“They call it a Soul Death. It’s a fate worse than death if it’s to be believed.” Somehow Alanora smiled despite these grim words she shared.

All of her mother’s efforts made a lot more sense to him, even if he still disagreed to what extent she had gone to prevent this fate for her daughter.

It was one thing to die. Everyone died. It was entirely normal and expected. But it was altogether different for an individual’s soul to be expunged from all of existence.

Kiran had come to learn about the sanctity of souls and their importance on numerous occasions. Knowing this, the fact that she sat there so calmly continued to surprise him.

In a way, it made him admire her. She didn’t cry or wail about madly. Nor would she curse or say profane things to showcase outright hatred towards this fate. She just remained calmly seated and at peace. He was unsure whether he would be capable of a similar feat if he were in her shoes.

“Even if this is to be my fate,” she said, “I am glad that I have managed to do some good before it all ends for me. I will gladly depart knowing I have done all that I can.”

Kiran struggled to conjure the right words to say. Moments ago, he had thought she was perfectly fine and given the chance to live a proper life.

Dammit. This isn’t right. Come on, if there is a higher power out there, do something. Do anything to save her.

His prayer went unanswered. He hadn’t prayed before, at least not during this life so far. Perhaps if he had been regularly praying up to now, this one would have been answered by someone or something. But he knew not whether a higher power existed to hear him or would care even if they did receive his request. Sadly, her fate was sealed and entirely out of his or anyone else’s hands.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“You have no reason to be. Besides, I still have some time left.”

Suddenly, she pulled his hand to her heart. “You can sense it for me, can’t you? Don’t worry, it won’t bother me if you use your power to sense my soul. In fact, I’d prefer that you do so that you can tell me how strong or weak it is.”

He didn’t want to use his power, but he’d be willing to make an exception under these circumstances. “Are you certain?” With a nod of her head, he began to tap into that power he immensely feared. He began to grasp onto that soul of hers, feeling its fleeting essence.

Unlike all other souls he had unknowingly touched, hers was immensely weak. It was pulsing erratically and like that of a dying star that would one day never blink again in the night sky.

“My soul is faint, isn’t it?” He pulled his hand away from her heart while her smile finally wavered a tiny bit. “It appears my time is shorter than I imagined. Even after channeling all of that power in that cave, it was not enough to buy me a significant amount of time. It seems my soul remains as damaged as the day I first began laying there on that altar.” As a tear ran down her face, she kept smiling through the pain of knowing her soul was going to die.

“Can you tell me why is this happening to you?”

“No one knows. I was born like this and every year my soul would get weaker. My mother had countless people come to visit us with the hopes that they would have a way to fix it. Of course, no one ever did. My mother tried to use that altar to fix it but it never ended up working. It wasn’t made to heal a soul. It was just made to heal and rejuvenate a body. No matter how many times I would lay on that altar, my condition would never improve. And then one day when I was laying there, I found myself outside of my own body and all of these problems began to appear.”

“It’s all quite unfortunate,” she said closing her eyes and then opening them again. “I think perhaps that while my fate is quite dour, there is still good to come of it. For instance, I believe I was given a chance to return with the fleeting time I have available, to show you something. ”

“Show me what exactly?” She stood up. Kiran stood up as well as she stood just a foot away from him.

“Place your forehead against mine.” Without knowing what to expect, he began to place his forehead against hers. She placed her hands on his shoulders and exhaled. “Now close your eyes, and bear witness to the things that I have seen.”

* * *

An unfamiliar place began to take form.

When it coalesced, a great and vast desert surrounded him in all directions. Far to the north, a faint derelict city appeared along with a reddened sky. Structures taller than any he had ever seen before showed the magnificence of its architects. It also showcased the failure of them to keep it from withering away.

From where he stood amidst the endless sand, a large group of people gathered around entering many different portals. Men and women alike in robed attire directed large crowds into them.

None of them could perceive him or her. He walked around observing them and taking note of the details of the robe-wearing ones standing beside the dozen or so portals. These particular individuals each wore a necklace with many interlinking metal circles.

“What is this that you’re showing me?” he asked curiously.

“I believe these people are our ancestors,” Alanora’s voice said to him.”And, this is a world far from ours. It is a place of our origin before our people exiled themselves. Unfortunately, I do not know any more than that. I only know what the vision and voices have told me.”

