhaps. The Essence was still impure, but I couldn't pinpoint the source. I stepped off the raft, my toes once more dipping into the white sand. I let out a sigh before continuing the pilgrimage, toward the volcanic peak. The landscape shifted to a lush greenery as I continued past the sandy shore. The canopy above was a tapestry of interwoven leaves, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor as the sunlight seeped through the dense foliage.

  The bed of leaves and cushioned moss was palpable beneath my feet. Vines and creepers adorned with clusters of brightly colored flowers twisted their way up the trees in an exquisite pattern. The fragrance of orchids and frangipani mingled with the earthly aroma of the jungle.

  The chorus of avian beasts provided an alluring melody. Their plumage of brilliant reds, blues, and greens fitted between the branches, as their songs echoed through the treetops. The occasional rustle in the underbrush hinted at the presence of small creatures who darted away as I drew near.

  The slopes became steeper and the vegetation gradually changed. The trees grew shorter as I made it closer to the top of the mountain. Sturdier plants adapted to the rocky terrain. Ferns and bromeliads clung to the sides of the path, glistening with morning dew. The distant roar of a waterfall grew louder as I drew nearer to the cascading stream. I paused my ascent, admiring the beautiful spectacle that lay in front of me. The crystal clear water sparkled as it splashed over smooth stone. God was alive, and he was good.

  After about half an hour, I took up my staff and continued the ascent. The air grew cooler and the scent of sulfer became more pronounced. The lush greenery of the lower jungle thinned out, replaced by hardy shrubs that could withstand the volcanic soil. I watched as the landscape shifted from rich soil to jagged rock, and the path became more challenging, requiring careful footing on the uneven terrain.

  Finally, I reached the summit. The crater that loomed before me, a vast expanse that spoke of the island's fiery origins. Steam and smoke wafted from fissures in the rock, swirling into the sky. The view from here was breathtaking, as I could see the entire island stretched out from under me: the dense jungle, the sparkling shoreline, and the endless expanse of turquoise sea beyond.

  The beauty and majesty of it all filled me with awe even after I've seen it so many times. I took in the stunning panorama, feeling the raw power of the ground beneath me.

  Yet, it was as if the heavens were suddenly veiled by an ominous shadow. A creeping darkness stretched across the landscape, and the warmth of the tropical air seemed to retreat, replaced by a chilling bite that pickled my flesh. An unease gripped my heart with icy fingers.

  Then, the whispering began. A faint, disembodied murmur in the back of my mind, indistinct and elusive. The words were incomprehensible as I strained to make sense of them.

  An inexplicable force tugged at me, compelling me to turn around. I hesitated, fear rooting in place for a moment, but the urge became irresistible. I pivoted slowly, and my eyes were drawn into the volcanic crater. It felt as though my heart stopped, frozen under the cold of the deepest despair anyone could imagine.

  There, lying on the blackened rock, was a pair of enormous angel wings, stained crimson on its one pearly complexion. Surrounding it was a ritualistic pentagram, drawn in blood. My heart hammered wildly in my chest. Was this another dream? A nightmare? Reality itself seemed to warp and twist around me.

  My hand flew to the cross hanging around my neck, my fingers trembling as I clutched it tightly. I bowed my head and began to pray, my lips moving in silent supplication. I tried drowning out the rising tide of whispers that swirled in my mind, the storm of anxiety in my heart. The voices grew louder, more insistent and my hands were out of my control, trembling with an unknown fear. It was a cacophony of anguish, despair, and suffering. It was a wailing chorus of torment clawing at my sanity.

  With a cry, I screamed into the void, the unbearable song haunting my soul. And just as soon as it began, it came to a halt. The oppressive shadows lifted as I opened my eyes again, bathed in the warmth and glow of the sun once more. The sky was clear age the melody of the birds filled the air. The breeze from the sea caressed my face, as though nothing had ever been amiss.

  At my feet last an amulet, gleaming bright. I recognized it, as it belonged to one of the Oherien Patriarchs, The Guardian.

  As my fingers closed around it, a vision flashed before my eyes. I saw myself on my deathbed, peaceful, with a new warrior taking my mantle. A Drokkar woman, taller than myself and with a larger frame, her pale blue skin a sign she hailed from the northern glacier.

  I took a deep breath, centering myself in the present. Kneeling down, I meditated on everything that surrounded me, from the smell of sulfur, to the song of the birds.