The boundary

'Boring.'

Zephyr sat in his dimly lit apartment, the glow of his dual monitors casting a pale light across the cluttered room.

Empty energy drink cans and fast-food wrappers littered the desk, surrounded by stacks of programming manuals and gaming peripherals.

The hum of his computer filled the silence, a constant reminder of his solitary and monotonous life. He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his unkempt hair, and stared vacantly at the lines of code on the screen. Another project, another deadline—another day spent chasing someone else's vision.

He stopped his work and opened one of his favorite games, a fantasy RPG where players could rise from nothing to conquer kingdoms.

Zephyr enjoyed these types of games, as well as reading fantasy novels. It made him feel free. Ironically, it was in the virtual where he felt truly alive.

As he navigated his character through a labyrinth of political intrigue, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. This is what I want, he thought. A world where I can be a player, not just another pawn. A world where I can seize power, rule, and conquer.

He closed the game and leaned back, his mind drifting into a daydream. He imagined himself in the game's world, standing in a grand hall filled with kings, generals, and mages. They argued and postured, unaware that he was the one pulling the strings. With a flick of his wrist, he set events into motion, watching as the room erupted into chaos.

The suffering of the characters was almost palpable, their desperation a testament to his brilliance. And then, the reveal—the moment they realized he had been in control all along. The shock on their faces, the fear in their eyes. It was... intoxicating.

Zephyr's smile widened. This is what's missing, he thought. In the real world, power is diluted, controlled by systems and groups, individual strength can never surpass a group's. But in stories like this, one person can rise above all. One person can change everything.

The thought lingered, filling him with a restless energy. He stood and paced the room, his mind racing. He loved programming, loved the challenge of solving complex problems, loved creating virtual realities and being in control, but it wasn't enough. He wanted more. He wanted to be more.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his chest, near his heart. Zephyr gasped, clutching at his shirt as the pain intensified. His vision blurred, and he stumbled, knocking over his chair. The room spun around him, and he collapsed to the floor, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

A faint whisper echoed in his mind, indistinct but unmistakable: "Zephyr..."

He tried to call out, but no sound came. The pain was overwhelming now, spreading through his body like fire. His vision darkened, and his consciousness began to slip away. The world turned upside down. The last thing he saw was the glow of his monitors before everything went black.

After an unknown period of time, Zephyr awoke in a place that defied description. Void stretched everywhere, and time felt meaningless here. He couldn't see, hear, or touch anything, but he was acutely aware of his own presence and his surroundings. He looked down—or at least, he thought he did—and saw that he was no longer in his body. Instead, he was a burning white flame, small but intense. A Soul Spark.

He drifted in this strange, endless space. Where am I? he thought. Okay, first things first. Let's organize what I know. I was in my room, then there was that indescribable pain in my chest, followed by... this. I'm either dead, or this is a dream. But this feels too vivid to be a dream.

As he wandered through the mysterious void, he sensed something vast and imposing in the distance. It was a wall—or perhaps a veil—stretching infinitely in all directions, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light. The Boundary. The divide between life and death.

That might be the only thing that can help me understand what this place is, he thought. Curiosity pulled him forward. He moved—or perhaps he simply willed himself to be closer—and the Boundary grew larger, more detailed. Its surface was smooth and seamless. I should stay at a distance until I figure something out, he decided. But after waiting for what felt like an eternity, nothing changed.

Cautiously, he approached and began inspecting the veil. His sharp eyes caught a faint crack, almost invisible if not for his heightened attention in this strange environment. The crack was leaking a strange, shimmering energy.

Zephyr, instinctively drawn to the crack, reached out—something he wouldn't normally do, given his cautious nature. But the energy pulsed with an irresistible pull, as if calling to his very soul. Before he could react, it swallowed him, pulling him in. The last thing he sensed was the crack healing behind him, sealing him off from the Boundary.

When Zephyr awoke again, he tried to open his eyes. His vision was blurry, and his senses were overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensations of his new world. He tried to move, but his limbs were weak and uncoordinated. He struggled to make sense of his surroundings, but one thing was instinctively clear to him: he was no longer on Earth.

A thought took hold in his mind, sharp and undeniable. So, I am reborn...