SYSTEM: CRITICAL ERROR DETECTED. OVERHEAT.
SYSTEM REBOOT INITIATED…
LOADING…
Ashel's finger twitched.
Edward's slowly opened his eyes, Darkness.
His vision blurred, his body stiff and cold. He couldn't see, only hear—the faint hiss of something crawling beneath him.
"What… what is that?"
A chill sliced through his spine. His heart pounded in his chest.
Then it hit him. The memory.
He'd been pierced—an arrow straight through his heart.
Hands trembling, Edward reached down and yanked the arrow free.
Akh!..He staggered upright, swaying.
That's when the glowing screen appeared.
SYSTEM: QUEST FAILED – ASHEL DEAD.
PENALTY: TRANSFER TO TRIAL CHAMBER (DURATION: 7 DAYS.
STATUS: ALL ABILITIES LOCKED.
CONDITION: NON-FATAL PAIN – CONTINUOUS.
TRIAL INITIATING IN 3… 2… 1…
Edward's breath hitched. "Did… Ashel… die?"
His voice broke. "No… no, this can't be real."
Tears blurred his sight as guilt tore through him.
"I'm weak, pathetic, i wasn't able to do anything."
His knees gave out. He collapsed, clutching his chest.
"Ashel!" His cry fractured into a sob. "I'm sorry! It's all my fault!"
He gasped for air, shaking violently. "I was too weak… too useless… please… i wish i could be strong enough to protect the one's i loved..
He forced himself up, stumbling forward through the dark.
"Ashel! I'm coming! Just stay alive!" he shouted, the words cracking mid-breath.
"I'm so damn stupid!"
He ran blindly, tears spilling, until the ground vanished beneath his feet.
He fell.
The world slowed. The wind stopped screaming and began to whisper. His heartbeat was the only sound left.
Cold swallowed him whole as he reached upward—toward someone who wasn't there.
"Ashel…" he breathed. His tears scattered into the dark.
"I… I deserve this."
Pain seized his chest again, sharper, deeper.
"This pain… it's different…"
His eyes fluttered shut as the void consumed him.
"If you're still alive…" His voice broke to a whisper. "Please… forgive me."
A dull thud. Bones cracked. Blood spilled from a fracture at his temple. Dimly light crystals that glowed.
As he layed down looking at his surroundings.
Ouch? That hurt's.
He opened his eyes—barely.
"Edward…" A woman's voice, soft as silk.
Who…? Something was wrong.
SYSTEM: PLAYER IMMORTALITY ACTIVE.
PAIN TOLERANCE REQUIRED.
Then came a memory—soft, familiar, and wrong.
"Edward… close your eyes."
Her voice lulled him, tender as a dream.
Open your eyes, dont be scared.
Your brave at heart, tho the fear withing us make us strong
One knight stands, the night is cold,
He guards the weak, his heart is bold.
He holds his sword, he will not run,
He fights alone till rise of sun.
He tried to see her face—warm eyes, gentle smile. It felt safe. Real.
Then it glitched.
Her smile flickered—joy turned to fear, then to blood.
Her trembling, bloodstained hands brushed his cheek.
The warmth twisted into terror.
She screamed. Flames swallowed the house around her.
He saw himself, small and helpless, dragged away as the fire roared.
Through the smoke, she whispered, "Please… forgive me, my child."
Her voice cracked into silence.
"Mother!" Edward screamed, snapping awake—tears streaming down his face.
Mother?
Who was she?
"Who…am i?" he whispered.
System…? Are you there?
His breathing turned ragged as a white screen flickered weakly.
SYSTEM: …YE–SY--SYSTEM REBOOT FAILED…
…ED–WARD–…
"What's happening?" His voice trembled. "It hurts—I can't move…"
SYSTEM: REBOOTING…
He tried to stand, but his body collapsed again. Blood drip down.
"Damn it… I need to get out of this hell," he rasped, dragging himself forward through the dirt.
Edward, kept healing..
Krrrk… hiss…
The sound slithered through the dark.
"What… what is that?"
Two glowing green eyes appeared ahead.
Then something lunged.
It grabbed him, dragging him screaming into the black.
"NO—NO! AHHHHH!"
His voice tore through the void as blood streaked the path behind him.