Preasti

{Spoiler}As he ran he could feel the sweet sensation of adrenalin pumping through his body and filling him whole. In Vikarios there was only one thing that mattered: speed, and none was faster than him. His name was Scathia, he had gone through every challenge Erd had thrown at him, and now this was his final test. 


For a long time Scathia had been proving his worth in every racetrack. His enhanced perception and ruthlessness had made him a victor where all other viashino had failed. He had ran through collapsing grottos, he had ran between giant beasts that would’ve trampled him to death in mere seconds, he had run through fiery pits that blistered his skin and seared every inch of his body and arrived triumphant at the end of each and every one of them. No trap could surprise him; nothing could strike him before he had time to react. He was the perfect racing machine, and this was finally his chance to prove it. 


But this time the stakes were higher, this time the racetrack was alive: he’d have to run through the back of live hellions swarming in a lava pit. The trial was known as the Hellion Dash, and no one had ever made it through it alive.


The second he jumped on top of the first monster he began doing what he knew best: run. He ran as if his life depended on it, because it did. If he miss-stepped, he’d fall to his death; if he didn’t run lightly enough he might hurt the hellion, and one spastic movement of the beast would send him flying away; if one of the hellions realized about the creature it had on its back, he’d be eaten. Everything in this trial was designed to kill him, but he wouldn’t fail. He was Scathia of Vikarios, he’d rise to the challenge and rise as the champion of the Fourth Isle.


As he reached the head of the first hellion he jumped as far as he could. He fell on the back of a second creature, rolled over, got up and kept on running. So far so good, but then again, Vikarios was known for its chaotic nature, and any second now Erd would make sure that-


“Speak of the devil” thought Scathia as, out of nowhere, the lava beneath him began to boil and a geyser of the burning substance shot skyward in his direction.


He was able to react with more than enough time to run past the point where it hit, but soon found out the shot wasn’t meant to hit him. Writhing in pain from the strike, the hellion began contorting, and Scathia soon found himself losing balance, until finally he was able to run no more, and he fell.


He was able to sink his claws into the hellion’s back, but this only served to fuel the creature’s pain, and with it its shaking movements. 


The creature fell head first into the lava and Scathia, gathering all the strength he could muster, climbed once more on its back, stood up not without some effort, and began running towards the tail as the creature sank deeper and deeper, bringing him closer to his impending doom.


The second he reached the tail, he once more stuck his claws into the creature’s hide, an action that was received with a convulsive shake that sent him flying away into the back of another hellion. 


Risking once more falling to his death as he continued sliding through the creature, he stuck his tail –sharp as a razor- into the beast, which allowed him to stop and prevent his fall. The creature that served him as platform wasn’t at all happy with this, and it turned its disgusting head toward him. Opening its maw with a series of deafening clicks and grinds, the hellion began spitting fireballs towards its prey.


Scathia was quick enough to avoid the first barrage, but the creature, with relentless sadism, threw missiles that were each time larger and more precise. With his strength faltering and the strange feeling of fatigue grabbing a hold of him, he was finally hit. 


The fireball’s momentum was enough to send him back a few yards, and he had to roll for more than a few seconds before the flames that engulfed him were consumed. His skin was excruciatingly hot, and his eyes had swollen enough to reduce his visibility significantly. To add insult to injury, his screams of pain had attracted a nearby hellion’s attention, and he was now two creatures after him. 


Trying to avoid even the slightest mistake and forcing himself to remain strong and fast, he saw the creature fall upon him, ready to swallow him whole. He was able to jump at the very last second, vaulting over the spiky head, but his impaired visibility betrayed him. His calculations were only slightly wrong, but it was enough for one of the protruding spikes to cut his ankle.


Deprived of a prey, the beast closed its jaw on the back of the other hellion, and the creatures began fighting each other. Scathia was allowed only a few seconds of rest before his platform’s spasms forced him to keep moving. As he ran through the hellion’s twisting body, he was able to see the end of the racecourse, and he felt hope and adrenalin fill him.


He used one of the creature’s shakes as impulse and fell on the back of another hellion who, oblivious to the passenger on its back, was treading the lava lake more slowly than its siblings. Scathia breathed heavily as he finally was allowed to rest, requiring only to keep his balance enduring the creature’s unexpected movements.

His skin was burning, his vision was failing him, his own feet –his best tools- had been maimed; he knew he had little, if at all, chance of finishing the trial. Maybe he could just surrender; maybe Erd would find pity in her heart and spare- 


“What the hell am I thinking?” he said to himself “This is not me. I am not a quitter. I am Scathia, and I shall prove my worth!” 


As he said this, two gigantic waves of lava rose from the hellion’s sides and began descending upon him. It appeared Erd wouldn’t allow him to rest a second more, and he was completely fine with that!


He began running, his crippled foot aching but rage and ego helping him to ignore the pain. The waves missed him by a few inches, but he could feel their blazing heat striking his back. He tried to ignore the pain, but this time he was overwhelmed. For the first time in his life he tripped. As he rolled over the hellion’s back and closer to the head, he bit the scaly surface as hard as he could, and the beast beneath him reacted by shaking him upwards, then opening its maw for him to fall inside.


Scathia embraced one of the spikes with his whole body, clinging to life as the hellion, filled with rage, began charging one devastating fiery breath. 


“Time to focus now, I only have one shot at this” muttered Scathia.


He heard the fire ready to shoot and, as the beast prepared to regurgitate its burning secretion, Scathia sunk his tail into the spike and moved the weight of his body backwards.


The spike broke, the hellion spat its fire with a scream of pain and the viashino began falling and turning grabbed onto the spike. If the fire hit him or missed the falling spike, he’d be dead.


But his calculations were precise; the fireball hit the spike in the extreme opposite to the one he was holding onto. The strength of the hit was enough to propel him towards his destination.


As the torn spike flew atop a cliff, he let go of it and fell to the ground rolling over his body. He breathed heavily and spat some blood as every inch of his body ached with excruciating pain. He was severely injured, but he was alive, and he had passed the test. 


“Rise, my new champion” he heard a voice saying, as some flames engulfed him. 


But these flames didn’t hurt. In fact, they seemed to make the pain go away, although not entirely. The pain was still there, but it was endurable, it was as though he was burning hotter than the fire that had torn his body apart during the trial, and that made him able to withstand its painful embrace.


“You have passed my every test, you are now worthy of the title of Champion of Vikarios” said Erd’s voice as he recovered from his injuries.

Scathia roared with pride and ferocity as he claimed his title and rose to a new destiny.

Fallek awoke to a slight chill and a sunspot peeking through clouds. Thinking this was odd he slowly opened his eyes allowing them to adjust to even this small amount of sunlight. As his eyes adjusted he noticed that he did not recognize his surroundings. Rather than laying in the bed of his inn room on Lumehaven, he was laying in soft clayish dirt with walls on each side reaching up about three times the size of a man. Startled his senses heightened immediately and he sprung up.

Have I taken to planeswalking in my sleep? Fallek thought to himself. Then he thought back, he didn’t remember going to sleep; last thing he could recall was sitting at his study pouring over the notes he had gotten from his most recent infiltration efforts. He stretched his arms to see what he was wearing. Sure enough, he was wearing his same dark blue robe that he had worn that day…this day?

Fallek turned his attention to his surroundings to survey where he might be. The walls around him were high. He placed his hand on them. Cold. Almost icy. They were also very smooth and unscaleable. They were on both sides so he looked down the corridor, it seemed to go for ages. He looked behind and noticed the same thing; however, he could see what looked like other corridors branching off.

”A maze?” he muttered softly to no one in particular. Now he was confused. But he didn’t have time for this. Whatever had caused him to fall in a sleeping spell and come to this plane would have to wait. He was getting close to discovering the secret of the Bastion on Lumehaven and he couldn’t stop now. He prepared his spell to enter the Aether back to Lumehaven.

Nothing.

Strange. Falleks eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. His concentration must be breaking. He made the preparations again to step into the multiverse.

Nothing. It was incredibly odd. He could feel the mana leylines but could not connect them for a planeswalk. Panic started to seize up in his throat. Fallek swallowed it down.

