The air around Echo crackled with an unfamiliar stillness. The brilliant light that had surrounded him during the transition was fading, and as it dissipated, he found himself standing on soft, green grass. The cool breeze of this new world kissed his skin, carrying the sweet scent of flowers and the earthy aroma of distant forests. The sky was clear and boundless, a vibrant shade of blue with the faintest tinge of orange near the horizon.
He blinked, absorbing the scene before him. It was... peaceful. The world he had chosen was real. His heart, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, slowed. He had left behind the bloodshed, the endless battles for power, the unforgiving world he had fought in. The weight that had pressed against his chest for so long, the never-ending doubts, had all vanished in an instant.
But as his senses sharpened, the lingering unease returned.
