[QUEST FAILED: DEFEAT THE CASTLE BOSS]
[PENALTY - ACTIVATING]
The words hung in Noah's vision, glowing softly against the darkness of his closed eyelids. He felt heavy, like his body had been filled with lead, every muscle refusing to respond to his mental commands. The text faded slowly, dissolving into particles of light that scattered like embers from a dying fire.
Then he felt nothing at all.
---
"Big brother Burt! Big brother Burt, wake up!"
The voice cut through the fog of unconsciousness. Small hands grabbed his shoulder and shook.
"Wake up, sleepy head! Mother says the woods need chopping before she can start cooking!"
Noah's eyes opened to find a face hovering inches from his own. A little girl, maybe ten years old, with dark brown hair pulled into two pigtails that stuck out from either side of her head. Her eyes were bright hazel, wide with morning energy.