”keep calm. You can figure this out.” He tried to reassure himself. Surely there was a reasonable explanation. His nerves calmed; the panic squelched.

I guess I’m walking the maze…

Fallek started down the direction that he had seen the corridors branching off. At the moment he decided he would continue straight though and not turn to the side. After walking for quite some time he saw that he was coming to a fork. He would have to decide which way to go. As he approached he stopped at the fork to think about his predicament.

”Well hello!” A cheerful voice side from behind. Well no from above. Fallek looked and saw a small fairy fluttering toward him. “You look new!”

”Well, I am not from here.” Fallek replied.

”Well of course not! Nobody is!” the fairy replied back. It stated every sentence as if it were the most profound exciting thing it had ever said.

Fallek cocked his head. “What do you mean nobody is from here? You are not from here?”

”No way I say?” the fairy quipped, cheery as ever. “My game started… oh about three years ago!”

”Game?” Fallek trailed, “what…game?”

”Ooh, ooh, ooh, you really are new!” the fairy sounded even more excited, as if that was possible. “Allow me to welcome you to Preasti!” the fairy took a deep bow. “And I…” (dramatic pause) “am Figora.”

”And… I am Fallek. I don’t mean to be rude but how do I get out of here?”

”That’s easy, you just have to complete the games!”

”Complete the games? Forgive me, but what are you talking about?”

”There are five isles each with its own challenges. You were brought here to compete in the games; currently we are on Ersatz, the First Isle. All you have to do is finish them on each of the five isles and you can return home!” the cheeriness of Figora was getting tiresome after hearing these words.

Fallek rubbed his temples slowly. “Why must I complete with these games. I am able to pass through the planes, but I can’t now.”

”Ooh and you’re a planeswalker! How lucky am I! Yes it is quite shocking to planeswalkers because you are so used to your freedom. But don’t worry, it is easy to complete the games!”

”If it is is so easy…” Fallek started, “then why are YOU still here?”

”Oh I like it here! Uleb is so much nicer then Oona ever was.

Fallek cringed. Then composed himself “so…you like it here huh? Well I need to leave as soon as possible. Do you know the way through this maze?”

”Yes!!! I thought you’d never ask!”

Fallek smiled smugly. He was slightly afraid his new “guide” would have a heart attack from being so excited. “Lead the way then…”

They seemed to walk for hours. At every fork Figora would get excited and jerking his arms towards the correct path. Fallek followed but didn’t feel like they were getting anywhere. Finally he took a small coin out of his pocket and dropped it on the ground. Sure enough after walking for another 30 minutes or so they came across that same coin. He stopped.

”You’re taking me in circles.” Fallek stated sternly.

Figora swung around “What! I would never do such a thing, that is outrageous” he said in a hurt tone. For the first time NOT sounding cheerful.

”I know you are. Your games are finished. Take me the correct way.”

Downhearted and shoulders shrugged Figora flutter back forward and muttered “fine….just ruin my fun. See if I care.”

He seemed to forget moments later as they came to another fork in the maze and once again he was shaking his arms wildly screeching which way to go. As Fallek approached he turned the opposite direction and kept walking.

The fairy zipped over and planted firmly in front of Fallek “Wait! That’s not the way! You don’t want to go there!”

”Yes I do.” Fallek said as he brushed his hand at the fairy who easily dodged the sweep.

”Well I just never!” Figora said indignant. He kept fluttering up from behind Fallek though.

After a while Fallek arrived at a deep chasm. The labyrinth followed right into the gorge. Fallek wasn’t entirely sure if it was a dead end or if there was some “game” to get across. He didn’t have to wonder long as a magical bridge began to form across to the other side. Carefully Fallek began to step out.

”I woul…” Figora started but was stopped when Fallek put his hand up and shot astern look. He kept walking. About halfway across a sphinx burst up from nowhere and set himself in the path.

”Uh…hello.” Fallek started “I am just trying to get across, I don’t mean to intrude”

”You do not intrude” the sphinx’ voice was booming. “You are where you are.”

”okay…” Fallek was slightly speechless.

”A riddle of three I have for thee. Answer them all you must to see.”

”Oh boy…” Fallek muttered. “Here’s a riddle for you…who is tired of your games and doesn’t have time for your riddles?”

The sphinx stood impassive, completely unphased.

Fallek sighed rubbing his temples again “What if I don’t answer?”

”The bridge dispels!” Figora said excitedly.

”What!?” Fallek said shooting a look at the fairy.

”Don’t look at me! I tried to tell you to go the other way…”

”Fine… “ Fallek looked back towards the sphinx whose expression had not yet changed, “sphinx, name your riddle.”

First Riddle

I have roads that no one can pass.

I have rivers without water.

I have forests that have no trees.

I have cities without any houses.


Second Riddle

My sister but I could not be more opposite than thee.

I give birth to her and she dispels me.

I return only after I am, in turn, birthed by she.


Third Riddle

I can’t be heard yet all know my sound.

Say my name and I am no longer around.

If you call for me I will never be found.

---

No sooner had the Sphinx named his three riddles when a quartet of fairies fluttered around Fallek chattering gleefully with Figora and each other. They were obviously chattering about his riddles but Fallek tried to push it out of his mind to concentrate on the riddles at hand. Plus he still didn’t trust these fairies and thought that they could very well attempt to give him a false answer.

”roads no one can pass, rivers without water, forests with no trees, and cities without any houses…” Fallek repeated quietly to himself.

Unfortunately for him, the fairies’ hearing are quite good. One of them flew over “Well it ACTUALLY says ‘forests that have no trees’” it stated quite loudly and determined crossing its arms “…who knows, that might be relevant!”

”Thanks” Fallek stated shaking his head. He continued out loud but to himself. “Sounds like somewhere that might have been destroyed, maybe like Zendikar or something.”

”Bah!” another fairy blurted “Do you really think HE cares about whatever is happening on Zendikar?!” He was pointing a thumb at the Sphinx which has still not changed any expression at all.

Despite not trusting these fairies, Fallek discerned that to be sound advise. He had another idea.

”Sphinx!” he said. The sphinx barely budged but enough to indicate it was listening. Fallek cleared his throat The answer to the first riddle is a map.

The Sphinx was completely impassive for a long moment. Fallek stared at it as it stared over his left shoulder. Finally it sighed “That is correct.”

”The second one…” Fallek started again to himself “…is tricky. It could be a number of opposing things really.”

One of the fairies puffed out his chest and stated proudly that he, in fact, knew the answer to the second riddle. This was met with fierce opposition and doubt from his trope.

”There is no way you know it!”

” Yes, there is! And I do!”

”This coming from the guy who accidently leads people the RIGHT way in the labyrinth!”

”That wasn’t my fault! The Architect had changed it the day before. I didn’t know the new layout yet and YOU guys didn’t tell me it changed!”

Fallek pushed this argument out of mind and focused on the items of the riddles.

”First off they are opposite each other. Secondly, one can birth the other or rather change into the other as riddle language might convey. And when it does so the first vanishes. Thirdly, it returns after being birthed or shaped by the second assumedly in the same fashion.”

”Ha! That’s day and night!” said one fairy proudly puffing its chest. Fallek couldn’t remember if this was the one who ‘knew the answer’.

Immediately another perked up “Not a chance! It is sun and moon. It has to be!”

Yet a third fairy chimed in “No. No. That can’t be! The sun and moon are out at the same time during some parts of the day. It is obviously life and death!”

”Well thank you for all your thoughts on it, but I think it is night and day as well.” Fallek stated bringing equal parts cheering and gasps of despair from the group of fae.

”Why would you say that?! It is obviously not true!” chipped the ‘life/death’ fairy.

”Well, it can’t be sun and moon as they can be seen simultaneously during certain parts of the day. While life and death sounds like it could fit; life does birth death in a way and death can birth or feed life; however, where it falters, is that death does not give back to the SAME life as it states in the riddle. Whilst day becomes night and then becomes day in an eternal cycle.”

Fallek turned back towards his bridge guard “Sphinx. I have the answer to the second riddle.” Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed half the fairies putting a little more distance between them and the pair. “The answer is day and night.”

