Celith Ferelle's final trial

[pickpocket]

Everything was blurry and a terrible aching pain was lurking within the elf's muscles. But he had to press on, there was no turning back at this point. After dispatching the front guards, accessing Dalen's compound was a walk in the park. Then reality and memories became mixed up. Celith saw his parents crying out for help, he and his sibling being helpless, then the screams amplified, and there was blood and the smell of rusty iron with it. It did not make sense, and it all felt like it was a draft of a story, with missing details.
Suddenly two guards jumped out of the shadows. The elf tripped one of them while allowing the other guard to deliver a blow with his sword, only to quickgrab the guard's wrist while dodging the blade, and in an instant he raised and wrapped his legs around the guards neck pulling him to the ground then snapping his neck. As the other guard got up Celith coldly grabbed the sword and plunged it into his torso vertically through the collarbones. He enjoyed the killing, in fact he was craving for it. They had inflicted pain and suffering on him, so they deserved nothing but to be repaid in kind.
Then Celith's senses became dull for a brief moment or it seemed like a moment at least.
What was he doing here? Why would he come to a place like this?
He could not recall the next few minutes, only the battlefield could tell him what happened. Dead guards everywhere, all of them shapeless humans, unworthy of life or even the faintest forms of mercy. One of the guards stood up and with his last breath he tried to jump at Celith, but was kicked in the abdomen, then Celith disarmed him, threw him to the ground, and even though the guard was yelling "no, stop!", he just took his sword, vaulted over him, then inflicted mocking cuts on his back, and as the guard was crying for mercy, Celith slit his throat, turning it into a blood fountain. The elf grinned and felt victorious.
- So you have come for me - a voice called to him from around the corner. The building's layout was unclear to the elf and all of the furnitures and the dead on the floor merged into a shapeless red and brown mess. None of it made any sense, other than the pain and suffering.
- I remember you. I could not recall your name. Only heard it once while you and your men butchered my family...
- Come now, it was nothing personal. They had money. And I needed that. Simple as that. No emotions to it, no passion. Just a bunch of bandits. Your everyday story: bandits attack a caravan, kill the witnesses, take the loot. Oh, and the Children were spared! -he grinned - Or did I send assassins after you? I think not. You decided to play this game further. It was *you* coming here.
- Nah, we have nothing to discuss here. -Celith responded coldy. - And this is more *personal* than you think. You have ruined my life. My sibling's life. We lost our beloved that day, so...it is only appropriate that you die... and in the most painful way possible.
After this Celith's mind became clouded, this amateur bandit with his ragtag bandits were no match for him. Dalen mananged to swing at Celith a few times with his swords, but Celith was only toying with him, trying to exhaust him. One swing after the other meanwhile Dalen just kept yelling:
- What are you doing in MY compund? MY WORLD?! You came to this place! YOU and I are no different! Murderers we are! You enjoy...
Dalen could not finish his sentence, as Celith disarmed him, taking his sword and carving up Dalen's face, all in a matter of seconds. He was unnaturally fast, in an unnatural world.
But all of this was natural. Since nothing of it was real. Celith woke up with the feeling of dizziness.
- Ugh, Master Yin... -the elf called out to his old mentor.
- Easy now Celith, these 'shrooms are poisonous to the body. - The short, almond-eyed old lady slowly walked towards his bed with a mug in her hand. - Here drink this, this will ease the effects. This Trip you had is not for everyone. But I had to help you. To show you his face.
- Yes, I saw him...and his name was Dalen, now I remember. -Celith gasped.
- Good. - the old lady nodded. -Now you are ready I think. NOW - she emphasized - you have seen the killer and its ruthless nature... and now you fully understand why you have to stop him.
Celith took a sip from the mug, then said:
- Yes, Dalen knows no mercy, his crimes are legion and he must pay for all the blood he has shed. -he said confidently, staring at the depth of the mug.
Master Yin shook her head:
- No, I was not talking about *him*.