*
Beyond the throne room lay more tunnels, yet these were a welcome sight after everything that had happened. The tunnel they soon found themselves in was rather bland, as even the ever plentiful ç'aether were sparse, and apparently dimmer than before. The path had not changed much, although it did seem to slope upwards more often, which Barsch thought was a good sign.
“Sigh. I feel so... tired. Why can't we ever catch a break, huh? I mean, ever since I was injured, it's been one thing after another. First we had that homicidal A.I. to worry about, and then we find ourselves in a cave packed with ç’aether, which has already started messing with my dreams, and then, after all that, we meet the Avatars again. And, instead of just letting them give their warning, Alza and Kingston have to pick a fight with them.”
Reaching up, Barsch felt himself rubbing his eyes. Everything felt… strange. It was as if he was looking at himself from a long way away. The young man he saw now looked ready to drop at any moment. From his limp limbs to his half-lidded eyes, everything screamed exhaustion. Except the man of course, who did not look capable of producing even a whisper.
“Ah... seriously, why am I so tired all of a sudden. And then I have to deal with Terra telling everyone about the Beast, as if I didn't have enough to worry about already! I know it's been getting worse lately, but what can I do about it? I've tried Kingston's method, and it didn't work. The moment I let it take over, I lose all control, and it's all I can do to stop myself from hurting them... And this ç’aether sure isn't helping... argh! It feels like my legs are made of lead... why can't we just stop and rest for a while, huh? Always moving, never stopping.... through fire, through ice, through deepest despair, never lose your stride, right?”
His vision was already more dark than light, but something pierced through the growing darkness. An image. A memory. A reminder. His father, standing beside him, telling him the words that he would remember for the rest of his life.
“Well dad, I've weathered a lot more than some fire, ice and despair so far! I mean, honestly! In the past month, I've narrowly escaped exploding cities, walked through a desert with a broken leg, fought off an entire pack of cóyotl, fallen down a waterfall, faced down a dire wolf and had most of my back burnt off by acid rain! Haven't I earned a rest? Haven't I earned a dreamless sleep?”
He was arguing with himself, which was never a good sign. And worse, he was losing. “Wow, I must really be burnt out... Ha ha, burnt… get it? I'm sure the universe won't mind if I just lay down... just for a second…”
With the speed of continental drift and the sound of flesh hitting rock, Barsch collapsed to the floor. As his brain switched to standby, he heard someone calling his name.
Awakening Page 192