”Hmmmm…” the Sphinx rumbled “You had many options and valid selections. You used your reason to determine the answer.”

Fallek wondered with concern why the Sphinx has all of a sudden become so ‘talkative’.

The Sphinx continued…”You have chosen wisely and have the correct answer.”

Predictably the day/night fairy threw quite a fit of celebration and poked his fellow fairies’ with a small wand he held teasing them in various ways.

Fallek decided to move on the third and final riddle. This time he kept his thoughts to himself. This one was for him to solve on his own. As he pondered the elements of the riddles he notived the fae getting more and more on edge. Ironically this seemed to provide them grand entertainment.

Finally he turned towards the Sphinx. “I have the final riddle’s answer.” The fairy group began chattering like chipmunks at this sound. “And I sure wish I had it right now…the answer is silence.

Another gasp from the fae. Another delayed response from the Sphinx. “That answer is correct as well. You have conquered all the riddles.

The Sphinx arose and then flew off without another word. Behind it was a glow which originated where it was from on the bridge. It quietly spread throughout the rest of the bridge. Fallek braced for a possible trick.

The bridge held.

The fae were in a spree flickering back and forth above and around Fallek as he cautiously walked across. No further events stopped his advance and once he finally reached the other side the fairy trope dispersed without a word, even from Figora.

On the other side there was a long corridor. Although it had the same walls as the labyrinth, there were no branches and it just led straight. Once it broke to a courtyard he saw a massive being standing there. It almost had the same features of a merfolk but it was about four times the size of any merfolk he had ever seen. It had a blue shimmer and a deep long cape.

”I am Uleb, the archon of the First Isle. Impressive work planeswalker.”

”Well, I am less than impressed. Are you the one who trapped me here?”

Uleb smirked and shrugged his shoulders. “If you think you are trapped then I am not quite as impressed. Only the fool sees a trap where the cunning see opportunity.”

”Fool is it? Well what do you call someone who takes someone from their home and forces them to play in a fool’s game?”

”A master of pawns is what I would call them. And you are just a measly pawn. I know that is hard for you to swallow as a planeswalker. Your freedom is your crutch.” There was some certain disdain in Uleb’s voice “but….you did accomplish the trails quite well I might add. Solving the maze is not easy especially when my minions intentionally lead you astray. You solved all three riddles and crossed the bridge without using any magic which I perceive you could have done if needed. Although the fae gave a little more than they should have you were able to see through all the deception.”

”Enough of this!” Fallek yelled and sent a blast of energy straight towards the Archon. It was intended to bring the wind to life as an elemental to launch an attack but Uleb cast her own spell that then held Fallek’s in suspension. Then looked at Fallek and snipped off a riddle. A riddle! The archon asked him a damned riddle!

”Don’t you get it! I am NOT your plaything!” Fallek yelled pouring more energy into his spell.

”Sorry, wrong answer” and with that Fallek’s spell was countered and then Uleb sent her own attack at Fallek pinning him down. Fallek struggled trying to move but every inch of movement made his mind slip and lose the grips of his knowledge. He could feel his mind emptying with every struggle.

”Quite the Puzzling Conundrum you are in Fallek.” Uleb said standing over him. “I am willing to let you retain your victory of Ersatz but I will not accept an attack on an Archon of the Isles.”

Fallek felt the intrusion into his mind as Uleb’s mental attacks teared at him. After what seemed an eternity it finally let up. Fallek felt the bonds removed that constricted his movements.

”Try to enjoy the games Fallek” Uleb said. “On to the Second Isle now.”

Uleb waved his hand and Fallek disappeared only to appear again and look up and see a grand stretching grassland that overlooked what looked like the edge of the isle feeding right into the bare sky. The sun was even more bright here and Fallek had to guard his eyes with his hands.

Fallek stood slowly and surveyed the isle around him. The Second Isle to be exact. Where he would continue the second part of his trails on Preasti.

As Fallek got his composure after being teleported to this new isle, he could at least take solace in the fact that this isle had a warm sun to greet him rather than the cold hard ground and trapping walls of the First Isle. Around him was a great sweeping grassland which cut off in the distance to the sky. But this was no horizon, but rather the edge of the Second Isle dropping off into a sky of nothingness.

After surveying the sites Fallek concluded that although it was a beautiful site he was no closer to figuring out what he needed to do next. If this was truly another isle with a specific challenge than he would have to be on his toes and alert. Figuring that the drop into the sky would not get him anywhere, Fallek began to walk the other direction.

After walking for about two miles the mage came across a road extending perpendicular to his path. He now had the choice of which way to go. He liked this choice without walls better then the choices he faced on the last isle. Having seen nothing of note in either direction he chose to start off going right down the road; only because that was the opposite of his first turn in the previous isle.

After some time Fallek could see something in the horizon, looked like a gathering of people. The right side of the road had a ridge off to the side so he chose to move on the other side of that and observe what he was coming up on. Even so he also cast a muffle and invisibility spell to completely mask himself as he approached.

There was a group of what appeared to be soldiers which seemed an odd sight on a plane such as this. They looked like they had been traveling on this very road but had prepared camp for the day. What caught Fallek's eyes were the prisoners shackled in chains that they had with them. He couldn't help but imagine that they had been pulled from their homes just the same as him.

Fallek continued to survey the camp and decide what his next move would be. He could easily slip by undetected. But to where? He didn't even know what trial he had to face here. He could also try to gather information from this group. Deep inside though he felt that the prisoners needed his help.

Before approaching them Fallek put up another of his "characters". He had various ones to conjure up to cloak himself in a different look. He had a few for each plane he visited. In this instance he decided to use his best Boros face from his last visit to Ravnica. He figured that it would be relatable to these...whatever they were.

"Excuse me?!" Fallek called as he approached. The men turned and stared at him. Fallek paused so as not to alert them too much. As he stood there it creature an awkward silence as it seemed either party didn’t want to make a move. Finally one of them took a few steps closer.

”Where are you from?” he stated with a voice of authority.

Fallek thought a second. He did not know how big this isle was. Pretending to be a local could be foolish as they might see through that. Instead he decided to stick to his guise. “I am from Ravnica…” he let it trail off to sound confused “I am not really sure why I am here or what I am supposed to do.”

”New blood is it!” one of the other men blurted laughing nudging a few of his companions to his side “Quite the mindscrew those first few days are.”

The whole group started chuckling at Fallek’s expense. Not that he minded. It seemed they didn’t consider him a threat which meant they either wouldn’t attack or he could easily overpower them.

The first man to speak took another step forward “Have you been assigned a trial yet?”

”No” Fallek shook his head. Maybe he was getting somewhere.

”Well on Enteria we value honor and courage. No sissy magic tricks used to gain the upper hand.” The group behind him nodded in concession.

Well that is exactly how I plan to get out of this place.

Fallek nodded towards the chained men. “What is honorable and courageous about holding someone in chains?”

The man didn’t like this challenge. He gritted his teeth “That…is the fate of those who can’t abide the rules of honor and courage!” Again the men behind him approved of his statement with giddy nodding and grunts of agreement.

Hmmm, rebels against these archons could come in use.

”Very well.” Fallek extended his arms in fake approval of his statement. “I wonder if you could help me with finding my next trial?”

”Well, that’s easy.” He stated as a grin came on his face. “You just need to a duel.”

”That’s it?” Fallek said surprised. Seemed easy enough.

”I’ll challenge you myself” the man already had his sword drawn.

Fallek didn’t have a sword buy didn’t need one. He concentrated on his mana leylines to conjure up an illusion to fight on his behalf…only nothing came. There seemed to be some aura blocking him from casting spells.

”Ha!” the man exclaimed “magic is a bane in combat. There is no honor in it. Live and die by the sword my friend.”

He charged and thrust his sword towards Fallek who swung out of the way then kicked the man from behind away from him.

”And what honor is there in charging an unarmed man with a sword?” Fallek challenge back.

The man laughed and gestured to one of his men “Rorick, give up your blade for this magic user. Let us teach him something of fighting!”

