1st of Summer, 514 AV
Fear; that was a prominent emotion that Anna was feeling as she came to the ravine that led into the Heartlands. She stood frozen as she stared down the foreboding, swallowing hard as she felt cold sweat that had been gathering the entire way here perspiring across her body. The last time she had entered into this place she had learned what true desolate horror was, alone with only her faith and determination to allow her to survive. She had succeeded in becoming Kierra Doma’s initiate, killing her previous one whom she remembered with an unconscious rubbing of her right hand at her throat.
Anna had dressed rather commonly today for the journey, simple attire consisting of a tunic, trousers and sandals with a pack slung over her shoulders. She looked much like how she had when she had first arrived on Sahova itself, though a little more slimmed out for her experiences on the island. Dark circles ringed her eyes, she had not gotten any sleep last night between having encountered that Yukman and anticipating coming here. She had left early but the journey had caused Syna to dip low and angry red in the sky. Almost a day’s travel from the Citadel without assistance.
With a weighty sigh the tall woman managed to put one foot in front of the other, followed by the other being put in front of that as she started down the path. Her heartbeat drummed in her skull as she walked, each step seeming to take chimes to complete. A single day in the Heartlands had been enough to fray her already fragile sanity, who could say how much more she would remain Annalisa Marin for her time here. The dark haired woman needed to be here however, she needed to be made the initiate of this place proper. If she claimed that then she was a link to one of the most mysterious places on Sahova.
It was not long until Anna could feel the sticky silk strands of the spiders that stalked this path clinging to the bottom of her sandals, making her steps more labored and difficult. A thrill of icy fear jolted through her as she heard their foul clacking, the creatures not doubt communicating. This time Anna found her path clear and unimpeded, no spiders approached her which was a relief for her. They were not something she wanted to deal with once more, considering what else was hanging over her head.
As the path started to clear Anna could feel drained, like her power was being sapped away by the very land around her. It got to the point where she needed to stop in place, her hand on her knees as she panted loudly. The Heartlands seemed like it was feeding on her abilities, Anna knew that drawing res would be a futile act in this place. It weakened her, though soon enough the sorceress could find the strength to stumble forward and then her walking pace was soon returned to her.
The red light above was already starting to filter through and it was then that Anna realized there was no turning back, the eerie mist seeming to make time move at a different pace. The sorceress swallowed hard again, the lush wilderness of the Heartlands visible up ahead. Her goal at the moment was to find Kierra Doma, the Warden was likely waiting somewhere up ahead. She would just need to follow the correct paths. She also made a note to avoid the patches of mist as well as she was able, her last experiences had not been overly pleasant.