I tried again and again.
But each time, the same message echoed back.
I exhaled, steadying my breath.
Why couldn't I leave?
First, I was trapped in the Scape. Now, in my own soul.
It felt as though someone—or something—desperately wanted me dead.
I shut my eyes, letting the frustration settle. There was no point wasting energy. I had to think.
So, I sat down and meditated, letting my thoughts fade.
As my mind cleared, the flow of Aen became more distinct.
Gentle. Unfolding. Leading.
It condensed, pulling toward a deeper place in my soul.
Was this the truth I'd been chasing?
I stood, eyes still closed, following the invisible pull.
Ren was still beside the lone flower, unmoving.
Emotionless. Thoughtless.
But I couldn't let that stop me.
I walked through the void until I reached what felt like the very end of my soul—
Beyond it, only darkness.
Yet within that darkness… the flow continued.
Like a trance, I stepped forward—
And fell.
I fell deeper and deeper, until even the flowers were gone.
Then—I saw them.
Seven versions of myself.
Each one twisted. Familiar faces, but something was always missing.
One lacked joy.
Another, love.
Another, hope.
Anger rose in me, but the hex echoed:
[ You have unlocked a task ]
[ Choose a path ]
I turned toward the first version of myself—runes appeared, and I was pulled in.
---
Path of the Martyr
I stood atop a mountain of corpses.
Below me—blood.
Above—silence.
I smiled. No more war. No more suffering.
But this peace… was built on sacrifice.
The runes pulsed:
Do you wish to choose this path?
I clenched my fists.
No matter how good it looked… I didn't want peace built on blood.
"No," I said.
The vision dissolved.
---
Path of the Sovereign
A beautiful garden.
Laughter. Joy.
But beneath the surface—pain.
They smiled, but I saw the tears behind their eyes.
Chains hidden beneath their clothes.
A world where power ruled.
Where I was worshipped… but they suffered.
"No," I said again.
---
Path of the Puppeteer
Strings pierced through the flesh of seven beings.
They moved, but they weren't alive.
Lifeless husks.
Puppets made from my will.
And I finally understood.
The power to create life… was never meant for someone like me.
Was that my only choice?
Sacrifice them for peace?
Rule them as a god?
Use them as tools?
All wrong.
These weren't just choices.
They were me.
The hex echoed one final time:
[ Choose a path ]
But I saw it.
Beneath everything.
A faint light.
Buried under the silence and pain.
I dove toward it—
And was pulled in.
---
This time, there were no chains.
No puppets.
No worship.
Just a choice.
A path where they could choose for themselves.
A path of freedom—
Of pain, and of hope.
And it was the only one I could truly accept.
The light brought me back to Ren.
He was right beside me, unmoving—but different somehow.
The hex hadn't confirmed the end of the task, which meant... there was still something left.
Then, I felt it.
A thought.
Soft. Fragile. Like a whisper hidden in still water.
"Help."
It echoed through the silence in his mind.
The moment I touched Ren's hand, everything opened.
I saw it all.
Within him was a small boy, curled tightly in fear. Trembling. Isolated.
He looked up as I approached.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The sight hit me hard.
I remembered now—he was me.
The part of me buried in silence.
Locked away from light.
Scarred. Lonely. Forgotten.
But not this time.
I reached out gently, offering my hand.
He flinched, scooting back into the shadows.
He was more afraid than I thought.
"Hi, Ren," I said, quietly.
I didn't expect an answer. But then, he spoke again.
"Who are you?"
"I'm you," I replied softly.
"We're the same."
His eyes widened.
"Maybe I should've done this long ago. I ignored you. Hid from the pain you carried. But you're not alone anymore."
A lump caught in my throat as I continued.
"I hated the fear, the sorrow in my heart. I thought pretending it wasn't there would make it go away. But it didn't."
"I'm sorry."
"I had a chance to embrace the light, and I turned away. But you don't have to. You can make a different choice."
I extended my hand again.
"Take it. You're free to choose—light or darkness. Whatever path you choose, I'll accept it. I just want to give you what I lost... the light I once had."
He stared, hesitant.
Then—
His hand moved.
He touched mine.
And I pulled him into a warm, tight embrace.
He trembled, and then whispered:
"Thank you."
---
The hex echoed:
[ You have cleared the task ]
[ You have completed Hidden Task: Path of Freedom ]
[ The restrictions on you are partially broken ]
[ You have unlocked a new attribute ]
[ You have obtained a trait: Divine Light ]
For the first time, I felt it.
The light.
It poured into me—not just warmth, but truth.
It filled every corner of my soul.
Gentle—
And yet overwhelming.
The hex's final message echoed faintly:
[ Conditions for user to return have been fulfilled ]
[ Due to the user's state, return will commence ]
That was the last thing I heard—
Before the light swallowed me whole.
And I lost consciousness.