Ascent: Day 6

Word Count: 36,007

Summary of Events:

Ilyé had a dream that he didn't understand and he learned that it'd featured a legendary woman of Qikatalukiq's past from the Lemyazhmok and learned her story. He also discovered that the place where his hand had struck the water was permanently blackened, but not painful. He then looked in the waters again, still displeased by what he saw, and left the Lemyazhmok behind again paying a visit to his family — who didn't receive him well — before returning and deciding he would undertake the training to become the Lemyazhmok's apprentice, which first required a journey through a magic portal . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

"Ilyé passed through it and found himself in the middle of a forest, standing by a place that was ruined, with many broken trees, and a blood red lake in the middle of it, with broken trees jutting out of it.

Soon Master Lyarí was standing beside him.

"Take off your cloak," Master Lyarí said.

Ilyé did so.

"Go into the water," Master Lyarí said, taking Ilyé's cloak.

"It's not water," Ilyé said. "It's blood."

"Yes it is," Master Lyarí said. "You noticed. Go in."

Reluctantly Ilyé stepped forward.

"Keep going," Master Lyarí said.

Ilyé kept walking, stepping delicately and grimacing at the thought that he was walking in blood, he was getting it all over himself. He stopped once it was at his neck. He wasn't going any further.

"Keep going!" Master Lyarí called.

Ilyé made a face and grimaced. He didn't want to get it over his head, it'd be in his ears and nose then!

Reluctantly, though, he continued in until he was fully submerged. He then went to start backing out, but found that he was stuck fast. He couldn't get his feet free. He spread out his wings and tried to fly, but he couldn't get away.

Suddenly he felt something that wasn't in the least bit comfortable and his eyes were being forced open. All he could see was redness, he couldn't even see his hands. He wanted to get away, he needed air.

No matter how he struggled he couldn't get out, he needed air, he gasped and his mouth filled with the taste of blood. He wanted to get out, he needed to get out. He had to get away.

Finally he was let go and he fled out of the blood as quickly as possible. Once on the shore he coughed violently and swiped at his face to get the blood out of his eyes.

"Be still," Master Lyarí said.

Ilyé stilled. He heard Master Lyarí murmur something and then he felt like it was all gone. He opened his eyes and saw his vision was unharmed. In fact, he felt completely dry.

He noticed Master Lyarí reaching out over the blood with a goblet. Ilyé startled when the blood rose and filled the goblet. Master Lyarí then turned toward Ilyé and held out the goblet.

"Drink it," Master Lyarí said.

"I already got a bunch in my lungs," Ilyé said.

"Drink it," Master Lyarí said firmly.

Reluctantly, Ilyé took the goblet in both hands and drank it back until it was empty, as he was sure he would get in trouble if he didn't.

"Now we will wait here until we know it has gone through," Master Lyarí said.

"How will we know that?" Ilyé asked.

"When you have movements," Master Lyarí replied.

Ilyé looked at Master Lyarí utterly reviled.

"That is how we will know," Master Lyari said. "And I agree with you that it isn't pleasant.""