## Chapter 6: The State of Hans

The sun had long since set on the Southern Isles, casting a dark and foreboding shadow over the kingdom. The air was heavy with the weight of despair, and the people of the land struggled to find hope in a place where it seemed lost forever. It was here, in this land of shadows, that Anna found herself standing outside a small, dimly lit room. She had been sent for by Lars, her friend and ally, to help his brother, Hans, who had been spiraling out of control. As she entered the room, Anna was met with a sight that took her breath away. Hans, the man who had once been so charming and charismatic, lay restrained to a bed, a shadow of his former self. His eyes were sunken, his skin pale and clammy, and his hair was matted and dirty. He looked like a man who had given up on life, and Anna's heart went out to him. But she was determined not to let her emotions get the better of her. She had come here to help Hans, not to pity him. And so, she steeled herself and approached the bed, her eyes taking in the restraints that bound Hans to the mattress. They were made of thick leather, and they looked like they had been used for some time. Anna's gaze turned to Lars, who stood beside her, his eyes filled with concern. "How long has he been like this?" she asked, her voice soft but firm. Lars shook his head, his expression grim. "It's been weeks," he said. "He's been struggling with his mental health for a long time, but it's gotten worse since he came back to the Southern Isles. He's become violent, and we've had to restrain him to keep him from hurting himself or others." Anna's eyes turned back to Hans, and she felt a pang of sadness. This was not the man she had once known, the man who had charmed her with his good looks and his charismatic personality. This was a man who was broken, who had been consumed by his own demons. As she looked at Hans, Anna felt a mix of emotions: anger, pity, and concern. She was angry with him for the pain he had caused her, for the betrayal he had committed. But she was also pitiful of him, for the state he was in, for the demons that haunted him. And she was concerned, for his well-being, for his future. Anna took a deep breath and reached out to touch Hans's hand. It was cold to the touch, and it felt like it had been a long time since he had been washed. She looked up at Lars, her eyes questioning. "When was the last time he was bathed?" she asked. Lars shook his head, his expression grim. "I don't know," he said. "We've been trying to get him to eat, to drink, but it's been hard. He's become catatonic, and we're not sure how to reach him." Anna's eyes turned back to Hans, and she felt a surge of determination. She was going to help him, no matter what it took. She was going to reach him, to bring him back from the brink of despair. And so, she began, her hands gently touching Hans's skin, her voice soft and soothing. She was going to help him, and she was going to start by trying to reach him, to bring him back to the land of the living.