Role

Chapter 1

"Nyrka wake up. It's fine, please get up." And yet, I was unable to escape
the shadow. I could not move or force myself up. Am I dead? Is there truly
only blackness after death? Ah, not just blackness. There are dots, colored
dots. What are they? Stars? I must be dead and this was my last rites. If
I cannot wake myself, it must be true. I am weak. Weaker than my brother.
How could I not fight him? I defeated him battle, but I could not defeat the
lich and him in willpower. Pathetic, I had attacked the Marans that saved my
life! No, it was not me. It was my brother, but I was unable to stop him. I
tried to convince him that freedom was better than slavery. He called me a
liar and then crushed my mind. A shame. It is a mercy that I am dead now.
At least I do not have to deal with the shame of betraying my friends. I am
not Schlade, my brother and I have much in common afterall. "Yesss, Nyrrrka,
you underrrssstand now, mrrrw." What was that? It was my brother! "Now you
can join me in death. Forrreverrr, we can do what we want, mrrrw?" I could,
yes, but my wants would be different from yours, betrayer. "We arre now the
sssame.You betrrrayed yourrr frrriendsss jussst asss I betrrrayed ourrrr
fatherrr." Hmm, perhaps you are right. "Yesss, mrrrw."No that isn't right.
iss that ssso?" You controlled me. "Ssso? You failed them asss I
failed ourrr fatherrr."You forced me, Shurrik! Against my will! "Yesss,
you were weak, mrrrw. I wasss ssstrrrong. Fight with me. I will sssshow
you the rrrroad to powerrr!" Dark mage lackey!You are just as weak as I
am. "I did what I wanted, mrrrw!" You fool, you lied.You are trying to
hide the fact that you are weak. There was nothing for a period of time. I
had thought he fled from me. "And you arrre not weak?"Go to hell! "I have
been therrre. It isss quite a lovely place, mrrrw." Well, at least leave me
alone! I won't listen to you. "No?" No! "You will underrrssstand, mrrrw,
when you rrreach the land of the dead." Dead? "You arrre dying, arrre you
not, mrrrw?" I am and I deserve this death. "Yesss."I said nothing just
let myself go into oblivion. I will die for my crime. It is hard to tell
how long I was in the shadow. An hour? A day? A week? A month? A year?
Time was irrelevant. Then a sudden jolt ran through my veins. I was jolted
awake. Brilliant light entered my eyes and I raised my arm to shield them.
What is this sorcery? I was supposed to be dead!

"Nyrka.Are you fine?"I turned around and saw a white figure. It was
Numair!

"I sssupposse ssso." I fell silent. What was I supposed to say to the man I
tried to kill?

"Nyrka, I understand what happened. You are not yourself. You do not have
to worry about anything." The Maran placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I wasssweak, mrrrw. I am sssorrry that I failed you."

"Nyrka, there are few that can withstand a lich and survive. You are much
stronger than most. All is forgiven.

"Idon't know what to sssay, mrrrw."

"Then don't say anything. Come. I need to show you something."I followed
Numair out of the room.