Why?


    Why bother ?


    Every single time you cast off sleep and return - is it not hard enough to get up ?Mayhaps you get past the question by force of habit alone .


    Easy to lift yourself up if you wake up consistently, light and time and grace all there to welcome you once more . Easy to do without answering the question.Inevitably however you find yourself returning to what was always there : darkness , cold and a lack of time . Inevitably you return finding yourself lost , sensations of weight pressing around your neck and chest , no light,no warmth,no one but you . You had ignored the question . You gave the answer given to you by others . Now ?


    Now you curse me for exhausting you , for stressing you to the breaking point . You see - No- you feel the way ahead , the infinity of the path ahead of you . And you despair . Everything around you will go to shit - you know it . But you knew that all along didn’t you ? And you fought it , walked through it . Where is that strength now ? Where has your will gone ? Was it ever there ?


    Exhausted. Drained . Alone .


    Are you lonely ?


    “…yes.” A whisper echoed in the chamber .


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.“ Damn you!” … “…yes.”


    He looked around from where he was , not bothering to get up . “Kill me .”


    there were no tears . No. For that would be something wouldn’t it ? An answer . A release .


    ”Aaah.” a fake moan. “Please …No more .”


    …


    ”You win . Are you happy ? “


    …What would you do if you get out ?


    “ Go back to life . Please . Let me go .Please.”


    ...I see .


    The man woke up . This time not by himself . The sun gently caressed his face . Birds sang and insects sang about . A gentle wind passed by . He got up : around him , his friends . His party . He wept from joy , awakening them with his sobs . Ignoring their questions he turned towards the entrance of the dungeon and kneeled down , bowing his head to the earth again and again .


    “Thank you !” He repeated amidst his tears . He looked at the entrance , two marble columns and a white veil nested beneath a great tree , surrounded by it s roots .


    He then gathered his weapons and equipment and slowly , ritually laid them down next to the roots of the great tree .


    He gathered his companions and with a last joyful parting of gratitude towards the entrance he turned away .


    -Thank you Master .Thank you for being so kind. Thank you for showing mercy !We levelled up as well Master !


    I did not turn towards her , still gazing at the happy company leaving us , going back to their lives with an eagerness for life , a joy unparalleled .


    Mercy ?


    No. This is not mercy . This is cruelty.


    Of the worst kind .