Dying...

Sagus' vision faded into something that was darker than blackness.

True void. His mind raced, but quickly slowed to a crawl as the void overtook him.

'I couldn't do it. I never even got to see Arakarin. I failed the girls and myself. I failed....everyone.' Then his mind stopped. Just before it did, he heard Marianne scream his name and Sophie begging someone to give him back.

Sagus' eyes opened slowly. Looking around, he saw the same void that had taken him earlier, but now he was aware. He wasn't even hurt anymore. If it could be compared to anything, it would be like floating submerged in dry water and a sense of calm.

'So, this is ****. Hmm. It's not so bad. Lonely, though. I almost hope the girls die soon so I can see them again.'

He felt something strange, like something wasn't right. A small distortion appeared and vanished and through it came Marianne, nude and smiling.

'Marianne,' he thought.

She came to him, motionlessly and stopped just before touching him. She smiled her sweet smile at him.

'What happened? Did you die?'

She shook her head. 'No, i'm alive. But i'm also dead. Sagus, I never wanted to tell you this, but i'm a necromancer. I can summon and control the dead. Or, I can summon them, anyway.'

'Thats how you beat Sharcha.'

'Thats right. Right now, my body is on Tyren, in a trance. This is my spirit. I've sent it here to the non-world of the dead to bring you back to life.'

'How? My body was destroyed, wasn't it?'

She smiled sadly. 'It was, but Sophie is repairing you now. She's a talented alchemist. There are only seven people on Tyren who can fix a dissolved human body.'

'So, I really can come back? I can still face Arakarin!'

'It isn't as simple as that. **** doesn't just let her prizes go so easilly. We have to prove that we're worthy of a second chance.'

'We?'

'Yes. Anyone who fails the tests, whether they died or are attempting to revive someone, must stay in void forever.'

'At least I won't be lonely.'

'You will. It isn't truly void if we're together. If one of us fails, we'll never see each other again.'

'I should've known it'd be risky.'

'But...I can stay here with you instead. We can be together for eternity, and neither of us go back. I'm willing to stay wth you, if that's what you want.'