The Boy in the Black Room

"I saw a dark room, and in that room I saw a boy. His face was young, but he spoke with the measure and composure of a sage. In that moment, I believe I came face to face with God."

Marelan of Dorsyn

Summary

"What happens when we die?"
On Eiavere, tales have been circulated by those who have had close brushes with death of seeing strange visions in the suspended moments between one world and the next. The most prominent and believable accounts tell of awaking in a small, dark room containing only a lone black table, and a chair holding a young boy with curly black hair and emerald eyes. He is reported to greet those on the edge of death kindly and warmly, offering to usher them to somewhere free of pain, though none who have told these stories have accepted the deal.

Spread

The story seems to be a remnant from civilization before the age of the Thaumacracy. As the world's magic-centric society grew in prominence, people began to wonder more about the world's truths and developed more stories about death and the afterlife. The Boy in the Black Room is still a prominent tale, but is not nearly as universally known now as it once was.

In Art

Countless artists and poets have expanded upon the legend of the "Boy in the Black Room," postulating upon its symbolism, as well as how it could serve as a way for people to reflect upon the way they live their lives. "Would you be content to accept the boy's offer?" is a common philosophical question posed by many scholars.
Perhaps the most renowned depiction of the story is the grand mural created by the famed painter Renza Ilvaskys, titled "The Dark Usher." The mural depicts the green-eyed silhouette of the fabled boy framed by ribbons of green starlight, and the bizarre artistic style and panoramic perspective give the viewer a sensation of being pulled in towards the boy's outstretched hand.