Song 2

Darkness...again.

I'm back to this place once more. Is this a dream?, is this death?, or is it something else?

I wake, standing up surounded by the black empty void that stretched as far as I can see.

With nothing gaze at but darkness, I looked at my body instead seeing that I passed out due to what I believed was blood loss.

To my surprise, I looked completely fine. All the dirt and sweat, even the cut on my arm. It was all gone without a trace.

Maybe it was just a wild fever dream, but if that was a dream then what is this? The searing pain of my inexistent wound still lingers even now.

Suddenly, I felt a present nearby. I turned around trying too see who it is. From the dark void, manifested a form accompanied by growling.

It was large dark figure, slowly approaching me as I gaze upon it.

It's size and sounds alone were enough to make anyone run but my curiosity held me in my place.

Besides, were would I run in this dark void I'm in?

He stopped right in front in me. It was a black dog, his size is far greater than mine. It's body was covered and large wounds and gashes, so heavily mutilated that it was painful to look at.

Parts of it's skin would hanging from it's bones, some wounds were fresh and were still bleeding while others were starting to rot and fester.

I felt mixture of fear and pity as this towering creature stands before me.

It lowered it's gaze on the ground and started gagging. It looked like it was on deep pain and was struggling to breathe.

He then proceeded to vomit on the ground. Blood and chunks of meat rush down on the ground as he coughs and wheezed.

With it's final cough, he vomited out a

foreign object besides blood and flesh.

Looking relief and satisfied, he suddenly kneeled on the ground. His eyes looking to the thing he just hurled.

He stayed like that, unmoving, continuing to kneel down to the ground as if to offer me this putrid thing.

Driven by my curiosity, I kneel down and grabbed the mysterious item drenched in blood, surounded by dog vomit.

As I draw it in for a closer look, the blood that it was drenched it dissipated into the thin air, revealing a white mask.

Normally, I would question such phenomenon but my recent experience made me numb to such things.

It was white hollow mask bearing no features besides the two black slits for it's eyes. It's light, almost like paper yet it was hard like a rock. It's feel and texture makes me  think that it's made of bone.

As I was inspecting this peculiar mask, I noticed that the giant beast was gone along the puddle of vomit.

I was all alone in this darkness along with a mask.

With nothing else to do, I put on the mask on myself.

It sat on my face perfectly almost like it was made for me. The mask did not fall off even though it had nothing to secure it to my face almost like it became a part of my skin.

My eyes weren't hindered one bit. Even though the mask did not have any eyeholes, I was seeing clearly as if I wasn't wearing it at the first place.

Whatever this mask is, it's definitely supernatural

Yet  there was something that I can't put my finger on it. When I wear it I was met by the feeling of comfort and peace.

As I was testing the peculiar quirks that the mask had. I felt a icy cold hand grabbed my right shoulder making me shudder.

"Wake up..."

I heard a girl's voice softly spoke, the same voice I heard before.

I turned around to see what it was and in that moment.

I'm back...

The next thing I knew, I was laying on the ground next to the knights that I just slayed, sword still stabbed to his neck.

"Ahh...What?"

Still caught off guard by the the abrupt change of scenery. I struggled as I tried to seat myself, trying to survey the surrounding myself.

As I try to sat down, a sharp tingling pain came from my right shoulder.

"Ahh... that's right."

The wound from my left arm from before was back.

Not only that, my body is also covered in covered dirt and blood. I can even feel bruise and gashes in certain places.

The only fortunate there is the fact that the bleeding stopped. It seemed that while I was out cold, my wound manage to clot itself out.

Leaving that aside, I looked around trying to make out my situation.

Death...

The battlefield that was once filled with knights brutally fighting one another was now filled with still corpses.

The deafening warcries and clashes of steell,now replaced with silence.

This battlefield is now a cemetery.

Aside from crows pecking on the dead for morsels, I didn't manage to find anyone else that was still alive. Only dead corpses as far as I can see.

Still sat on the ground, I realized that I have now time to assess what happened seeing that the immediate threat was now laying besides me with a sword in his neck.

Taking deep breaths, I tried to make sense of everything that happened moment's ago.

"What is happening? Why I am here? What's this place? What was that dark place? Is this real? "

I myriad of questions came crashing down in my head giving me a headache.

"Augh...my head"

I tried to relax, taking things on one at a time.

First thing I need to do was tackle the most important question at hand.

"Where am I?"

I was in the plane ground, the sun covered the light dimly shines the place.

