For the longest time, Connor felt cold. A sinking, deep cold that penetrated into the deepest parts of his soul. He was drowning under miles of water with seemingly no end in sight. The water was cold, too cold to breathe. Just as he was about to disappear into the dark abyss, he felt something rise up from underneath him. Accelerating upwards, Connor found himself above the water's surface, gasping for breath. A sudden wave of warmth washed over him, and his once racing heart calmed. The teen could swear he was in danger, but it seemed to have passed, and now a tranquil scene emerged from around him. Looking up, Connor saw that he was standing on a small boat. It was simple, a single small mast and a tiller. It felt warm, almost alive. Strangely, the vessel seemed to glow.

Despite the lack of wind, Connor's small boat seemed to glide forward under sail with little effort. The gold-tinted waters seemed to go on forever, shrouded by warm fog. Time here felt… weird. On the one hand, he could swear that he had been sailing for weeks. On the other hand, it only felt like a few minutes at most. He had heard voices, mostly muffled, beyond the fog. Some voices though would be a bit more recognizable. Connor could swear that he heard his mother, his father, John, even Drake. Drake's especially sent a chill down his spine. Connor grabbed the tiller and attempted to steer the boat away from the voices, but it had little effect. The boat seemed to be moving on a predetermined course and nothing would dissuade it.

The voices seemed to pass by though, and after they faded into nothing, Connor relaxed. Something was odd, those were all people who should be dead. Was he? No, he couldn't be better to shake the feeling away and press on until he could find an exit. The thought couldn't escape him though, something seemed off. In the distance, a small figure manifested out of the fog. Connor squinted hard to make out who it was, but as the fog lifted, he could see that it was Asher! Not thinking, Connor stepped out of the boat. At first, he thought he might drown, but to his surprise the water was only a few inches deep.

"Odd…"

"Connor…" Asher said, though lips didn't move. Connor turned his focus back to Asher standing several yards away. Excitedly, he ran up to his brother.

"Asher! Are you okay?" But the answer was unexpected.

"How could you leave me, Connor? You're my brother, you said you would never leave me again! Now you're gone…"

"What? No, Asher, I'm right here in front of you. See?"

But as Connor attempted to take Asher's hand, the figure disappeared into mist. A second later, another figure materialized behind him.

"Connor." His sister's unmistakable voice spoke out to him. Connor spun around.

"Liz? Where's Asher. He was just here. C'mon, we should go and find—"

"Why don't you want me to be happy? Sam would take care of me, yet you hurt him. You hurt me. Why?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about Liz, of course I want you to be happy…"

But as he reached for Liz, she too disappeared.

"Connor, you were supposed to write to me."

The teen again turned around, only to see Eira standing before him.

"Eira… I've been writing to you all summer. Are you not getting my letters?"

"And now, I'll never see you again." Eira said, looking at him deep in the soul.

"I love you, but now you're gone…" She finished, vanishing in the process.

"Connor, I need you." Shadow said, appearing where Eira was.

"Shadow, someone as strong as you surely don't need someone like me."

"I needed a good man, Connor. You helped me find a better life, but now you aren't here anymore. I need you Connor, so why did you leave…" This figure too disappeared.

"Guys, please! Wait, stay here with me. Don't go!" But Connor's pleas only echoed throughout space, mixing with the fog. Connor tried running in whatever direction he thought was best, heart now pounding at the thought that he was separated from his family. A creeping feeling was starting to get to him, something that he tried his best to suppress. This couldn't be happening…

After several minutes, Connor saw an end to this weird body of water. He walked to the shore, coming up out of the water and onto a beach. It was warm, with a golden sky above him and puffy, gold-tinted clouds rolling by. It felt oddly like home, like Maine. Only warmer.

"It's good to see you again, Connor. I was wondering how long it would be until you found your way here."

Connor turned to his side to see another figure on the beach. A stout basitin in flowing robes, though covered with light scars in various places. While much of him seemed strangely different, the face remained as recognizable as ever.

"Shiloh?"

"I'm glad you remember me. Though you are most remiss."

"Remiss?"

