[ WP ] An adventurer reaches the end of an epic quest only to be presented with two options ; he may keep his life or learn the truth .

Deep breath, in and out. In and out. Tucker was covered in blood. Some his own, most his enemy ’ s. It had been a long time coming. After the king had murdered Tucker ’ s family and left him to die in a pool of his own blood 20 years ago Tucker had sworn vengeance. After finally gathering enough support he was at the front of the rebellion. And now, here he stood, sword buried in the man ’ s chest. 
 
 “ Good, ” a voice came from across the darkened room. “ I always knew that you could do it. You were the only one that could do it. ” It was the wizard who had put Tucker on this path after the death of his family. But what had once been an old man with long gray hair and an equally long beard was now a young man in his mid-twenties. 
 
 “ Wizard, how did you get here? Why didn ’ t you help me? ” Sweat dripped off of Tucker ’ s forehead. The battle certainly would have been easier with the help of a mage. 
 
 “ It was not my battle to fight. Of course I could have won, but it was your story, not mine. ” Now gone were the stately robes the wizard had originally worn, replaced by a shirt with sleeves shorn off, and archaic writing scribbled on it. “ In fact, that ’ s what I ’ m here to talk with you about. Your story. Your reward. ” 
 
 “ Thank you wizard, but slaying this evil was reward enough. ” 
 
 “ Ha ha, ” it was an emotionless laugh that burst from the wizard. “ Yes, I should have expected that. No, I ’ m giving you a choice: you may keep your life, go home, wed again, start a family anew… or you may know the truth. ” 
 
 “ The truth? You were always cryptic but this makes no sense. ” Tucker shifted uncomfortably, his armor seeming to weigh even heavier now. 
 
 “ That ’ s all there is to it, I ’ m actually giving you a choice on this. Not many people get this opportunity, ” the wizard smiled a little. “ You ’ ve grown so much since we first began this journey a few weeks back. ” 
 Surely the wizard meant years. “ A family would be amazing, but my heart truly lies with those who have been slain. ” 
 
 “ See, when I first met you, I never would have thought you would say that! Such big changes you ’ ve experienced, I ’ ve been happy to take this journey with you. ” The wizard waved a hand, a desk with a pile of papers appeared upon it. “ So the truth then? ” 
 
 “ Yes, ” Tucker said, the sword fell at his side and clattered on the floor. 
 
 “ Well, normally I try not to go meta, far too difficult. But I wanted a challenge this time. Something I ’ d never done. Just to get me writing again, a quick way to get the creative juices flowing. ” Tucker had approached the table, hands barely touching the paper. 
 
 “ This… this is my story, ” Tucker said, barely audible. 
 
 “ Yes, a work of fiction. ” The wizard sighed. This was surprisingly more difficult than he would have imagined. “ But you ’ ve grown so much since when we started. I hadn ’ t even originally planned on finishing this story. It was simply supposed to get me writing and then I would apply myself elsewhere. ” 
 
 “ So the death of my family? It was— ” 
 
 “ That ’ s right. Character development. I needed something to get you to rise up. Use all that experience I ’ d given you. ” The wizard had magicked up a chair and now sat in it, one leg resting on the other as he leaned forward slightly. “ It wasn ’ t easy to do. But, the decisions that you made afterward. You became the most real character that I ’ ve ever written. It physically pained me to continue to cause you harm. But it made you stronger, it made your character better. So what do you think? ” 
 
 “ I believe… I believe that I understand. ” A deep, cracking sigh escaped Tucker. “ This, nearly borders on literature. Something beautiful. ” 
 
 “ Yes! Yes. And this part, I needed you to understand. ” The wizard had risen. “ To truly be as great a hero as you are you needed to recognize your sacrifices. ” The wizard had returned to his original stately self, beard and all. “ And that is why this pains me, but gives me an amazing sequel. ” Tucker turned towards the man. “ Now you must die here. ” A bolt of lightning escaped the wizard ’ s hand and struck Tucker, blowing him backwards. After a moment of confusion Tucker scrambled, amazingly, his hand coming to rest on his sword. With a quick movement he turned and threw the magically blessed sword at the wizard and struck him fully in the chest. For a few moments the man flickered between wise wizard and the young man. 
 
 “ I didn ’ t see that coming. I suppose it truly is a better ending this way. ”
