Life Beyond End

---

There it was again.

The dark, endless void.

A place where existence itself didn't seem to matter—a perfect mirror of my past life.

It wasn't just the emptiness this time, though. Images—no, visions—flooded my mind. The deaths of countless beings across the universe. The weight of it pressed down on me like a mountain.

Why? Why was this my responsibility?

"Why me?" I whispered into the abyss.

But it wasn't like the void could answer. It wasn't some sentient being with wisdom to share. It just was. Empty, unfeeling, and indifferent.

I hated it.

---

Four years had passed.

Morning broke, and with it came the usual routine: breakfast. Peaceful as always.

Andrea sat across from me, poking at her food. Then she gave me this look. "Flynn, sometimes you talk like an old man," she said, grinning like she'd cracked some kind of joke.

"Uhm, uhh, erghhh…" I stammered, trying to come up with something witty. "I don't know?"

Smooth, Flynn. Real smooth.

Mom chuckled, coming to my rescue. "Andrea, just leave him be."

Thank you, Mom. You're a lifesaver.

Dad and Mom were their usual selves—sweet to the point of giving everyone else in the room diabetes. They always had this unspoken connection, exchanging these goofy, lovey-dovey glances over breakfast. Honestly, it was a little much.

Andrea, though? She was cool. We clicked, like we were synced on the same brainwave.

After breakfast, I grabbed my bag. It was playtime.

"Bye, Dad! I'm heading out!"

"See ya, Flynn!" Dad waved without looking up from his plate.

"Be back before sunset!" Mom called out.

"Got it!"

---

The village was its usual self—peaceful and alive.

The fields stretched out in neat rows of green, the air smelled fresh, and the sunlight was just warm enough to feel comforting but not annoying.

"Yo, Flynn!" one of the farmers called out, tipping his straw hat at me.

"Good morning, mister!" I waved back.

This village, man. It was everything my old life wasn't. The people were kind, the air was clean, and for once, I felt like I actually belonged.

But I wasn't about to dwell on the past.

Focus on the present, Flynn.

And there they were—Daniel and Fareé. Standing near the well, chatting and laughing like they didn't have a care in the world.

I waved at them, and they waved back, all smiles.

"Hello, Fareé!" I greeted her first because, let's face it, priorities.

"H-hi, Flynn!" She blushed, her cheeks turning the kind of pink that could knock out Cupid himself.

Okay, yeah, I want to marry her.

"Oooh," Daniel teased, leaning in way too close. "You like her, don't you?"

I shoved him lightly. "Oh, shut up, Dani!"

But my face was already burning.

---

The three of us spent the morning doing whatever kids do—exploring, climbing trees, chasing each other around. It was fun, simple, and perfect.

Eventually, we flopped down in the shade of a giant oak tree to catch our breath.

"Hey, Flynn," Fareé said, her voice quieter than usual.

"Yeah?"

She fiddled with the hem of her dress, not meeting my eyes. "Can you teach me magic again?"

My brain short-circuited. "O-okay..."

She nodded quickly.

Her face lit up, and that alone made saying yes worth it.

---

We went to the same open field on the edge of the village—isolated, quiet, and perfect for practicing magic without interruptions.

"Okay," I started, trying to channel my inner teacher.

Fareé nodded, her eyes wide and eager.

I went through the advanced level—the stuff I'd picked up from books and practice. She soaked it all in like a sponge, her concentration adorable and intense.

"Now, try this," I said, demonstrating an advanced water spell.

She followed my lead, and after a couple of tries, a tiny flicker of water sparked in her hands.

"Woah…" she whispered, staring at the water droplet like it was the coolest thing she'd ever seen.

"See? You're a natural," I said, grinning.

Her face turned pink again, and I realized I was staring.

She was beautiful. Her orange hair glowed in the sunlight, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Cute…" The word slipped out before I could stop it.

Shit, i did it again!

Her eyes widened, and she blushed even harder. "..."

Oh, crap. Abort! Abort!

"I—I didn't mean it like—"

But before I could finish, she grabbed my hand and pressed it to her cheek. Her skin was soft, warm, and I could feel my brain melting.

"I-it's okay," she murmured, barely above a whisper. "Hehe, you did it again..."

Oh. My. God.

Every coherent thought in my head vanished. The only word left was:

CUTE.

---

I wish this could last forever.

The village was quiet, peaceful, just as it always was. The sun was setting, bathing the fields in a soft golden glow, and the air smelled faintly of fresh hay and bread. My book was clutched tightly in my hands—a new story I'd picked up earlier today.

For a moment, life felt... normal.

Then I saw them.

Four men stood near my house. They were tall, rough-looking, and didn't belong here. Their clothes were grimy, their expressions mean.

Bandits.

My stomach twisted into knots.

Why here? Why now?

