Of course, such a vague answer was never going to give them the clarity they sought. But it was enough to keep them from hesitating to ask more.
Not that Auren didn't want to share the details—but he remained guarded. Deeply so. First of all, he didn't even know if he would wake up after passing the Trial like the others. In fact, as far as that notion went, Auren wasn't entirely convinced this was a Trial at all—not in the way others believed.
What he had seen felt more like entering a Fester.
And yet, his real concern wasn't just what this place was—but whether he would ever wake up again.
Auren had mulled over the possibility more times than he could count. But every time, the conclusion seemed just as reckless. It was like living a decent life only for some overzealous preacher to show up at your doorstep, rambling about the afterlife.
