It felt like an eternity had passed since he started waiting to receive his summon. He watched student after student walk through the portal and come out minutes later with a summon to call their own. Was it really that simple of a process? When his turn approached, Blanc was hesitant to walk through the portal, but instead of backing down he forced himself to step forward.
It all happened in a flash, he was no longer in the waiting hall, instead of a cavern, he found himself in a labyrinth that was filled with thousands of disks, there wasn't anyone here either. It was just him alone with his thoughts. This wasn't what had been described to him countless times before. This was not a cavern, there was no red cloud of smoke ready to greet him. Where was he? All this was running through his head. Was he just supposed to wait for someone to arrive? That couldn't have been right, something must have gone wrong. It was up to him now to find his summon. This was his journey.
He walked for what seemed like days, everything was the same. No matter what direction he went it felt like he was going in circles. Every path was identical, there were no defining features to be had. "Hello!" Blanc called out, there was no response besides his own echo. He was truly alone. Where am I..... Where am I? wheramiwhereamiwhereami. It began as a simple thought, but soon it was echoing in his mind over and over again. He just couldn't take it anymore. "WHERE AM I!" He yelled, "SOMEONE! ANYONE!" Still no response, this wasn't a joke. Despite how much he wanted to believe it, this wasn't just some elaborate game. It hit him harder than expected, breaking into a sprint he began to run through the corridors. Everything was the same, no path lead him to anywhere he hand been before. This truly was a labyrinth without an exit. He was trapped, no one was coming to get him.
How many days had it been? What week was it? These all faded into obscurity as Blanc began to break down in both mind and body. He was weak from the endless walking, and the stress of trying to find a way out of the labyrinth was finally getting to him. Had everyone forgotten about him? It wasn't too long ago that he made his first friend, they had to be looking for him. They were going to come, someone was going to come. He just couldn't do it anymore, crumbling into a ball he put his head down and accepted his fate. He was going to die in this place, his only regret was that he didn't leave more of a mark on the world. "I'm sorry everyone." These were the last words Blanc managed to squeak out before shutting his eyes. He had finally accepted his fate. You're weak, its pathetic. Stand up you're making me sick. Was this reality? Had he heard a voice or was it just his imagination. All you want to do is save others, yet you can't even save yourself. What is this a joke? The answer is right in front of you, just open your eyes. What did he mean? He had been there for days, there wasn't a way out, everything was the same. He didn't want to open his eyes, but like a fool latching on to any bit of hope he could grab onto, he did. In front of him was a large door, it gave off a very sinister presence and was decorated with skulls. How could he have missed this? There, you're one step closer to realizing the truth. Now come to me, I've been waiting a very long time for this. Forcing himself to his feet, Blanc slowly stepped forwards towards the door. The closer he got, the further away it seemed to get. Was this another game, he wasn't about to spend the rest of his life chasing this door. Lunging forward, he grabbed hold of the knob and pulled it open.
Darkness, darkness all around, he was no longer in the labyrinth, he was nowhere. It was an empty space with no end, it was like inescapable hell. Just a little further my child. The voice that had guided him out of the labyrinth continued to call out to him. Who was this voice, what did it call him his child.
A light, a light off in the distance. In the center was a simple disk. It looked similar to the thousands that he had seen while exploring the labyrinth. It was different though, it gave off an aura of darkness, and on the front, words in a language he couldn't understand had been engraved. All men have darkness within them. Accept me and I shall allow you to harvest that darkness. Blanc, I am your summon. I am ISIEL. It was obvious now that this was the source of the voice, no one was guarding him. It was all just a voice inside his head. Reaching forward Blanc grabbed hold of the disk and immediately felt a burning sensation in his arm. [color=ed1c24][i]I am thou, thou art I. We have created a bond forged by fate. You have chosen this path, there's no going back.[/i[/color]] Pain washed over his body, it was like an external force had fused itself with his very being. It was indescribable, he fainted almost instantly. When he awoke, he was in back in the waiting area. What felt live years had only been five minutes. Nothing seemed to have changed, but when he looked down, there was a sword that looked to have been forged in the pits of hell grasped in his hands.