The Forsaken Hero
I closed my eyes and let out a shuddering breath. My fingers were numb and cold, my arm aching where the needle pierced the vein. Something clattered onto the pavement, and I looked down to see the needle. It had slipped out of my hand. Nothingness swirled around me, bringing the first sense of peace I'd felt in my short, miserable life. There was no one to miss me, and no one I would miss. There's always someone else to beat or rape. The regulars would move on quickly. I died. Only...wasn't death supposed to be dark? And since when did 'nothingness' have so many gods? Discord: https://discord.gg/PX3xqJdZMY
Beneath the Heart of Winter
There were five other soldiers, one sixth-level, the other four all third-level, standing in the intersection where the path turned to ascend the chasm. They jumped at the first's words, shock flashing across their faces, before standing at attention and snapping a salute.
"You've returned!" the sixth-level woman said. Her short brown hair was streaked with gray, and she seemed familiar, though I couldn't place where I'd met her. She caught me staring and smiled faintly, giving a little bow. "The name's Annette; we fought together in Bluegate Keep. I was assigned to guard this portion of the chasm in case the demons tried anything funny. The rest of these young-uns were displaced when their squad leader was slain clearing the cavern of the remaining demon forces, so I took them under my wing and let them stand guard. I hope you don't mind."