Anubis talked deeply with the leader of the enigmatic night creatures in the dimly lit cavern. The deep, rumbling voice of the beast reverberated across the room, evoking old wisdom and unspoken realities.
In an inquisitive and predictable tone, the creature questioned, "Have you learned any magical abilities?"
Anubis gave a headshake. He answered, "No, I haven't," with a hint of annoyance.
"It's not surprising at all," the creature mused. "Luminaries cannot teach you our ways."
Anubis became curious. "What do you mean?"
"Is meditation not the first step towards awakening?" the creature inquired.
"Yes," Anubis said, recalling what he had learned at the palace.
The creature said, "For us, who have no inherent light, the process is different."
Curious, Anubis leaned in closer. "But I sense light within you – a red light of wrath," he said.
At Anubis's remarks, the creature's eyes burned a deeper red.
"You see a terrifying side to me, great god. But know this: my light is not the same as your soldiers' light; your light is reflected and pushed away from you.
But ours is fundamentally distinct from theirs."
Anubis paid close attention, taking in everything the creature said. "How is it different?"
"Our light does not reflect our personalities. Instead, it visualizes our hunger and our pain in this world. It draws you in rather than pushing you out. It's a manifestation of our very existence, our struggles and our destiny."
The tension in the air grew as these comments reverberated throughout the cavern. These words struck a deep chord with Anubis, a comprehension bridging the chasm between his voidic nature and the beings before him. This discussion revealed more about the more profound, more intricate nature of the void and its related beings than just what was learned.
"Slumber again, youthful god," the night creature pleaded, resonating through the vast obscurity.
"In your dreams, I shall meet you in Elysium, should you permit my presence there."
Anubis questioned, perplexed, "Elysium? What is that?"
The monster said, "It is a frozen realm within your dreams."
"A place where our powers are awakened through trials set by destiny itself."
Anubis said, "I allow you," feeling astonished by this mysterious notion.
Anubis is given a particular herb to drink by the beast.
As Anubis succumbed to slumber, his consciousness drifted into the realm of Elysium within his dream. For the first time, his world was not shrouded in darkness. He found himself in an environment vibrant with color and detail, a stark contrast to his waking life.
Two imposing walls made of ice bricks, shining in the full moonlight, loomed before and behind him. The snow-covered ground was awash in dancing reflections created by the ice's beautiful, gentle radiance. The minute patterns of frost that spiderwebbed across each brick's finely detailed surface created a captivating mosaic of natural craftsmanship.
The enormous, bright moon overhead covered the two walls in a silvery sheen. The ice gleamed with its light, casting an ethereal and peaceful ambiance. Deep, velvety blue, the sky was peppered with stars that shone like far-off, sparkling jewels.
With every breath Anubis took, a tiny vapor cloud appeared before him. The air was chilly and crisp. Despite the cold, there was a refreshing quietness and a reassuring serenity.
The night creature appeared behind him abruptly, its voice piercing the stillness.
It questioned in a tone that suggested a sense of mutual amazement, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Anubis turned to see the monster with his newly developed vision. Its commanding presence and the minute nuances of its form that he could only see previously astounded him.
They stood silently for a minute, taking in the chilly surroundings of Elysium, which allowed Anubis to see in a manner that he had never been able to in the actual world.
Between the two imposing walls of ice that marked Elysium, which was both dreamy and eerily accurate, stood Anubis and the creature. Despite the beast's intimidating presence, they both felt in awe of the natural beauty around them.
"This is a maze," the creature said solemnly. "If we take the wrong turn, we'll be lost in the blizzards of this world."
Still in awe of his newly discovered eyesight, Anubis answered, "But this is just a dream."
The creature shook its head with a grave tone in its deep voice.
"Don't let the way we got here deceive you. This location is real, just like the actual world, and what we choose here has an impact. We can turn left or right.
I'll scout ahead; you must go the other way if I don't return."
Anubis closed his eyes and used his other senses to sense the thing as it was about to depart. The air seemed to offer advice, and the walls seemed to murmur secrets.
"Wait," he commanded the beast. "It's this way."
The monster retreated, showing signs of astonishment on its face. It questioned, "How can you tell?"
Anubis opened his eyes, speaking in a voice full of confidence.
"I feel it in the air, the way the wind speaks. I can also hear a call meant for me, guiding me."
The young prince and the beast became closer in that instant, mutual respect and trust growing as they were ready to explore the freezing maze of Elysium together, led by Anubis's unique ability to sense everything around him.
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