Home.
Darkness surrounded Roe. He felt as weightless as a feather. He remembered coming to this strange world, this familiar feeling.
A soft laugh echoed in his ears. Roe tried to open his eyes but they wouldn't respond. He didn't have the strength. None of the commands he tried to give his body would be met with a response. He felt cold.
So this is it. This is where his story ends. Pathetic.
His chest felt heavy now. Pain slowly began to spread in his body like rot. He willed his eyes to open. He willed his arms to pick himself up, his legs to stand and fight, but they would not obey.
I hate him. I hate him I hate him I hate him I hate I hate hate hate hate hate!
He took it from me…my life…Like trash. This stranger in a vicious world. If only I were strong-
Nooooo. No. Not these thoughts. The regret that comes with death. I won't let it consume me. I can't.
If this is it…
Letty. Her cheeky little smiles. He didn't realize it before, but now he can remember her scent as if she were there with him. Like flowers on a spring day. Violet… She took the place meant for their elder brother. The strong one. The worried one. If she were here… Would she be sad to see Roe in such a state. Dying, dying, dying. The breath that slowly left his lungs, his hands like claws that tried to hold on desperately as the life slowly left him. Would she be disappointed?
Gwyn… I'm sorry I couldn't be your sword. I tried, with this power you gave me… I suppose you were right, or your father, at least. You shouldn't have chosen me. I only let you down. I don't even know why we're here. There's so much…
The pain intensified as it spread. Decay suffocated him now. Arms grazed at his rotting flesh, fingers rolling over death rolling over death rolling over-
Another laugh, far away, but closer this time. Annoying. Just let me die in peace.
"Nightsworn."
It was Gwyn's voice. Regret stabbed at Roe's heart.
I'm sorry.
"Pathetic. My ardent blade? You were supposed to protect me, Rosen."
I'm… I'm sorry. I wasn't strong enough.
An image of Gwyn crossed his fading mind. She held Roe's shattered blade in her hand, digging it into her hand and drawing blood. The stranger stood before her, using his fingernail to draw blood from his hand.
"Easily replaced." An ethereal voice echoed in Roe's mind. "You lot are worthless. Almost nothing."
Roe felt his feet shrivel up and crumble to dust. It hurt so bad he wanted to scream. All he's known since he woke up near that lake is pain, and he's going to go out just the same. Abject misery is his alone.
"This place will devour you," the voice continued. "Your body, your mind…Even your soul isn't safe. Entombed in a shrine of violence. Pathetic."
Just let me die!
"Die all you want, it won't stop the pain."
If I die…
"It just gets worse."
Hell is a place Roe has become increasingly familiar with. His legs began to fall to dust. In just a few moments, he will become nothing more but a stain on the ground.
If I die…
He commanded his arms forward, his hands to claw at the ground and force himself forward.
"You poor thing…" Hysterical laughter filled his thoughts. He couldn't tell if it was an outside voice or his own anymore. He didn't need to.
His legs had turned to dust, and yet he crawled. He bit into the earth and spat it back out, turning this deathbed into a catapult. He will force himself out of this misery, by tooth and nail if need be.
"...Follow the light."
Until the last…
Specks of light surrounded Roe, urging him forward. The pushed at his lifeless body, they pulled at his decayed flesh and commanded him forward. He was nothing but bones and faith as the specs of light crashed into one another, forming a large ray of encouragement. His bony fingers reached out, landing on the waystone beside the small campfire as it filled him with fire.
"No! Roe, don't!" Gwyn begged.
But it was already too late.