[color=ed1c24]"Well then, I think everything's settled."[/color]
Hale stood up and nodded with surprising respectfulness at his elders.
[color=ed1c24]"Lady Mo. Magnus. I'll be showing Ash around the base. Have a nice evening."[/color]
He caught the keys Magnus casually threw at him.
[color=662d91]"Check up on the mortal after, will ya?"[/color]

Closing the door behind them Hale stood in the Hall with Ashlinn.
[color=ed1c24]"So, what do you want to see? The main halls, the barracks, the canteen, the ramparts, the armory, the dungeon? Or would you rather forget about all of that and play some video-games?"[/color]

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOrXKiSy8ZY]---[/url]

Meanwhile, on the edge of reason.
Martin sits at a table with his other selves, knowing he's stuck in his own mind.
This was what happened when Magnus wanted information from you, a descent into madness.
Martins stared at him, many with milky white blind eyes. The one at the head of the table spoke again. And as he spoke the world trembled.
[color=fffffe][b]"̢̀͡ Now that we've established what you have lost we can start to fill that void. "̸̶̴͠[/b][/color]
[color=7ea7d8]"̢̀͡ "You'll find that insight for sanity is a good trade."̢̀͡  "̸̶̴͠[/color]
Another Martin added with unnerving calm.
[color=662d91]"We are the reflections of what you've could have been..."[/color]
[color=7ea7d8]"̢̀͡ "Had you chosen differently, had the dice shown other faces."̢̀͡  "̸̶̴͠[/color]
[color=fffffe][b]"̢̀͡ You're the odd one out, taking so long to leave your mortality behind. "̸̶̴͠[/b][/color]
[color=silver]"[b]Enough![/b]"[/color] Martin interrupted the mad figments of his imagination. Knocking over the cup of boiling blood in his cup.[color=silver]"I will not become a monster like you! I'll find a way out of this and I'll be sane again!"[/color]
The bright white tablecloth stained deep red, the mark expanding slowly as the spilled blood spread.
The creatures sat unfazed at this outburst. A short silence fell while the blood spread across the table. Then all laughed hysterically.
[color=fffffe][b]"̢̀͡ Don't fear change my mortal image. There are no monsters but those in the minds of mortals. The embrace is no descent into darkness, it is the next step. The first of many more."̸̶̴͠[/b][/color]
[color=1a7b30]"Metamorphosis."[/color]
The Martin at his left hand side had been sitting there in silence, with folded arms. But now he spoke, showing rows of canines.
While the blood spread further across the table, more blood than could have been in the cup, the Martin rose and threateningly placed a clawed hand on Martin's chest. Slowly the wolfish grin and yellow green eyes came closer and whispered.
[color=1a7b30]"You see species where there are phases of a process."[/color]
Martin was pushed, back into the chair, toppling over and falling back further. Falling with no end.
He fell backwards into nothingness. Falling down into the void while crimson rain raced down around him.
From the distance vile and hopeful words chased him down.

[center][color=7ea7d8]"̢̀͡ "Don't be afraid to trust those that will betray you."̢̀͡  "̸̶̴͠[/color][/center]
[right][color=8dc73f]"Always keep growing no matter the direction."		[/color][/right]
[color=fffffe][b]		"̢̀͡ Eye's on the horizon. Ascend. "̸̶̴͠[/b][/color]





[center]
Martin awakens coughing blood.
He is alone, tied up in a dark room that reeks of despair.
With a mind full of strange thoughts and hazy memories.[/center]