A man threw a sword to Fallek which he caught. This wasn’t that bad actually. Now they assumed he was a wimpy sorcerer with no fighting skills. The truth is that before delving into magic he had trained his life as a warrior. Swordplay was no stranger to him.

Fallek held the blade intentionally placing his hands the incorrect way on the hilt. It may help to feign ignorance for a little longer…

His opponent charged again thrusting his sword. Fallek blocked it clumsily and staggered back out of the way. His opponent laughed “doesn’t handle the same as a spell does it friend!”

Another charge but this time with his sword raised. A stance that is meant to intimidate but leaves you open to counter. Fallek took the chance. As the charge came in Fallek stepped forward closing the gap and throwing an aggressive blow at the raised blade knocking the man off balance at the same time with his body. The man staggered and Fallek unleashed flurry of follow up blows each unexpected but he was still able to get his sword in place to block.

The last strike sent the sword flying to the side and Fallek followed with a kick knocking his opponent to the ground. Once there his blade was at his throat.

”I suggest you yield.” Fallek stated flatly.

The man was enraged but before he could respond a spark and flash came from the side of the road and there came a grand being flashing in light. The isle’s archon.

”Well done.” The being stated with a deep authoritative voice.

Each of the men immediately knelt to one knee with their opposing arm crossed over their knee. All except Fallek’s opponent who was still pinned with Fallek’s blade. Fallek assumed it was a gesture of respect. He intentionally didn’t follow suit.

”Ithew, he tricked me!” the man yelled from the ground.

“Tricked you…?” Ithew seemed unphased “without using magic. That means you underestimated your opponent.”

The man’s demeanor changed immediately. Fallek let up the blade to let him up.

”Still…” Ithew began “I think I require one more thing of you contestant. Tomorrow we will administer justice to one of these…” he gestured to one of the prisoners.

”I will not murder for you.” Fallek interrupted.

Ithew chuckled deeply. “As you wish. You will duel him then to the death.”

Before Fallek could respond Ithew was gone.

The defeated man came up to Fallek. “I don’t like you but it looks like you are bound to Ithew now. I am Gildon and we are the Silvercloak. I am in charge of this detail. You will stay with us until we arrive tomorrow to Ithew’s court. There you will duel Kros, the leader of the resistance against Ithew.”

Fallek just nodded and didn’t say anything more. The thought of an organized resistance against the archon’s intrigued him.

Once darkness fell and most of the Silvercloak were asleep, Fallek once again employed his invisibility and muffle spells. With that he snuck over to the prisoner he was supposed to battle. The man was not asleep and seemed to be pondering something important. A thinkinger Fallek noted to himself.

”Seems I am supposed to battle and kill you tomorrow” Fallek stated. He didn’t bother whispering as he ensured a spell would keep their conversation between them.

”If they have their way I suppose” Kros responded.

He didn’t seem worried or frightened. Good

”I would like to hear more about the resistance.”

”I was hoping to sit down and tell all my secrets to the man that is about to kill me.” Kros answered sarcastically.

Fallek smiled although nobody saw it. “I am not too fond of the situation either but there are always other options.”

”Other options?” Kros gave his attention although didn’t seem to really care about the details. “The archons rule these isles but their power derives from somewhere. That is what I am trying to discover. That is all you will get from me tonight.”

Fallek didn’t have a reply. Instead he went back to his own camp to plan out his next move. It wasn’t going to be easy and it would be very risky.

---

Fallek had been suited up in armor and handed a sword similar to the one he had received the day prior. The time had come for his dual of justice as it seemed to be referred to. The rest of the trip had been uneventful although it was obvious the Silvercloaks were not too fond of Fallek, a fact he didn’t mind. He had; however, had a little chance to scout a few landmarks.

Fallek entered Ithew’s court and saw Kros enter from the opposite end. Before them stood a majestic looking Ithew. There were crowds all around the court. An unfortunate unforeseen fact; this would be harder than Fallek expected.

”Here justice will be upheld.” Ithew began “Kros has shown apathy towards the very beings that give him purpose in life. For this he should be sentenced to death. But on Enterion we settle justice in a different way. Our newest challenger will administer the justice of the Second Isle!”

The crowd around the court roared at this. Some even booed at Kros for effect.

Ithew raised his scepter slightly in the air indicating the duel would start. A hush fell across the court in anticipation.

It dropped.

No sooner had it dropped and Kros was on Fallek dashing in with a forward thrust. Fallek parried it and swung in for a hit from the inside stance. It was blocked.

Fallek backed up to a ready stance and then thrust forward himself. Kros went to block but Fallek had feigned and instead got his body in close knocking Kros back. Swinging his sword overhead it came down on Kros’ sword raised above his head.

They were now face to face. Fallek let a small spell mask then told Kros to knock him back again and charge him.

Krox looked confused and not sure what to think. Eventually he seemed to resolve to comply. “Not many other options.” He replied whispered through gritted teeth.

While in close Kros kicked Fallek back and then rushed him with his sword. This would need to be quick.

Fallek raised his hand and flash of light came at Kros. He then disappeared and reappeared behind Fallek crashing into a wall.

Some of the crowd cheered while some booed and shouted unfair.

There was a thunder and flash of light behind Fallek. He looked back and saw Ithew there with his scepter raised again.

”Might I remind you that magic is forbidden in duel combat.” Ithew stated clearly.

The scepter dropped before Fallek could say anything in response. No matter, it was going as planned so far.

Kros charged again and was blocked by Fallek who threw another few blows back. Their swords were a flurry.

Finally Fallek was able to get a good hit in on the right shoulder causing his opponent to drop his weapon. Taking advantage of the disarm he closed the gap and bashed Kros in the face with the hilt.

Kros crashed to the ground blood pouring from his nose. Fallek stood over him sword at the ready for the final blow.

”You don’t have to do this…” Kros started.

”Someone does.” Fallek replied and thrust his sword into him. As Kros crumpled to the ground Fallek extended his hand in a spell. Kros’s matter slowly dissipated bit by bit until nothing was left. He turned to Ithew.

”Congratulations.” Ithew said powerfully but a little troubled “that was unnecessary.”

”In my experience bodies make good martyrs.” Was all Fallek replied.

”Hmm… well you have done well. You have passed my trials of the Second Isle. Good luck.”

And that was it, he immediately turned to other matters. Fallek left swiftly barely looking at anyone else. He saw the Silvercloak captain he had fought on his way out. He still looked a little pissed.

---

Fallek climbed up over the ridge of the hilltop he had scouted out. Beyond it was a small dip in the hill. The ground was soft dirt. He examined it slowly.

Ah there.

He saw footprints in the dirt and what looked like an impact mark where someone had fallen. The footprints walked around the mark a bit and then headed away.

This was where Fallek had sent Kros when he replaced him with an illusion. He was probably confused but otherwise unscathed. Obviously, he had not stuck around. Smart. If they had figured out Fallek’s trick they likely would have found him as well.

Fallek looked up to the horizon. The Third Isle was up ahead. He was not yet sure what to expect there. He thought of his many guises and which one would likely fit his next challenge.

Who should I be today?

Fallek stepped over the roots carefully of a massive tree ducking under the branches at the same time. He had been walking through these woods on the Third Isle for so long, it was all looking the same to him. He had yet to see anything but leaves and branches. He had heard the birds but nothing else.

Fallek felt the eyes watching him. Glancing about slowly not to raise alarm he looked for who might be watching. It is not easy to get over on an illusionist.

Seeing the culprit he went invisible and muffled then snuck around to where he saw the watcher.

”Nice trick.” He heard from the brush as he approached.

”Why are you spying on me?” Fallek said as he dropped the invisibility.

”It’s always good to keep an eye out.” An elf stepped out of the brush. From the looks of it a Gilt-Leaf elf. The elf eyed him curiously.

”You look pale. Are you alright?”

Fallek realized he was holding his breath. “Yea…yes, I’m fine.” Fallek stammered. Seeing a Gilt-Leaf elf reminded him of Lorwyn…

Keep it together…

The elf shrugged. “You’re the other planeswalker aren’t you?”