"That necklace you took from me when I died. It was supposed to go back to my family, yes?"

"Of course. You think I was going to loot your body? As soon as I found them, they'd have it back."

"And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

"What do you mean? Look, Shiloh, nothing here is making any sense."

"Of course it shouldn't make sense, Connor. You aren't supposed to be here yet."

"I don't even know where 'here' is, Shiloh. So mind filling me in?"

"Connor, you know where we are. You know what happened. All you have to do is quit denying it to yourself."

"Shiloh, please. I-I'm confused. There must be some mistake here. A dream perhaps? A hallucination? I was freezing in a blizzard before I came here."

"Yes, Connor, you were. And then what happened?"

"I… I closed my eyes." Connor said, a pained look forming across his face as the pieces finally all came together to form the reality that he didn't want to notice. "I died, didn't I?"

"I'm afraid so, my friend."

"And that's why I'm able to talk to you. So my family, those voices weren't real?"

"No, that's just your mind trying to jumpstart you awake."

"So I'm not dead?"

"No, you're most definitely dead. Your heart stopped. All that's left of 'you' now is your soul, same as me."

Connor then dropped to his knees in grief. He not only failed his family but was now separated from them. However, he felt a hand on his shoulder followed by a comforting voice.

"Dead… just dead then? So all that I've done was for nothing…"

"Don't give up Connor. You may technically be dead, but you really aren't supposed to be here yet. Ephemural says you still have a part to play in their great game."

Connor raised his head up to look at Shiloh. "Ephemural? You mean…"

"Neutral. One of the masks, yes."

"Well, what could a God possibly want with me? She knows I'm not exactly religious, or even faithful, right?"

"Ephemural is aware, but that doesn't really seem to matter. Connor, you're on a path that you must continue down. There's something you must do before you can rest here in the afterlife."

"While I'm glad to see you again, Shiloh, I've got a lot of questions if what you say is true. Can I speak with neutral?"

"Not here you can't, but you'll have your chance. Trust me. But while you're still here, there's a couple of things you must know."

"Okay…"

"My family doesn't know what happened to me. You promised to tell them what happened. I need to know you'll still do that."

"Of course I will, Shiloh. I gave my word."

"Thank you, I know you'll keep it just as you've kept your word to others. Please, also tell my daughter that I love her. I still wish I could have seen here again before I died in that horrible place."

"I will Shiloh. I'll make sure they know you died bravely. Asher tells me such a death is the most honorable way for a basitin to meet their fate. But first I'll need to get back."

"I'll show you the way. Follow me."

Shiloh extended a hand to help his friend up. Together, they walked along the beach. Other souls began to appear. Some played on the beach, others were further inland. All seemed to be having the time of their lives. Or afterlives. He didn't see anyone he recognized though.

"Hey Shiloh?"

"Yes?"

"Are my mother and father here?"

"I personally haven't run into them. The afterlife is a big place. But I imagine their souls found their way here."

"It's funny. A while back I had a dream about seeing her, and Liz. I wonder if she was speaking to me then."

"I'm sorry, Connor, but that was just a dream. We can't interact directly with the living. Only the masks have that power, though it's rumored some of the most powerful dragons can cross between realms."

"Rumors, huh. So I guess we don't get all the answers even in death."

"Well, we do get the answers to the questions we most care about. When you come here for good, you'll be able to find your parents because you truly love them. But because they aren't people I know; they are merely souls in this vast landscape."

"Does everyone make it here? For instance, is Drake here?"

"Yes, but people you despise are only ever in the background, and certainly not a threat as they were in life."

"So basically, this is all one shared realm, but it's a paradise to each individual?"

"That's a simplification of it, but yes."

"And we're all guaranteed to end up here?"

"Most souls find their way here, but others can fall into numerous traps. One of Nora's children especially is responsible for many lost souls."

"Oh, that reminds me. Shiloh, that egg you helped to save. It hatched. Her name is Zephyr. Before I died, I told her to fly off and find shelter. Do you know if she made it?"

"Zephyr… that's a good name. All I know is she isn't here, so I suppose she found her way to safety."

