Asher opened his eyes but saw nothing. He felt as though he were floating in the stuff darkness was made of. He had just begun to second guess if he had actually opened his eyes when he began to notice tiny pinpricks of light in the distance. He couldn't be sure since there was nothing else, he could reference but he felt that those points of light were coming from a very, very long way away.  

                He thought that he was also catching glimpses of colour appearing in the darkness, but they were so faint and elusive, seeming to be actively avoiding his gaze. It all had him doubting his own experience. Asher tried to move to peer around himself, but in a moment of shocked horror he realised that he couldn’t move. Aside from his eyes he couldn’t move, or feel anything. 

                Panic wasn't a strong enough word to describe the feeling that burrowed into every corner of Asher’s mind. As far as he knew, he was a mind alone, separated from his body, separated from the world. He was stuck; his whole world was fear. Hopelessness came looming soon after and battered his weary mind once more. 

                Tracking time proved fruitless, not only was there no sun or moon to guide his guesses but he also felt an odd sense of timelessness. He felt like time had lost its meaning, like each moment either stretched longer than it should or passed by without notice. Overall, it was a horrible, disorienting experience. 

                Second, minutes, or even maybe hours passed while Asher tried desperately to do something, anything. He wanted to move, to turn his head, to try to feel whatever it was that he was floating in. Nothing happened. He clung desperately to the hope that if he could just move even slightly, he would be a step closer to freedom from this nightmare.

                The first change occurred in this void space when a voice seemed to speak directly into Asher’s mind. The voice felt resonant, it felt like it was echoing throughout all of Asher’s experience. The strange voice sounded as if it were made up of several male and female voices speaking in unison, as one. 

“Be at peace.” The chorus of voices echoed. 

                Asher felt his emotions calm just as the voice ordered him to be peaceful. A wave of calm began to flow through his mind, washing out the dread and panic. It took a few moments to notice that his emotions had been influenced, but when he did Asher’s suspicions flared. He was relieved and happy to be rid of the terrible thoughts that had been beating him down, but he was seriously concerned that this voice, whatever it was, could control his emotions.

                “This process will be over soon; you may rest for now. No harm will come to you for as long as you remain in this... place. “

                Asher wanted to speak, he wanted to ask who was speaking, where he was and what in the world was happening to him right now. 

                As if reading his mind, the voice spoke again. “I am a servant. It is my role to watch over those brave individuals who make the transition from Foundation to the world of Verdenn.” The voice paused for a moment before it continued. “This place is not a place, as you would understand such things.”

                Asher’s thoughts slammed to a halt. The voice had just answered two of the three questions he was asking himself, and in the same order he had wondered them. He wondered if the voice could hear him, why had it not responded to the last question? What was happening?

                “Your impatience is recorded. The transition you are currently experiencing is the releasing of your soul from its binds.” The cacophony of voices held no particular emotion that Asher could identify but he could feel a sense of disapproval emulate through his spirit as it spoke.

Asher silently said an apology in his own mind, he thought about how scared he was and hoped that the voice would understand his fear. “Unlocking my soul?” He thought to himself, trusting that the voice could still hear his mind. 

                “The people of Foundation are forbidden the use of their own magic. You are now entering a world free of such restrictions. If you were not granted access to your mana, you would most certainly die. I am waking your dormant soul from its long slumber.”

                Asher felt a sudden pain wrench through him. If he could have felt his body he would have thought that he had been lit aflame. As it was, he thought the pain was likely only in his mind. In some ways that was worse. Asher’s entire world in this moment was limited to the inner walls of his mind; there was nothing external he could use as a distraction or comfort. His entire existence, for that moment, was pain. 

                “What was that?” Asher thought to himself desperately. If he were speaking, he would have had to choke the words out. 

                “Mortal’s empowered by mana also gain access to a unique kind of magical storage, the pain is your soul being forced open to allow for its usage”

                Magic? Asher’s thoughts were only just beginning to catch back up to what was happening again. He could remember opening the door to the Tower, seeing a bright flash of light, and then opening his eyes in this strange place, or non-place as the voice had explained. If he were to believe the voice, he was being assisted in the transition from his home to the world of the Tower. 

                As terrifying as all of this was, as disoriented and confused as Asher felt, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of excitement peeking through. He was being given access to magic. How could he not be excited by the idea of being able to use magic? The pain, as horrible as it had been, would be worth it if he came out of this able to shoot fireballs or fly or whatever magic did. 

                “Is there anything else that you can tell me? Do you know how I can find my brother?” Asher thought he would take the opportunity to fish for any information he could, the voice had already volunteered quite a bit of information so he saw no reason not to.

                “Find your brother?” The voice asked after a few moments of silence. 

                “I came here to rescue him; he was kidnapped by goblins who raided our town.” Asher thought in response to the voice. 

                “You faced goblins in Foundation? The voices asked in their strange chorus. 

                “I’ve never heard the name Foundation, but yes. They came without warning; we weren’t prepared to defend ourselves from an attack coming from inside the Tower. My brother was taken in the attack. When it was done, they left back through the Tower.”

                “This should not be.” The voices spoke. Asher thought he felt a hint of anxiety echo through his body as the voice spoke with him. 

                In a moment of inspiration Asher jumped on the opportunity presented. “If it should not have been, can you help me in my quest to find my brother? He should never have been taken right?” If he was moving into a world of magic and monsters, he would seek out any advantage he could. 

                It was still difficult to gauge time in this not-space but Asher felt that quite a bit of time passed while he waited for a response. He began to wonder if perhaps the voice had left after learning of the Goblin attack, perhaps to report somewhere. 

                “Yes.” The voices eventually agreed. “We will grant you and your companion a boon.”

                “Wait, really?” Asher thought before he could stop himself, he hadn't expected any actual help. At most he thought that if he kept the voice talking, he might be able to get some more information.

                “You and your companion suffered an attack that should not have been. You both entered the Tower to rescue an innocent. Not for your own personal glory. We judge your circumstance unique enough to allow for a boon to be bestowed. When you wake you will find a plain silver ring in your pocket. Do not lose it, this ring will assist you in training your mana, it will provide resistance. Imagine it like running with weights attached to build strength and stamina. This ring will achieve a similar outcome for your magic.”

After that, the voice did not speak again. Regardless of how begged or demanded, silence remained. Eventually, Asher was unsure how much time later, he felt his consciousness begin to fade. His mind became more and more lethargic and slow until, eventually, he was gone.