The entire world was made of blinding, searing, unrelenting light. Don tried to close his eyes only to realize he didn’t have any. He tried to scream but had no voice. All he could do was burn until other sensations began to emerge. Starting with his feet, cool sweet relief swept upwards. Pins and needles announced the return of his calves, soon followed by the rest of his legs. The ripple continued returning his body to him an inch at a time. His eyes returned in time to see the glowing stumps of his arms grow into functioning limbs.

He collapsed, only to stop a moment later with a wrenching jerk, swinging from the chains attached to his wrists. He tried to get his feet back under him but they were numb and clumsy. A whimper escaped his parched throat.

“Wha-”

Light flashed to his left. Donovan flinched, worried that his ordeal was about to restart. When nothing hurt and he realized the light had a source he relaxed enough to be curious. Looking over, he saw a column of light sprouting from the ground.

What was that on the ground? Don had never seen anything like it. It was loose. It shifted like water but didn’t flow. Don pushed some of it with his foot and the mound of white stuff settled a bit, loose granules cascading down the miniature slope before stabilizing. The bottom of the column lifted to reveal feet. Slowly, Sam emerged.

She wasn’t the Sam he remembered. This one was wrapped in white cloth rather than their clan’s customary jumpsuit. As her mouth appeared, a scream split the air. Don wanted to comfort her, to help her, to let her know the pain would end. He lunged towards her only managing to pile the white stuff up behind himself as the shackles held him in place.

“Sam” He croaked

She turned her newly formed head towards him. Tears wet her face. Sam, who had always been confident and cool. She was terrified.

“What did you do?” she asked.

Don didn’t have an answer for her. His jaw turned to stone and his tongue seemed to weigh a thousand tons. The realization slammed into him. He did this to her. This was his fault.

“Shepards,” a booming voice proclaimed “You have failed in your duty, bringing calamity upon our city.”

Don finally thought to look up. He was in a vast ring of the white substance. Tan walls crowned by iron spikes rose imposingly at its border. Beyond the wall, hundreds of people in robes similar to his were glaring down at him from terraced benches. Directly in front of Don, a single man sat on a raised platform. The platform bore the city emblem. Most importantly, Don knew that voice and he knew it wasn’t going to have good news.

“It was agreed that the usual punishment is not sufficient due to the breadth of your transgressions. Death is too easy, too final for you two.”

Don looked at Sam. She was shaking, tears darkening the soft ground beneath her. He couldn’t let her be punished with him.

“I did it!” he exclaimed “I broke the asteroid. Punish me but let Sam go”

The figure paused. Seemingly shocked that someone would dare interrupt him. He leaned forward to inspect Don as if seeing him for the first time.

“We do not make mistakes young citizen” He sneered at the last word. “Your partner submitted the navigation plan and you caused the catastrophic mechanical failure. You are both at fault and your input is not required here, mute”

Donovan opened his mouth to object again but no sound came. He shouted harder and though he could feel his throat tear with the attempt, there was still no sound. His sentencing continued as if Don wasn’t there.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“For the unprecedented crime of causing the evacuation of 237 citizens who had yet to complete their service, an unprecedented punishment is required. You will live forever in Arcadia”

Don’s attempts to shout down his accuser fell short as his mouth hung agape. That wasn’t a punishment. That was the dream of all citizens. An image of his mother flashed in front of his eyes. Was he going to get to see her again so soon?

“You will be hated and hunted by all who call that land home. You will serve as a lasting example of what happens to those who are careless in their duties. You will be known for your transgressions by your monstrous visage.”

He raised a finger, pointing it at Don. A beam of crimson light pierced Don through the heart. A heat spread outwards from the point of impact and soon he was engulfed in red flames. The flames didn’t hurt like Don expected. They were warm and somehow soft. They seeped into his skin turning it red. His fingernails blackened and grew harder. With a mild discomfort, two small horns pushed up from just above his temples. The horns were little more than nubs of bone but they were distinct. As the flames seeped in the changes affected more than just his skin. His muscles swelled a fraction, stretching his red skin as his bones grew in density. His white robe burned away leaving a dirty loincloth.

A second flash of red drew Don’s attention to Sam. Her transformation was similar but Instead of growing from her head, nubs protruded from her shoulder-blades and she shrank slightly. Her nails grew to sharp points and her robes burned into a skimpy set of black straps which barely covered her.

“You will be sent to a village in the unclaimed lands. There, you will be at the mercy of those whose future you stole.”

Dismissing the two Shepherds he turned to the glowering crowds. Many of them were shouting down into the arena, calling out curses, threats, and promises in equal measure.

“As for you, the poor victims of these demons. I am sorry to say that without completing your service, ascension into your ancestral homes is forbidden.”

Some of the crowd faltered at that but others grew even more incensed.

“I had thirteen minutes left you little twats!” Broke through the general rabble.

The keeper continued speaking, his voice carrying over even the loudest of the victims.

“There is a contingency, however. You will be allowed into Arcadia in weak bodies with none of the advantages you can buy with years of service. These bodies are not immortal but your soul will be. You can choose to be reborn as many times as you wish and your bodies will have the ability to grow in strength. You will find Arcadia to be full of dangers as well as wonders. You will be sent to a town filled with Arcadian locals. They will know the lands and guide you in your progress. Heed their advice well and in time you can come to live as your ancestors do. This is all the city can offer. I am sorry”

It did seem like the keeper was genuinely empathetic.

“Good luck” he said, making a sweeping gesture. The crowd unraveled, becoming ribbons of white light which were sucked into the city emblem. He turned back to the prisoners chained in the center of the arena.

“I will not let your transition be so easy.”

He pointed his finger at Donovan once again.

“Holy bolt!”

This time the light struck Donovan in the head, caving it in and killing him instantly.

System message:

You have died.

Respawn locked

Respawning in 5...

Don felt strange. Well as someone who had just been killed it was strange that he felt at all.

Respawning in 4…

What was this weird message?

Respawning in 3…

What’s a respawn?

Respawning in 2…

Whatever, I'm dead now so it probably doesn’t matter.

Respawning in 1…

Donovan woke up on his back. Rain fell from a grey sky, softly impacting his exposed skin and splashing into puddles all around him. He hardly had time to be surprised before someone shouted.

“There he is!”

Feet began raining down along with the water, and they weren’t nearly as soft.