Although I was unconscious, I still seemed to have some kind of awareness. I could see myself as Terra picked me up, and turned to flee.
“Tell him...” a voice came from my mouth, and that’s when I realized that my senses were inside King Diorite. “Tell that boy he must learn to merge with those blessings. He must turn the lore into his lore. As long as it is only connected to him, it can still be severed. Only when he becomes one with it will he unlock his true potential. Tell him he must write his own story now, and make it his. Well, I know he heard.”
I realized as he spoke that his soul was still connected to the lore which he then connected to my soul. Even though I was unconscious, I was experiencing things from his point of view. Terra gave a single sharp nod of affirmation, and then picked me up. She wasn’t just carrying me, but everyone in my soul world too. In her small arms, Terra was carrying everything on her own.
King Diorite turned away from her, and then looked into the vines, which had seemingly turned into an abyss of darkness writhing forward. Vines were already wrapping themselves around the archway but had seemingly stopped in front of the king. A face slowly came out of the darkness, seemingly disembodied and floating within a mass of shadows.
“You cannot delay me any longer.” She responded coldly.
“I know...” He responded, looking down. “I know.”
“I can take care of Gaia!” She snarled. “But you are right, a willing host will be much quicker than an unwilling one. Very well, I will take you on your offer. However, once unity is finished, don’t expect me to show any mercy for your family or loved ones. They will all be consumed and become a part of me again. I won’t give them the chance to abandon me once more.”
“I have faith that he’ll come up with something.”
“Then you have faith in a fool!”
As she said that, several shadowy vines of darkness reached out and grabbed the king. He didn’t resist as he was pulled back into darkness. Even as my senses were plunged into nothingness, a familiar voice whispered in my ear.
“You would be better off running to the surface and living your last few months in peace, Deek. If you stay, I will take everything.”
With that, the connection between his soul and the lore snapped, and my mind finally fell into darkness.