Adventurer
EXP: 49,012, Level: 9
Level completed: 51%,
EXP required for next Level: 4,988
Opaque mist dyed a gentle golden color by soft sunlight roiled across the world around him as Tobias ambled across unfamiliar ground. He could feel dew-touched grass gently caressing the soles of his feet, kissing away dirt and massaging callouses as he surveyed the area for any sign of familiarity. "Hello?" he called out. Nothing.
The sky stretched for miles in every direction, a faint orange and white canvas devoid of any structure. He reached out ahead of himself and clutched at the aether. It scattered between his fingers and slipped away like sand. In that place, existence felt ephemeral- more so than it did anywhere else. He could feel the gentle caress of the sun, but it was nowhere to be seen. "Where am I?" he asked. Again, no response came.
He continued for miles, or longer. His concept of time was swallowed whole by uncertainty, and the longer he went the more his anxiety crept up. When he came to a halt, he looked down at his feet, and he found that even the sensation of grass was a lie. There was no sign of the source of that familiar texture. "Your mind is conjuring something familiar," a voice echoed in his thoughts, and he looked around quickly. "Be at ease, Tobias, I am not there."
"Where are you?" Tobias asked.
He looked about warily, and the light shimmered before his eyes. A breath caught in his throat. "You died," he choked, a faint whisper. "I watched you die."
Her dirty blonde locks brushed from her face as she gave him the coy but warm smile that he fell in love with. "I did," she confirmed, "but this isn't really me. I just chose something that was dear to you, something that wouldn't terrify you." The image of Camille took a step forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do you know where you are, Stalt?" she asked him.
He looked down, and his hand traced his stomach. It came back slick. The beleaguered adventurer lifted the shirt to reveal a fatal wound. "I- I've died?" he asked, more calmly than most men.
"You're finally free," she confirmed.
Tears formed at the edges of his eyes as he sank to his knees, and Tobias Stalt wept.