Voxel's Origin

Voxel is cursed.

The legend told of a way to escape his world, and he went for it. Tired of living his day-to-day life as a farmer, he gathered what he could and went on his journey. He did everything correctly, and finally went against the Dragon. While fighting, he saw the ground open up under her. The portal of legend had activated, and he went for it- and she followed. He fell, watching everything rush by him, and then everything went black. He woke up in his bed, returned to his world. He was in disbelief. What was it all for? The Dragon was nowhere to be seen. Had it just been a dream? He repeated the journey again- and again, and again, and again, always finding himself in the same loop, the same result. He grew bitter, tired, and resentful. He went again, committed to his goal- and this time, falling through the portal, saw something. It was a strange looking, dully glowing shape- squares? He went towards it, and the Dragon followed him, chasing, suddenly agitated. He reached his hand out, fingertips grazing, as the Dragon caught him. There was a flash, and then nothing. Nothing at all, for what felt like eternity. He felt heavy, and tired. So tired. His eyes wouldn't open, and his body wouldn't move. He stayed there for ages, until he felt something fall on his face. A drop, and then another, suddenly coming down. Rain? He slowly was able to open an eye- just his left. He looked at the sky, with trees looming above him. It was dark out, with the sky a deep, dark blue. He reached his hand to his right eye, and felt a sharp disconnect. That side of his face was completely numb, and so were his fingers when he touched it. He pulled his hand away, and the feeling in them instantly returned. With a jolt, he remembered- the dragon! She had followed him, where was she? He jumped up, his cape falling off, grabbing his sword from his belt- and then saw his left hand in the moonlight. It was reptilian, and clawed. He stared at it, in shock. What had happened? He looked and his other hand was completely fine. He angled his sword to look at himself, and gasped. His eye had turned a startling, glowing purple, and the other half of his face was covered by... something? It looked like the shape he had touched. It was dully glowing, and was a mirage of colors. He tried making sense of it, staring at his reflection, as he realized there was something behind him, and swung fast, sword at the ready, hitting a tree with his back, and instantly feeling the pain go down his spine, and radiating through something else. The realization loomed over him, as he slowly flexed his back muscles, and felt something attached to them move, slowly. What had happened to the dragon dawned on him, and he smirked, knowing he had won, finally. His effort wasn't for nothing. He picked up his cape, fastened it, and walked, ready to explore this new world, with the rain pounding on him.