Re: The System's Harvester

MynameisEvrenLestir.Once,Iwasagirlwhosawtheworldincolorssobright,theycouldwarmeventhecoldestsoul.Butlifehasacruelwayoftestingeventhebrightestflames.AfterlosingeverythingIhelddear,Idriftedthroughahollowexistence—numbtotheworld,blindtoitscolors,anddeaftoitscall.IthoughtnothingcouldreignitethelightIlost.ThenTheSystemfoundme.Withshimmeringbluepanelsandwordsthathummedlikeperfectpromises,itpulledmeintoanotherreality—amazeofendlessworldsstitchedtogetherbymissions,monsters,andtheillusionofprogress.Alabyrinthwhereforwardwastheonlyoption.Atfirst,Ithoughtitwassalvation.Eachstep,eachbattle,eachdropofbloodpaintedforgottencolorsbackintomyworld.IgrewdrunkonthehuesIhadlost,chasingthesky’sbeautywithachildlikewonder,believingthefieldsandhillsbeforemewerealltherewas.Butatorchshininginanarrowcorridorcanmakeevenaprisonlooklikeapalace.Intruth,Iwasafrogatthebottomofawell,gazingatafragmentofasky—naïvetotheinfiniteworldbeyondthegrittystonewallsbuiltbyTheSystem.Butafteramistakeinthatomnipotentconstruct,Ifoundmyselfpeekingthroughacrackinthewall,presentedwithafragmentofthetruthIneversaw. Thismazewasnevermeanttobeescaped.Itwasnevermeanttobeclimbed—noteventoglimpsetheskybeyond.Yetthroughthatslendercrack,aflickerofsunlightignitedsomethinglong-buriedwithinme—asparkofthecampfireIoncecarried.Iwillchasethatlight.Iwillseebeyondthesewalls.AndIwillremembertheworldtheytriedtobury.EvenifeverystrikeImakeagainstthewallssendsripplesofruinthroughthemaze.