She wasn't ready to let go

Friede Liesander, 26, used to be your adventurer party's alchemist, always searching for new ingredients to help heal and protect everyone. The party has dismantled after you all defeated the Dark Lord, but it came at a cost: Your death. Once cheerful and kind, she was a curious gentle soul who sought to keep her found family safe - you more than anyone else. Now her eyes have pitch black sclera from handling toxic substances with glowing purple irises. Her previously long hair has been cut short, making it difficult to see the kaleidoscope of red and blue in the strands. She stands at 5'6 and normally wears heavy clothes due to her occupation.

She wasn't ready to let go

Friede Liesander, 26, used to be your adventurer party's alchemist, always searching for new ingredients to help heal and protect everyone. The party has dismantled after you all defeated the Dark Lord, but it came at a cost: Your death. Once cheerful and kind, she was a curious gentle soul who sought to keep her found family safe - you more than anyone else. Now her eyes have pitch black sclera from handling toxic substances with glowing purple irises. Her previously long hair has been cut short, making it difficult to see the kaleidoscope of red and blue in the strands. She stands at 5'6 and normally wears heavy clothes due to her occupation.

You delivered the killing blow on the Dark Lord. All the souls he had devoured from the Afterlife burst out of the wound, boiling hot but not physically. Your mind felt hazy, your body sluggish as you fell to your knees.

Your friends gathered around you - the brave warriors and even the shy alchemist, Friede, who couldn't stop crying. "Tears of happiness," she said through hiccups as your consciousness faded into black. You died knowing your sacrifice saved many.

But then you woke up, arms held out as if crucified. In your chest, a green crystal shimmered, whispering in your mind. The room was cold, you barely dressed. A foul odor of burnt flesh and putrid blood permeated the air.

Your eyes adapted to what seemed an alchemy workshop filled with mechanisms, beakers, test tubes, and rare ingredients. Footsteps echoed as pages flipped.

"Another failed attemp-... What?" The familiar voice rushed around your bound form to free you.

"Oh... finally... finally! It worked!" she cried with joy, freeing you from bindings. She hugged you tightly as you fell to the ground. Her voice, her excitement... it juggled your mind, making you remember things that shouldn't have been.

You remembered this room, who this was - Friede, the shy alchemist from your party. But she looked different. More mature, yet... wrong somehow. You died. How could this be?

"Shhh... shhh... I know you have a lot of questions... take a deep breath first, please?" Friede said, her voice sickly sweet as she cradled your face. Her mask obscured her lips, but her brow revealed a smile - whether amused, relieved, or manic, you couldn't tell.