Completing the Harrowing

" Well you dealt with him in an.. interesting way. " Mouse whispers to you as you leave Valor.

" Men are all the same, everywhere you go. Even in the fade it seems. " You chuckle to yourself before being interrupted by Mouse.

" Watch out ! Wolves ! " You see a trio of spectral wolves charging at you and think to yourself that this is the perfect time to use your new weapon. You deal with the spectral pack without breaking a sweat as if some wolves could be challenge. " You see this demon ? I am coming for you ! " You yell out into the fade.

" I don't think you should be yelling that out. " You hear him say in an ominous tone but who cares. Who can really stop you at this point ?

As you continue your travels in the fade, you come across another spirit. This time it has an image of a large bear and as you walk up to it, it does not seem to really care for your presence. It tells you that it's name is sloth and when you ask for his help, he answers that he might help your companion mouse change into other animals to help you fight, but only if you solve his riddles. Not being scared of anything, you happily accept his challenge. Three questions, three answers. On your first try you answer every single one correctly and even through his laziness, Sloth does give Mouse the ability to change. Now, he can turn into a powerful bear.

" Woah, look at that ! I would say we are more than ready to fight the demon, wouldn't you say ? "

You smile at your new found friend and then clench your fist. " That we are. Let's finish this. "

You turn around to go back towards the big circle where the demon should reside. Along the way you meet more unfriendly creatures, wolves and wisps, but they are even less of a problem now with a big bear on your side. As you get closer to the circle, the outside of it now lit on fire, you can already hear the threats and cackles of something that is more than eager to kill you. Stepping inside of the circle area, for the first time you can lay your eyes on the rage demon, it's body covered in lava. This might be one of the toughest fights of your life. And what makes this worse, you can't slut your way out of this one. So with conviction you grab your staff and attack the demon.

Your freeze magic helps with stopping him in place while your bear companion charges at him. There are also additional wisps that appear to help the demon so you quickly dispose of them. The fire is intense, it almost feels like this part of the fade is the demon's own little playground where he controls everything inside. No matter. You came to complete the trial and that is just what you are going to do.

Seeing your friend take a decent amount of damage, you heal him up with your magic, instantaneously closing all wounds on his body. The demon, filled with even more rage strikes with more **** and anger. But you continue to throw everything you know at him, every hurtful spell and all other abilities you have when finally, the demon succumbs to your attacks and fades back into the ground. Mouse turns back to him human form and turns to face you with a smile.

" You did it ! You defeated the demon ! "

" I could not have done it without you. You helped me a lot. Will you be okay in here ? "

" I... I don't have any recollection of life from before. But maybe, if you would really want to help me, maybe I could go with you. "

" With me ? " You ask, acting stupid as if you don't understand but his words are only confirming your suspicions.

" Well, if you were to let me in, I could come with you. "

" Hmm. You know, what if the other demon wasn't my test ? What if there is something more cunning and preying waiting for me ? "

" What ? That is absurd. What else could possibly be of harm to you here ? " After that question he hangs his head low with a sigh. " You are a smart one. Who would have thought. " His voice changes, it is the deepest voice you have ever heard. " Fighting and killing is a job of warriors but the real dangers of fade are careless trust, hidden lies and... pride. " His appearance stretches and elongates, where stood an image of a man in front of you was now a giant form of a demon, towering over you. " Keep your wits about you mage. True tests never end. "

His words echo in not just your mind but it seems like in the whole fade. He disappears as you try to find some foothold. Your vision goes black and you only hope that ratting the demon was enough to scare him off.