The Unknown Desert
Veneficus Malum and the visions
I HATE YOU ALLIANTHE!
Veneficus walked along the riverbank, the desert surrounding him. As he walked, he noticed a lone flower that stood out against the arid landscape. Intrigued by its colours, he approached and smelled it. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness overcame him, and he collapsed to the ground.
As Veneficus slipped into unconsciousness, a dreamscape of magic and monsters unfolded before him. Visions of creatures, nightmarish in their forms, manifested in his mind. Unfamiliar shapes and shadows coalesced into grotesque beings that stirred fear in the deepest recesses of his mind.
In this dream realm, Veneficus found himself surrounded by creatures that went past the horrors of the outer beasts. These monsters were born from the depths of his imagination, each one embodying the fears that lurked in the shadows of his mind.
Yet, in this nightmarish dream, Veneficus sensed a connection to the monsters. The fear that almost overcame him transformed into an odd sense of familiarity. As he confronted these dream-born horrors, an inexplicable power surged within him. Magic, raw and untamed, coursed through his veins, intertwining with the essence of the dream monsters.
The dream unfolded as a surreal journey through landscapes both magical and frightening. Veneficus faced the monsters head-on, his mind navigating a realm where the boundaries between fear and empowerment blurred. The dream granted him insights into the very nature of his fears and the magic that lay hidden within.
Veneficus awoke on the riverbank, the beautiful flower still in his hand. The memory of the dream lingered, but instead of marvelling at its mysteries, a surge of anger welled within him. The monsters, the fears – all seemed to have been sent by a divine being, and he directed all his anger towards the one he knew.
"Allianthé, Goddess of Life," he shouted, his voice carrying his frustration across the desolate landscape. "Why are you punishing me with such nightmares? What have I done but survive?" His anger echoed into the vast expanse above as he blamed the deity for the visions that she sent.
In a fit of anger, Veneficus clenched the flower in his hand, its vibrant petals now a symbol of the dreams that had stirred his ire. Swearing revenge on the goddess, he decided to throw away the remnants of the dream, convinced that this divine interference must be punished.
Without realising the growing power within him, Veneficus dropped the flower. As it touched the ground, a small fireball manifested in his hand. Shocked at the unexpected flames flickering in his palm, he recoiled. Instinctively, fueled by a mix of rage and magic, he hurled the fireball at the discarded flower.
The impact created a brief burst of flames, reducing the once vibrant flower to ashes. As the smoke dissipated, Veneficus stared at his hand, realisation sinking in. The anger towards Allianthé had unintentionally unlocked magic within him, leaving him both empowered and unsettled. As the remnants of the flower smouldered on the riverbank, Veneficus grappled with the consequences of his fury and the newfound abilities that seemed to respond to the intensity of his emotions.
Magic found him. Magic will be his life.