Prologue – In the Citadel of the Waking God

The quiet clicking of Exa’s pocket watch was all but swallowed by the torrential wind that rushed by the ramparts of the Citadel. It almost seemed as if the storm was similarly trying to vanquish time itself. She could believe that here, at the centrepoint of all the realms and in this colossal fort that seemed to wrap every other land around it like a cloak against… what? She did not believe for a moment that there had ever been an invasion aimed at the domain of the Waking God, only small parties seeking His favours. Legends told that once He had walked amongst mortals, protecting them from the beasts of the wild and teaching the ways of survival and prosperity, but had since removed Himself to this castle of many names where He, supposedly, waited for a time when he would be needed again. In the meantime, daring adventurers and young nobles both ventured deep into the dungeons and caves beneath the fortress in order to prove their worth and their valour. It was even said that if one were to reach the bottom, he would meet the Waking God Himself. Even if they could not make the whole journey, most people put much weight on how deep one had ventured as it was necessary to use all the abilities one could muster to survive under the world.

It was now an eighth to noon and Exa checked once more that she had all she might need. True, the great instruction tapestries in the main great hall said that there were sources of food and water inside, but she had still acquired for herself from her court magicians various supplies. Instant rations and ritual scrolls would keep her fed and healthy for two weeks, double the time it should take her to pass her set goal. Indeed, her star-forged armour was the heaviest piece of equipment she carried as her bags were almost solely packed with water-tight containers for the parchment. She had had to have prepared for everything as those who had ventured in to the dungeon were bound by two geasa: first, to never again enter the realm of the Waking God; and second, to never speak of what they encountered while under the stronghold. Though she did not and could not know what she might face – possibly everything she could imagine and maybe more – she knew with the rational part of her mind that it would be worth it to continue receiving the good graces of her mother and father. Her emotions disagreed; she thought this was naught but a waste of time and a foolish ritual with no connection to the needs and desires of the modern age. However, she had to, lest she lose her position and inheritance and that was that.

Now, it would be misleading to imply that Exa was greedy or even selfish at that. After all, had she been the former, she would be excited to have an opportunity to both seek treasure – many of her older friends and acquaintances had returned with otherworldly relics that were, if not unique, then only found in the mystic courts in the far west – and to acquire great power: the strongest and most resourceful, the ones who managed to descend deepest, returned as what could only be described as demigods. As for the latter, it would be a lie to deny that she often thought of herself before acting, but in all fairness, she more often than not acted selflessly after weighing the situation, regardless of whether or not she liked doing so. Her sense of virtue did not arise from a sense of pleasure gained from noble acts; she merely did what helped others more willingly because she did not consider herself to need as much. She did not need the inheritance, truth be told, but she did not want to break the hearts of her family by ending up banished from her house as unworthy of the name Callis with her name stricken from the records.

Exa’s steps led her to the entry hall where the grandesque doors, crafted from some exotic metal in a fashion that showed grace while promising strength, would open in a minute or two. Glancing behind, she gave a confirming nod to the captain of her bodyguard and turned to face the magnificent and looming doors. A shiver of fear finally crept through her spine, a fright thus far stilled by indifference. Now that this mysterious place was about to embrace her, her calm began to trickle away, hastened by the sealing of the doors behind her. With a deep swallow, Exa gathered almost all of her previous determination in a single breath and took a step forward when suddenly all of the light in the room disappeared, leaving her holding her step and her pose, trying to blink away the colours swirling in her eyes.

A warm voice whispered gently by her ear, “Have you come to pass through the Trials of Remembrance?” No one had known for hundreds of years what was supposed to be remembered, but it was quite obvious what the answer should be.

“I have,” Exa replied, hating her voice for shaking so childishly.

The invisible speaker hummed pleasantly, obviously satisfied and asked another question in a smug tone by her other ear. “Are you here to struggle against the Challenge That Is Time?” This one was more understandable, though Exa was slightly distracted by the ethereal being’s capability of pronouncing punctuation.

“I am,” she answered according to form, her throat now obeying her better and lending but a small vibration to her words.

