Armaverse/Chapter 17

==Intro==
The First of The Seven has begun. The offering to the fire must be completed. But what happens after that point? The advancement to the next.
==Description==
As Dylan and I stand in the middle of the towering trees of the giant forest, our minds are racing with thoughts as the giant stag has just raced into the forest.
Sarah: Alright, so we have to get those antlers off the stag, right?
Dylan: Yeah.
Sarah: But, how do we even get it off though?
Dylan: I don't know. We obviously can't just go up to it and ask for them.
Sarah: Definitely not. So, how do we do it? Should we, capture it?
Dylan: Seems like a good idea. But how do we even capture such a beast?
Sarah: Look around. We have to use the environment to our advantage. Maybe we can set up a trap and catch it off guard!
Dylan: Good thinking. Lets look around the forest and see what we can find.
So we begin to wander through the lush forest, looking for anything that can be used to make a trap. The environment around us is beautiful. Tall pine trees as far as I can see, with the sound of running river water faintly playing ambiently in the background. We decide to talk more to pass the time, while still keeping our eyes peeled.
Dylan: Sarah, you okay..?
Sarah: I am. I just, I just can't believe that after all this time, we are finally here, facing the seven trials of mystery or, whatever its called.
Dylan: Seven Trials of Destiny, Sarah.
Sarah: Oh, right.
Dylan: Yeah, I can hardly wrap my head around the sequence of events that just happened. I mean, just a while ago, we were stuck in that hotel, looking for the queen deathmoth. And now all of a sudden, we're, here, in this wonderful realm of mystery and enigma.
Sarah: Yeah. It's not even like we have been transported to another world anymore. It's like we have been transported to a whole new dimension.
Dylan: But at the same time, if you think about it, everything that we encountered so far, it feels like it has all been leading up to this exact moment. 
Sarah: Yeah. To be honest, it feels like everything that happened has been predetermined. Like, the entire sequence of events that happened so far. The meeting of you and me in Level 4, the suspiciously easy defeat of the queen deathmoth, and the easy find of the neon express. It just feels like some godlike being set all of these events in place, pregenerated and guaranteed to happen. Like we were meant to find this seven trials area, and now we are facing the challenges.
Dylan: That's... actually very deep. And now that we are here, it is up to us to prove ourselves worthy of the responsibility that destiny has in store for us.
Sarah: Yeah. This, this feels like a lot of pressure, but I think we can do it.
Dylan: We have come this far, Sarah. And one thing is for sure, we will face each problem together.
Sarah: Yeah.
I stopped myself when I almost caught myself blushing again when Dylan said we would face our problems together. I keep wondering, does he actually consider me a friend? I mean, I don't think I even met him 3 days ago. Our short time we have spent together, he was actually building a bond with me? Also that time when he tried to comfort me when I started having a panic attack after he mentioned that, smiling thing. Does he actually care about me? I try snapping out of it, focusing on our main goal.
After a few minutes of walking, we come across 2 sturdy trees with a long rope lying on the forest ground.
Sarah: Hey, look what I found, Dylan!
Dylan: Perfect! This can probably be used to make the trap. 
Sarah: Yeah. But, now how do we make the trap?
Dylan: Well, you know the stag keeps running through the forest, right?
Sarah: Yeah. Maybe we could tie both ends of the rope to each of the trees, making a barrier. So when the stag runs through, it will get caught!
Dylan: Perfect. Well, lets get to work! The stag could arrive any minute now, so we better hurry.
Sarah: Right.
We both grab an end of the rope, and line it up with the trees.
Sarah: Just long enough, lets tie this quickly.
After a couple seconds, we successfully tie it on the trees. It looks a little crooked, but it seems to be secured. 
Sarah: I hear something.
I can hear the faint sound of the stag running in the distance, and it appears to be getting louder.
Sarah: Quick! It's coming!
We walk a few meters ahead of the trap, looking intensely at the source of the sound. Moments later, the stag bursts through the trees, running at a fast speed.
Sarah: [Whispering] Please work, please work, please work!
After a few seconds, the stag runs into the trap. I close my eyes and look away, thinking it didn't work. I feel Dylan tapping my shoulder urgently.
Dylan: Sarah, Sarah! Look!
So I look, and I'm shocked. The Stag is squirming, it's antlers becomes entangled in the rope. It tries to struggle and fight, but it's no use.
Sarah: We did it!
Dylan: Yeah, we did. And we did it together. 
Sarah: Yeah, we did do it, together. 
Dylan: Yes. Now lets get those antlers, and get what we need to finish the trial.
Sarah: Right.
Approaching the restrained stag cautiously, we work together to loosen the antlers from its head, being mindful not to harm the creature. After a tense and arduous process, we finally manage to free the glowing antlers. I grab it from the ground, quickly noticing the difficulty. Me and Dylan try again once more.
Sarah: Damn, these things are heavy!
Dylan: Yeah, it is. Let's bring these to the flames and make the offering. Then we can finally go to the next trial. One step closer to our destiny.
So we set off through the forest once more, the ethereal glow of the antlers guiding our way. After a couple minutes, we eventually reach the familiar looking flames, their shining lights casting a neon glow, floating away in the sky of nebulae. 
Sarah: Can you believe we are here already? The end of our first trial.
Dylan: Yeah. We reached the flames, and we are holding the antlers. You ready to complete this offering?
Sarah: Yes.
With a sense of determination, we place the antlers in the flame. Immediately, they bind with the flames, glowing vibrantly as the antlers ignite to a heavy inferno collumn, before fading away into spectral dust and float away.
Dylan: Sarah, look!
Dylan is calling to me, so I turn to where he is pointing. A pitch black gravitational tear appears to be manifesting above the flames.
Sarah: What is that?! It's getting bigger! 
Particles of dust and dirt appear to be getting sucked in, with the fire being drawn in as well.
Sarah: It's sucking everything in! We have to get away from it!
I try to start running, but the gravity of the tear gets so strong that it ends up pulling me in.
Sarah: Dylan! Help!
Dylan: Sarah! It's probably just-
He couldn't get the words out in time, before we are fully consumed by the tear. 
Everything then goes black.
Category:Armaverse Canon
Category:Tales