They are few landmarks here, on my right, I can see silhouettes of trees. Judging by the size and look of it, It's pretty far but I think I'll manage to go there by foot.

As I was trying to figure out what to next. My mind already came up with a lot reason and assumption of why and where I am.

"Hahaha, me and big brain."

The first guess and the one I'm leaning on is that I'm been transported into another world similar to those anime tropes I've watched before.

There could also a be  chance that I've  been abducted by a government and was force to be hooked up in a virtual world for whatever malicious reason they have.

I don't think that's the case though. I've yet to see any tech that is even remotely capable of doing the stuff of what I'm experiencing now, and why simulate a knight battle of all things?

The last thing was also the most logical yet the most dreadfull guess I could think of.

That I was exposed to the most trippiest joint session of all time and this was all just a weird fever I had while being high.

Not that I bother with weed and happy pills, It's just that I find it really hard to put any logic in how I came to be in this place.

For all I know, I ate something that caused food poisoning and I'm hallucinating the most elaborate things I could think of.

"Well no use thinking about it."

I stood up and began to stretch my body, trying not to move right arm that much.

I could feel my bones popping back to their places giving me slight relief.

"Ahh, that felt good!"

I said out loud whilst cracking my neck.

Wherever I am, in a fantasy world or a fever dream. I need to make sure I survive so in that I'll able to experience this world to the fullest in off chance that my theory was correct.

The prospect of having chance to explore an unknown world fills me with excitement. If not for the exhausted state that I'm in. I would have probably be jumping with joy like a little kid.

If I where to survive I need to find a civilization of some sort. For as of now, I know jackshit.

Seeing that the only reachable looking place here was the forest on my left. I guessing that's my best bet to find one.

There is this mountains where the sun is currently sitting on top on my right but it's too far away to reach by foot.

I doubt I'll find any settlement there either way.

With that in mind, I settled in going on journey to the forest.

I probably will  encounter some problems along the way so  I best be prepared while I still can.

"Oh yeah! I almost forgot!"

The flashlight I had from before, I remembered dropping it while fighting.

"I remembered it was here."

I went to the place where I dropped it and started rummaging.

" There it is."

After a few minutes of searching, I managed to find my flashlight hidden beneath a dead corpse.

Since I'm here, I might as well stock on weapons.

Now that I think about it, I'm practically surrounded by free loot that I'm free to take.

I started wandering around looking for weapons that I'll be able to carry on my journey.

I felt like I'm perusing aisle at a supermarket. Kind of morbid way of thinking but I can't deny the similarities.

There was a lot of weapons lying on the ground, problem is that most are had alot of chips and cracks on them. If I were to get one, might as well be one that is still in great shape.

As I was wandering around and about. I saw a body crowded by crows.

I find it peculiar that there flocking on that one particular body so I decided to check it out.

"Shoo!, shoo! Go on, peck on some other dead guys."

I waved my arms, trying to disperse the crows.

One by one, they flew off. Oddly enough, instead of leaving, they came back and perched near to where I was standing, looking at me intently.

"Okay..."

Strange, but as long as they don't harm me then I don't mind. Besides, I'd prefer to have some company.

The body in question was rather odd. He laid on ground in a fetal position unlike the others who were splayed unceremoniously across the field.

In his hands was a sword still in it's scabbard. The way he was holding it made it looked like he was holding a cross.

"Well that sword looks promising."

I went ahead and grabbed the sword with left hand and tried to pull it out.

The sword didn't even budge. It's seemed that rigor mortis had already kicked in, making the body stiff and rigid.

"Tough bastard aren't ya? How this then?"

I tightened my grip on the sword and stepped on his body using it as leverage, pulling it as I grit my teeth.

"Mmmfffp! Cmon! Inghhhhhhhhhhh!"

This knight really did not want to release the sword from his cold dead hands.

That said, I kept pulling with all my might. I could feel grip loosening up, making me more motivated.

"Almooooost Nnhg Uh-uhh There!"

This reminded me of how Arthur pulled Excalibur from the rock.

With one mighty pull, the sword was freed  from the dead man's grip as I came stumbling down to ground.

Ignoring the pain in my back , raised the sword in a act of victory. I noticed the crows were still besides me, looking at my actions intently.

I quickly got back on my feet, taking look at what I had in my hands.

It's a longsword with a blade as long as my arm in a navy blue scabbard.

