The same madness repeated for another day — and then another, and another still. By now, Lucien's sense of self was hanging by a thread. Each day was a battle with himself, and he was exhausted — tired of living, tired of waking up to the same endless cycle, only the date changing as he grew older and emptier.
Soon, he became a mere spectator of his own existence, a ghost trapped inside his body. His thoughts no longer belonged to him. He tried to take his own life — but alas his life was no longer his to take. It was like sinking into a swamp that refused to let him die, always leaving just enough air to breathe.
Yet strangely, it didn't feel unbearable anymore. He stopped thinking about his mother, about the guilt that once gnawed at him. His mind was no longer sharp with pain — just a fog of fading memories. For a moment, that haze almost felt like bliss.
And then, he drifted.Time lost meaning.He finally understood what true emptiness was — cold, vast, and terrifying. He had nearly convinced himself that this numbness was peace, but regret crept in too late.
Then something shattered.
He felt himself again. Air rushed into his lungs, sharp and freezing. He gasped — an exhale that felt like his first breath. His legs gave out beneath him as though he had forgotten how to stand.
When his vision steadied, he realized he was standing atop a mountain, staring down into a vast, mist-covered plain. Before he could question if this was the afterlife, a voice echoed — not in his ears, but in his mind:
[YOU HAVE ENTERED NETHER'S NIGHTMARE]
Confused, trembling, and numb, Lucien looked down — he was naked, the icy wind biting into his skin.
What in the world is this place?
The thought had barely formed when the mountain's chill sank deep into his bones.Shit… I'll freeze to death in fifteen minutes if I don't find shelter.
Panic cut through the haze. Lucien staggered to his feet and began searching frantically for anything — anything — to shield himself from the cold. The brutal streets of Blackreach had taught him one thing: survival.