“Voices, eh?”

“On occasion, I would hear and be told things over the years I was disembodied. When I first was given this vision, in particular, I was told that these people were going into exile. This world had become a prison if their words speak true. These people ended up eventually fleeing, and some of them ended up on our planet.”

He wondered whether one of the portals he saw led directly to theirs. To witness their ancestors making such a trip to presumably a bunch of different worlds, was something he never imagined witnessing for himself. How many years has it been since this supposed exodus occurred? What led to it in the first place? So many questions were raised from this, and like with many other questions he had, there were no answers.

He began to lose sight of everything. His vision turned to black only to reform into another scene entirely.

“You know of The Great Fracturing, don’t you?”

“I know of it, but little about it specifically.”

From atop a tall ancient tower, he walked to the edge of it feeling a harsh wind blowing up against him. Alanora stood beside him with the wind blowing her black hair back violently as a terrifying force covered the entirety of their horizon.

The sky was covered in dark clouds in the direction they observed. The sun shined from behind but found itself wavering due to the overwhelming darkness creeping towards them.

An entire city found itself swallowed by the strange force that reached far above into the sky. It swallowed entire villages, mountains, and hillsides. Anyone who hadn’t managed to flee quickly enough, found themselves submerged in it. A group of travelers on horseback from afar tried to outrun it, but found themselves nevertheless swallowed up in the nightmarish force.

“Have you ever seen the miasma up close before?”

He shook his head.

This was the miasma. Or distorted reality as some called it. He knew of its existence, and how it surrounded the few remaining domains on this planet. Seeing it for the first time made him understand why everyone was so determined to avoid being near it.

Just looking at it caused his entire body to recoil. It motioned around in strange and unnerving ways. Its shades and hues constantly shifted around which made him feel nauseous.

“On this day, our world forever changed,” she said. “This unusual presence began to swallow the majority of our planet whole. Millions of humans, including familiars died. Entire civilizations became vanquished and what remains to this day is very little.”

It was starting to get uncomfortably close to them. He wanted to flee, but he knew no matter how hard he tried to escape, it would catch them. And even though deep down he knew this wasn’t real, his body struggled to come to terms with that.

The miasma reached the tower. Right before it swallowed them whole, the scene changed to a new one.

He exhaled and snapped his eyes open only to find himself in a place that caused him to stumble backwards and fall on his rear end.

“Kiran? What’s wrong?”

Why. Why here?

Sunlight from above a temple’s glass dome shined down upon him. Its warmth did little to calm him as a dark apparition appeared before him laughing. Black fire began to sweep across the bloodied marble floor. It crept up his boots all the way to his chest and head.

He screamed aloud panicking from the black fire consuming him whole as he recalled such a terrifying moment many other times before.

As he began to lose his mind and fear that death had come for him again, the fire was gone and so too was the pain.

Instead, Alanora appeared over his body as she hugged him tightly. “It’s alright. Everything’s fine Kiran. Nothing can harm you here.”

She pulled away and when he pulled himself upright, he saw that indeed, he was fine. All of his limbs were intact and he didn’t appear to have any signs of burns on his skin.

He stumbled on up and grabbed for his sword feeling as if actual danger still existed nearby. In this dreamlike place, however, he didn’t have a weapon on him. He looked around for the one who killed him, but they were not here as they had been just seconds ago.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Did I imagine that independently? He struggled to make sense of the visceral reaction he just experienced.

But before he could think any further over it, pain coursed through his head. He closed his eyes and grit his teeth feeling like they might shatter.

Being here made him remember more pain from his death; of his arms being severed one at a time each signifying his defeat to the one who he still struggled to recall.

I can remember the pain, but not the one responsible. How lucky I am.

“K-Kiran.”

He furrowed his brows and sighed as she looked quite concerned. “Sorry. I’m just remembering the last time I was here. How’d you know to show me this temple?”

“I didn’t. This was but one place I believe I am meant to show you.”

He stumbled across the marble floor where some blackened scorch marks were. He crouched down knowing that this was where he had been burnt to nothingness.

Kiran ran his fingertips across the blackened surface. An anger he had never felt before began to awaken inside of him. He curled his other hand into a fist and felt like he was losing control of himself.