”Yes I am…wait the other one?” What could this mean? There are another planeswalker here going through the trials?

”Yes, we have been waiting for you so you both can start your trial. I must say we have been quite excited. I am Faline. Follow me!”

With that the elf took off through the woods. Fallek rushed to keep up his mind racing. Wondering about this other walker. Who could it be? Had they been grabbed like he had or were they here voluntarily? But mostly he thought of Lorwyn. It had been so long…

”C’mon, keep up!” Faline called as she practically skipped through the woods.

Get yourself together….

---

They arrived to what looked like an arena. It was large but opened on one side and led into a large forest.

”Ahh, you have arrived.” Fallek heard the deep slow voice. He looked up in the arena and saw what must have been the archon of this isle. The being continue “I am Egern, archon of the Third Isle. We have been waiting for you.”

Fallek looked in the arena, there were a lot of elves seated all awaiting something. Then Fallek realized they were waiting on him to battle something. Great.

The archon stood speaking to everyone “On Gesava only the strongest prevail. We now have an interesting contest of strength. For the first time in our arena we will have a planeswalker battle a planeswalker!”

The crowd erupted in cheer. Fallek went pale again.

This is bad.

Egern turned to Fallek. “Contestant, you will have this whole arena to fight your opponent. You may use anything at your disposal unlike that petty Ithew and his ridiculous honor. Strength comes in many forms. I will give you one word of wisdom. Your opponent is only one of the dangers you will face in the arena.”

The archon gestured his hands towards the opening in the arena towards the woods. Fallek realized that the arena was much larger than he imagined. He was now on the hunt. Or being hunted? Which was it really?

Fallek walked through the brush careful to avoid moving as many branches as he could. As he walked he wondered about his opponent. According to the Egern it was another planeswalker. Is it someone he might know? He began going through all the walkers he knew. A sudden realization froze him.

Please don’t be Garruk…

Actually that was doubtful, he seemed pretty hard to nail down these days. Maybe it was Jace; he seemed to involve himself in everything.

A snap in the woods jolted Fallek out of his thoughts. Instinctively he brought up his concealing spells. He quickly realized that wouldn’t matter.

Out of the brush an enormous baloth rushed at Fallek driven by smell since the other senses were masked. How it has remained hidden was lost on him. He tried to leap out of the way but the baloth was too large. With the crackle of a spell he projected himself through the air but struck multiple branches in the thick canopy and came hard on the ground. A bloody nose provided plenty for the baloth to follow.

Fallek righted himself and got ready for the next charge as the baloth stomped the ground and let out a tremendous bellow. The roar itself almost knocked Fallek over. But he remained ready. As the second charge came the planeswalker extended his arms down then thrust forward. With a flicker of blue energy another baloth appeared this one with an eerie blue haze around it. The illusion baloth came to being charging and both collided immediately.

The real and illusioned baloth continued to battle it out. Fallek decided there was no point in seeing who the victor was. He turned around towards the direction he was originally headed. Before he took another step he heard it. A whistle in the air.

Time slowed and Fallek raised his in front of him. Although happening slowly to him it was a split second in reality. He erected an shield just as a dart hit it now suspened in midair. With it frozen in space in front of him he examined it quickly. Small. Fast. Poisonous. Fallek snapped his attention forward from whence it came.

”Vraska…” he muttered under his breath suddenly wondering why he had spoke.

There was no sign of her acolyte, the assassin that had sent the dart to him. He didn’t know how many of them might be out there.

”Wouldn’t you like to sleep in silence?” the gorgon’s voice whispered. The voice echoed as if coming from every direction. There was no telling where the gorgon was.

Fallek realized he instinctively put his cloak up. Knowing that the gorgon’s assassin’s could easily track him anyways he stepped forward slowly and carefully. He still didn’t know how many there were.

Suddenly one of them came from the side blade brandished for a strike. Fallek put his hand up in front of the thrust. As the blade connected to his hand it simply passed through it. Quickly Fallek grabbed the assassin’s hand and the blade materialized again on the backside of his hand. In one motion Fallek grabbed it with his free hand and thrust it at the assassin.

The assassin blocked the blow by grabbing his hand. Quickly Fallek tossed the knife aside and grabbed his wrist. Using the same magic that made the blade defy reality he turned the assassin into an illusionary husk of what he had been. A blue crackle came from his hands then the assassin dissipated into nothingness.

Another whistle. Fallek rolled to the ground dodging another poisoned dart. More blew towards him. Hands up he sent a magical barrier to intercept and return the second volley. Probably pointless as he still couldn’t see the source. The darts scattered into the foliage.

Two assassin’s jumped out charging Fallek. Quickly he summoned a phantasm to intercept the charge. The phantasm took one on but the other continued his charge towards Fallek.

Fallek jumped back and simultaneously went invisible and left an illusionary simulacrum in his stead. The assassin slashed at it which then feigned death. The assassin was not fooled and scoured the area trying to locate him.

The earth opened up and volcanic fire spurt everywhere coming dangerously close to the assassin. Terrified he fell back to avoid being burned. Then it disappeared and Fallek was standing there alone.

The assassin rushed to his feet ready to charge again but was struck from behind by the phantasm who was finished dispatching of the his partner.

”Hmhm, you will make a nice trophy indeed…” the slithering voice of Vraska echoed in the woods around Fallek.

But this time Fallek pinpointed where it came from. In a burst of mana he was there standing in front of Vraska.

Before he could say or do anything a wurm burst through the ground between them. Fallek ascended back out of the reach of its jaw as it reached full length in mere seconds snapping at him hungrily.

The wurm circled around a group of a trees knocking half them down as Fallek came down a ways away. The wurm crashed angrily through the brush. Fallek could tell it had the taint of the gorgon on it. But he had something for that.

Seeing its prey the wurm rumbled towards Fallek again. He stood his ground though calling deeply for the needed mana. As it approached it suddenly stopped and roared as Fallek took control of the beast. He immediately sent it back to its previous master.

Vraska acted quickly and dark tendrils extended from her hands. The wurm quickly decayed into nothing but a pile of rotted refuse.

She then sent a barrage of tendrils towards Fallek which he countered with a wave. Vraska immediately tried to cast it again but the spell would not materialize.

”Hold that thought!” Fallek shouted and leapt towards the gorgon and suddenly there were dozens of him. They each charged her and she fought them off with claws and spells of darkness while they dissipated one by one. She even turned a few to stone with her gaze and used as a barrier from the onslaught.

”Your toys are no match for me illusionist!” Vraska sneered.

Fallek new he had to be careful. If she saw him and their eyes met that would likely be all she needed to turn him to stone. The thought of bring her trophy sickened him.

Looking in the distance he poured all his mana into a spell, a final summon. With a thunder a titan entered the void and slowly lumbered towards the gorgon. The illusion towered above the trees each step thundered as it crushed the ground beneath.

Vraska laughed “have you learned nothing?”

Vraska placed herself facing the giant ready to match it in gaze and make a new mountain in the Gesava Arena.

”Do you really think the size of it matters to me illusionist?” Vraska shouted.

Fallek took this moment to materialize directly behind her.


”No…” Fallek said while striking at her with his fist, but instead of actually striking her he let his hands defy known reality and pass within her body. With his illusory hands inside her body he surged his spell through him into her. Vraska screamed and convulsed then collapsed to the ground.

“…I just wanted you to look.”

---

”So you have defeated the Secret Hunter I see?” Egern said. Fallek had just returned and presented himself to the arena.

”Yes” was all he would give.

”Impressive fighting.” Egern said with admiration. “And cunning as well. You have earned your victory in the Third Isle’s trial.”

”Thank you” Fallek said. But he didn’t mean it.

There was a celebration that night in honor of Fallek’s victory. Fallek had attended as expected but only so he could gather information. He needed to get a better idea of what he was up against with these archons. Towards the end of the evening he sat at an outer edge by a dwindling fire to gather his thoughts.

Unfortunately, it seemed that not many people knew anything of note about the archons. They ran the trials and rewarded those who did well. That was pretty much it. It seemed that many of them did not even know that the archons had put them here or they assumed it was one of the other ones.

