This new method of transportation was... bizarre, to say the least. Barely had he stepped through the portal than whatever behind him vanished in blackness. In the space of a step, he felt as though her were transported to another dimension. The shadows felt almost [i]real[/i], caressing his face and tugging at the fabric of his clothes, like the sensation of wind that wasn't truly there. Total darkness, total silence, it was as if he had lost the use of his eyes and ears. Then his foot hit the ground and he was through, the entire experience lasting less than a second.

He stepped out to a dimly lit room with a long table, seemingly prepped for a meal. And a dark-haired man- a human? No, something felt off. It reminded him almost of his brother Asher, particularly when this mystery man approached him- standing a little too close for comfort- with an eager grin on his face.
[color=blue]”Hello! Welcome to Castle Havoc. You would be the first of few to arrive. My name is Claudius Ravenwood. I’m sorry I am horrible with names, what’s yours?”[/color] he asked, Ithiel barely having a chance to breathe between words.

The first thing he did was take a step back, careful not to back into the portal behind him. Just to put some space between himself and this very peppy mystery man.
[color=f9ad81]"A-Ah, Ithiel Ralte, a pleasure to make your acquiantance?"[/color] he asked more than stated, still gathering his bearings as the man backed away, gesturing to the table and inviting him to sit.

Still unsure of his situation (Were all humans this strange or was this man merely an unusual specimen?), he reluctantly did so, sitting and putting his tomes and staff down, watching as an eerie howl rang out, resembling the one that had summoned his portal. Ithiel leaned forward, fascinated as Claudius waved his hand and a second portal opened. Immediately, an arrow flew through it, nearly making its mark in the man and embedding itself in the wall. Ithiel stared at it, dumbstruck, then back at the portal as the person who had presumably fired the arrow, a strange looking elf, stepped through. Ithiel quietly picked his staff back up, placing it in his lap. Just in case more arrows were fired.

Soon more portals opened, and Claudius welcomed another elf, wingless this time, and a presumably human girl who stammered through her greeting. Claudius then turned to them, finishing with encouragement to introduce themselves and then summoning a... shadow... butler? Ithiel wondered if maybe he was still asleep and having a surreal night terror from fatigue. Claudius, unfazed (of course he would be unfazed, it was his own shadow butler), informed them that "Adam" would give them any food or drink they desired.

Terrifying amalgation of nightmares and darkness or no, such a bold assertion had to be proven. As the shadowy figure waited on him, Ithiel quickly searched for the most obscure, rarest beverage his mind could reach. Something no human would surely have, regardless of their summoning magic.
[color=f9ad81]"Alright... I'll have a glass of Namuci's Bloodwine, spiced with salamandyr tail, aged 35 years."[/color] he stated smugly. Namuci's Bloodwine could only be made by fermenting the flowers and buds of the Mara tree, which only bloomed once every 10 years. It was extremely difficult to make, and even more expensive to procure. That and the alcohol was, according to his books, poisonous to humans, so there was little sense in them having it.

Well, as it turned out Ithiel really wouldn't need to be served dinner later, because he was now eating his words. The figure pulled another bottle, seemingly from nowhere, and as it uncorked the bottle the unmistakable acrid scent of salamandyr filled the room. Ithiel watched in dismay as his glass was filled with the deep red liquid. He didn't even like bloodwine.
[color=f9ad81]"Ah, perfect. Thank you, um, Adam."[/color] he said, reluctantly taking his glass. He should have asked for blueberry lemonade instead.