Dawn- An Age Of Darkness

Consciousness.

Daarc's consciousness floated. 

It didn't just float anywhere- no. It floated in a very white place. 

He'd been to this place before- no, he'd been to the place just beneath this place- the river of life. 

This was a place above- a place where no soul alive was permitted. 

Daarc could see everything and he could feel the warmth. But something within him felt empty. He couldn't quite understand what. 

His memories were a little fuzzy but he could remember that all his friends were now dead and he too had died.

But- he didn't feel restless. He didn't really feel any emotions. 

It was almost as though- nothing had any meaning anymore. 

Everything was meaningless. 

Perhaps it was because he was dead, or perhaps this place had some sort of effect on him… he didn't know. 

"Welcome Daarc Green." A woman appeared before him. A woman clothed in light clothing: golden hair and a beautiful face. 

Daarc didn't feel a thing and he didn't reply. 

Many men and women alike manifested behind that woman. All of them were wearing similar clothes- the clothes of heaven. And they all had similar looks- divine. 

Demigods.

"This place is?" Daarc's eyes were lifeless and he couldn't really feel anything even if he wanted to. It was all meaningless now anyway. Despite all that, he found himself asking the question. 

"Heaven- the afterlife- the world of death- the final resting place- it has many names."

Daarc would have chuckled if he wasn't in this state. But he was. 

That's when it occurred to him- "What about my comrades? They all died too, right? So why aren't they here?"

Actually, he didn't really see many people here. Only the demigods were here, no other mortals.

And if he was the only mortal here then- even in death, he couldn't be together with his comrades that gave their lives for him?

"That's because-" A shadowy figure warped just next to Daarc.

For a second Daarc almost jumped and tried to draw a sword. 

But then he realized, he was just wearing a shirt and a pant- no swords. And he was dead- so it was all meaningless now. 

The shadowy figure snorted. "That's more like it. This is just an imitation. The real one was destroyed." The shadowy figure took of his cloak and glared at Daarc. "By me, to be more specific."

The demigods maintained their distance- most of them quivered at the sight. The warrior demigods took the vanguard and waited. They knew they stood no chance- and so they just waited, breathing heavily and sweating as they did: any wrong move and their whole existence was in serious trouble. They didn't look like gods anymore.

"Ashirnae…" Daarc spoke softly. "What are you doing here?"

Ashirnae, the god of the underworld was here and everyone feared him. The darkness oozing from him was engulfing the light near him. 

Ashirnae spread his hands toward Daarc. "If you wish to learn the truth- take my hand."

"It's meaningless now. Everything's over. I was too conceited." Daarc looked at his arms. Everything was intact and it was almost like he was normal- but he knew he wasn't: this wasn't real. All those scars, wounds, all those deaths- they could never be undone: they could never disappear. "It's all meaningless."

And why would he trust Ashirnae of all people after all this time?

"Yes, don't listen to him Daarc Green. You've tried enough. Come with us, rest in eternal peace." The golden-haired woman invited Daarc in her embrace. 

"Yes, be in eternal peace by being reborn on that cursed world and reliving the same past over and over again till the world is destroyed."

Daarc's eyes twitched slightly. "What?"

"I'll say it again." Ashirnae looked at Daarc with a glare befitting a God. A glare that sent shivers down Daarc's spine but also gave him courage: divine. "Take my hand if you wish to learn the truth- Daarc Green."

"But everyone's-"

"Don't count on things you've lost. There are other things to look forward to. There are other people to protect. There are promises to keep. Or have you forgotten everything?"

Daarc already knew that. And he badly needed to hear those words. He just wanted someone to scream at him, tell him, 'It was okay' even though it wasn't. Tell him, 'It was going to alright' even though it'd never be.

He just wanted to be comforted. 

He wanted to cry. Let it all out: let it all go.

But he sure didn't expect Ashirnae to say that. 

"But I'm dead. I-"

"You are dead only if you choose to be. Your curse can keep you alive if you choose so- though you'll still be dead, an Undead. You have a choice, either be dead and stay dead, be reborn. Or, be dead, and come alive and live as an Undead- achieve what you set out to do before perishing for good."

A slither of emotion returned. Daarc's heart quivered. The pain of losing- the hope of returning and preventing further loss. His heart shivered with pain and hope. 

His chest burned. His right arm disappeared and he met with pain. 

Pain- after all this time. The pain he ignored… the burning PAIN!

And a desire for revenge. 

"No, Daarc Green don't listen to him. Your pain will only increase!" The woman said. But she didn't have enough courage to come forward.

"Then so be it. I'll see the end to this even if I have to die over and over again!" He went closer to Ashirnae and grabbed his hand. "Even if it means I have to live as an Undead. Even if it means, I've to be indebted to you!"

Black miasma flowed in the air- surrounded the two, and they disappeared. 

***

The blinding light ceased to be and in turn, darkness reigned supreme.

"In the beginning, there was the world tree and only that- I'm sure you're aware of that."

The two were alone in this dark place. Both could see each other, but Daarc could understand, this place was really, really large. 

But he wasn't afraid. 

"Yeah, Ve told me." 

Even with Ashirnae- his sworn enemy, Daarc didn't feel any emotions. He didn't want to do anything anymore. 

And yet- he couldn't really run away from hope either. He was torn between the choice but for the time being, he put everything on hold. 

"But that's not quite true. It wasn't true for this world and there is a lot more than just this world. I'm sure you're aware of that much."

"Yeah." After all, he himself had come from another world. 

Ashirnae waved his hand and a slither of light appeared before Daarc, showing him the past. 

"The world tree, is the world itself. Bestowing us life and blessings. The one you see in this picture is the physical representation of the world tree in the original heaven.. The roots of that tree gave birth to us gods and the fruit, the grand monsters."