On a high lonely bridge across a vibrant city, Thal a man of normal stature, looks to the murky waters below that reflect everything, from the city, the bridge, and even the polluted night sky. If anyone were to look at him they would describe him as nothing more than an average-looking man wearing a cheap black tank top with sweatpants, with the only thing unique or special about him was that he looked sad, almost like a poet thinking of a long-lost love. 

Today was a special day for Thal; as today would be his last.

"Note, check. Empty account, check. Phone, check. That should be everything, as long as I don't inconvenience people too much, I don't think anyone will truly mind that I'm gone at least not in any meaningful way. I hope Marth will forgive me for being a weak and pathetic brother; one that couldn't even last to the bitter end."

Getting up on top of the bridge railing Thal looked around.

"Strange, no cars or people walking. I guess I really did pick a good day to end it all."

Staring at the city reflected in the water and the empty bridge, Thal felt the same feeling that he'd been feeling for the past few years, that he was utterly alone. A small part of him wanted someone to notice or care; maybe a random stranger would talk him down, maybe his parents would notice him in distress, but in the end, he knew it would end up like this. Alone on a bridge, with no one around but his meaningless thoughts.

"Maybe if I was born different. Maybe if I had good parents. Maybe if the world wasn't against me from birth. Maybe if I tried harder. Maybe if I had one good friend. Maybe if I had one more chance at life. Maybe… Maybe… Maybe."

With tears falling off of his eyes Thal looked at the far-away water and contemplated his decision one last time. Shouting with everything he had as if it were his last time.

"Damn it! I thought this was going to be easy. Why am I crying so much? After all I've been through, after all the things I've done! Why do I feel so lonely? Why couldn't I have been born in a world that wanted me to live?! WHY! WHY! WHY!!!!"

Taking the final step, Thal went headfirst into the murky waters. While falling all he could think of was how much he had suffered from the world and people around him, whether that be his parents not taking interest in his life, the girlfriend that broke his heart, his work that always went under-appreciated, or even the friends that betrayed his trust. The only regret was not taking more time to spend with his brother Marth, that was the only person who seemed to care, the only person that mattered.

As soon as he was about to hit the water, Thal thought one last thing, 'Why?' and closed his eyes. Expecting his life to end with a sudden pain. Though it didn't come. When he opened his eyes all he saw was the water barely touching his face.

"What, why? What's happening?"

Struggling Thal tried to move, but it felt as though he lost control of his body as if he was tied to the point where he couldn't move a muscle. Struggling, Thal concentrated on the murky water and quickly became frightened.

'What, why can't I see myself in the water? Where am I? What's happening?! Is this some kind of joke? Am I tied to a piece of robe? Why can't I move?!

Suddenly a bright flash of light enveloped his eyes. Struggling with the sudden flash Thal quickly closed his eyes, but then a sound of thunder so loud rang through his now bleeding ears. But then the worst feeling Thal had ever felt happened, it was as though his body was being stretched from head to toe yet also being twisted like a wet towel. The pain was so excruciating that Thal wanted nothing more than to cry and scream from the pain it brought. Then suddenly it all stopped.

Then he felt himself drifting into a deep sleep, one of peace where all the pain stopped. The reeling from the sound, the light, and the excruciating pain, was finally coming to an end. He was finally at peace, with his life, his decisions, and most importantly for it all to be over.

It was that way for a long, long time but gradually there came a sound into existence. The only possible way for Thal to explain the sound was that it sounded like someone scratching their fingernails on a chalkboard, over and over, never seeming to end. But something truly bizarre happened, Thal could feel. He felt the wet floor, the gentle breeze on his face, and even the smell of metal, but all he could see was pure white as if his eyes were covered with a cloth made of light. Even in all that he was experiencing, most importantly he started to feel a headache so strong that it was like he was experiencing death all over again.

'Why do I hear that sound? It feels like my head is about to explode! After everything. Everything. Why can't I just be done with it all?!'

"Please Stop! I just want to be done with it all!" Thal yelled

Suddenly the scratching stopped, and the room became dark. Then Thal heard but a single sound, as if a whisper of an old woman, so old in fact that it sounded like they were on the cusp of death.

"You. I was expecting you."

"What is happening and where are you?!" Thal yelled

"Questions, Questions questions… Is that all you ever think?"

"What the hell, what's happening? Didn't I die?"

"Hahahaha" the weird old voice laughed as if it were gargling water. "Some say you did, and some say you didn't. You're the only one who decides at the end isn't that right?"

"What? I don't understand!"

The voice starts to grow more distant with a final remark while the sound of rushing water fills Thal's ears "All will be clear with time young one, hahahahaha…"

Suddenly Thal starts to feel a suffocating pressure, and while trying to breathe, he feels like water is rushing in from every possible way. Thal not knowing what to do starts to kick and scream for dear life. Then suddenly a strong hand grabs Thal's shoulder and pushes him up. Thal not knowing what is happening looks at the stranger who pulled him up. Coughing and sputtering, Thal looked up at his savior, a man in his early thirties with short, light brown hair and a hardened, weathered appearance. Looking around Thal noticed that he was now in a small rowboat in the middle of a small tranquil lake.

"Now how did you end up here lad? I didn't even see you jump into the lake and yet you're kicking and screaming as if you're about to lose your life. I know the seaweed can be a bit troublesome, but a lad like you shouldn't have a problem with that." the man said with an amused grin

"Where am I? I mean what city am I in right now?"

"Now that's a strange question, it's rare to see strangers, but I've never met one that didn't know where they were before. You're in Westwind, west of the Divine Capital."

'Westwind? Is that further south from the bridge I jumped from? WAIT Divine Capital?'

"I'm sorry, maybe I hit my head or didn't hear you right. Did you say Divine Capital? And where is Westwind I've never heard of it?"

"Selcate bless me. I think you might've suffered more than just a head injury if you don't know how you ended up here. I assume you're from the Capital because of your black hair, tattoos, and weird clothing. Us farmers wouldn't be caught dead wearing something that comical for work. Hahahaha!"

"What are you talking about? Divine Capital, Westwind, and I don't even have a tattoo?"

"Okay, now I know you're messin' with me lad. I mean for Selcate's grace look at your arm."

'My arm? What's that supposed to mean? Wait-what?! I never got a tattoo. And why does my skin look tanned, thinner, and… less hairy? What's going on?'

The tattoo on Thal's arm was a long line that began at a circle on his wrist and climbed up the back of his arm, reaching his shoulder where it formed a semi-circle. The most captivating aspect of the tattoo was not the bracelet-like circle at the start, but the line itself that ran the length of his arm. Every few inches, the texture of the line would shift, changing from the circle at his wrist to a square, then a triangle, followed by a zigzag, a wave, and finally becoming a plain line until it reached his shoulder, where it formed the semi-circle. It was nothing short of intriguing.