He wanted desperately to know who had done this to him and why so that he could tear them apart and make them feel the pain he experienced. Assuming they were alive of course. He found it unlikely that they were. Whoever had done this to him, was likely dead considering how much time had passed.

But if they were somewhere out there, he would stop at nothing to make them regret what they had done to him.

As his thoughts became filled with hate and utter anguish, he pulled away from the blackened ash feeling as if he was losing control of himself. Or perhaps these emotions and thoughts were not entirely who he was now but of a person he had once been.

“Here,” she said taking his hand. “Come with me. There’s something else I want to show you in this vision.”

He allowed her to take him outside of the temple to a city he found himself familiar with. It was the capital city he had been in during some of his recent memories.

However as they walked through its many varied streets, it was quite damaged from a battle that had taken place within. As they reached the high point of a sloped street, he looked out from beyond the city spotting the miasma. It surrounded the capital by all appearances right outside its walls. It did not proceed any further, however.

“Of all the remaining domains that exist, this—if the voices are to be trusted—is supposed to be the first domain.”

“The first?”

“Yes.”

He hadn’t even considered what the first domain might look like or the second or third for that matter. For it to be comprised of a city—especially the capital city he had some memories in—was quite a bit different than what he had run across in the fifth or fourth domains.

The area of the city that they found themselves in was filled with white buildings that varied in size. Judging by the trees and size of buildings around them, they must’ve been in one of the more sophisticated and well-maintained parts. The wealthiest of the elites would’ve lived around here once upon a time. Although, the signs of battle and ruination did a lot to tarnish its overall appearance.

“Where is everyone?”

“I don’t know.”

Battles had certainly been fought around this area recently as the vision revealed. There were many dead and blood on the walls and ground that hadn’t fully dried. And yet, there was no living soul around despite the scenes of what appeared to be a recent skirmish.

The smell of burnt buildings and people wafted in the air. They crossed over a bridge with the water running beneath it reddened by blood.

Amongst the nearby dead, were mounds of ash—although not very much. It was at least a sign that familiars had managed to get into the capital city and fight. It hadn’t been a war or battle fought strictly speaking by humans. This must’ve been a part of the war that consumed humanity and the familiars from centuries ago.

This grand and eternal war fought by humans and familiars alike was a rather insignificant affair when compared to the destructive miasma that consumed the majority of their planet. What a moment it would’ve been to be fighting only for the miasma to appear. He wondered whether the fighting would continue as it had, or if everyone stumbled around madly as they struggled to make sense of the nightmarish miasma that he did his best to avoid eye contact with.

As he followed her lead, still holding her tender hand, they found themselves in a wide open circular space.

Along the circular white marble ground, were elaborate geometrical circles and other complex shapes all interlinking and interlocking with one another. A strange phenomenon existed directly in the center of the area. It was similar to the miasma except it didn’t terrify him to look at it. Its shape was almost like a diamond but it shifted around much like an unstable portal.

“Does that look like a portal to you?” he said.

She nodded her head and gestured for him to approach it.

He did as suggested not knowing what to expect. His feet echoed out remaining the primary source of noise in an otherwise strangely quiet war-torn city.

Kiran paused feeling a sense that he shouldn’t approach it any further. He stared at the portal feeling a strange presence exuding from it.

“You have come,” a voice said to him from the portal. Its voice was strange to him. It was not projecting its voice like another person might. It instead spoke from inside his mind or that was the closest way for him to describe the sensation.

“Who or what are you?” he asked standing a comfortable distance away from the portal.

“Heed my words,” they said ignoring his question. “And prepare yourself to ascend the Throne.”

“Ascend the Throne?”

“Our world will be consumed. Reach this domain, and ascend. Ascend for it must be done to prevent the inevitable.” He had many questions he wanted to ask, such as what they meant by ascending some throne, but he wasn’t given the chance to ask. “Time shall flow, but time is not infinite. And one’s life is not permanent. Do not become consumed by idleness. Seek and return to this domain to fulfill your purpose.”

“How—”

The portal disappeared leaving him with lots of unanswered questions.

“I’m assuming they told you everything you needed to hear?”

Kiran began to scratch the back of his head. “Uh, they could’ve been a little clearer but I understand it well enough I think.”

“Good.”

“It looks like whoever they are, they want me to come to this place back in reality. How I’m supposed to do that, is completely unknown!”

