He was weightless again – floating through the abyss; [Name] was weary of his situation.
He wished that he could change something – but he was powerless to do so. [Name] was scared of dying. He wanted to return to his old life, but even now, with the worlds he's been through, [Name] can't remember much of his original world. [Name] only knew that the closest one in replication was the one with Michael in it.
••••
It was a heavy feeling in my chest. I could feel my eyes welling up with tears as I requested for Lucian to give me a break, to let me rest in the abyss for a while. Before I go into the next world – things have been hectic.
I had no time to understand the worlds I had gone through – I had suffered so much. Yet, I have to continue.
Numbly, I reached out – tapping the floating icon where 'continued' was with a pale pink glow.
My body felt as if I was falling, falling into the light.
The ground under me was soft, an earthy scent shrouded me, the pale warmth of the sun on my face, and the quiet rustling of leaves surrounded me. The twittering of birds in the branches above, the soft moss bed under my fingertips as I sat up.
Opening the missions tab, I checked what I had to do in this world.
He wished that he could change something – but he was powerless to do so. [Name] was scared of dying. He wanted to return to his old life, but even now, with the worlds he's been through, [Name] can't remember much of his original world. [Name] only knew that the closest one in replication was the one with Michael in it.
••••
It was a heavy feeling in my chest. I could feel my eyes welling up with tears as I requested for Lucian to give me a break, to let me rest in the abyss for a while. Before I go into the next world – things have been hectic.
I had no time to understand the worlds I had gone through – I had suffered so much. Yet, I have to continue.
Numbly, I reached out again – tapping the floating icon where 'continued' was with a pale pink glow.
My body felt as if I was falling, falling into the light.
The ground under me was soft, an earthy scent shrouded me, the pale warmth of the sun on my face, and the quiet rustling of leaves surrounded me. The twittering of birds in the branches above, the soft moss bed under my fingertips as I sat up.
Opening the missions tab, I checked what I had to do in this world.
'Ensure that you live a happy and successful life! [Punishment has ended due to completion of the last world, and points have been awarded and selected. The Reward: You have clearance to choose what difficulty the world will be when you finish this mission].'
I sighed and glimpsed around me, taking in the magnificence of the scenery.
'Lucian?'
'On it.'
••••
The character I inhabited in this world was someone exiled from a village close to the area I had woken up. The character lived a pretty miserable life with no given name – forced onto the streets with no parents, relatives, or friends.
There were little to no restrictions on what I could do.
Patting myself down – I was still in a jumper and black trousers, meaning I was still uniform.
Spawning the map into my hands, I hurridly followed the directions to the safest area of the forest and started setting up a little camp. The sun was still high, and there wasn't a way for me to tell the time due to the lack of watches and resources. Lucian had only given me a ball of string, a coil of rope, and a sharp machete.
Leaves crunched under my foot as I looked for a flatter area to set up my camp – it wasn't much of a walk, and soon I found the perfect spot. It was in quite a dense forest I approached, noting that the leaves fell heavy here. Only equipped with a knife, rope and some twine. There were big sticks that would be helpful to me in setting up camp.
••••
The sun was golden – shining brightly through the shafts of trees. It mixed with and danced with the fine fog that settled through the forest in the evening. Birds sang in the treetops, their melodies accompanied by the chirping crickets as night fell.
How you'll heal and rise above, crowned by an overture bold and beyond.
A voice rang out quietly through the forest, a haunting yet welcoming ballad.
Throw yourself into the unknown with pace and fury, defiant. The most dangerous thing is to love.
The man's voice was tainted with cruel misery as if they were beyond sorrow – yet still desperately optimistic.
[Name] himself was terrified. He was in his small makeshift tent and hideout. He knew how fragile this little base was. Yet, he stayed where he was – fearful. On other nights, he would have found the singing calming and beautiful.
Now, within the dark forest, and hearing such a tune – even as it tore at his heart, urging him to go and comfort what was singing such a hopeful tune. It was as if a spell or a haze settled over his mind – and slowly but surely, against his will, [Name] started shaking off the leaves and entered into the cold of the evening.
Mentally, [Name] was in chaos and fretful, yet still, he took steps towards the source of the song. The sadness in his heart spread, and the ache grew and grew until he felt his tears falling. He could taste the saltiness as they fell by his lips, the tightness that lodged into his throat and the pure, visceral need to scream as he felt someone else's agony over losing a loved one.
None of it was his.
Surrender of none. It's a pointless resistance for you.
The feeling of the earth underneath his feet; was soft, cold, and unyielding with the crunch of leaves and the unevenness of the mud.
Be done with this now, and get off the roof.
As the ballad ended, [Name] himself felt as if he was free from whatever had him under its hold. Finally, [Name] collapsed to his knees as the emotions that became almost restrictive around his chest relented.
The chill of the evening was cold, and it was starting to settle over him like fine silk. He was breathing painfully, trying to shake off the feeling of loss, roughly wiping at his face as someone else's guilt settled in his gut. It was so strong that he could ignore the biting cold.
Nature sang around him.
His energy left him – and he could only make out a silhouette approaching him as [Name] tried scrambling back.
Why did he understand the feelings of loss so well? He was the one that perished in every world.
••••
The lone Naiad tended to [Name] before bringing him further and further into the forest.
He was almost gliding. The Naiad's steps made no noise as they trekked into the woodland. The Naiad blended in with the foliage that encircled them. Blossoms sprouted where his foot landed, and his hair skimmed.