Fallek thought of Kros, the resistance leader. If these ignorant folk would join him they might actually be able to do something. He wondered if such a thing was even possible.

Fallek shook his head. He needed to focus on getting free; beating all the trials. He had done so much already. Truthfully more than he thought he was capable of.

Is this it? Is this the furthest I’ll go?

So far he had been able to best the challenges but surely he would meet his match right? He wasn’t so certain of his ability to defeat the next trials in the Isles of red and black mana.

Suddently a thought came to Fallek.

What if they won’t let me leave?”

Fallek had not yet heard of anyone leaving. Maybe it didn’t matter if you won all the trials. Maybe you still couldn’t leave. Or maybe it was set up to guarantee that you couldn’t win all the trials?

No. You have to try.

Fallek stood up. The rest of the revelers were turning in, ready to sleep. But not Fallek. He had to get to the Fourth Isle. He had another trial to win.

Fallek ran.

He was ascending a volcanic peak. The goal: reach the top before it erupts. A dangerous challenge as the volcano rumbled under his feet. His brow dripped with sweat both from the heat emitting from the steam vents and from running with all his strength. He wasn’t used to running.

It seemed an easy trial at first. Just scaling a mountain. But Fallek knew by now that things are not as they seem on Preasti and even more so on the chaotic Vikara, the Fourth Isle.

Suddenly a viashino leapt out of a cavern hole rushing towards Fallek. Brandishing a blade it came upon the startled man…and passed right through it tumbling down the mountainside. To the left and right there were identical Fallek’s scaling the Cliffside with no way to determine which was reality. The ruse had kept him safe from multiple ambushes but he was running out of time. He could feel the rumbles and how the peak just screamed to explode.


He looked up to the peak with the sweat now pouring down his face. He was breathing heavily now each drawn breath echoing as his simulacrum illusions mimicked his every move. The illusions would not help him much longer; the peak was about to blow and with it his trial would be over.


The rumbling continued and knocked Fallek off balance. He tumbled to the ground striking his head on a rock. Blood now mixed with his sweat coating his face in a salty red gore.

Just then it erupted. Magma leapt through the air like a bird through the sky. It all looked so slow to Fallek. He knew Erd was watching. Watching his failure.

But reality is a fickle thing. To someone like Fallek reality and fantasy are two pages of the same book. This was not how it would end.

Fallek concentrated on his spell. Blue energy surged in his hands as he raised them from his sides. The magma disappeared, the volcano peak calmed. It would be hard to cover up a volcanic eruption but Fallek was determined to make this work.

”As he masked the eruption he conjured in his mind other images. Images of a dormant volcano, the red sky gone, the mountain calm. The heat was something he couldn’t cover up.

Behind Fallek he heard a cry of an attack. He turned and immediately his spell broke. The magma burst through the air again and the whole mountain began to quake as it readied to bring the main eruption.

Fallek wasn’t thinking about that at the moment. Another viashino had snuck up on him. Luckily the cry was enough to give him chance to react and to step aside the attack.

Immediately the viashino was surrounded by three identical illusory versions of itself ready to strike from all directions.

Fallek felt it. He did not have time to react though before the trap set off. Fire engulfed his three illusions and they disintegrated into nothing.

The viashino lunged again. Fallek summoned a drake to take the brunt. The beast came in towards the viashino but it just sidestepped past it laying two blows on Fallek. He tumbled down the rocky side as the ash came raining upon them.

Fallek struggled to get up. His hand went to the gash in his head. It came back blood red from his wound. He looked up; the viashino laid a killing blow on the drake ahead of him. It didn’t pay him any more attention and took off running. Magma was now pouring down the mountain. Streams of lava traced the sky.

His head throbbing and covered in blood, sweat, and soot Fallek took in scene. He had failed.

”You will always fail.”

Fallek shook the thought from his mind by literally shaking his head.

But…
He had failed.

---

Fallek was thrown against a stone wall landing with a thud at the bottom.

”Pitiful!” screamed Erd, “I gave you the easiest trial on this isle and you could not even come close!”

He was in Erd’s court facing his failure. The lizard like viashino in her court laughed hysterically at his expense. Then two of them came and held him up against the wall.

”Those who fail…are marked for it.” Erd said and she held her palm towards Fallek.

Fallek struggled but his strength was gone. He was still losing blood. The viashino ripped his robe open allowing Erd’s hand to reach his bare chest. It burned. It burned his skin as well as inside his body. Fallek couldn’t help but scream as the burning coursed through his body.

Then it was over. He slumped to the ground.

”Let that mark be a reminder lest you forget your failure.” Erd said then she turned exclaiming “get him out of my sight!”

---

Fallek tasted the clay in the ground as he struck it. The dirt mixed with bile in his mouth and he coughed spitting it out.

Slowly Fallek rose up. He could hear the sneering of the viashino as he walked away. And he kept walking for a long time.

The Fifth Isle would be the next reasonable destination but how could he go there. He had failed his trial here and surely he would fail again. He though back on how he was thrown out of Erd’s court. It was not unlike how was treated with his own people.

The words Erd spoke were similar to the ones spoken to him by his own father.

Fallek arrived at the bridge; each isle had one going to the next one. It was an expanse of land connecting the two isles. This one didn’t look especially inviting. The sky was darkened red and the bridge was lined with more volcanic peaks. This was the last place Fallek wanted to be right now.

Instead of going forward Fallek found fell to his knees. His strength was gone and he needed to rest. Even more so he felt defeated and unsure of his next move. Was he stuck here since he failed the trial? Fallek didn’t really know.

Is there even any point to going forward?

As he wrestled these thoughts in his mind his body gave into rest and he fell asleep.

---

Fallek awoke to see a man sitting close by roasting something over a fire. He tried to rise up but his body shouted with shooting pain throughout and he collapsed back down.

”Whoa now!” the man said, “I wouldn’t try to get up too fast.”

”Kros?” Fallek questioned as he recognized the man.

”Indeed.” He answered, “and back from the dead thanks to you!”

He brought a waterskin to Fallek’s mouth which he drak from happily.

”Not only did you spare my life but you helped me fuel the resistance. People think I am some sort of prophet now.”

Fallek gave him a questioning look as he finished the water.

”No, no, it’s not like that.” He replied, “I just want to get people together against these archons. They have stolen and suppressed us for too long.”

Fallek saw movement in the corner of his eye and immediately started to react.

”No, he is just keeping watch.” Kros said as he grabbed Fallek’s hand to calm him. “He has been tending to your wounds as well.”

Fallek looked back at Kros. ”How do you expect to stand up to the archons?”

”Well I have been doing some searching and studying…” Kros paused a second, “Well you see, there is or was another archon.”

”Another one?”

”Yes, I think that this sixth archon kept order amongst them somehow. I think they got rid of him somehow.”

”Got rid of him? Don’t you mean killed him off?”

”I don’t think so. I think he is banished or sealed somewhere.” Kros was talking excitedly now, “I think it has something to do with the center of the isle.”

”What’s there?”

”A strange obelisk is there. Nobody knows anything about it though. Anyone who gets close enough o study it just disappears.”

”Disappears? Maybe it is a gateway?”

”I don’t think it is now, but I think it had something to do with it. Each archon has a keystone that is used to reach to other planes and pull them to Preasti.”

”We should investigate it closer.” Fallek said.

”We can’t. It vaporizes anything near it. We have tried magic but spells seem to be absorbed by it for energy. I lost my best mage trying to get close. But I think I know how we can.

Fallek perked at this. Maybe his status in the trials wouldn’t matter…

”I think we could approach it if we had a keystone.”

Fallek thought about this. It was worth a try. He gazed ahead across the bridge to the Fifth Isle.

”I’ll get it.” Fallek rose up. His body ached but felt much better.

After making some preparations and getting some last healing spells from Kros’ cleric, Fallek was ready to go. He would go to the Fifth Isle as if he was attempting the trail but he had his own trial to complete. The archons would not direct his fate.

”Fallek…” Kros said softly next to him. “You should know, nobody comes back from the Fifth Isle. And I don’t think it is because they triumph or are sent home. Horrible things are said to happen there.”

