Our bored gamer stayed there for a couple of decades. Over the years, he watched Emily grow from a bright-eyed child into a strong, determined woman.
He was there when she met her partner, and he was there when she had her first child. Each milestone brought him a mixture of joy and sorrow, knowing that his time with her was drawing to a close.
He decided to leave when she was at the peak of her life, a decision that weighed heavily on his heart. He knew that what would follow was going to be ugly.
The laws of this world were harsh for mortals and their kin, and he had seen too much to be optimistic.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape, Emily approached him. Her eyes, once full of wonder, now held a wisdom beyond her years.
"I'm not going to see you again, right, Father?" Emily asked, her voice trembling with the fear of the answer she dreaded.
