Everything around was white, but not blinding. The light source remained unclear, as if the space itself consisted of pure radiance.

- Where I am?

- What do you think? Asked a pleasant female voice. That would be the voice of a mother or older sister. It was not possible to find its source.

- I don't know ... where are you? Why can not i see you?

- Because you don't want to, - the voice laughed.

- What nonsense? Of course, I want to see who I'm talking to. Show yourself already and tell me what's going on here!

- Sorry, your subconscious mind presents this place just like that, and me like a simple voice. Don't worry, I'll explain the main points to you now. You see, here you can get strength. The one you choose. Everyone who gets here presents this place in their own way. On the basis of subconscious thoughts, it and I take a new look.

- My subconscious? But how can I imagine this place if I don't know what it is? And why can't I remember anything?

- Everyone, appearing here, gets a choice: to preserve their memories or to preserve their identity [0].

- I chose a person?

- Your subconscious, more precisely, - answered the female voice in space.

- Can't I even choose? Consciously?

- And you would like to lose yourself, to become a blank sheet? Then these memories will be only a particle of experience, and you yourself as if will be reborn. Do you want this?

- Hmm ...

- You do not need to make so dissatisfied. You haven't lost so much. Old memories will not help you much in the new world. For the heirs of powerful clans, this still plays a role, but a random passerby like you? - the voice laughed. - You should thank your subconscious for your choice.

- Blank sheet, huh? Maybe that's why everything around me seems so white? Starting from scratch ... This is a good idea.

- Right! Now let's get down to business - it's time to choose the ability for you. To do this, you have to spend points scored in the past world.

- And how many do I have?

- Twelve! - the voice answered with joyful delight.

- It's a lot?

- Pff! Ha ha ha! - She continued to laugh for a long time. - A lot of?! This is nothing! I can't even imagine what you can choose for these points. It's ridiculous! How funny!

- Are you kidding me? I'll make you regret this laugh if I don't ... I ... did I even forget my name?

- Of course. But he retained the knowledge, because your personality is based on it with gained experience.

- Can I somehow increase my points?

- Not anymore. It had to be done there, in the zero world.

- How did they get together there?

- Hmm ... - the voice seemed to think. - The answer to this question will cost you one point. Are you ready to spend it?

- What?! I have so few of them, and you still want to rob me?

- Come on, you still do not get anything good for your points. Even a simple body strengthening costs twenty points. Isn't knowledge yet another form of power?

- There is such a saying, but ... Okay, I'm ready to spend a point for the answer.

- Perfectly! You will not regret it, - a voice melodiously sang the last word.

- Why does it seem to me that you are kidding me?

- You're right, it just seems to you. To get here, there is only one requirement - to achieve your dream. After this, two options are possible: to get here after death or use one of the artifacts in the zero world and be here in life. I know what you want to ask. In your case, this is the second option. The number of points depends on achievements in the zero world. It's one thing if you are a well-known politician, businessman with huge capital, recognized public figure, in a word - a person invested with power, wealth, or both at once. If you have not achieved anything special, this is a completely different conversation. Points show how your potential is realized. If you are talented and lazy, you won't get many points. If you are mediocre and hardworking, there are still chances to raise capital for choosing abilities. Such is the justice of a zero world - everyone is given a chance.

- Justice? What about those born into a rich family? What about people abandoned by their parents in a ditch? Where is justice here?

- You shouldn't say that, - the female voice said sternly. - Yes, conditions at birth can be different, but do caterpillars and phoenix dream of the same thing? Anyone who fulfilled his dream can be here. That is the main thing! And as for the points ... a zero world provides tremendous opportunities for everyone. Compared to other areas, it is the top of equality. You will understand my point.

- What dream did I fulfill?

- This question ... - the female voice giggled again, - you understand, right?

- Again, one point?

- It's nice to deal with smart people.

- Take it and talk already.

- You better tell yourself. - To begin with, come on, we will embody your body here.Gradually, the body appeared. Shoes, pants, shirt, denim vest, several scratches on the palms.

"Still to see how I look from the side. Look at the face"

- Can you make a mirror?

- It costs fifty points, - the female voice seemed to have a lot of fun, voicing overwhelming numbers.

- What?!! Why so expensive?

- This is a place of special abilities. Of course, the mirror that will be stored here is something more than an ordinary glass from the zero world. It allows you to change your appearance over a fairly wide range. Of course, if you want to get something unusual for the human body — a body made of metal, for example — you will have to pay extra points for changing your appearance. In other words, a mirror only changes the composition of the genome. Having become a dragon, you can also use it to change your blood. Make active some genes, stop or completely replace others. The potential of the body depends on the blood. In some cases, this can help; in others, it can do harm. At the same time, a mirror is a very good tool, because focusing on the external signs of powerful creatures, you can even secure yourself a higher level body, create innate spells and abilities, and much more. For this reason, the majority of representatives of knowledgeable clans choose to erase their identity to preserve memory.

