Day 0 - round 2

Before me stood a being near unfathomable. Its eager eyes observing me carefully and completely. Compared to it, I felt powerless as I lie there in the dirt once again. I had yet to reach my destination; too many of these ‘detours’ had delayed me for far too long, far too many times. With its glistening teeth and powerful jaws, the creature asked me one word. “Enough?” My heart pounded against its ivory cage. A cage meant not to capture, but to protect, to conceal it from the evil that birthed the being before me now. Despite that, my heart was in more danger than ever before. With weary arms and sapped strength, I forced myself from the ground, dust falling from my worn form. I could almost feel my very soul begging me to stand. Collapsing back to my knees, I caught myself. The dirt lingered. By some miracle, looking to my right, I spotted a small puddle of water. Knees and palms well-worn, I forced them to take me to the puddle. The creature spoke again. “No need. You will fall again. Wash yourself then.” My mind fought the very concept of its words. Try as I might, I could not force myself to not understand its words. Ignoring it would have to do. The puddle was just enough to wash only my face and hands. Good enough for now. My eyes are cleared and my hands are ready to work. I spied again to my right, the weapon I had so carelessly dropped. A knight’s sword should never touch the ground, even when he’s facing his mortality. Especially then. I turned to my right, pushing off my knee to stand. I stood for what felt like the first time in a week. I strode to my weapon, kneeling to pick it up. “Is that not too heavy?” The creature hissed sarcastically. Even as it said it like that, did I hear a hint of fear as I grasped the hilt? That’s almost a comforting thought… to think that with my weapon I pose a threat to this “thing”. But I cannot tarry here. This creature is not one to fight by myself, not here, and not now. I lifted my sword, miraculously finding the strength to lift it again. Or is it lighter than I had thought? I turned, but stopped. No. Don’t give it even a single look. Not even from the corner of my eye. I could feel the pressure from the creature’s eyes daring me to look at it. I tightened up my belt, then carefully lifted my blade and slid it into place at my side. Don’t forget to use it next time. Limping at first, I pushed myself forward. As far as my mind was aware, in this moment, there was no other direction. I had to keep moving. “You won’t reach it, and I’ll be here when you fall.” Ignore it. “You can’t continue like this.” Not alone, maybe. “It’s easier to just stay and rest.” Then I must get stronger. “Haven’t you had enough of this?” I stopped. Why did I stop? I could sense the creature immediately behind me. It felt so massive that if I allowed my eyes to look even a degree to the right or left. I would see it there. The hollow and echoed sound of a singular drop of water colliding with my helm sounded in my ear. I looked up. Another drop hit my face, then my helm again, my breastplate, and soon, a healthy rain fell from the clouds. Not too much, but just enough. My muddled and dusty armor began to gleam again. I held my hands in front of me, then reached up as if to receive the clouds themselves. Where had the creature gone? Was it still there? Ah… It didn’t seem to matter right now. I couldn’t hear it through the rain echoing gently through my helm.