Fourth Wing AU's, Headcannons, Oneshots, Etc.

"Afterrealm" Part 3 Liam is Dead... But Not?

"May your soul be commended to Malek."

Liam wasn't sure how he'd survived to see the sun rise again. It was despair. Hopelessness. Agony.

The endless night had been a torment, an all-consuming void that had tested every ounce of his will. The darkness had not just been a physical absence of light but a spiritual abyss, swallowing his hope and dragging him into a place where time seemed to stand still.

What even was time anymore?

And to think, that this only marked the end of day one.

But now, as the first rays of dawn pierced through the eternal gloom, Liam felt an odd mixture of relief and confusion. The light was no longer the cold, sterile brightness of before. It was warmer, more welcoming. He dared to hope that perhaps this was a sign—maybe Malek had heard his plea, or perhaps this was a new phase in his journey. It was hard not to get his hopes up, that perhaps he'd soon be talking to someone real.

Liam pushed himself to his feet, his legs still trembling from the ordeal. He'd had no reason to stand, so he hadn't stood. He'd had no reason to breathe, so he simply didn't breathe. He wasn't sure he'd remember how.

He glanced around, taking in the subtle changes. The sky was a delicate shade of blue, streaked with soft hues of pink and orange, as if it were the first sunrise he'd ever witnessed.

He began to walk again, cautiously, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin. The landscape around him had changed, too. Instead of the vast, unending expanse, there were now gentle rolling hills and patches of vibrant flora and fauna. It was as though the Afterrealm was slowly transforming into something more livable.

Was it all a trick? Liam didn't want to get his hopes up.

As he moved forward, Mairi noticed a figure in the distance. It was not the shadowy figure he had seen before, but rather a being of light, radiating warmth and kindness. Liam's heart skipped a beat. Could this be another servant of Malek, or something else entirely?

The figure approached him, moving gracefully over the terrain. "Liam Mairi," the figure said softly. "It seems you have withstood the trials of the darkness. You have shown resilience, and for that, you are to be rewarded."

"Wh-what? But it hasn't been...?" Confusion laced his gaze. "And who are you? What is this place now? Why is everything changing?"

"I am a guide," the figure replied, "and this place is a reflection of your inner strength and perseverance. You have earned the right to move forward, to reach the final place where your fate will be decided."

"But what about Deigh? My family?" Liam's voice trembled with desperation.

"The path you are on now will lead you closer to the answers you seek," the guide said. "But remember, the choices you make will shape your destiny. You must remain strong."

"This doesn't make any sense!" He protested. "Stop speaking in riddles! I want to go home!"

With that, the figure extended a hand, offering a small, glowing orb. "Take this. It will help you navigate the next part of your journey. It holds a fragment of hope—a beacon in the darkness."

Liam accepted the orb, feeling its warmth seep into his palm. It was a small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with renewed determination. But despair seemed to crawl into his heart, did it mean it'd become dark again?

The guide nodded and began to fade, leaving Liam with a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity. He took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the orb against his skin. With each step, the landscape around him grew more vivid and alive, as if responding to his will to push forward.