The sun was shining brightly on the summer meadow under the blue sky, where a clueless soul seemed to have woken up. He lied down on the cold grass that was laced with morning dew, since of course it was early in morning. It was not in dawn, yet it was clear that the sun is too low to be in the time of noon. He sat up, feeling the grass under his hand, unconsciously, while he looked up at the sparse clouds that gathered under the pleasant blue sky. He suddenly let out a small laughter.

“Hahaha... I’m alive! It was all just a dream! I thought I was done fo- oh I can’t see myself.” His enthusiasm suddenly turned sour, as he realized that his body is now transparent, or rather, he had no body at all.

There were only silence, save for the small gust of wind rubbing through the grass. The soul sighed, and looked around the field. There were only grass for miles and miles away. It’s as if the field itself was an ocean of grass, and that you could actually drown in it. The fields of grass waved as the wind blew on them, creating that tidal wave pattern across the land, which seemingly calmed the soul down from it’s peaceful pace of movement. He collected his thoughts together, and made a conclusion.

“I’m dead.”

That much was apparent and obvious as soon as he blurted out his first few sentences. What was surprising is that he had no disappointed reaction, or a hint of sadness on his face. He just… stared on the ground blankly, or indifferently as per more appropriate term for such the expression he had. The soul looked like it could care less that it was dead. The fact that he died, however, was something to him. He let out a gesture, which involved punching the air in a whip like manner, giving off that ‘I was sure I got it’ vibe. He held his non existent hips, just like his whole body but described as a physical object for some reason, as if to show disappointment on his still unknown previous action before his death.

“That damn dragon. He had a trick up his sleeve! Well, he had no sleeve… Bah! Curse that dragon! On that one time where I could finally defeat a dragon, A FREAKING DRAGON, the dragon HAD to be a tricky bastard. That dragon got me good. Real good.”

He ranted on himself on the grassfields. He had no problems talking to himself whatsoever, and it is hinted on his natural movement and face that it is used to it. The fact that the non existent face and body is still visible is another matter that is not important. It’s just there. After he cooled down, he realized that he was alone. He thought that, since he was dead, there should be other souls around him. He had thought that he should already have gone to Soullen’s Rest, but no, he is instead stuck in an endless open field of grass. An ocean of grass. He pondered on this case. One of the possible answer that he thought, is that this is some kind of ‘mid plane’ between the Plane of Existence: Arcusia and the Plane of Non-Existence: Soullen’s Rest. Though the purpose of the ‘mid plane’ is vague, since there are no clues around him that could tell him what it was. Another of the possible answer is that he is really stuck as a soul, in this boring, uninteresting plain of endless hopelessness, eternally and-

“Oh god, no!”

The thought of being stuck in this place forever freaked the soul out. He panicked and flailed his non existent arms about, but eventually calmed down and accepted his fate. An unusually quick recovery from a fate that might as well drive a sane mind crazy from the very thought of eternal imprisonment on a bleak and empty world. This was a talent the soul had, the talent of [Acceptance].

No matter how dire the current situation is, no matter how dark his future is, the soul is casually ok with it. He would accept his fate, no matter how ridiculous it may be. ‘That’s just how life is’ he thought to himself. He realized that he is now actually dead. ‘That’s just how existing is’ he thought. Existing is never fair. You were never given the choice to be born on a poor and disrespected family or to a rich and prestigious nobility, nor were you always given a helping hand during your utter needs. The soul knew that existence is unfair and harsh. With that in mind, he accepted it. He accepted it all heartily. He let fate do it its thing, and that whatever happens to him, happens to him. This mindset gave him clearing from existential crisis. What a powerful talent.

“If that’s how it is gonna be, then so be it. If I am to be stuck here, at least give me something to entertain myself for the rest of eternity.”

He uttered those words on the sky, and just like an angel would come down from the heavens in shining light, an angel came down from the heavens in shining light. Wait, not an angel, but a god! A god? A GOD?! News flashed in front of the soul. He was shocked to see a god descend down from the sky, and quite a familiar one too. A bald head, old wrinkly face, a majestic long white beard and pointy moustache, and a blue robe decorated with gold edges and badges of celestial bodies, like moons and stars. He was sure about it, the father of his previous race, Wize, the god of wisdom and knowledge.

From within his robe came out thin arms, bony and frail, one hand carrying a book while the other held a staff. His always closed eyes made the soul wonder how he could see. Does he see through his eyelids? Or is there some kind of arc that allows you to see while not actually seeing. Wize suddenly smiled, releasing his book as it floated on air, and rubbed his majestically long beard, seemingly judging the soul. Though invisible and presumably non existent, Wize could clearly see the soul.

“I see you have doubts in you. The look in your eyes means that you wonder how I see things?”

‘Holy hell’ the soul thought. Wize sounded exactly like what he thought he sounded like in his head. An old man with a slightly high pitched voice and a slight sound of wheezing. He sounded like a very old arcusian trying to impress people with their Arcs.

“I never thought you would be able to have insane perception.”

“I am the god of wisdom and knowledge, Nemer, I possess the information, mind, and everything else to perceive how you were feeling and thinking. Plus, I have the help of my godly powers.”

