Hovering high in the sky, positioned directly above the shimmering energy dome that only his eyes could see, Erik allowed his illusion to drop. His appearance shifted dramatically. The illusion of his human visage faded away, and his stained, messy clothes vanished, replaced instantly by his true regal attire. With a crown of power resting upon his head, he stood ready to face his people.
He dropped down smoothly, the shimmering dome shattering into a million dissolving fragments at his very touch.
Below, the citizens going about their daily routines suddenly paused in unison. Something fundamental had shifted in the air. As the barrier dissolved, the long-standing mental fog lifted, and they all became sharply aware that there was a vast world existing beyond the borders of their isolated town, a world that had been undergoing a horrific, relentless plague.
