Second Time

Sylas' hair stood on end. He felt a greater threat now than he ever had in his life.

He looked up into the skies, and it seemed as though dozens of portals were opening up one after another. The air rippled and reality bent, lances of silver-blue formed by swirling Aether peeking out from within.

For a moment, Sylas was stunned into a limbo.

He had been in this world of what felt like fantasy for a long while. He had experienced so much, brushed with death tens of times. But right now, he truly felt like he was entirely out of his depth.

There was no movie, no book, no strokes of imagination that could have prepared him for this very moment.

Staring into the jaws of death, he found himself standing at a crossroads once more.

On the left was a path of cowardice.

On the right was a path of bravery. True bravery. Not one built off the back of arrogance or self-overestimation. But one that looked toward the reaper with a cool gaze.