Kindness to All

Deluge disappeared from sight as his eyes turned to stone as well. Arthur felt no pain, only a cold chill spreading through his entire body. He began wondering how much time had passed, but he could never tell. 

He could not understand what was happening, but he knew it was a challenge to escape this place. His wrath flared, but it was like throwing cotton candy into a river—disappearing without a trace. 

Then, Arthur saw a light in the darkness. He advanced toward the light until he found a door. The door led him to a pavilion of sorts, where dew fell from a tree, causing ripples in a pond. 

"Who is there?" asked Arthur as he walked inside. The door closed behind him. A man stood beneath the tree, watching the ripples in the water. His frame was tall and muscular, but he wore simple clothes. "Who are you?" Arthur asked.