For a god that probably holds unfathomable knowledge and information, he sure doesn’t talk like one. Nemer wasn’t surprised at the mention of his name, even though he hadn’t told him yet. It was obvious that he would know, yet it was also slightly creepy. Would he know of the things he did when he was younger? Embarrassing, those days of childhood innocence. Going back to the topic at hand, he asked for the answer of his mental questions.

“Really though, how can you see through that always closed eyes?”

“Oh, it’s a little bit of this, a little bit of that…”

Little bit of this? Little bit of that? Is Wize making fun of him? Or is he not that “knowledgeable” or “wise” to understand his answer. His expression turned to mild annoyance and frustration, to which Wize took notice and stopped talking nonsense.

“I am a being of absolute certainty and existence, my boy Nemer. As such, I exist independent from the universe’s laws, but still am under it for I am from it.”

Nemer looked confused. He really didn’t have the right mind to process what Wize said, but he tried to understand his words anyway.

“That’s the fancy way of saying that I can cheat the universe and see through my eyelids!”

Wize cackled a laugh, to which Nemer was not amused of. So much for the first impression of a god to him. His appearance seemed to emit out an aura of glittering wisdom, but his gestures and words says otherwise. Wize calmed down, and while rubbing his beard, he said another.

“Now for the business.”

Business? Is it about the ‘eternally stuck in this pleasant hellhole’? Please let it be that, and make it a good news! Or at least something better than be stuck in a place like this. Nemer pleaded to a non existent deity, trying so much to wish something different. But he knew that if fate chose otherwise, he is bound to its choice.

“You did a great job in your previous life! As a human, you overcame your races’ limit and instead of abusing your newfound strength, you helped everyone! You were a very powerful slayer, a benevolent one at that too! A rare combination if I do say so myself.”

Nemer was flattered. This is the first time he receive a compliment from a god. The value quickly deteriorated however as he realized that this old man was the one who game him a compliment.

“Sadly, your overconfidence led you to your demise from your hunt of the dreaded plague dragon. Your merits, achievements, and other precious and valuables you treasured are now left behind after your passing. Even… your tremendous power.”

Nemer was a bit saddened, because that power he had was the result of many years of training, experience, and effort from his blood and sweat. He reflected on it for a while, and just like that, he recovered again to his indifferent state. He had accepted that his powers are now gone. Though he can’t deny he was such a badass in his previous life. Flames blazing, spikes of gigantuous sizes sprouting from the ground, and countless corpses of the slain beneath his feet, all to help the world become a much safer place to live. All of that, just memories now.

“But after your death, we were surprised. You harbored no grudge, resentment, or any signs of hatred against the thing that killed you! You truly had a benevolent heart, and a great mind.”

Wize seemed happy at Nemer, to which Nemer responded with a wide smile back at him.

“You are what we needed, for our new project we would like to implement.”

A project? For what? This is giving him bad vibes, because a project was NEVER a good thing when it came out from a god’s mouth.

“I don’t think I-”

“And with this project, we will give you a second chance.”

Nemer was cut off, but at the end of the sentence, the words ‘second chance’ stuck into his head. Another go at living? Another life to use and become something much greater again? He likes that idea! It was enticing to him, and even though it sounded suspicious, he never cared about it. He just wanted to have a second life.

“Alright, sign me up! If I can have another shot at living, then I’ll take it!”

“Not so fast! Let me give you a brief summary of our project first.”

That’s odd. He was pretty sure that the deal would instantly be sealed, and there would be a catch to his life that would make living his second life harder. This was better though, so he would know what dangers he would step unto.

“We call this project: ‘The Scion Project’. It is where we pick worthy souls from the Plane of Existence and turn them into our weaker forms; the lesser gods. You will become one, and the first ever lesser god to exist. You shall grow and become like us, the greater gods. Earn worshippers, build temples, and flourish cities. We are giving you a chance in becoming one of us.”

Hold up. Wait a minute. Hold that thought. WHAT?!?! Become a lesser god to ultimately become a greater god? So there’s like, big responsibilities? This troubled Nemer. He doesn’t want to be a god. He just wants to live again as a mortal. This was a poof. Wize is a pood. He doesn’t want this.

“Actually, I changed my mind-”

“No can do, Nemer! You have accepted my deal, you were already sealed!”

‘Curse my bad luck.’ Nemer thought to himself. ‘Curse my stupidity!’ He just jinxed himself previously.

“However, once you become a lesser god, your memories shall be fragmented. Not lost from the world, but lost from your mind. You will also be binded with an object of worship, and the area around your sacred object shall become your domain. Your domain is your world, and your world runs on your rules. Of course, these rules must also be in accordance with the universal laws, as you may be independent from it, but the things you make and set on the Plane of Existence are not.”

This is not getting good from him, specially the losing memories part! He will lose his memories from the time when he was an ass kicking badass? Oh no! Nemer panicked, and as he panicked, Wize spoke again.

“I believe this should be enough of an explanation. The rest will be filled in during your job as a lesser god. Have fun!”

“Wait! I-”

…

……..

……………

And there was silence and darkness.