You got a lot of conversation. I will not pay for this information.

- And do not. This data applies to my product. It would be foolish not to show the buyer what exactly you are selling, right?

- Are you selling? Can I somehow use these points after I leave this place?

- No. They are important only here and now.

- In the new world will have to earn them from scratch?

- No, no, no, - the voice laughed. - Consider the distribution of abilities as a one-time help to a beginner when leaving the zero world. Further you will gain knowledge and develop abilities yourself. Besides, you were threatening to make me feel sorry, right? If you rise to a certain level, we will have the opportunity to meet again.

- What level?

- This information is worth a thousand points.

- Yes, to you! Why are you so greedy ?!

- I am not at all like that, and soon you will be convinced of it yourself. Look in your bosom.

"Bosom? What should I find there?"

A hand came across several crumpled sheets. On the places of the yellowish surface the words were written:

"I am writing this because I do not know what will happen next. I want to keep my intention, because this is not the first time since I met a secret that my memories are confused, as if something is trying to make me forget about it. Only hand-written in home-made ink saved me from oblivion. Maybe ink is my talisman? It sounds crazy, but it's already difficult to figure out something with the current common sense. It all started when I was fired from the side job. Then there was a little conflict with another employee, and my boss sided with the wrong person.

It terribly enraged me. I went to ask why. What did he reply? That the other gets along with the rest of the team is better. It may be wrong, but it is more profitable to leave it to maintain a better working atmosphere. The boss said that I have to learn to work better with others - to communicate and make connections. And then he wished good luck in the new workplace. Of course, such words angered me, but time passed, and I began to understand that he was right. Do I want to become my boyfriend in a new place? Of course no. Being a loner? Also no. It's better to become a boss yourself! Do not depend on other people's rules, but set your own. Of course, not as small a chapter as my former boss. He also has to negotiate with others. Officials, suppliers, competitors - all these are his connections, which provide new opportunities, but also limit freedom.

Is it better then to become an official, to rise to the top of the state apparatus? Maybe you should get a fortune and marry some heiress of a small country in which the monarchy still remains? Only there will always be larger countries. Even their presidents need to consider the opinions of the government, parliament, big business and other countries. Not only large, even small ones can greatly complicate the situation. Yes, yes, I rummaged a lot on the Internet trying to understand how exactly all this works. Maybe you should have done it earlier? Surely, if I started to think about it while still at school, now I would live in a completely different way.

But all this was not very useful. Changing your destiny is not so easy. If you think about the place where you were born, your family, innate talents or potential illnesses - all this already plays a role. It can be said that in the broad sense of the word, human blood is the ink by which his fate is written. Something else can be changed, but you need to have a certain amount of luck, a firm and persistent character, hard work. You can start at any age, you just need to decide.

I found that one of the former ministers lives in my city. Just by chance I saw and found out. He is not well known for his appearances on TV, but still I was able to remember him. It's not so easy to visit, but I was hoping to get a few tips from him about the path to power. Maybe he will become his protege, he is unlikely to be ready to give up everything and just retire.

Very soon, I found out that I was wrong. He really was ready to quit. At first I had to wait all day on the way from his house in an attempt to intercept and talk. He came out only in the evening, when it was already dark. When I wanted to go up to him, I heard that he was muttering some kind of nonsense. Something about the seventh dan of taekwondo, a decoction based on chamomile and the height of Niagara Falls. It seemed to me that he had branded, but for some reason I decided to follow him. This was the beginning of a turning point that changed my whole life, because I learned the secret!"

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[0] - This question is asked so often that I just have to enter a spoiler here. See the contradiction? Great, it is there. Yes, a person really depends a lot on memory and experiences. No, not completely, because there are hormonal processes, and many character traits are laid genetically - the so-called tendencies, etc. If you think that the moment is suspicious and someone is lying to someone, you are right. Why didn't the hero pay attention to this? Because 12 points of achievement for life as a "mortal" stands here for a reason. If you think that this is a story about how a weak hero suddenly and unreasonably surpasses professors in the intellect, fights better than professional wrestlers and in general everyone around is stupid, and he is handsome - you are mistaken. History is built on logic. Many things remain behind the scenes, so I suggest readers try to find the very "truth about the world" with the hero. And just in case: MoDB is not a good tale about Ivan the Fool, where everyone helps him for his beautiful eyes (although this may seem so at first glance). Each character has his own motives. Their collision gives rise to action.