The Transformation of Okkin Eldraz

Okkin lies on the cold rusted table in the depths of the Eldraz Palace. His head, arms, and legs are strapped down. Even though his anxiety rises, he does everything he can to remain calm. Zorick has discussed the procedure with him many times. Okkin knows what to expect, he just isn’t completely convinced he will survive.

Zorick stands beside him, one hand rubbing the scruff on his face. Okkin can see his father is uneasy at his decision, however, Zorick is too stubborn to back out now. Grotti walks around the table getting everything ready. Her assistant, Millin, helps her do anything she requires of him. Three large jars sit on the table beside Zorick, each full of blood. Zorick examines each one of them.

“Are these all fresh?” Zorick asks aloud.

“Yes. They were siphoned from the giants earlier today. We have run out in past weeks so it was lucky you found more… donors,” Grotti says as she turns to continue setting up the equipment around her. One machine looks as though a pump is inside of it with a lever sticking out. This connects to two large tubes. She then grabs a needle connected to a tube and examines it for a moment as though she is reconsidering.

“Is there a problem?”

Grotti slowly looks up, seeming tense. “Are you sure you want us to try this? It has yet to work.”

“You have told me that you have seen the power flow inside your subjects. The experiment works, the subjects are just not fit to hold the power.”

“Lord Zorick, none of them lasted longer than a couple minutes. Your son here is a formidable assist in our current war. I am just uncertain that attempting this on him would be… beneficial.”

“That is why I am the one making decisions and you merely follow them. My son is a god who knows no bounds. Nothing, not even this, could break him. Death is not an option for us. If there is anyone in Mallencia that can withstand this, it is Okkin. Now do it…”

Grotti is hesitant to obey, but nods her head. She quickly moves over to the large pump and grabs one of the large tubes. She connects the long tube connected to a needle to one of the large tubes going into the machine.

“Millin, connect the fire blood now,” Grotti commands. Millin quickly runs over and puts the other large tube in one of the jars full of blood. Grotti walks to Okkin and places her hand on his head.

“Good luck, my friend,” she says then Okkin hears her utter under her breath, “Let’s see if the tales are true.” She then takes the needle and carefully connects it inside Okkin’s vein in his arm. Okkin feels a pinch and winces for a moment. Grotti looks over to Millin who stands next to the machine waiting for orders. Grotti nods her head, giving him the signal to begin.

Millin brings the lever up and down which pumps the machine, causing the reaction to begin. Zorick watches, his face a blend of both anticipation and distress. The blood from the jar begins to flow inside the machine and then is met by Okkin’s blood coming from the other tube. The two sets of blood enter the contraption as Millin continues to pump. It does not take long before Okkin begins to feel cold and light-headed. He groans in pain. Once the blood is about to completely fill the inside of the contraption, Grotti holds up a hand for Millin to stop. Millin obeys and stops pumping the lever, then walks over to the tube in the jar of blood and takes it out so no more blood will enter the machine. Grotti takes control of the lever, pulls a few compartments along the side of the machine, and pumps the lever again. This time the blood begins to flow inside Okkin.

Okkin feels an initial impact of the mixed blood entering his body. At first, it feels slightly itchy and irritable. Slowly, as it flows through his veins, the blood feels warmer than normal. Something about the blood feels abnormal to him. Something is wrong. His veins do not stop increasing in heat. The itchiness goes from just at the spot of impact to all over his body. Within seconds, an intense burning sensation overcomes Okkin. Okkin breathes heavily and tries to free himself from the straps holding him securely to the table. He shakes violently, doing what he can to get free and try to subdue the pain. He lets out a scream of pain that echoes throughout the room.

“Almost there!” Grotti yells as she continues to pump. She looks up at the blood that is almost half gone.

Then suddenly, Okkin’s right arm breaks out of the strap. Continuously yelling, Okkin tries to escape. He grabs at the restraint on his left arm to free himself.

“Subdue him now!” Grotti yells. Zorick runs over and grabs Okkin’s large arm.

“Don’t break!” Zorick says to him as he pins down his arm. Okkin continues to yell and scream and he feels as though he is burning alive. The blood inside of him is reacting like nothing he has ever felt before. Millin runs over to Okkin’s other side to make sure his other arm stays down. But just as Millin gets there, Okkin’s left arm breaks free. The machine reaches the halfway marker. Grotti stops the pumping and turns back to Okkin.

Okkin continues to yell and will do anything to escape. Millin tries to grab his arm but he is not strong enough or quick enough. Okkin uses his left hand and grabs Millin by the head. With his large palm holding Millin’s face he begins to squeeze.

“AHHH!!!” Millin yells in pain.

“Okkin, let go!” Zorick tries to make him release his grip.

Okkin ignores the command as he continues clutching tighter and tighter. Millin’s face begins to smoke and his skin begins to boil up. The blood-curdling yell of pain echoes through the room just before the inevitable happens. Okkin continues to crush and burn Millin’s head to the point of no return. As the pain levels of Okkin peak, his hand applies just enough force for the right amount of time. Millin’s head bursts open, causing blood to shoot out all around and onto everyone.

Okkin suddenly awakes from his deep sleep. He is in his chambers having another nightmare. He quickly sits up and looks down at his hands. He wipes his face to see if there is any blood still on him. Nothing. Okkin lies back down in relief. Tonight is just another night of the constant terrors he has to live with. Every time he goes to sleep he relives one of his many horror stories. Okkin now knows that for the rest of the night, he will be unable to sleep.

Lying in the darkness of his room, he contemplates his past mistakes. He knows the pain will never end until Mallencia is successfully purified. Okkin cannot wait for that day to come. In the meantime, he wonders if he will ever experience a blissful night of sleep. He prays his night terrors will eventually go away, however, he doubts they ever will.