The voice spoke to her face, this time with a heavy voice that seemed to press her back on her left foot. “Will you prove yourself worthy to pass the Nightmares of Fate?” The last request for confirmation had obvious and eerie connotations for Exa. Finally, for the first time – and somehow she could easily tell it would not be the last – she felt a tinge of regret for setting out on this path. But as she had been brought up, she would behave: this was something that was worth her attention, so she would accomplish it with the best of her abilities.

“I will,” she answered proudly and a touch defiantly, lifting her chin as the last remnants of weakness left her heart, at least for now.

The air around her vibrated softly as if in anticipation when the giant door ahead began to rise, revealing a softly lit octagonal room. As she pulled her left leg forward to continue toward the inner entry room, a voice unlike any she had ever heard boomed a sigh in her mind: CAN YOU BREAK DESTINY?

Freezing in her pose, somehow managing to maintain her balance with one foot awkwardly in the air, she slowly peered around wide-eyed without moving her head. Before her thoughts had any time to recover from the sharp realisation that this new presence could be none other than the Waking God Himself, her tongue had escaped her mental grip and the pride she had assumed as a shield against her own fear spoke for her.

“If I must,” was all she said – or managed to say, at least, before her hand clasped tightly on her mouth – but her words’ effect was tangible. The vibration stopped as if it had never even been there and the ensuing sudden silence was so deep that Exa was quite sure even her heart had stopped in order to help. The light in the octagonal room seemed to shrink and dim until it seemed to resemble a humanoid. The oppressing sensation Exa had felt was replaced by a strong curiosity: maybe it was a member of one of the wildér races, judging by the horns, but the wings implied that it was one of the ice-folk. The backwards-bending legs were confusing as well, but Exa had no time to wonder about them in any great detail for in her study she had neglected to pay attention to the light-creature’s actions. Now, it had reached her and while she could see that he was clearly masculine, she also realised that she might actually be in grave danger if she had spited the God.

As if sensing her thoughts, the man-thing knelt before her in a way that signified total submission in her home kingdom. Opening her mouth, she thought of something appropriate to say, but could not deliver more than a simple yet proud command to rise, her tongue still not fully in her control. The man obeyed instantly and flashed a charming grin that, had Exa not been snugly protected by her reflexive self-confidence, would have been disarming and quite possibly made her swoon. Now, however, it only made her ears and cheeks feel almost uncomfortably hot.

Noting a moment’s pause to use, the stranger bowed slightly and spoke in the first voice she had heard after entering the hall, though it now sounded like the man was on the verge of laughter, “Welcome, my lady, to the most extravagant obstacle course created.” His arm swept to encompass not the entrance to the underground, but rather the hall and the citadel, maybe even more, until finally resting it on Exa’s upper back with a clink of metal touching metal. Gently leading her toward the doorway, he continued in his exposition. “I shall be your guide on your quest, my lady, if it so pleases you. I will also be acting as your personal host and a direct liaison with the management.” The last word came after a short pause and what could only be described as half a chuckle.

Exa nodded in response, her mind working frantically to clear itself up. As they reached the threshold of the room, she stopped and turned to look at her designated guide. “If we’re going to be spending time together,” she started slowly, her words arranging themselves into sentences as they came out. “I would very much like to know your name.”

The guide, having stopped as well, gave a curt bow and replied, “I have been called so many names throughout my years here that I barely remember what my original one was, but I suppose you could call me Takhris. It is the one that has always been my favourite.” He explained with a smile Exa could have sworn had a touch of melancholy in it. “Now you have me at an advantage, though, so I must ask for your name.”

“I am Exa Sepal Callis, third daughter of the Duchess Jai’e Far-Zu Callis,” she replied instinctively in a formal manner.

“Most charmed to make your acquaintance,” Takhris bowed deeper once again and gestured at the entrance with his free hand as he straightened himself. “Now, if you would not mind, there is a long way to go and I would hate for you to die of old age before we reach the end of the course. We shall surely have more than enough time ahead of us to get properly acquainted.” Before Exa could protest that she had absolutely no intention to go deeper than a few dozen floors at best, the man had politely yet firmly moved her inside the chamber. The less-flustered part of Exa’s mind automatically began to prepare for the first endeavour, ignoring the still prevalent confusion that clouded her most conscious self.