It was cold, unbelievably cold. Which was such a surprise because of how hot everything was up until a moment ago. I could feel it, the cold blade through my chest, the blood slowly dripping into the small puddle of water I was standing near.

"It's over, your dream won't come true. Once you're gone, the rest will scatter like the wind, and everything you've built up to this point will be for nothing. The seeds of rebellion you've sown won't grow. It ends with your death."

I lost the strength in my legs to continue standing. Soon I collapsed on the ground, my face buried in the water from the downpour still ongoing. All I could see were his feet, walking closer to me. His voice was getting softer, not because he was speaking more softly but because I was beginning to fall asleep. I could feel my eyes slowly closing as I turned to lie on my back, facing the dark sky that still poured rain. With what little strength I had left, I raised my hand to the sky, grasping for what little life I had left.

"I won't kill you. I couldn't do that to you anyway... Glacial shroud."

His voice was full of anguish and sorrow. I don't blame him. Had I been in his situation, I would probably have had the same reaction. 

Suddenly a blue shroud began to appear in front of me, then I realised I couldn't move my arms or legs. My whole body was starting to freeze.

Those were the last words I heard before everything went black. Before the cold took over and I felt my body freezing over. I was being covered in something, but I didn't really take much notice as the exhaustion and blood loss caused me to pass out.

 "I'm sorry I couldn't reach that place you guys... guess we'll have to train some other time huh?.... I guess I just wasn't strong enough to fulfil my dream."

My mind wandered off into the distance, with my last bit of strength an image of those kids popped into my mind. Sadness was the only emotion I could still comprehend at this point. I would be leaving them behind like I always did when I left for a campaign, yet this time I wouldn't be able to keep my promise of returning alive.

 "Are you really going to fight him? But every time you've fought him, you've always lost."

 "By small margins, yes, but I think I've finally found a way to beat him."

Placing both my arms on their shoulder, I smiled warmly at the kids in front of me. I could sense the anxiety and nervousness coming from their voices.

"In that case let us go with you!"

 "No! You all have a bright future ahead of you and if you get caught up in this. You'll ruin that future."

 "But..."

They all attempted to plead with me, but I swiftly cut down any further opposition

 "Don't try and negotiate. I promise I'll meet you all at the usual place, we can continue our training there."

 "Really?"

Their eyes lit up like a star when I said that, It made me smile knowing I had such people with me

I couldn't keep that promise, well it wasn't the first promise I've failed to keep and it wouldn't be the last. I took my final breath as the world faded around me. It would be the last time I saw the world around me for another 300 years, and when I awoke. I found myself in a world I didn't recognise.