Chapter 1 – Rewards

As the light came into existence, other colors began to filter in. Energy and matter starts to coalesce and assemble into things. First, light brown adobe walls form around his being. The walls are a light brownish tan that causes a feeling of calmness and tranquility to setting around Vincent. Next, a table of rich dark mahogany appears that is knee high and with a golden pyramid sigil taking up most of its top that is apparently made of real gold. Then, bean bag like cushions pop up around the room like brightly purple, red, and pink mushrooms. Lastly, a tea set appears consisting of two cups of the finest porcelain and a pearl white tea kettle. The steam exiting the kettle has a very minty odor with just an undertone of sweetness.

Opposite Vincent, a brown skinned man appears out of thin air. ““Sit. Sit my friend.”, he says as he sits himself onto one of the cushions. He was not a tall man however he had an air of majesty that made him seem huge. His head was framed by dark black hair that had faint streaks of gray running through it, and his facial hair was expertly and neatly trimmed into a goatee which held the same color. He had black eyes which were framed by laugh lines that for some reason made Vincent think he enjoyed to laugh more than anything. He wore a white tunic made with the finest silk which was cinched at the waist by a ebony belt with the same pyramid sigil on it.

With a wave of his hand the kettle of tea pours itself into each of their cups.” Enjoy a drink as I talk.”, he commands. “I am the god Osiris. I won the chance to speak with you beating out my fellow god Shiva for this chance. As you can see you did not cease to exist. You gave of your free will the right for the gods to end your existence to help us make sure of the continuation of the mortals of that planet thus saving all us gods Creator’s wrath.

We gods are grateful and thus we decided to reward you. We will let you truly end your existence or be reborn on a new world in a new plane. This new world is much different than your old. On this world we gods can interact much more with mortals. It will have magic like some of your table top and video games. The world you are being reborn into is much more primitive than the one you came from. Magic exist here an humanity is also not the only sentient race on this world with its fantasy troupe of dwarves, elves, beast men, etc. My godly brothers, sisters, and myself have agreed that we will grant you a few rewards and let you have some input into your new life.

Much like your old-world people of this world will have free will as well except we can directly talk with our priest and try to get them to directly effect this world to expand our spheres of influence. There are a few gods here as well that seek to maintain some of the balances of the old with a few twists. Now first, if you want to be reborn what race do you want to be born as? I personally think human, dwarf, gnome, or some half breed would suit your personality unless you are going to try to reinvent your whole being on this world.”

Vincent thinks a few minutes before he responds, “I definetly want to be reborn and I think you are right. I want to have a parent and really don't care about the other as long as they are both loving parents. What kind of life span would that be, or would it be even possible. I don’t want to be born something with a guaranteed birth defect and die at a young age.”

Osiris chuckles, “That wouldn’t be a problem at all. Dwarves usually live 400 years and the oldest lived race usually passes on most of the longevity to the child. "

“Okay, I also want to be born into a loving family. I want to feel love this time and all the emotions. That little taste of laughter when I was with Morrigan was a feeling I want again. Now, I realize that sadness will also somehow creep in, but I need them all to be able to grow better as a being. Where will I be born at and what can you tell me about the area and kingdom?”

Osiris responds, “No, no, no. Just like any newborn you will have to find that out on your own as you age. As for your family and emotions we will be giving you a perfectly healthy body. And your family will be arranged.”

“Can I keep my memories and all my previous experiences?”

Osiris takes a sip from his cup and explains, “Yes and no. You will not remember ever having parents, family, friends or even aquatintists. You will not remember anything that could cause you to not be able to form emotional ties like any newborn. For example, you will not remember that you are too old to breast feed from a woman or your mother thus causing you undo embarrassment. As you age you will forget more of your old world when it comes to places and events as you form bonds to the places and events of this world.

You will know that you are have been reborn and the knowledge of math, science, engineering, and other academic fields come from your previous life. However, you will discover somethings do not behave the same way on this plane or are not possible. For example, in this new world you can forget gunpowder or electric generation ever working. The chemical process needed to make gunpowder do not work here thanks to one of the gods. The only electrical generation that will work here will have to come from magic because the magnetic fields work different at a root form of existence on this world. Your sciences of gears, springs, and a few other things will be useful if you figure out a few things. You may even figure out steam power or some magical way to duplicate electrical generation but that’s all up to you.

Now, moving on let us talk about magic.”

Vincent asks, “I know you said magic exist here. Can you give me the ability to do any and all magic I want just like out of a wuxia novel?”

Osiris takes a drink of his tea as he responds, “No. Mana in all of its types and magic are determined by genetics and determination. No amount of determination can overcome a lack of genetics and regardless of genetics without determination to learn and form the spells you will never amount to anything other than parlor tricks. The manifestation of mana into magic isn’t simple like what you have read a lot of books you have to memorize and work on spells and bring mana into reality.

We can give you the many types of mana more so than the average person or even there very rare person. This will grant you the genetic capability to be a great magic wielder if you put in the work. You will have to discover what types of mana you can use as you age because even us gods can’t determine what kind only how many and how much.

Once again if you wanted it you will have to work for it, that determination thing an all. You will be like a very fast sports car of your old world. You can go really fast and far because you will have a plethora exorbitant amount mana but without an engine to use that mana you might as well be a four-legged jackass mule.”

Vincent thinks a few minutes and says,” Okay thank you. I definitely want the magic thing. Then the only other thing I can think of I want is to have the ability to sense metals and identify said metals. Can I have that?”

Osiris thinks, “Yes. That is an ability we will give you. It will grow as you grow. Whether you make it useful or not it's up to you. Learning to control it and not let it overwhelm you is also solely up to you. Are you done? Or do you want to get greedy and try for more or be happy with that which we will grant?”

Vincent thinks it over and says, “Just one thing. I want to thank you and the others for this chance. My old life was just one of existence. I want to make this one better. They only other thing I ask is please don’t make me a burden on whomever my future parents are. I feel with my emotional handicaps before, my parents always felt that burden. Thank you again.”

Osiris was taken aback by this and exclaims, “Oh my. Such honor and manners. For this I will say when you reach majority if you do what I think you will seek out the temples of Hephaestus and/or Ptah both gods have noticed you already and are watching.” Osiris slams his hands together. “SO BE IT! LET THE CYCLE BEGIN AGAIN!”

Blackness. The blackness exists everywhere. He feels himself floating and time loses all meaning. Slowly he senses his memories fade and vanish. He sleeps and when he awakens even more disappears until nothing is left of his old life. Awareness comes in the form of a lightening of the environment where he finds himself floating in a warm liquid. He feels nourished and content as though love surrounds him. Over time his “room” gets more crowded as he can feel squishy walls all around him. He squirms sometimes to get more comfortable but as time goes by it gets tighter and tighter. Man, he really wants out of this. He gets really insistent and starts pounding his fist on the squishy walls thinking let me out! Suddenly his warm fluid he has been enjoying is going down and the walls are starting to undulate.

A young human woman is walking in the garden when she feels a sharp pain in her hugely swollen abdomen. Suddenly fluid gushes from between her legs all over the stone floor as she sinks down in pain.

A servant screams into the house, “Quickly get the priestess and call the Lord. The mistress is going into labor and something is wrong!” The young servant bends down and easily picks up the woman rushing her into the house.”