King of Purgatory - Chapter 1

I woke up in a desolate wasteland, with no memories or idea of who I was. All around me was a vast valley of red sand, stretching as far as my eyes could see. I was completely alone, with no signs of civilization or any living beings.

I stood up, feeling a little disoriented and dizzy. I tried to remember anything about my past or my identity, but my mind was blank. I felt like a newborn baby, discovering the world for the first time.

I started wandering aimlessly, hoping to find some clues or signs of life. I walked for hours, but the landscape remained the same – barren and lifeless.

As I was about to give up hope, I heard a strange voice in the distance. It was faint at first, but it grew louder and clearer as I approached it. The voice sounded like a woman’s, with a soothing and melodic tone.

I kept walking towards the voice, my heart beating faster with every step. Finally, I saw a figure appearing in the horizon, slowly getting closer. It was a woman, with long silver hair and a serene expression on her face.

“Hello there,” she said as she approached me. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

I was taken aback by her sudden appearance and her words. “Who are you? What’s going on?” I asked, feeling both confused and curious.

“My name is Sultana,” she said with a smile. “And you’re in a very special place.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling more perplexed than ever.

Sultana didn’t answer my question. Instead, she told me to get into a boat. I looked around, but there was no body of water in sight.

“Trust me,” she said. “Just close your eyes.”

I hesitated for a moment, but then I did as she said. When I opened my eyes, the scenery had changed completely. Instead of a barren wasteland, I saw a lake of fire, with flames and smoke rising from its surface.

I gasped in shock and horror. “What is this? Where am I?” I asked, feeling a sense of dread creeping over me.

“You’re where you’re supposed to be,” Sultana said cryptically. “Now, get in the boat.”

I felt a strange feeling in my gut, a mix of fear and fascination. I didn’t know what was happening, but I felt compelled to follow Sultana’s lead. I got into the boat, and she started rowing.

As we moved across the fiery lake, I tried to ask Sultana more questions, but she remained silent. I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings, but everything seemed surreal and otherworldly.

Finally, we reached the shore, and Sultana helped me out of the boat. I looked back at the lake, feeling a sense of relief that I had escaped its fiery grasp.

“Welcome to the next chapter of your life,” Sultana said with a smile. “Are you ready?”

As Sultana helped me out of the boat, my legs felt shaky and weak. I looked around, trying to get my bearings, but the scenery was just as strange as before. We seemed to be in a desolate wasteland again, but there were some differences – the sky was blood-red, the ground was cracked and burnt, and there were strange rocks and boulders scattered around.

“Where are we?” I asked Sultana, feeling a mix of fear and curiosity.

“We’re in a special place,” she replied cryptically. “A place that only a select few are allowed to enter.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, feeling more confused than ever.

Sultana smiled enigmatically. “It means that you have been chosen for a special purpose. A purpose that will reveal itself to you in due time.”

I frowned, not understanding what she was talking about. “Chosen? By whom? For what purpose?”

Sultana shook her head. “I’m not at liberty to say. All I can tell you is that you are here for a reason. And that reason will become clear to you when the time is right.”

I sighed, feeling frustrated by her evasive answers. “Can’t you give me any more information? I don’t even know my own name or how I ended up here.”

Sultana looked at me with sympathy. “I know it’s hard, but you have to trust me. All your questions will be answered in time. For now, let’s focus on our journey.”

“What journey?” I asked, feeling more bewildered than ever.

Sultana gestured to the horizon, where I saw a mountain range in the distance. “We’re headed there,” she said. “To the Temple of the Ancients.”

“The Temple of the Ancients?” I repeated, feeling a sense of foreboding. “What’s that?”

“It’s a sacred place,” Sultana said. “A place of great power and knowledge. And it’s where you need to go to fulfill your destiny.”

“My destiny?” I asked incredulously. “What destiny? I don’t even know who I am!”

Sultana placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You will know. Trust me. Your destiny is intertwined with the fate of this world. And it’s up to you to decide whether to embrace it or reject it.”

I looked at her, feeling a sense of unease. “What if I don’t want to go to this temple or fulfill this destiny? What if I just want to go back to my old life, if I had one?”

Sultana’s expression became serious. “That’s not an option. Once you have been chosen, there’s no turning back. You have to face your destiny, no matter how difficult or dangerous it may be.”

I sighed, feeling a sense of resignation. “Okay. I’ll go with you. But can you at least tell me something about myself? Anything?”

Sultana looked at me with compassion. “I understand your frustration. But I can’t tell you anything about your past. That’s something you have to discover for yourself. All I can tell you is that you have a strong spirit and a brave heart. And that’s what will guide you on your journey.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of apprehension and determination. “Okay. Let’s go to this temple. But can we at least take a break or something? I feel like I’ve been walking for days.”

Sultana smiled. “Of course. We’ll rest for a while, and I’ll teach you some things that will help you on your journey.”

“Like what?” I asked, feeling curious.

We eventually walked for what seemed for forever until Sultana got bored and said “Screw it I’ll just take a shortcut”. She started grabbing at the air until eventually grabbed onto a tear in space. She beckoned me to go through.