Some ends
The Book of the Try-World — PrologueChapter 0.D
I was sinking slowly to the depths of the ocean.
A trickle of blood was slipping from the scales of my throat and dancing before my eyes. Now unable to breathe, the water had no other path but to rush inside my lungs. The pain of the moment faded strangely fast, while my body was shaking with its last spasm, and that life was leaving me. So it was that, the sensation of drowning. What an irony.
— After all, we both have to win; let's make ourselves quite clear, says the man with a blank mask.
Chapter 0.S
He was falling inexorably toward the ground.
The blood was flowing from his back and on all the shells of his body. He could still feel his wings, even though they had been ripped. During all this time, the ground had never seemed so low to him. The impact was not going to be pretty, but the pain and the poison were about to kill him first, while his body had a last shiver and that life was leaving him. So it was that, the sensation of free fall. Some humor.
— If you agree, I will make sure you'll have it, says the man with a blank mask.
Chapter 0.O
I was collapsing in the middle of embers and flames.
I coughed to my last breath, and spits of blood flew off a moment before falling back to my face. I looked one last time at the blazing stake which was coming out of my chest. I smiled stupidly, realizing I couldn't even see the blood coming out of my wound, now, since my fur was completely soaked. The fire was scorching my hairs, and my flesh was starting to calcine, while I was convulsing one last time and that life was leaving me. So it was that, the sensation of burning. What a joke.
— So, deal? Says the man with a blank mask.
Chapter 0
I will never forget that horrible sensation, piercing through my body, my heart, and my soul.
He had shot me. He had never stopped his friendly smile, during all the discussion. Even when he had taken out his strange weapon, his expression had stayed unchanged. Why make me pledge, if that was his goal?
When I returned to my senses, my perception wasn't the same. I struggled with all my strength, without being able to move an inch of my body. I endured the wetness, the heat, the freshness. I thought losing my mind, because of all those drastically different feelings coming at the same time. One thing was still unique in that improbable combination: the pain. I was surrounded by the water, the fire, the air. I was drowning, burning, falling. I had stood many torments during my millenary existence, yet, a simple human, under his hood, his mask, and his warm smile, had given me regret to still be alive, even more to have asked him for help. This had to stop.
— Get up. Get up! GET UP!