In a land scarred by war and forgotten by the gods, three strangers awaken in a world not quite alive, not quite dead. Shadows whisper through twisted forests, yokai roam ancient ruins, and a torii gate stands far in the distance — the only clue to a way forward.
Bound by broken memories and an unspoken sorrow, a sickly boy, a cold-eyed archer, and a wandering swordswoman must navigate this dreamlike realm where grief takes shape, and the past refuses to stay buried.
But survival comes at a price — and in a place where time bends and the dead still walk, even the truth may be a curse.
Withering Away is a dark fantasy tale of memory, guilt, and what it means to carry the weight of the life you left behind.
I didn’t write Withering Away just to tell a sad story.
This story, at its core, is about that journey—from pain to peace. From grief to healing. From death to something still worth living for.
Like the Flower-Masked Woman says—she searches for faith and hope in people.
And just like her, I—the one who wrote this—believe in you, too.
If you’re going through something dark, something heavy—I hope this story reminded you that even in ruin, there is light. That even in loss, there can be meaning. That even when everything falls apart, something new can bloom from it.
If this story touched you, even for a moment—thank you. You helped it live.
And if you're still hurting—take you're time.
You’re not alone.
Sometimes, we suffer.
But sometimes… we bloom.
— Nameer Ahamed
Author of Withering Away
I didn’t write Withering Away just to tell a sad story.
This story, at its core, is about that journey—from pain to peace. From grief to healing. From death to something still worth living for.
Like the Flower-Masked Woman says—she searches for faith and hope...
