1 Death is but Another Beginning

Dominic opens his eyes. All he can see is white. It was the last thing he saw as well. "Welcome." Dominic turns and he sees something that is somehow even whiter than the world around him. "Wha-"

"Hello child, I see you've awoken." The strange light interrupts Dominic before he can even ask what is happening. "You must be confused, I understand, most people are when they die." These words seemed to shake Dominic's world. Dead? What is this light talking about? He looks down and sees himself, just as he remembers. His red hoodie, dark jeans, and black tennis shoes. He is just as slim as he remembers, he never could gain weight, no matter how much he tried. "I'm....dead?"

"Yes child, you are. I am sorry, it was your time, but I can see there was much you still wanted to do." Dominic feels his legs weaken, but he can't fall, it's like he's weightless. The light spoke again in an almost solemn tone. "I pity all mortals, they are forced to live in cruel and unfair worlds and once they find a reason to be happy they are ripped from it just to start again somewhere else." The light seemed to shake slightly and it looked...sad? The light grew slightly brighter, and moved a small bit closer. "Dominic, I know this is not fair to the other souls who have met with misfortune, but, I have chosen you. You shall be my first and only champion." The light began to morph into another shape. Becoming more humanoid while still not being identifiable. It walks closer to Dominic. Reaching it's hands out toward him. "I offer this to you but I force nothing upon you. Do you wish to accept my gift?"

"Wh-what?"

"I understand your confusion child. This is very sudden. I hate to force your hand but you must choose. I can only maintain your current soul for so long."

"How long do I have?"

"A minute at most, please, do you wish to be my champion?"

"What does being your champion mean?" Dominic was slowly but surely finding his strength again and tried to stand up taller. He stepped forward toward the light, and to his astonishment he was actually able to move forward.

"You will undergo the trials of a demi-god, and if you succeed you can eventually ascend to godhood."

"I can become a god?"

"Yes, but I must inform you now that you will not be in the world you once knew. You will be born again in another world, and once you are ready you will remember your past life."

"A-another world? What kind of world?"

"The world you will go to is common in fantasy novels of earth, where other races and magic spread across the lands, technology is far behind what you are used to. You will be nothing more than a lowly peasant, forced to fight for survival every day. It will be a rough life and it pains me to put you through it again, but it is necessary to preserve your character."

"Why is it necessary?" Dominic backs off slightly, he doesn't want to live a terrible life.

"If you are raised too well you will never truly appreciate the issues of the common man, and that is unacceptable for a god or demi-god." This made sense to Dominic, if he was pampered his whole life he wouldn't know what it was like to struggle.

"What if I refuse?"

"Then you will return to the cycle of life and death, you will have no memory of our encounter and I can guarentee nothing about your future lives." The light looked almost entirely like a person now, only entirely made of light with no distinct features. Dominic thought about it. He began to stroke his slight stubble while considering it. It is definitely an attractive offer. Making up his mind he steps forward.

"I accept. Please make me your champion!"

"One final warning child. I only have so much power in the lower worlds, I cannot help you any more than giving you visions." With that the light steps forward and grasps Dominic's hand.

"Gaahh" It burns, it burns so bad, worse than anything Dominic had ever felt. He buckles with the pain but it also feels slightly refreshing, as if something is pouring into him. Finally the light releases Dominic and his vision begins to fade.

"Good luck child." He barely hears the final words of the light as he fades into darkness.