As I unsheathed the sword, it's blade shines, reflecting the rays of sunlight to my eyes.The blade looked sharp, having no scratches or dents.

"Well ain't this a steal"

Satisfied on finding a suitable weapon, I swung around the sword like a happy child with his new toy.

Though the state the knight's sword made me wonder.

How come that his sword was such in a pristine condition?

The way he laid on the ground as well strikes me odd.

If I were to assume how he died based on what Im seeing. My guess would be that he curled to the ground fearing for his till he died, but that would be uncommon for a knight wouldn't it?

And what's the deal with crows? They haven't taken their eyes off me since my first interaction with them.

It's something bigger at play here or simply the natural occurrence in this peculiar world?

I have barely done anything yet I'm already getting ahead of myself. I momentarily put my weird thoughts behind my mind and focused at the task at hand.

I kneeled down again at the curled up corpse, examining the body for other gears that could aid me.

"This looks useful."

His belt caught my eye. It seems that it functions like a holster for swords and other utilities.

This would greatly help me in my journey if I'm to carry a weapon. Without it, I would have to carry my sword by hand which is extremely exhausting especially that I'm only able to use my left arm at the moment.

With one arm, I fumbled on the belt on his waist. An audible clicking sound came from its buckle as it slides out from his waist.

"Hmm..."

Wouldn't it be better if I stripped him of his armor and wore it as well?

The thought came to my mind as I was inspecting his body.

His armor looks to be in great shape and would no doubt protect me in a fight which I may or may not encounter along the way.

"Although..."

Wearing armor would encumber me greatly. I'm already exhausted as of now. Besides I have now idea to remove his armor. It's seemed like easy task at first glance but the act of it alone would especially with one hand would probably leave me with no more stamina to continue my venture.

" True... I also don't want to see a dead person's dick."

With my decision finally settled. I grabbed the holster on the ground and buckled it on my waist.

The dead man's sword which I now claim to be mine fit snuggly to the right side holster of my newly equipped gear.

"Seems I'm all prepped and ready."

I double checked my items one last time before heading out.

But before that, I noticed that my wound is still exposed. I had considered finding a clean cloth to wrap it on but all I could find were dirtied with blood and dirt.

With no options left. I rolled my sleeve instead to cover my exposed wound, to keep it from getting infected from the very least.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket to see what time it is.

"Nine-thirty a.m....and it's Saturday. Well it's at least nice to see that my phone still works..."

I pocketed my phone backed and checked out my other belongings.

"Ok let's see here... wallet, check."

I opened it up to find a few bills and some coins along with a pin up photo of a cute anime girl in a Lolita dress that I admire.

"Flashlight... check."

I pulled out my flashlight and turned it on and off repeatedly. The flashlight flickered rhythmically  to the press of the switch as I hoped it would.

"Sword... check."

I unsheathed my sword. It's blade looking sharp and ready.

With everything checking out. I kneeled once again and gave the dead knight a pat on the back.

"Thank you good sir, I'll be sure take care of your sword. I hope you rest in peace."

I looked at my side where the crows are and bid them goodbye.

"Farewell crows, I'll be heading off to my journey now. I hope you guys uh...are satisfied with all the dead corpses you can chow down haha..."

As if knowing what my intentions are, the crows cawed back in return then flew off from the sky. I waved my hand at them as they left.

After saying  my farewell, I took one last look at this grim cemetery, pulled my hood up and walked towards the path where the trees are.

Judging how far it looks, I estimate that it would roughly take four hours get there by foot, give or take.

I walked excitedly despite my fatigue, with each step I trudge with glee.

This is my first quest I set my eyes on this word and I'm finally taking my first step in doing so.

What grand adventure awaits me? So many possibilities that I couldn't help but be giddy like a little girl.

I brushed my forehead when I noticed something strange.

My hand was not able to touch my face directly.

I could feel my hand touching something but I could visibly see that my hands were not making contact with my face. As if there was a a barrier between them.

"Hold on..."

I grabbed the barrier like object in face and pulled it out. To my surprise, it was the white mask from before.

"The mask...from my dreams."

The fact that only now that I noticed that I was wearing a mask all this time boggles my mind.

White expressionless mask with two slits for it's eyes. Indeed it was the very samemask that beast  coughed up.

I put the mask back in my face with no further thoughts behind it. It would serve as a protection for my face, plus I really liked the minimalistic design it had.

I continued to press on my path towards the forest.

With big willful strides, I head on my destination full of determination.