As they approached the lands of Ithoria, each of them was lost in their thoughts, contemplating their lives and the choices that led them here. The landscape around them was desolate yet hauntingly beautiful, a fitting backdrop for their introspection. The air was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the soft rustle of the wind.
The young boy wondered what his life might have been like if he had chosen a different path. What would be the life that he will lead-a life with friends, family? or was he destined for this same end? The uncertainty weighed heavily on him, leading him to reflect on his decisions and their consequences.The young boy, his heart heavy with unspoken questions. The uncertainty gnawed at him, leading him to ponder the nature of fate and his role in shaping his destiny. His youthful optimism clashed with the harsh reality of his situation, creating a turbulent storm of emotions within him. He started pondering about the life he had left behind, questioning if he had made the right decisions.
The old man stood with a mixture of pride and sorrow. His face etched with the lines of countless battles. His hands trembled slightly, his eyes scanning the vast unknown before him. His courage had saved many, yet at the brink of death, he couldn't help but wish for someone to save him. His sacrifice, while noble, left him questioning whether it was worth the cost of his own life. The memories of those he had saved flashed before his eyes, and he grappled with the realization.
Looking at the beauty of the world of the world with a smile of acceptance he murmured.
"I wished i was saved."
Even heroes need saving sometimes.
His reflections revealed the vulnerability that lay beneath his hardened exterior. He thought of the moments of bravery, the lives he had touched, and the legacy he would leave behind.
The adult man, a stoic figure in their midst, stood impassively, a somber expression fixed on his face. His eyes, devoid of emotion, scanned the landscape without attachment. To him, death was no stranger. It was an inevitable part of the cycle of life, something to be accepted. He had seen it, embraced it even, countless times. His heart no longer carried the fear or the regret that others felt.
"Death will come for me when it chooses, and when it does their is nothing i or livings can do aside from simply accepting it."
He thought. His eyes flickered momentarily toward the others, but he said nothing. For him, the journey was not one of questioning or regret
it was simply the next step in the endless dance of life and death.
The adult woman, burdened by the weight of her past, faced death with deep regret. She had once been an assassin, a force to be reckoned with. But now, as she faced death, she realized that she had become the hunted, not the hunter. The feeling was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. She had unleashed death upon others, but now she was on the receiving end of it. She had been reduced to a mere victim in this cruel game of survival. The realization stung.
"Is this how it ends?"
she wondered.
Just as they crossed into Ithoria's borders, the world around them seemed to shift, the very fabric of reality bending and warping. A sharp gasp escaped each of their lips as the land around them began to fade, the contours of the world disappearing into a blur. In the blink of an eye, they vanished—each of them, swallowed by the ether, their forms dissolving into thin air. There was no sound, no warning, only a sudden emptiness.
As strange stillness hung in the air. The guards, who had watched these figures with the eyes of fate, stood motionless, mourning the loss of these souls who had crossed paths with death time and time again. There was no joy, no celebration, only the bitter realization that all journeys must come to an end doesn't matter if its good or bad. But what lay beyond death remained a mystery.
In a sudden, inexplicable moment, the four found themselves standing in an unfamiliar room. The air was different here—bright, alive with a strange energy that hummed around them. The walls were impossibly smooth, and the light seemed to come from every direction, casting no shadows. Their minds reeled, trying to comprehend what had happened.
"Is this… the afterlife?"
Said the old man.
They turned to each other, confusion written across their faces. Each one of them had different thoughts and feelings, but none of them could explain what had just transpired. Were they dead? Were they alive? Or was this something different entirely?
As they scanned the room, their gaze was drawn to a figure standing behind them, tall and imposing. He was a man—at least, his form was human—but there was something undeniably otherworldly about him. He stood tall his presence fluid, like a predator who had long mastered the art of stealth. His eyes gleamed with a power that radiated from him in waves, a presence so strong that it seemed to warp the world around him.
The four of them turned as one, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and wariness. The young boy, his voice unsteady, asked the question that had been on all of their minds. "Are you… are you God?"
Cole burst into laughter.