She smiled. “Well, I’m glad at least that it appears I’ve accomplished what I was meant to do. It appears there are powers out there that are desperate for your assistance but are incapable of communicating it directly to you.”

“Why me though? Have those special voices of yours ever explained that to you?”

“They’re a bit too cryptic for me to say for sure. All I do know is that one of the voices in my head said that a day will come when every remaining domain will become swallowed whole by this miasma. Given that, it matters little that the sun has risen again within the fourth domain if it becomes consumed. All life within the fourth domain and everywhere else on this world will die if something isn’t done about it.”

Reaching the first domain wasn’t going to be easy. He didn’t have a single clue how to reach it. He felt like he was there right now, but this was sadly just a vision. The least that they could’ve done was give him explicit instructions on how to get here. If he was to serve some grand purpose, then why not make it explicitly clear?

These were important questions of course, that went gladly ignored. He was to stumble his way around from domain to domain and somehow make it to the first domain. Perhaps there’s a better way than this.

“Maybe it would be better to figure out a way to leave this planet instead. Considering what we witnessed in that first vision, then we ought to be able to do it somehow. Yorais can create portals. Perhaps she can create one to another world that we can settle on.”

Since he had confirmations that other worlds existed with humans—assuming they hadn’t died on them by now of course—it made sense for them to potentially pursue this angle instead as an alternative.

“It’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“Our world has become severed from proper reality. We are all alone here. It is up to us, or you specifically to try to correct things.”

He started to feel frustrated. He was beginning to realize that everything surrounding him was getting more and more complicated. Far more than he wanted. “You know, I never wanted all of this responsibility. When I was given a chance to live again, I thought maybe I could settle in eventually and not have to fight or struggle to survive.” He had wanted the fourth domain to end up being that opportunity.

They resolved the darkness. Magic was sure to return. And relations between Lucias and the various lords and ladies ought to be peaceful given everything. It was the perfect opportunity for him and the rest to settle down and live decent enough lives in a domain that wasn’t plagued with insurmountable issues like the fifth domain.

But we’re not meant, or at least I am not meant to experience such simplicity. Things are ceaselessly complex and there are forces out there demanding action from me. Ah, to have been any other person or born at a far better time.

“Kiran, did you believe you were given another life for no good reason?”

“Nah, I’m not delusional enough to think that. I’ve just been eager to run away from my destiny is all.” Now that his friends were safe and the people who they helped escape Liall were in a better place, he had few excuses to make in regards to traveling the hard road even further than he had already traveled it so far.

Receiving another life doesn’t come without its own burdens and costs. Whoever, or whatever brought me back, expects more from me.

* * *

The vision faded allowing for Kiran and Alanora to snap back into reality. Alanora went to her knees and began to fall backward only for Kiran just in time to catch her before she fell completely.

“Alanora,” he said crouching down and holding her in his hands.

She opened her eyes struggling to maintain her lucidity. “It appears my time is almost up,” she said struggling to speak.

Kiran began to carry her down the hill in a rush. He tried finding someone, anyone for that matter, that might be able to help. When he stumbled near Bridella’s tent, he saw Yorais outside of it speaking with Rinas.

“Yorais!” She began to observe the woman he was carrying in his arms. “She needs help.”

“Bring her in here,” Bridella said.

Everyone got out of the way as he carried her into the tent. A table at the back was quickly cleared.

Kiran dropped her onto the table as Yorais began to examine her or try to anyway. She pulled out an arcane root and began to use its power to help her use magic.

Alanora remained entirely unconscious breathing in and out.

“What’s wrong with her?” Bridella asked.

“Her body appears to be deteriorating. If I may make a request,” she said in a hurry, “I require myself and Kiran to remain in here alone.”

Without protesting Bridella appeared more than willing to lend Yorais her tent for their use for now. They left along with Rinas and everyone else.”

Yorais kept her hand over Alanora’s heart allowing for some kind of spell to exude from her palm. She looked him directly in the eyes appearing quite distraught. “She is not going to live for much longer. I struggle to tell exactly what her problem is.”

“I already know what it is.”

“You do?”

“Her soul is dying.”

She relinquished the spell entirely. She looked towards the woman likely understanding full well, of the miserable fate she was to experience.

A fate worse than death. The death of a precious mortal soul.