Farnes' story

Farnes's shock was palpable, his usually calm composure broken as he processed Alex's revelation. 

He glanced down at his hand, noticing the crumbling wood, and let out a slow breath to steady himself.

"You two…" 

He shook his head, a glimmer of bewilderment in his eyes. 

"Most people reach that threshold decades, sometimes centuries, into their lives. You've barely started, and already you're on the edge of becoming a Higher lifeform." 

He gave a half-smile, though his eyes were still clouded with a mixture of surprise and caution. 

"So, tell me, what exactly led you here so quickly?"

"Honestly, that's what I was hoping you could help with…" 

Alex replied, holding his gaze steady. 

"When Mira and I looked at our requirements, the System said we'd already 'broken free of mortal bindings,' but I can't shake the feeling that most C+ ranks don't have that marked as complete so soon."

Thud!