The pain of being burned alive, the scorching sensation of his melting skin, the drying tears of a man breathing his last moments.

Nestor wasn't considered an old person by modern standards. However, by the fifteenth century, being almost 40 years made you quite lived Pearson.

His clear blue eyes were fixed on the horizon, the tranquil woods outside the farming grounds of the village, the quiet hills that outlined his line of sight.

The stillness of the sun straight above his head kept showering him with its golden rays of light. The loneliness and pain of his burning self afflicted his spirit, in his final moments, there was none to repay all the love he had given.

'Even nature does not care about my fate. We, humans, are but a speck of dust in front of it, of course, we wouldn't matter. Me? I'm one of many others, why would it be any different?

Every day and night the sun, the moon, and the stars, they'll keep alternating each other, with or without me, it is not of their concern.'

At this point, a sudden realization struck among the many thoughts of a dying man.

'The medallion showed me what my eyes couldn't see, what my humanity confined me from.

The power of the medallion, that strange fog, felt so alien to me. I wonder, where does it come from, could his origin be beyond the poor sight of us humans?

What if it came from above the stars? Yes! The stillness of the most profound darkness, the brilliance of the stars, and then saw the abyss.

I see now. The madness coming out of this dying, charred corpse on the brick of collapse must have inspired such thoughts in me.

To believe such a thing I must have gone crazy. Or... not?'

Nestor couldn't help but smile at the face of death, something truly exceptional was about to happen.

He looked up, and as if his vision became incredibly better, he gazed further into space. Nestor felt mesmerized in front of all the planets and stars, the endless dark that composed most of the cosmos.

At a certain point, however, he found himself standing before the deepest darkness, a terrifying abyss that stared right back at him. For a moment madness took a hold of him, and if he wasn't already on the brink of death Nestor would have considered living his final days locked in an asylum.

His vision came back to normal, but there was no way for him to quietly wait for death, not after what he just witnessed.

"Hahahahah!! Cough... Cough...."

A maniacal, crazed laugh resonated through the village, and silence took over, only leaving the crackling sound of fire to be heard. Words of hatred and ridicule quieted down as if to better hear Nestor's last words.

" You fools! Whom God already left behind, heed my words!

Today won't be my last, I know I won't fall here! Out there, above the sky, beyond the stars, there is more for us to see, to dream!

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

To the ones that still hold hope, and wish to be more than mere tools I say do not give up! However you, that damned me unjustly, I will come back for you!"

Nestor's mad speech stupefied the crowd below, incredulity printed on their expressions. How could it make any sense? Beyond the stars he said, yet not even birds could fly that far, not to mention humans.

What if it was true though, was there hope for them out there? It was a question they couldn't find an answer to. A problem to pass on to the next generation.

Finally, as he mustered one final breath, he managed to exhale one more sentence. Eyes locked on the inquisitor, and from his mouth a phrase filled with resentment, for the unjust fate that befell him.

"A lie will remain a lie!"

Nestor felt the seemingly eternal agony reaching its end, life slept away from his body.

Among the presents was Paolo Benedetti, the Inquisitor. Nestor's words found themselves engraved into his mind, thinking about it gave him shivers. Be it from fear or excitement, Paolo knew that these words would haunt him for the rest of his life.

' I should report this to the bishop... Should I?'

With his death, the mysterious medallion suddenly disappeared, as if it had reached its purpose.

Only darkness remain, yet Nestor's though still somehow persisted, without a purpose, they represented his resentment.

'Will they that witnessed my death remember me? Of course, there won't be any grave in my memory.

Will they be drinking with their friends in the local tavern, telling the story of the mad monk just for fun?

I wish I could have at least felt what love truly is. I'm sure some of my brothers didn't abide by the rule of chastity, but I never could. Rules are meant to be respected, right Nestor?

My whole life I was lied to, but I also lied to myself. Would I be able to change, to improve myself given a second chance? Maybe, maybe not. But I could try, that for sure.

Dear abbot, brothers, and even the bishop. Was it worth using me as a pawn to confirm the true nature of the medallion?

What am I supposed to do with this hatred you've given me, burn it all away as you did with me? It would be wise indeed, to let it all go, although I'm not sure if I'm capable of such feat.'

Nestor suddenly woke up, his mind was spinning, confused and pained by his last memories as a living torch.

He was currently lying on a bed, that much he guessed by touching the soft texter of the mattress. He couldn't, nor was he able to open his eyes, even if he somehow knew he had them, they simply couldn't open.

Even trying more complex thoughts pained him a lot. Anyway, Nestor was quite curious about the current state of his body. Using his sense of touch he managed to make a rough guess.

He did die, this didn't seem to be his original body, he wasn't as skinny anymore. Sadly, he wasn't rocking a trained, muscular physique, but at the very least it appeared to be well fed. About his height he couldn't tell, maybe once he stood up he would be able to get a general idea.

Then he tried to stand up, but even putting a great deal of strength into it he barely managed to straighten his legs before losing balance.

'What is wrong with this body, am I blinded? why can't I stand up properly?'

Was it something wrong with his head? Maybe he carried some injuries from his death. He decided to touch his head and find out. Only not to find anything at all.

"AHHH!"

He shouted an alarmed scream of terror and disbelief.

Nestor found the will to refrain from losing consciousness on the spot, he was still alive after, it was meant to be a moment of joy and happiness.

Could this be a dream? He thought, no it wasn't quite right, he died, he was certain of that.

'Could it be that I have been sent to hell as a sinner? But I have not truly sinned, I was being manipulated. If our Lord is truly just I wouldn't be.'

Maybe I'm just gone crazy, I must have lost my head...'

Rejoice! Someone is approaching, he could hear hurried steps coming his way, from the echo Nestor understood to be inside a large space.

'Wait, how can I hear them? I don't have ears, do I?'

Confused, Nestor stopped his thoughts in their tracks. The steps had stopped.

"Ah! I see you have finally woken up. Quite the lively soul aren't you?

Fret not, I assure you that I have almost finished stitching up your body for good, only the head remains.

A pleasure, I'm Dominus Karl but you can call me Mr. Domino. Welcome to the Chained City!"