The book slipped from my hands as I broke into a sprint. My mind was racing, each step pounding the same frantic thought into my head: What's happening? What's happening?

I slammed the door open. "Mom! Dad! Andrea!"

And there they were.

Mom and Andrea were tied up on the floor, their faces pale and tear-streaked. Dad stood between them and the bandits, his hands raised in surrender, a sword pointed at his chest.

"Flynn!" Dad gasped when he saw me. "Get out of here! Go!"

I froze in the doorway. My feet felt like they were glued to the floor, and my throat tightened as I tried to process the scene in front of me.

One of the bandits sneered, stepping closer. His blade gleamed in the dim light. "Another one, huh? You've got a pretty little family here."

The words made my skin crawl.

Before I could move, something cold pressed against my neck. A knife. A hand clamped down on my shoulder, yanking me back against someone's chest.

"NO!" Dad roared, stepping forward.

The bandit holding me chuckled. "Careful, old man. Wouldn't want your boy here to lose his head, would ya?"

Dad froze, his face crumpling in despair.

"Please," he said, his voice trembling. "Don't hurt them. Take me instead, but leave my family alone."

The bandits laughed. A sick, guttural sound that made my stomach churn.

"Take you?" one of them sneered. "Oh, we'll take more than that. How about we start with your wife and that pretty elf girl over there?"

No.

I clenched my fists. My whole body shook with rage, but I couldn't do anything. I was stuck, pinned in place by fear.

"Please," Dad begged again, his voice breaking. "Just let them go."

And then, in one sudden, brutal move, Dad lunged.

He grabbed the blade of the bandit in front of him with his bare hands, blood pouring instantly from his palms. With a roar, he kicked the man between the legs. The bandit crumpled, and Dad grabbed the sword, swinging it with all his strength.

The sound of steel slicing through flesh filled the room, followed by a heavy thud as the bandit's head hit the floor.

The man holding me shoved me forward, letting go of his grip in the chaos.

"FLYNN!" Dad shouted, his voice raw. "GET YOUR MOM AND ANDREA OUT OF HERE!"

"No!" I screamed, stumbling toward him. "I'm not leaving you!"

"FLYNN, GO!" His eyes blazed with desperation as he swung at the next bandit.

He was outnumbered three to one, blood pouring from his hands and shoulders, but he didn't stop. He couldn't.

I didn't want to leave him. Every fiber of my being screamed to stay, to fight. But I had no choice.

I turned and ran toward Mom and Andrea, grabbing a shortsword from the table as I went.

The bandit behind me charged, his blade raised high. I spun, instinct kicking in, and thrust my sword into his stomach.

His eyes widened in shock as blood gushed from the wound. I yanked the blade free, and he collapsed with a wet groan.

"Come on!" I urged Mom and Andrea, cutting the ropes binding them.

"We can't just leave your father!" Mom cried, her voice breaking.

"We don't have a choice!" I snapped, trying to keep the panic from consuming me.

I glanced back one last time.

Dad was losing.

One of the bandits slashed at him, the blade cutting deep into his shoulder. Another grabbed his arm, twisting it until something cracked.

He looked at me, his face pale but determined.

"GO!" he yelled.

It felt like my chest was being ripped apart, but I grabbed Mom and Andrea's hands and pulled them out the back door.

The village wasn't safe. Bandits were everywhere, shouting orders, dragging people from their homes.

"Fareé... Daniel..." I whispered, my chest tightening at the thought of my friends. Were they okay?

We ducked into an old shed near the edge of the village. I shut the door quietly, pressing my ear against the wood to listen for any sounds.

My heart pounded so loudly it drowned out everything else.

"I thought I'd changed," I muttered to myself, sinking to the floor. "I thought I was stronger. But I'm still just... useless."

Mom crouched next to me, gripping my shoulder. "Flynn, you're not—"

The door burst open.

A bandit stood in the doorway, his massive frame silhouetted by the dying light. He held a greatsword, the blade glinting like something out of a nightmare.

"Found you," he said, his voice low and menacing.

I shoved Mom and Andrea behind me, raising my shortsword. My hands shook, but I didn't back down.

"Stay back!" I yelled.

The bandit grinned, stepping forward. "Oh, this'll be fun."

He swung, and the force of his blade was like a thunderclap. I dodged, the sword slamming into the ground and splintering the floorboards.

I rushed him, aiming for his side, but he was faster. He brought the flat of his blade around, and it hit me like a battering ram.

The impact sent me flying out of the shed, my body crashing into a tree. Pain exploded through my chest, and I tasted blood.

"Flynn!" Mom screamed, her voice distant.

The bandit stepped out, his grin widening.

"Not so tough now, huh?"

I tried to stand, but my legs gave out.

He raised his sword, the blade catching the light as he prepared to bring it down.

Guess this is how it ends.

My vision blurred. Everything went dark.