The Beginning

Written by: Mystis(FO-E)
Posted on: September 25, 1999

The Beginning

I listen to my footsteps as I walk towards the Archmages tower, each step sounds so loud in this empty hall "Why have I been called at this hour, I have test to start tomorrow to earn my staff". Finally at the end of the long marble hallway I see the great ironwood doors that lead to the council chambers outside the doors stand two huge stone golems, as I get closer to the door the golems step in front of the door "Now what am I to do" I thought to myself. The golems studied me for a minute then stepped aside and allowed me entrance into the council chambers. There sitting at the table were the 12 wizards of the council and the Archmage sitting at there table. I looked around the room and noticed there was no chair for me to sit in and decided that it was probably better to stand in the presence of these.
The Archmage began to speak "Mystis you have been called here under grave circumstances. There is evil in the town of Tristam and we must act to now to stop this evil from spreading. You are going to go to Tristam and try to stop this evil. Tristam is far to the west of here and we have felt the presence of the Lord of Terror in the abandoned monestary there. The Arch-angel Tyrael gathered us to inprison the three long ago as you know and since the inprisonment we have maintained a samll council to watch over there prisons. Alas our number has dwindled and we have no choice but to send one that is not completely trained yet."
"You want me to go do battle with one of the three great evils, I am not ready for this. I havent passed my final test yet." was I really arguiing with the Archmage and the council.
"We know full well the progress of your training and have watched you for some time now, we believe the purity of heart and the fact that all that remains is your final test makes you our choice canidate at this time. You will need that purity to complete this task as the Lord of Terror will use any blackness in you to his advantage as for your final test you will take that tonight and in one week leave this place for the town of Tristam."
"My test tonight! What about the preparation, the vigils?" here I was again arguing. I could see the brows of the Archmage raise and knew that I was pushing my hand to far. It was either take the test tonight or forever be banned from the tower. I had heard of mages who had been banned from the tower most went crazy within 5 years that is why all who leave the tower must return every two years for a 3 month vigil. "As you wish." I finally conceeded.
"Good then you will begin your test now." The Archmage waved his hand and two doors appeared out of nowhere "You will enter the first door and when you have finished the test you will find the exit. There is no going back once the test is beganfor the doors may be used but once even I do not have the power to open the doors more then once every week"
I began to head towards the door my hands were trembling this had never been heard of there was supposed to be a 3 night vigil to prepare you for this test. This test had meant the death of more then one mage even when they entered prepared it would surely mean mine with out anytime to prepare. I raised my hand to open the door as I touched the blue steel ring I felt as though my mind was being probed of its darkest secrets. Thus began my test.
I opened the door and walked into a large white marble hallway,the hall of truth, ahead was a visage a man I think. I began to walk towards the image repeating "This doesnt seem so bad" but every step I took towards the man he took a step back. I tried to run to him but he just moved backwards even faster. I stopped obviously I could not reach the image this way I was wasting my time. I surveyed the room trying to find something else, there was nothing though even the door I had come through was now gone. "Who are you?" I yelled at the visage but the only reply I got was "Who are you?" It wasnt an echo but rather the question being asked back to me. "I am Mystis apprentice of the Horadrim." The image seemed to take a step towards me. "What do you want from me?" I asked the visage. "The question is what do you want?" the visage replied.
"I want to complete my test so I may go on with the quest assigned by the Archmage" not entirely true since I wasnt looking forward to going to Tristram. The image stepped back. and I felt a searing pain through my head.
"You will only speak the truth in this hall or you will pay the consequences, I ask you once again what do you want from me?" the visage spoke again.
"I want to complete my test, I want to know who you are and why you are here. I want to know how to escape facing the Lord of Terror" the visage walked up to me and looked in my eyes as though he was probing me.
"The test is still up to you wether you pass it or not, I am the gaurdian of the hall of truth here to ensure that only the pure can get to the next phase and there is no way to escape facing the Lord of Terror you will either face him in Tristam or you will face him when he is completely free and at full power. Proceed to the next door." The visage pointed to a solid black ebony door that seemed to appear out of no where.
I walked to the door and when I touched the black handle on the door I felt great power surge through my body "This power can be yours come through the door and accpet the power." I heard in my mind but it felt like an oil running over my mind it felt dirty as if tainted. I tried to release the handle but the harder I tried to release the more i found myself opening the door.
Finally the door open I stepped through the door. It was complete blackness a blackness that not even the light from my staff could penetrate. I saw two red glowing eyes in the distance and heard the voice again "you have made the right choice come to me and feel the power that I offer you. Pledge yourself to the powers of hell and the world will be yours." I began to walk towards the voice the promise of the power, the world to be mine who could ask for more then that. As I began walking towards the voice I also began to see images some of a golden world where everything lived in the light and was happy and some a world of darkness where all lived in fear it seemed the choice was mine to make I continued walking towards the voice. I saw images of plague and disease I was almost to the voice then I saw the image of the man causing this it was me, me and my greed for power. "NO" I shouted at the top of my lungs my brain began to feel as though on fire, it became hard for me to breathe to move even. I turned around slowly and saw a golden door I reached fro the handle and heard the soft voice "enter my son and be refreshed". I pulled at the door but it would not open, I strained with all my might but to no avail the door still would not open to my power. "Help me I cannot do this alone" Those simple words uttered from my mouth and the door opened on its own. I walked through the door into a brillant light.
"Congradulations my son you have chosen well you have faced the truth and passed and you have faced your inner greed and passed that test as well" it was the Arch-angel Tyrael he was talking directly to me "do not be surprised all who make it this far see me they come here to finish there test. Here you will make the pledge to me. Pledge never to use your power for evil, never to submit mankind to the power you have learned, never to let darkness control your actions,pass on your teachings to others. Swear this on your life apprentice"
"I swear all this to you holy one" was all I could say.
"Then go enter through the last door magician and serve the brotherhood well" and I saw the door with the blue ring once again I opened the door and ahead I saw the council room but only the Archmage remained. As I walked through the door I fell to the ground.
I awoke later in my room There was a searing pain on my left palm as I looked down I saw the symbol of the Horadrim branded there. I looked around the room my eyes hurt and I ahd trouble focusing on things but I saw an image of a man standing there "Good you are awake my son it is time you have slept for 3 days now and must begin your journey to Tristam tomorrow. We were worried that you were not coming out after 2 days of waiting the others left but I waited until you came out of the door on the third day."

Well that is the story of my beginning.