”I can handle it.” Fallek said. Although he did doubt that. His mind was caught on his failure here before Erd. He could still feel the brand on his chest. But he could choose how to react whether it be defeat or resolve. He chose resolve.

He exchanged a last glance with Kros who simply nodded solemnly back. Then Fallek took his first step towards his last trial.

Fallek walked through the dark chasmic landscape of the Fifth Isle. Darkness was on all sides. Some sort of gray haze blocked all but the slightest hint of the sun. The same haze seemed to hug the ground making it difficult to even see the ground as he walked. Scattered twisted trees dotted the landscape and jagged dark rocks pointed in the air.

It was a very ominous setting that gave Fallek a very unsettling feeling.

He continued walking now very cautiously. Even the wind seemed to be howling in his ears to further push the mood.

Ahead of him he saw a figure floating in the air above the trees. It seemed to defy normal physics and its limbs extended as roots to down Through the treetops. It hovered above the trees yet seemed to walk as well.

As Fallek approached he noticed that it made a deep humming noise as it moved amongst the trees. It didn’t seem to pay much notice to Fallek despite that he didn’t have any cloaking up.

Then he felt it. Before he could even see it the presence sent a chill down his back. He swung around to see one of the most horrid looking beings he had ever seen. It stood to full stature standing about ten feet casting a shadow from nothing over Fallek. It bellowed a shrieking scream that stung Fallek’s ears.

As a reflex Fallek went invisible. For a split second he thought of making himself into an even bigger imposing nightmare but quickly realized that this being likely could not be intimidated.

The horror drew back to strike and Fallek quickly backed off summoning an illusionary beast in between them. The horror was unphased and came straight at Fallek anyways lashing with jagged claws.

Fallek’s large illusion sent a crushing blow at the horror’s head. It was sent crashing to the ground then his illusion finished it with a crushing stomp on the head.

Fallek signed in relief then we noticed that a hidden spell seemed to emit from the fallen horror. A dark tendril shot out at the illusion tearing it bit from bit until nothing was left but pockets of energy from the illusion and the dark magic.

Slightly in shock Fallek barely noticed that the floating horror was now behind him posed to strike. Fallek didn’t have time to react before it’s root-limbs wrapped around him. He pushed them off and prepared a spell…but it stopped.

Fallek looked again but it wasn’t moving. It just hovered there where it was. Then it came crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

Fallek walked over to it.

Stone…

Quickly Fallek spun around looking in each direction.

”I didn’t save you to kill you.” He heard the voice of Vraska say.

”Well thank you but forgive me if I ask why?”

Vraska stepped out of the darkness of the trees. “Maybe I’ve just had a change of heart?”

Fallek wasn’t humored.

”Fine…” Vraska began, “I think it would be in both our interest to work together here. We both want to leave this...prison”

”You lost the trial at Gesava. You can’t yet leave anyways?”

”Losing a trial is something you should know about too!” Vraska slithered back, “Or have you forgotten your brand already?”

Fallek shrugged it off. He wondered if he could trust her. His mission was not to complete the trial. Although he was starting to doubt that there even was a trial on this awful isle of darkness.

He decided to include her. ”I have a different type of trial. One not given by the archons.”

Vraska smiled. “That sounds interesting.”

---

After Fallek filled Vraska in on the plan they set out for Kclab’s court. Fallek masked them both to avoid any further hindrance. They saw numerous horrors along the way each as grotesque as the first ones they’d seen.

They came over a grey ridge towards the rear of the court. As they did they saw a figure in front of them in the distance. This did not concern Fallek as they were masked. But as they moved forward it summoned a devil which immediately started running towards them.

”Seems we’ve been discovered!” Fallek said.

Fallek ran closer to engage. Then he recognized the figure. It was Tibalt, the devil planeswalker.

What is he doing here?

No matter, Fallek summoned a drake to intercept the assault. Tibalt responded with a blast that pulverized his drake and seemed to make the devil even more enraged.

The fiend pummeled into Fallek and they went tumbling over the side of the ridge. Tibalt sprang into action racing to the two.

Fallek was on his back with the fiend on top of him clawing at him. He placed his palm on its chest and focused his concentration. The fiend went soaring through the air flailing.

Tibalt was approaching. Somehow he had known they were coming so Fallek wasn’t sure if his deceptions would work but he pulled up dozens of illusions to confuse him.

”You think this will help?!” Tibalt shouted, “I’ll just burn THEM ALL!”

Tibalt sent blast after blast at the illusions destroying them methodically.

Fallek ran over to Vraska. She was still standing in the same place seemingly lost in thought. Fallek went to place his hand on her shoulder then thought better of that course of action.

”Vraska!” as he began to move towards the court, “let’s go.”

”Fallek…” he heard Vraska say. He turned, she was looking at him. “I’m sorry.”

”For wha…?”

Vraska gazed into his eyes and his body glossed over to stone.

Fallek’s illusions disappeared. Tibalt came over to his stony statue.

”What took you so long. Why didn’t you just start off doing that?”

”I didn’t make a deal with you Tibalt.” Vraska said plainly.

Tibalt chuckled. “Fine, let’s get him to Kclab.”

---

Fallek’s stony body was laying on a table. The room was darker and even creepier than the rest of the isle. Even Vraska was uneasy here.

”I didn’t ask for a statue…” Kclab grumbled with a deep raspy voice.

”It is a reversible transformation. We had a deal correct?” Vraska replied.

”Yes, yes.” Kclab replied. “You are free to leave the isle once you return him to his previous state.

Vraska put her hand on Fallek’s forehead and the stone left his form leaving his previous self back.

”Ok, time to get to work.” Tibalt said stepping up. He had some sort of needle in hand which he carefully placed behind Fallek’s head.

”It is curious that his masking spell is still intact even while being unconscious and having been turned to stone.” Tibalt said.

”What do you mean?” Vraska asked. “He looks the same now as he always does. There is no illusion.”

”No.” Came a reply from Kclab. “He is not in his true form even still. He probably has not been for many years. It is important to this man that his true self remains hidden from all.”

”He is not even human.” Added Tibalt.

”What is he?” Vraska replied.

”Don’t know yet…but I’m working that.” Tibalt quipped.

Kclab walked over…or hovered over to Tibalt. “Bring him back to the moment he sparked. That is when his pain and fear were greatest. That is what I need.

”Sure.” Tibalt replied after musing a moment on his own sparking. Pain indeed.

”Vraska...” the archon came over towards Vraska, “Did he say anything of note to you?”

Vraska for a moment remembered everything Fallek had said about the keystone and the plan to overthrow the archons. He would want to know about this plan.

But she was no longer anyone’s pawn.

”No.” she replied. “I’ll be going now.”

Kclab shrugged and walked back to Fallek and Tibalt.

For a moment Vraska took in the scene. She didn’t care particularly about Fallek but nobody deserves what he was likely about to go through. She could only imagine what the archon planned for him.

Vraska opened the rift to the Blind Eternities and passed through it. She came out back in Ravnica. One of her safehouses where she used to plot her secret business.

She thought long about the vents on Preasti. Maybe she should go back and free Fallek? She had no guarantee that she wouldn’t be trapped again. But maybe his plan would work? Did that matter? Did she care?

Just then her thought broke as one of her servants walked in.

”Oh Vraska!” He was startled. “You’re here?!”

”I am” Vraska replied simply.

”Where have you bee…nevermind, I have important information.”

”Go on…”

”It’s Jace. Some witnesses say that a man adorned in armor came up to him while he was at dinner. They spoke and then he just left!”

”Where?”

”Uh…well, you know…like when you go…uh…” the informant fumbled.

”Any clues at all. Surely you investigated something?” Vraska baited.

”The witnesses said something about Zendikar.”

”So he has gone to Zendikar…” Vraska said mostly to herself.

Fallek and Preasti left her mind. The Guildpact was not on Ravnica. Opportunity doesn’t come knocking everyday.

---

Fallek looked around startled. He seemed to remember being afraid but didn’t know why. He was in a woods. Wait…it was the Gilt-Leaf.

”Anywhere but here…” he thought to himself.

