It was cold in this pitch darkness, but at least Ian was alive because this searing pain on his right shoulder was a constant reminder. Now he was drifting along with the river's current. His weary body could only move with the water flow so the best he could do was keeping his head above water. Whatever grievance Ian would have with this smelly murky water was long gone now as hygiene was less important than surviving this current.
Ian could still feel the claw in his shoulder suggesting that Red was still clinging to him...painfully. At least he was grateful for another save even if it might cost him an arm.
....hopefully not an arm.
The current kept dragging Ian and his companion through the dark tunnel. On one hand, Ian was glad the current was fast because the mysterious figure from before wouldn't be able to catch up, but on another, he was struggling to keep his head above water. It felt more taxing to move his tired body fighting against the current to keep himself from at least drowning. He was sure that his companion wasn't struggling so that eased his mind a bit.
"Mmm....iiinnn.....eeee"
Ian heard the familiar cry but through sounds of swallowing water suggesting otherwise. The red-eyed monster couldn't keep its head afloat. And if it couldn't keep its head afloat then it meant one thing, it couldn't swim. He quickly came to that conclusion faster than solving that complicated algebra equation years back in high school.
With that thought in mind, Ian forced his tired muscles into overdrive as he grabbed onto the claw arm still attached to his shoulder and he moved or at least tried to move. He wanted to help Red keep their head above water but something new happen to them.
They were freefalling.
It seems the current reached its destination into a long drop.
Ian wasn't sure if either of them will live the long drop but at least he could see the night sky.
He was finally outside of the city.
Yet before he knew it, the red-eyed monster pulled its claw out of Ian's right shoulder and angled him above its body.
The only thing Ian saw during the drop was a feminine human-like face free from the long black hair that was covering it then everything went dark.
***
"Gasp"
Ian's eyes shot open as he gasp desperately for air. Each breath rejuvenated him filling him with life but also the pain in his ribs and right shoulder reminded him that he was alive. It appears that the fall broke or at least cracked a rib or two. His mind was still foggy from what happened earlier but he could at least comprehend that he was alive. He could see the night sky with the full moon hovering above like a beacon and he could see...another moon?
It was a reminder that Ian was in another world. Never once had he checked the night sky, always assuming there was just one moon but this world had two bright full moons hovering above adding further lighting to his surrounding. Then after a few moments of catching his breath, Ian sat up to check his surroundings but not before grunting in pain from his ribs and right shoulder.
He could see more clearly now without any buildings blocking the two moons as they illuminated what appears to be a forest behind him. In front, was a distant view of the city on a high cliff. Ian could vaguely tell it was a city because the fire was still ongoing in parts of it illuminating the city enough for him to see.
Ian replayed the moments before blacking out, and it soured his mood to say the least.
The red-eyed monster sacrificed itself to protect him. He wasn't sure why it went that far to save him. Was the promise of escaping that hellhole worth risking its life? No wait, sacrificing its life was a more accurate depiction because it clearly took the full brunt of that freefall into the water. Ian may not be the brightest but he knew that falling into water at that height was like falling into solid ground. He then closed his eyes silently mourning his-
"AHHHHH!!!!!"
-a banshee-like scream resounded near him prompting Ian to open his eyes and stand up quickly. Unfortunately, Ian's legs were seemingly broken because of the intense pain coming from both of them.
Still, he continued crawling towards the source of that scream. The scream sounded agonizing suggesting that the owner was in extreme pain. Even if Ian couldn't save his companion, he at least want to be there in its final moments.
He buried his hands in mud one after another inching closer towards the source of the screaming. The source of that scream was past a large tree near the river as the red-eyed monster continued screaming in pain. Ian gritted his teeth once he reached the tree then peeked past it to see.
There in the muddy clearing illuminated by both moons was the red-eyed monster but it looked different. In front of Ian's eyes, was the same creature that was his savior and guide but this time it looked smaller and more human-like. Its...no....her limbs shrunk to human proportions and her body shrunk to align perfectly with her limbs.
It was a strange sight but it didn't matter to him.
Ian continued crawling his way towards her. He wasn't sure what he'll be able to do but Ian wanted to be there for her. It was the least he could do.
"AHHHHH!!!!"
Her cries still piercing the still night but thankfully the night did not respond to her cries as nothing seemed to appear around the both of them.
Interestingly enough, as Ian got closer to the screaming woman...
"Congratulations Ian. Thou hath overcome this nightmarish trial. It seems thy comfortable life didn't diminish thy inner strength..."
Primus showed up near Ian to congratulate him but he ignored her rambling and continued crawling towards the screaming woman. She was still in pain as she reverted back into her human form and possibly from injuries due to the long fall.
Once Ian was close enough, he could faintly see her ear through her black hair. It was pointy. Like an elf from any fantasy story he knew. Regardless, Ian examine her condition to see what he could do. Then once he finished, Ian finally paid attention to Primus.
"...like mother like son. Thou hath proven what it takes to be a paladin."
The last part echoed into his mind prompting him to immediately respond.
"C-can you....can I fix her?"
There was a moment of silence as Primus stood there before answering.
"Place thy hand over her stomach and keep it there."
Ian did as she instructed, his hand hovering over the screaming elf woman's stomach. At first nothing happen, but soon after, he felt a tingling as light streamed out of his hand and into the elf woman's body effectively stopping her screaming as she got better. It became silent again.
Then Primus spoke breaking the silence.
"Thy awakening as a Mender allowed for a brief moment where the Radiance can fix this woman's soul. It seems fate has a hand here. Out of all the imitations in this trial, thou hath met the one real being trapped here in her devilish form. Yet that devilish form kept her alive for this long."
Primus stopped talking as the light stopped streaming out of Ian's hand. The elf woman was breathing calmly now, she was sickly looking as if she hadn't slept in ages and even bony to the touch like she hasn't eaten anything for months, but she was alive. Ian sighed deeply feeling a huge weight off his shoulders. He wanted to thank Primus but she spoke again.
"Now our time is up. We will meet again soon, Paladin Ian Argencrest. Worry not, that woman will come with thee. Farewell for now."
The cold emotionless voice disappeared along with its owner.
Soon Ian was disappearing along with the elf woman that he was holding in his arms now, both of them illuminated by blue sparks coming out of them like fireflies.
The nightmare was finally ending.
Ian could finally go home now.
Ian look down to see the elf woman was awake. Her red eyes barely open but a hint of recognition from seeing Ian.
Then she used whatever remaining strength she had to raise her lips almost into a smile and softly whisper:
"...glad you came back Ian..."
...the elf woman spoke quietly and briefly before going back to sleep. What Ian expected from her was a 'thank you' or maybe even a jab from saving her earlier in that dark tunnel.
Yet she spoke as if she knew him...