Approach it Isolde.
Ask it what it is.
well hi
Slowly. This is a test of some sort, you know.
Isolde takes a cautious step forward towards the figure. As if in response the figure raises its arm revealing a hand that looks like the wireframe model of a hand, the shape outlined by sharp, black lines, but in-between there is nothing, save for empty space.
The figure slowly points a single finger directly at her face. Then, almost painfully slowly, it brings the same hand over where its heart would be and makes a fist. Taking the cue that she is supposed to imitate it she puts her hand over her heart and then looked down at it. There seemed to be a bright light shining out in all directions from inside her hand, making her skin almost see-through and sending shafts of light out of every crack. She holds her hand out and opens it releasing the light which obscures everything for a moment, then coalesces into a large rod hovering over her hand. The light shatters and falls apart revealing a broadsword with an ornate basket-hilt. It falls down and Isolde grabs the hilt reflexively and brings it up in front of her. The blade is smooth, bright, and silver, the edge is so sharp it appears to disappear into the air as it approaches it. The basket covering the hilt is perforated with images of leaves and vines surrounding a dragon which lies on the length on of the basket.
She looks up to see that the figure possesses a copy of the blade, which like its hand is only the outline with no solid matter between the lines. The raven on the figures shoulder gives and echoing caw and flies off. Without warning the figure flies forward and slashes at her. Isolde quickly brings her blade into the other’s path and shoves it away, sending the figure flying backwards. It spins around and with a wave of its hand sends the ground flying forward, rising up like a wave to crash over her. Instinctively she raises the blade so that it is perpendicular to the ground.
FORCE OF MIND
The wave splits before her as if it is crashing into the front of a ship. Then with a twirl of the blade it parts as before Moses revealing a clear path to the figure which charges down the path and the two clash blades again. Isolde shoves the first slash, aimed at her stomach away and stabs forward. The figure twists out of the way and flips into the air coming down on her from above. She rolls forward hitting the ground and flips herself over to see the figure coming down on top of her, robes flapping out and blade raised. The blade flies down and Isolde’s flies up to meet it, glowing with power.
There is a moment of silence.
Then the figure’s blade shatters and the figure itself flies backwards and plows into the ground with a loud crash, and all is once again silent.
The figure rises again and nods its head. Suddenly the air around Isolde begins to fall apart, breaking into runes which return to the walls and ceiling.
…
…
…
Everything was the same again; save for one thing, the blade was still there in her hand. And there was something else, something undefined and different about everything now, like everything was in clearer focus, only not. She looked at the blade for a few moments, then heard a creak as the second door in the room opened slowly.