He tried to planeswalk away but he couldn’t. He couldn’t even establish the man ties. He threw his arms up in disgust. His arms. They were. Quickly he tried to conjure up his mask. The human one he always defaulted to. It wouldn’t come.

No…please…

He saw a creek ahead. Fallek rushed to it and looked inside. He saw and elf look back at him. A scar ran across the face. A disfigurement. A imperfection. An eyeblight.

Everything came back to him. The memories suppressed for so long rushed into his mind. He had been a fierce Gilt-Leaf warrior. He was one of the greatest hunters of eyeblights. He had dedicated his life to destroying all the imperfect and ruthlessly carried it out. He had worked his way up to Daen. Until one day one of his foes got the better of him in a fight. A scar across his face was his reminder of his failure.

But he didn’t want to be reminded. So he used illusion magic to cover it up. But they had found out. They were not fooled.

Fallek recognized where he was now. And when. He had just fled Lys Alana. But why was he reliving this moment? He pounded a nearby tree. It stung and his hand bled. It was real. But how?

Fallek heard the hooves. He knew they were coming. His first thought was to run. But then we remembered he had already done that. Didn’t matter. He ran anyways. But they caught him. Tangled him in vines.

”Sir, we have the eyeblight!” An elf warrior said. The elf was Fionne. He had served under Fallek.

The Taercenn approached. “A disgrace. You let yourself become eyeblighted and have the audacity to hide it!”

”Please” Fallek begged. “I have dedicated my life to the perfect ideal.” He was on the brink of crying.

”Where was that dedication when you used an illusion… a fallacy to cover your scar?” the Taercenn shouted. He turned to the nearby elves. “Get him up. This eyeblight must be executed.”

Fallek was in anguish. His perfect ideals had come crashing down and were being used now to condemn him to death.

The vines loosened and the elves picked him up throwing him down at the Taercenn’s feet. He looked up.

”Please father…” he began, “I allow me to serve still as a vinebred. I will not fail you.”

The Taercenn, his father, was unmoved. “No eyeblight is a son of mine. You have already failed. You will always fail.”

With that he raised his sword and brought it down on Fallek.

---

”Good…” Kclab said.

”Huh? I did not expect this to be his core fear. Especially after what he saw here.” Tibalt said.

”Fear is a strange thing…” Kclab said but not necessarily to Tibalt. He stood over Fallek’s form which was twisting and whimpering but not yet conscious. “As an illusionist, it does not surprise me you do not fear the physical dangers I have created on this isle, but your fears go much deeper, within your very soul. Because of that, they are that much more savory to me...”

”Look he is returning to his true form it seems.” Tibalt said as Fallek’s façade drifted and the form of a scarred elf was left on the table.

”You have done well Tibalt. I will take it from here.”

”Oh but I have many more methods to put to use!” Tibalt said.

”I will take it from here.” Kclab said. “You may go back to the Fourth Isle to use your ‘methods’”

Tibalt backed up bowed in mockery then left the room.

Kclab turned back to the elf on the table. “Are you ready Fallek? Are you ready to leave fear behind and reach your full potential?”

There was a slight breeze going through the forest on this day. But the breeze became a sudden gust as the Blind Eternities opened a maw in the air breaking reality and letting essence from another world through. Suddenly a form appeared. A horrid terrifying form. A horror of blackness, tentacles, and sharp cascading edges.

The horror moved through the woods, drifting rather than walking, until it came to the edge of the elven village. It paused to take in the sight. For the first time since his original spark Fallek was home. He had been back to Lorwyn a few times either by accident or to confront his father, his betrayer. His fear was so great however he had never went through with it.

Fallek lifted his arm to look at it. His new form. The horror form was not an illusion. Kclab had transformed him. But he had also freed him. He stood now in his village. Previously just arriving anywhere in Lorwyn had caused him to panic to the point he couldn’t function. He had become so paranoid that he hadn’t taken his elven form in over a decade. Even while sleeping.

But that elf was gone now. That weak, powerless being was no more. He now had more power than he could have imagined. And fear no longer had a hold on him.

The horror, Fallek, moved through village. He didn’t bother putting up a glamour. It wasn’t long before he heard the calls out alerting of his presence. He didn’t pay it any attention. He stayed his course.

His house was even more glorified then he remembered. Adorned with flowers and luscious plants; Fallek shaked his head. He remembered the constant work to make everything beautiful. Such a pointless and foolish ideal. He had lived it. He had killed for it. In the end it had ended him.

Fallek heard slight sounds of footfalls on the ground. He knew that the elves moved in complete silence and he was most likely surrounded now. Good.

Fallek turned slowly turning his head to first and catching in the sight of the elven army surrounding him. They had gathered quickly even without their Taercenn whom Fallek knew was likely still in the house he stood in front of. They had gathered quickly but he could see many mustering to join the post. He would try to wait; he wanted them all to see this.

One of them spoke, a Daen. “Eyeblight!” he attempted authority but his fear cracked slighty through in his voice betraying his own presence. “Turn from the Gilt-Leaf from whence you came or face our full wrath!”

Eyeblight…the word had once meant so much to him. It was silly to look back on. Such a child. They were all children. And they were in desparate need of a lesson.

Fallek looked around. They had stopped pouring in. He was satisfied that he had a sufficient number of “students” for what was to come.

A pit of darkness opened from below swallowing the elves that stood closest around Fallek. Wretched shrieking came from the darkness below and the voices of almost a hundred elves joined the shrieking. Fallek smiled to himself. There was, of course, no pit. Only an illusion. But that was enough. He could see panic forming in many of the eyes while others he saw resolve.

Well that just won’t do.

Darkness suddenly jumped from the maw and consumed the Gilt-Leaf. Darkness you could feel; like a humid summer after rainfall. Then dozens of small lights appeared all around. Eyes. They converged on the army as it stumbled around blind some stumbling into the illusionary pit. The darkness lifted slightly to a soft dusk with little light passing through emanating from the pit itself. Just enough to catch the sight of the grotesque forms of the horrors that came on the elves. Most were too overcome by the horror and fled in panic. The Daen’s tried to maintain control and a few brave warriors attacked into the approaching horrors but a few of them lashed out their claws or tentacles on the advancing elves and their bodies withered, their bodies crinkled as with age, and their limbs deformed and twisted to the point they could no longer move. The remaining elves resolve broke and they fled or fell paralyzed.

Fallek smirked then turned back to his home. There he was. The Taercenn; his father. He stood in the gaping doorway with a look of shock covering his face, blade still in hand at the ready. Not fear though. Good. There would be time for that still.

---

Fallek set on his way outside the village. The Taercenn or what was left of him was cowering on the floor. He was now twisted and disfigured and his mind broken with terror. Fallek had made sure each of his Daens met the same fate. They were all eyeblights just as he had been.

Tired of dealing with these primitive savages Fallek erected an invisibility glamour as he left the village. He passed by many types of elves. Some were overcome with terror hiding anywhere they could. Some were trying to regroup and find the “monster”. He noticed that most of the disfigured elves from his attack were executed.

Disappointing. They didn’t learn.

Once he left the village he returned to the spot where he had sparked. Where his father had betrayed him and attempted to execute him. If it hadn’t been for his spark he would have fallen to his father’s own sword. He remembered what Kclab had told him.

”I am your new father. Your real father abandoned you and gave you only the gift of fear. I have rebirthed you and freed you from that fear.”

Fallek pondered his words. He remembered how gripping his fear had been to the point he would not show his real form. In the past decade nobody he knew had known what he really was. He realized that there was merit in the Gilt-Leaf’s view. He had been an eyeblight but not only in form. He had been weak in heart and resolve. Weak in power.

Kclab had freed him from that and given him power. Fear no longer bound him and was now his weapon.

Fallek drifted over to the nearby stream. The water was flowing slow enough to still catch your reflection in the water. He looked into it remembering the last time he had looked in this very stream it had been he had looked at disgust at an eyeblight.

His face was grotesque. Black and sinnowy. Tentacles and jagged edges were all over his body and face. His mouth formed all that he could show as a smile.

He was beautiful.