Chapter 1 Arthur
Arthur was born with a rare condition. A severe energy deficiency within his body that leaves him with hardly any energy beyond being alive.
His mother died during childbirth and his father remained unknown. he was handed over to the care of an orphanage where his condition became more evident as he grew up. Moving his body took too much effort and he always felt lethargic with frequent sessions of sleep. Just being alive was exhausting.
He was taken in by Project HOPE to one of their research hospitals in China in hopes of studying his condition and find a cure. By the age of 8, his condition had progressively worsened and he became permanently bedridden.
It had become impossible for Arthur to stand, move a limb or even lift a finger. He was in a permanent state of exhaustion and weakness with a gradually weakening heart. He was set up for life on a Ventricular Assist Device and tubes for nutrition and energy.
This became his existence. Sleep was no escape either for only darkness waited for him. Until one day some months after he became bedridden.
When Arthur fell asleep, he found his consciousness drifting to a world that felt more vivid than any dream. Here he came to witness the beginnings of a hero's journey. A sense of excitement, and wonder captured him. it was the best experience of his life.
The next time he fell asleep, he found himself brought back to this world. To the Hero's Quest. He had found his escape away from his body. This new world had become like a life line to him. And like a man watching something beautiful in a house through the window, yet unable to be part, he was filled with longing. But just watching would be enough.
Arthur who knew only weakness when awake, could only look forward to sleep. For when he slept, Arthur forgot about his pitiful state. In his dreams he was transported to the world of Terros where like a ghost he followed the hero's story and his allies as they stood at the front of humanity against the Conquest seeking Demon race.
This has been his life, his sanctuary from his useless weak body. 10 years he has watched the hero's journey and now he believes the climax is here for the hero stands before the abominable Demon king.
To Arthur who had no family and friends, the hero was like his brother and the heroes companion his friends. He had cheered upon their very victory and cursed against their obstacles.
As he stood invisible besides the Shining hero, he felt a part of this journey as much as the hero's companions. He was filled with excitement, anticipation and trepidation at what was to come. He silently cheered the Hero and prayed against prayer for his victory.
As the Hero Brandished his blades, ready to launch his first attack against the incarnation of Malice, Arthur felt a sudden pain besiege his consciousness. It felt like a blade, unseen had been plunged into his chest. it was a pain he had never felt before in his life.
Before he could contemplate what the source of the pain was, Everything became blurry and distant. The world around him started fading as he felt something pull him away, like a hook in his being dragging him to another place. His body!
He woke up to a room bright with lights, His body wracked with new pain and weakness and defibrillator being pressed to his heart, sending an electric shock through him. He was beseeched by a group of doctors fussing all about his being.
He was coughing and each cough sent waves of pain through his body even as breathing had become a trial. He knew. in that moment Arthur knew what was happening to him. He was dying! His body had finally given up on him.
Amid all the pain, exhaustion and hurt, Arthur retreated To his inner place within his mind. He couldn't bear it. Not now. He had never been afraid of death. One day when he was 10, he over heard his doctors. They thought he was asleep and one of them said his body wouldn't last a decade. He had accepted his fate and resigned himself to it.
There was nothing for him in this life anyway. Everything he had was in his dreams. He had spent more hours asleep than awake, watching the Hero's story. And yet when the last battle came, his own body wouldn't let him have this one moment before dying on him.
Arthur looked on from his mind as his body progressively failed. He stood like a ghost above his body, watching it struggle for life it had never had. In that moment he wondered what it would be like to stand before the hero, to battle for the fate of a world.
He wondered what he would have said to the hero had They met in person. He wondered how the Hero's journey would end. And in that moment he wished he had a few more days of life. Just a few more moments to walk the dream of Terros and see the Hero's story come to its end.
Slowly the coughing stopped. His breathing slowed, and his heart stopped. As the cold embrace of death and darkness claimed him, Arthur cursed his pathetic body, wishing it had held on till the end of the dream, Wishing that the hero had known of his existence and wishing for the Hero's victory.