10th of Winter, 513AV
The sky outside Savio’s bedroom window was still dark with a few stars that had not yet faded as Dawn slowly approached the sleeping world. The Iron Fist School was completely silent except for the soft snores of a few of the residents, except for one. Savio had been awake for nearly a bell and had been busy getting everything ready for his nine day stay at the Hollow of Odraz. He tried not to think too much on it for fear that he would convince himself not to go but he needed to go. He needed to remind himself that he could do something worthwhile and he was not as weak as he had been believing since the Summer season.
He surveyed his handy work, checking and double checking his supplies. Dried rations for nine days, two large water sacks, and simple toiletries. He was most likely going to run out of water before it was over, but at most he would only be going two days without water. He was also packing an empty container for certain bodily functions, but it could still prove to be an issue as the days progressed. I will worry about that when I get there then. Savio thought to himself as he packed his things in his bag and set it aside.
Savio was still incredibly nervous. He had very little information to go on about the Hollow but he was willing to take a chance. From what he had gathered, the Hollow allowed the person within to see inside their own mind but how per say was unclear. Perhaps that was for the best. The young man sighed and looked out his window. At sunrise he was going to go.
Four Bells Later…
The backpack weighed heavy upon his back as he walked out of the front gate of the Iron Fist School. It helped distract him from the damp chill the morning air held as he made his way leisurely towards the Celestial Quarter. He wanted to savor the sunlight and the fresh air while he could since he was planning on locking himself away for nine whole days.
Some thoughts started to creep into his mind despite if he wanted them to or not. Did Ximal feel this way before he too went to the Aperture? It was possible. The man and his thoughts had always been a mystery to Savio but that was just how Ximal was. The petcher probably had no doubt in his mind when it came to his safety because of his skills and strength. But in the end, he was just a man. A great man by Savio’s opinion, but still just a man.
Having been so caught up in his own musings, he hadn’t even realized that he had crossed into the Celestial Quarter until he was passing the Safe Haven Hostel. He paused for a moment and looked up to the window he knew was Ireth’s. A small smile formed on his lips as he imagined her all curled up in her warm bed with her hair unbound and wild. Missing her was most likely going to be the hardest part of the Challenge for Savio. He would make it up to her when he returned.
With a longing sigh he turned his attention back to the task at hand and resumed his walking. He saw a few of the monks he had made acquaintances with since working as a Courier as he made his way towards the Hollow. Some of them gave him curious glances while others seemed to know where he was headed and simply nodded in greeting. The discretion was appreciated since Savio’s will was already wavering. He wasn’t looking forward to going back into the Aperture, even if it wasn’t completely inside.
In a few chimes, he finally reached the wrought iron ladder the led down into the darkness of the Aperture. Savio gulped nervously as he knelt down and mounted the first step. He tried not to think of the frightening things that could be lurking down there but it was still there in the back of his mind as he carefully made his way down, down, down into the darkness below. The day was still quite early so Syna’s light did not reach down nearly far enough for Savio to truly see so he had to depend on what he touched to determine his location.
Savio soon reached the end of the ladder and eased himself down onto an unseen ledge. His eyes were completely closed since they were pretty much useless in the complete darkness. He used his hand to feel along the side of the stony face of the Aperture until he could feel the texture of carefully chiseled runes and the outline of a circular doorway. He had finally made it.
He smiled a little to himself as he carefully pushed the door open and entered, finding himself in a very small chamber. He had to keep himself crouched so not to hit his head against the low ceiling as he crept his way down the sloped flooring until he reached the back wall, only pausing to reach back to close the door behind him but he only had to touch the disk for it to seal off the outside world on its own.
Savio was then completely engulfed in darkness and deafening silence. The only sounds he could hear was that of his own breathing and movements. It was completely unnerving but it wasn’t too much that Savio couldn’t handle it. The young man carefully slipped off his backpack and sat down with his back against the wall with his legs crossed in the position he had seen Ximal take several times when he had caught the man meditating on the roof of the school.
It didn’t take long for Savio to get as comfortable as he could in such an environment. He did his best to focus on what he could sense; the cold, hard floor beneath him, the sounds of his breathing and heart beating, and even the faint taste of the simple breakfast he ate before leaving the school. These things were real to him in this empty place and he hoped that they would serve to ground him should he start to lose his nerve. It was like that he waited…
