Waking up is never easy. The pillow calls the head back down to rest, the blankets twist around the body, calling to the sense of lethargy inherent in all living beings. The power  of the sleeping world is grand, and to escape its grasp is every living creature’s responsibility.  Waves ebb and flow, threads break and are sewn together, life is born and life ends. These are cycles that we cannot escape, though some may try. It truly is a person’s dream to control the ocean, to bend and weave fate, to be separated from the mortal coil.  Quirinus is one such individual, although currently struggling to wipe away the sleep from his eyes. He yearns for power, the power over such domains. But there can be only one that oversees each domain. They are called Cycles. Upon the year’s end, each person ages, regardless of birthdate. And at the start of each year, those that are 21 or older may challenge any of the Cycles. Of course, the Cycle is unlikely to lose, having the gift of power, but the temptation for power has always been too strong a pull on the human psyche. Each year thousands challenge one of the Cycles, and each year thousands perish.  Some lucky few might find themselves in a newly acquired position of power, however undignified the position may be. Some such cases are the Cycles that often change, the Cycle of missing socks, the Cycle of deep breathing and the Cycle of badly timed jokes to name a few. The one that all seek to take the domain of, however, is of course the Cycle of Life, currently held by Zach Rayner, Cycle for the past 2768 years. For how can one kill the ruler of life?