Artur's life had been unremarkable—an endless cycle of work, sleep, and the occasional weekend hiking trip to escape the drudgery. He was neither a hero nor a villain, just an ordinary man trying to get by. But fate had other plans.
It started like any other hiking trip. Artur loved the solitude of the mountains, the crisp air, and the sense of freedom that came with being far from the noise of the city. On that fateful day, he had been scaling a steep trail on Mount Vallon, the sun beating down on his back. His boots crunched against the gravel as he reached a narrow ledge, stopping to catch his breath.
The view was breathtaking. A sprawling valley stretched out below, its rivers glittering like silver veins in the sunlight. For a moment, Artur forgot his worries, letting the beauty of nature wash over him.
Then, the ground gave way.
The ledge crumbled beneath him, and Artur felt the sickening lurch of gravity pulling him down. His heart pounded as he plummeted, the jagged rocks below rushing up to meet him. Time seemed to slow, every second stretching into an eternity. His mind screamed with fear and regret.
This is it, he thought. This is how I die
But just as he braced for the inevitable impact, something strange happened. A golden light enveloped him, warm and all-encompassing. It wasn't painful—it was soothing, like being cradled in sunlight. He couldn't see, couldn't move, but he could feel his body being pulled… somewhere.
Then everything went dark.