1 A Meeting With Fate

BANG

With that single sound, a sharp and unreal pain ripped through my head for but a moment. In the moment that followed, black clouded my vision. It was deathly silent, and I could see nothing. Time passed on, and still there was nothing. Was this what death felt like?

I started to recall everything that had happened to me in my seventeen years of life. My mother, my father, my spiral into a bottomless pit of bad events one after another. It began with my mother's death.

My mother was a kind woman, she had been sick for a very long time. But even so, she kept smiling through it. When she died, I tried my best to keep a smile. She had taught me to always smile through all of the pain in life. My father didn't take it as well as I did.

After my mother died, my father fell into what could only be called despair. He would keep himself locked in his room, day after day. Eventually when he did come out, he seemed different. He was no longer the caring and happy father that I once knew. With every day, he became more and more abusive. He gave me many scars, on my arms, my legs, my body, even my face. But no-one ever did anything to help me, so I did the only thing that I could. I continued to smile. Through all of the beatings, the scoldings, the cuts. I kept smiling at him.

Eventually, he could take no more. When I was fifteen, he finally snapped. His beatings became far more intense, even life threatening. I had faced death many times, but I had never died. Still, no-one ever did anything. In fact, people avoided me because of my scars. But I had found somewhere that would accept me.

When I was sixteen, I took up gambling. If you could name a game, I had probably played it. I discovered that I was good at it as well. They began to call me 'The Devil' because of my numerous, merciless wins against my opponents. Though, it was this solace that brought me here.

I made the wrong move when I angered a yakuza boss. Not only did I beat him, I also continued to antagonise him. When I tried to run after he sicced his men on me, I could only get so far before I was shot. And now I'm here.

BANG

I heard the gunshot echo in my mind, and upon hearing it, my vision came back to me. I was somewhere unbelievable.

I found myself in a garden, surrounded by the prettiest flower arrangement that you had ever seen. All different colours surrounded me, red, yellow, blue, green, pink, all beautifully arranged to dazzle me. The floor underneath was a shining marble, with a path that led outwards. At the end of this path, I could see a decayed observatory.

As I walked down the path, I could hear water. There was a fountain beside the path, with spraying water that shimmered in the light. When I looked at the fountain, there was yet another amazing sight.

Beyond the flower wall behind the fountain lay endless flowers. They kept going and going, as far as the eye could see. It was like staring at an infinite sea of flowers. I kept walking, absolutely amazed at everything around me, until I came to a halt at the observatory doorway. I say that because there was no door, you could just walk straight in.

Inside the building was not much. There was simply a gaping black hole in the marble floor. There seemed to be no bottom. Inside was also a fine wooden chair and an expensive-looking mirror. Did someone live here?

Suddenly, I could feel a presence behind me. Without any hesitation, I turned around. In front of me was the most beautiful woman that I had ever laid eyes on.

She was a tall woman, with long, shiny golden hair that fell to her waist. She had dazzling sapphire eyes that lit up amongst the sunlight and wore a white robe that looked like a roman toga. Her impeccable stance and almost divine aura locked my eyes in place as she stood there. On her face was a bright smile, like she was looking at a close friend.

"What a poor soul you are." she said in a pretty and sophisticated voice, "After living such a cruel and painful life, you weren't even allowed to grow old. Such a poor soul surely deserves another chance? Isn't that right, Keita Kuro?"

"How..." I stuttered before her beauty, "How do you know my name? Where am I?"

"I know all." the woman answered, "It's my duty to watch over every one of my precious creations. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Reinhaldt Michaelis Lucifarien, but mortals know me by the names of 'Reinha' and 'God'."

God? I had no idea that God could be such a beautiful woman. I was once again speechless before her as she announced herself.

"Now allow me to explain your situation." Reinhaldt told me, "You are dead. Currently what is standing here is none other than your spirit, your soul, if you will. I feel sorry about such a painful life ending without conclusion, so I brought you here, to make you an offer. I offer you a second chance at life, in a brand new world. However there is a condition that must be fulfilled; you must stop the rise of the Demon King at all costs. Accept this quest, and you shall be allowed your second life."

This was something that I had never expected to hear. It sounded like it came straight out of an RPG, and I was meant to be some kind of hero. Unable to properly respond, I lightly nodded my head. I had no idea what I was doing, but if I could live again, then so be it.

"Excellent choice." Reinhaldt applauded, "Now, if you would just jump down that hole there, I will take you to Alterai."

I froze up completely at this request. I was meant to jump down into that bottomless pit? How was I meant to be sure of its safety? But, now was not the time to be backing out. I nodded, and launched myself down the hole before I could think straight.

As I fell, I felt exactly the same as I did when I came here. There was nothing around me, it didn't even feel like I was falling at all. Before I could react, a huge white light encapsulated me. I could feel my body again. The first feeling that I had was pain.

I felt a massive thud, like I had hit the ground at amazing speed. As if I had dropped off a building. Dazed, I got up and as my vision began to clear, I was stunned.

In front of me was a building that was quite Renaissance in style. In fact, everything around me from the paths to the buildings looked like they were from a fantasy game. It was like I was in a different part of history.

I started to walk around this new place, and I could only be amazed by the way things were. The skies were clear, not like the urban areas. The only sounds that I could hear was talking. I could hear prices being shouted, and people chattering away to each other. I was about to explore more, but something was wrong.

THUNK

I felt an impact on the back of my head. My vision began to go black, and I was losing feeling in my body. I finally collapsed on the ground and the world turned completely dark. I could no longer hear the sounds of people. I could hear nothing. I could feel nothing. I could see nothing.