"Paging, paging. Head of the Afterlife, Crispin, please report to the Great One's office. I repeat---"

The man in the office grumbled, 'why does he need me? Have I done something wrong? Perhaps, it was about-'

His thoughts were interrupted as the door slammed loudly.

"Manager!" said Bassie, his secretary. "The Great One is asking for you!"

"I've heard it. And will you stop calling me manager? Call me by my name, Bassie. We're friends here."

"Okay, mana--- I mean Crispin. Sir."

He sighed, 'she'll never change, huh?' He let out the barest hint of disappointment.

"Now, will you tell Leo to prepare a cup of warm chocolate drink."

"Yes, Sir Crispin!" answered Bassie. She went outside the office to search for her twin, Leo. He heard her shout 'Leo! Where are you!?'

He grabbed a comb and straightened out his hair. Afterwards, he hurriedly picked up his tux and went outside his office.

---

He stopped before the grandiose pair of doors of the Great One's office. He lifted his knuckles to knock at the door, but he stopped halfway through. 'This is very nerve-wracking,'

He gulped as his knuckles landed once, twice, thrice on the wooden door with strange inscriptions. His other hand was shaking, spilling some of the chocolate drink Leo prepared.

He almost jumped in surprise as a commanding voice boomed from the inside. "Come in," said the person. He emptied the cup and handed it to Leo.

"Bassie, Leo," he said faintly. He noticed his feeble voice and pretended to cough. "You may go now. Have your break."

"Yes, sir!" said the twins. They immediately ran off, probably going towards the other places in Afterlife, or travelling across worlds.

'There they go, very excited, while I'm here stuck with sweaty palms.' He pushed the doors and stepped onto the red carpet leading to the Great One's desk.

'Here it goes.'

---

The Great One's office was very... white. It was too white. Everything, from the furniture, walls, books, and design. Everything was white.

As he was taking in everything that he saw (that he definitely had seen in the past), he heard a chuckle. His head turned towards the sound, and saw the commanding figure of the Great One.

"Still like a child, I see."

Crispin immediately knelt in front of the Great One, fear evident from his trembling frame. He can't even peek at the Great One's face even jf he dared as the Great Ones was too bright. Too bright that even a glimpse would blind him.

'I'd rather have my eyesight, thank you.' He cleared this thought from his mind.

"O Great One, forgive this humble servant for his impertinence."

"Cut the act, Crispin. Haven't I told you to stop doing that?"

"But my lord---"

"No buts, Crispin. Get up and have a seat."

Crispin obeyed the Great One and sat on the white white cushioned chairs placed in front of the white white table of the Great One.

'It's so soft,' he marvelled. 'I wonder what material it was made of. Maybe it's from the fur of the bears of Yshonn. Or it's made of the Freljordian por-'

"Now, Crispin. You may wonder why I've asked for your presence."

"Not at all, my lord. I do not mind you asking for my presence. You may call me every time you want."

"Oh really? I might take you up on that offer later." said the Great One with a straight face.

Beads of sweat pooled up on his forehead. 'Crap. I'm toast.' He shook as he imagined the future instances - parties, surveys, policy making, oh no - when the Great One would call him.

The Great One, seeing how nervous Crispin was, laughed loudly. "I'm just kidding, Crispin!"

Crispin let out a nervous chuckle. The atmosphere became slightly darker, as the Great One ceased his laughs and became more serious.

"On a serious note, the reason I've called you here is..."

Crispin was anticipating his answers. 'Is he mad? Is it because I've pranked some souls? Or is it because I've sorted some souls wrong? But I've already corrected it if I remember correctly. Maybe I'll be killed, or worse, fired from my posi-'

"---ed!"

'Huh, what did he say?' questioned Crispin. "My lord, pardon?"

"I said, it's because I'm bored! And I've thought of something!"

'Oh no,' "What is it, my lord?" 'This can't be good.'

"We should do a raffle!"

'Have I heard it right? A raffle?' Crispin was bewildered. "A raffle, my lord?"

"Yes! I think we should give seven random souls a wish each, but they have to complete something first. However, they couldn't ask to change their destination in the Afterlife. They can ask to reincarnate, however, even with extra powers or memories intact. How does that sound?"

Needless to say, Crispin was shocked. 'Is the Great One drunk? Maybe Simone or Damos brainwashed him? But that can't be!'

"It sounds..." Crispin hesitated.

"Sounds what?"

"Sounds wonderful, my lord." uttered Crispin, lying through his gritted teeth.

"That's great! You can start in three days!"

"Uh, my lord. I have a question, though. How would we select the souls and the challenges?"

"We'll select the souls depending on their number. You know that the rational beings are assigned a number when they die, depending on the order of arrival in the Afterlife? We start from 1 again and pick 7 numbers. I suggest 1, 587, 209, 674, 386. You can ask the Mathematics goddess for the others. What was her name again?"

"Jessie, my lord."

"Yes, Jessie. I remember now. For the challenges, you can ask the god of random, Randell."

"Copy, my lord."

"That's all. You may go."

"Thank you, my lord." Crispin then stood up and performed a ninety-degree bow.

'This is gonna be a long, long millenia,' groaned Crispin as he pulled the huge wooden doors of the Great One's office. 'I already feel tired.'

Outside, he was welcomed by the sight of his assistants Bassie and Leo waiting for him, snacks and drinks in their hands. They approached him as he walked past them.

"How was it, Crispin, sir, " said Leo.

"It was fine. I just have something to ask you."

"What is it, sir?!" said Bassie.

"Set an appointment for today with Jessie and Randell. Tell them it's urgent. Great One's orders."

"Is that all, Sir Crispin?"

"Yes. Also, be prepared. This will be a tiresome millenia."