"I should return then. But this place seems… peaceful. I haven't known a lot of peace in my life, it would be nice to stay a while…"

"No Connor, you must return before your death becomes permanent. Another chance at life is a rare gift, so I hope you take it and use it well."

Shiloh then pointed at a dock where another boat was waiting. "Ephemural even prepared you a vessel for your journey back."

"So what do I do?"

"Sail it, Connor. Sail back into the fog. It won't take long, but you'll find your way back to your body."

"Will it hurt? You know, coming back from the dead?"

"I imagine so. You'll have to deal with whatever injuries you've sustained, though Neutral told me before you arrived that your dragon found help, so hopefully you'll be healing when you return to life. She also wanted me to caution you. People who've had experiences like these aren't quite the same as they were originally. Death will make you different from who you once were."

"What do you mean by 'different' Shiloh?"

"Not even the masks know that which is why I'm warning you now. Don't let go of the things that make you, 'you', Connor. But instead, take this experience to heart and try to live a fulfilling life. When the time comes for you to play your part, you'll feel it. Now, you had better get going before this window closes."

"Very well. Once more into the breech, I suppose. Oh yeah, I never got to thank you for your instruction. It's kept me alive… mostly."

"It was a pleasure. Ah yes, that reminds me. There's one more thing you need to know."

"What would that be?"

"Remember the numbers '75', '15', and '10'. It's the key to winning a war that has yet to come."

"Key? So, those numbers are like a code?"

"It wouldn't be much fun if I told you everything. Just trust me, Connor, it will make sense when you find my secret. It's in an abandoned place up north, far away from other settlements. When asked to go there, go. You might be human, but I trust your character. You'll know what to do with it once you comprehend what those numbers can do."

"Alright, Shiloh. I'll trust you."

"Until we meet again, Connor Ulstad." Shiloh then extended his hand once more, this time to shake the teen's hand out of respect.

"Momento Mori" Connor replied, shaking Shiloh's hand.

"Go, find my family and fulfill your destiny."

Connor climbed into the small boat, one that was quite similar to the one he abandoned earlier. It was a short time spent in the afterlife, but clearly there were things he needed to do in Mekkan still. But if Mom and Dad were there, he wouldn't mind returning when his time came. Still, Neutral would have some explaining to do when Connor ran into the god.

As the boat entered into the fog, Connor began to feel colder. It was returning, the pain he had left behind. Not quite as intense, but still very uncomfortable. Feeling began to come back to him. Fingers, toes, arms, legs, and face all began to feel like burning needles. At the same time, there was a soothing feeling combating the pain. It was the unmistakable touch of magic. Someone was healing him. The fog closed in and cut off all senses except for hearing. Voices began to grow louder and clearer. Before long, Connor could feel that someone was having a conversation around him.

Then the feeling of touch began to return. He could feel bandages covering various places of his body. He could feel a warm body resting on him, the source of the magic. Taste began to return as well. The taste of iron from blood and minerals from water, along with the aftertaste of weird medicines. The smell of incense filled his nostrils, as did residual smoke from a fire. Finally, the sense of time returned to him, and he could sense that a long time had passed from when he had left the world. Something deep within him urged Connor to open his eyes and see the world once more. Part of him wanted to go back to the afterlife, to no longer experience the pain of living. But deep down, he wanted to see his family again. He had the chance to live again, to fulfill what was apparently his destiny. A fate ordained by a god, no less. Willing himself to take the final action of coming back, Connor slowly opened his eyes. As they adjusted, the conversation stopped, followed by blurry figures moving to look over him.

As his focus came back, one voice said, "Welcome back to the land of the living, kid."

Standing over him was a basitin and a human, the human being the one that spoke. Connor groaned as he tried to move, but a hand gently pinned him in place.

"Woah, easy there kid. You've been through a lot and moving too much could be quite painful. So just lay there and relax."

"W-where is Zephyr?"

"I'm here Connor." A voice said inside Connor's head. He looked down at his body to find Zephyr resting on his chest.

"You made it!" He said, with a weak smile forming across his tired face.

