The void pulled me further and further into the abyss. The man had killed man burnt the building down with him. I don't know how many people died and I don't care, i'm still dead and nothing changes that. I watch as the void pulls me closer and closer to it's centre where a red light slowly gets brighter and brighter. Out of everything I believed death was this was not what i had expected.

I guess I expected death was judged by God and you went to heaven or hell. If you went to heaven you were in a paradise, you could relax and do whatever you please as long as it was good and not with ill will. I believed if you went to hell you were tortured in cruel ways and suffered for your crimes and ill judgement and will. So i guessed I believed a lie for the majority of my poor shit life but self pity won't get me anywhere at this stage. I finally reached the centre of the abyss and the light engulfed me into another place.

This place was different. There was soft vibrant green grass was soft, the sky was bright blue without a cloud to be seen and a line of trees gathered toward the east, the ongoing sea stretched out for miles along the North, towards the south was a snowy desert and towards the west was an endless red sea of sand. I stood in the middle of it all on top of a steel hill a few kilometres high. Across from me stood a man with long jet black hair, dark skin, pale green eyes and was dressed in a ruby red shirt with silver pants. "Who are you?!" I yelled. 

"I think you know who I am Ferox cor meum." 

I stared at him. I hadn't heard that name used or even heard of it in a long time.

"Who are you and how the hell do you know me!" 

I tried to hide my shock with anger and aggression but considering the smile he was giving me. I haven't been scared in a long time and now the feeling didn't sit well in my stomach. His grinned only widened it was as if I was shouting every thought that went into my head right at him.

"My name is Sanguis Ignis, I have been watching you Ferox dear since you were born and this is what is left of me."

He held up Ignis.

"What the hell do you mean since I was born Ignis!"

Thoughts were rushing through my head and I was trying to process every single thing that he was telling me.

"I mean is that you think it is only coincidence that you are the only person in all of Filin Iska to be born on fire day the 15th of February? Do you think it is coincidence that your family died in that fire except you? Do you know why you survived that? Well Ferox my girl you survived that because i made it so and I made it so that I put that idea about killing you with the dagger into that dumb mans head. Don't you see girl? I've always been watching you."

My heart stopped and I wasn't sure if I was even breathing even though I was dead. This man, that dagger it has been watching me for all my life and new every little thing about me. It knew when I was weak and when I was strong. He knew my deepest secrets and my greatest lies but even though there was only one thing about me he did not know. My mind. 

"So what? Did you just come here to brag about how successful you were at stalking me when you are nothing more than a dead guy trapped in a dagger. Wow. I am so utterly impressed. You deserve an award honestly you do."

He fixed me with a cold stare which i gladly returned.

"We leave in an hour so I suggest you get the hell ready because you are in for it."

"What do you mean leaving and why am I to follow you?"

I crossed my arms and straightened my posture if only to even seem a little bit threatening so he wouldn't treat me like a stuffed toy.

"I mean you are to start your trials unless you want me to dump you somewhere in the sikme where you can just float around for eternity in complete boredom and slowly turn insane and forget everything."

I faintly shuddered at the thought of my body floating though the black void from which I came from. 

"So suppose I went with you, what would be in it for me?"

He looked me down and replied, "You will be reborn into the world again with Ignis, my blade, beside you forever to protect you."

I rolled my eyes, "Well that wasn't completely cliche."

He gave me a bored look which I suppose all immortals are masters of giving. 

"So are you in or out and choose quickly. I don't like to waste my existence and time on your rude, dis-respectful language and comments."

"Ok. Calm down you old bastered."

His face only scrunched up more and more into a frown. I simply gave him a cruel gin in return.

"I Ferox cor meum, oblige to go with you, immortal bastered, unwillingly to participate in these trials which I will most likely regret doing."

I bowed just to help the insult strike home.

"Why did I have to choose you of all people."

"Now why do you say that Ignis?"

"Because you are bloody dis respectful and you are crueller than the devil himself."

"Likewise."

"Bitch."

"Bastard."

We this time the cold stare was from both of us but we both grinned for different reasons.

"I am going to enjoy your screams."

"Go to hell."

"I've already been there."

"Well do me a favour and stay longer next time."

"No can do as the devil banned me himself."

"why?"

"I had to much fun."

"I doubt that."

"You will be interesting won't you?"

I looked at him and finally ended the conversation.

"What are the trials?"

He looked at me then looked towards the sea.

"Trial one is Deep blue abyss."

I frowned. What a weird name for a trial.

"Well that's original."

"Just remember these trials are meant to push you to your limits and will probably kill you if you are not ready."

"I'm already dead though."

"You are techniqually but you can still bleed and you are still in human form."

"Like that makes complete sense."

"Learn to shut that god's damn mouth girl and follow me, we are going to trial one the sooner the better."

"But it hasn't been an hour."

"Well there is no point in waiting is there? Now pick up you lazy ass and move."

He turned on his heel and walked Northward towards the deep on going blue sea and as if I hadn't learnt anything about letting strange and violent men into my life i followed him like a lost puppy following the first soul he sees.