"And you almost didn't make it." The basitin said. "But your dragon here led us right to you and we got you out of that snowdrift as quickly as we could. Had you been there another hour… Well, let's just say we wouldn't be talking to you now."

"What about Smith?" Connor asked.

"You mean the other one that was with you? I'm sorry kid, he didn't make it. Long dead by the time we got to you."

"And… where am I?" The teen asked next.

"You're in a basitin village, kid. But don't worry about that. You're among friends. Apparently this one has some questions for you when you're able to think clearly. I'll be back soon, so just rest for now."

Connor could only nod before falling asleep to rest. A lot of things hurt, but he was alive.

He let many hours pass by, barely opening his eyes to get a bearing on where he was or who was in the room with him. The whole time, Zephyr didn't move away from him, always staying on his chest or by his side. Not really able to speak, Connor resorted to keeping himself occupied by conversing with Zephyr in their shared mindscape.

"I owe you my life Z, thank you for not abandoning me like I asked."

"I could never abandon you, Connor. You saved me before I hatched. If anything, I owed you."

"Nonsense. But maybe we can just call it even then."

"Even it is."

"So, was I really dead or almost dead?"

"Connor… I don't want to talk about—"

"Please Z, I need to know. I've… had an experience."

"Alright, I guess you should know. Yes, for a time you were dead."

"And how did I come back from the dead? That almost never happens."

"There are some keidran followers of that human, they taught me how to tap into my magic to breathe life back into you."

"The power to give life… That's quite a feat even for a dragon."

"Well, I guess I had a good motivation."

"Okay, well, there's some things you need to know about. But first, do I have all my fingers and toes?"

"You lost both hands, your face, and a foot…"

"What!?"

"I'm kidding," Zephyr said, laughing.

"That isn't funny Zephyr, I'd be pretty useless like that!"

"We managed to save all parts of you, except for one finger on your left hand. It was exposed when we found you, the flesh was too damaged to the healers insisted on amputation."

"I guess I can live without a finger. Better than being dead, I suppose."

"You know, I may one day be able to help you regrow it…"

"No. Leave it. That way I don't forget the good men who died out there."

"Now, you said something about an experience?"

"Yeah. When I was dead, I found myself in an afterlife. 'The' afterlife, I suppose."

"Did you see anyone?"

"Do you remember a basitin by the name of Shiloh? He helped save you before you hatched."

"I don't remember him myself, but you mentioned him once."

"Well, he was there to greet me. Apparently, one of the masks has a purpose for me to fulfill and Shiloh was the chosen messenger."

"Really? Which mask? I thought there was a lot of them."

"Actually, there's only three that I know of. This one is called Ephemural, or 'Neutral'. She's a demigod."

"A demigod of what?"

"Keidran. Which is odd because I'm hardly an ally to the keidran clans."

"Well, I remember you helping to set those keidran on that ship free when I first hatched."

"That was more out of necessity than kindness. Plus, I really wanted to hurt Drake and the best way to do that was make him lose a lot of money."

"All the same, I can sense you Connor in your deepest thoughts. A lot of humans seem to hold a lot of anger."

"Believe me Z, I've got plenty of anger. I was orphaned, enslaved, kept from my home, beaten, and lied to. But worst of all, I couldn't do anything when my family was torn apart. There's more than enough anger to go around, I just don't keep it so close to my mind or heart."

"I suppose that's not too important right now. But going back to Shiloh and your experience. Did he tell you your destiny?"

"No, but when I'm able to get out of bed and interact with others, I need to find his family. There's something I need to return to them."

"That was it?"

"Well, Shiloh also gave me a set of numbers. '75', '15', and '10'."

"Those don't really seem meaningful."

"Apparently, they are. I'm thinking they may be coordinates. Just keep an eye out for anything that is related to those numbers."

"I will. Hey, I sense you getting tired."

"Yes, I need to rest more. But thank you for staying with me."

"Hey, I won't leave you Connor, I love you."

"I love you too kiddo,"

Connor then placed a hand over Zephyr and returned to his sleep. He'd be ready to face the world again soon, but for now getting some rest was his best move. Connor just hoped that his family was doing well in Callow.