Soul Sacrifice

'Th-this smell!' Austin stammered as he stared blankly at the steaming cup of coffee.

'This is Kopi Luwak coffee.' He could never forget this coffee.

Tentatively, he took another sniff of the coffee and with each whiff, memories of his last moments before dying began to be replayed in his mind. After a while, his eyes reddened and his body began to shake uncontrollably, almost spilling the precious coffee. 

Ulric felt complicated as he watched the young man's saddened appearance. For a moment, he regretted his decision but also knew it was important, so he patiently waited for the young man to calm down.

After a few deep breaths to calm his emotions, he raised the cup to his lips, savoring its rich, indulgent flavor. The taste was just like how he remembered, smooth, earthy, and sweet with a hint of chocolate. Despite his best effort to hold back his tears, they streamed down his cheeks and into the cup, mixing with the warm liquid. Yet, he did not care and continued, in four gulps he finished and then with shaky hands placed the cup back down on the table.

Just as he placed the cup down, he heard the elderly man's voice that rather than helping his state of mind, only worsened it.

"Your adoptive family back on Earth cried for many days… In fact, when your adoptive mother learned of the news of your death, she fainted from shock and heartbreak…even now they are saddened by your death." 

Austin lowered his head, and once more his eyes reddened, and tears of sadness fell down his pallid cheeks. While his heart was overcome with guilt and regret, he listened in silence, knowing the old man had more words to say, 

Ulric took a moment, allowing the young man to process his words. After wetting his lips with coffee he continued:

"On the day of your funeral, your adoptive mother Susie fainted three times from overwhelming sadness. They truly love you."

Austin's body convulsed, he pressed his lips together, not wanting to make any noise as tears streamed down his face.

Ulric did not find joy in causing the young man's mood to sour; however, he deserved to know the truth and in doing so, it could allow him to find a goal to work towards.

'What has been lost will one day return.' Ulric had once scoffed at that phrase; however, maybe, just maybe, it held some truth. Or so he wished.

'Only time will tell.'

The old man's words caused a deluge of emotions - sadness, worry, and longing in his heart.

Though he loved Jacob, Natalie, and his adoptive parents, Susie and John, he had never truly considered them as his family. Simply because he had never felt he was part of their family. Deep down in his heart, he believed they only adopted him to show others how kind and loving they were. Despite the love they showed, he never once thought it to be one hundred percent real. That was why he always maintained a certain level of distance. 

…However, now being told of their genuine sorrow after his death and even now they were burdened with sadness over his death… he understood their love had been real. His adoptive mother… no mother fainted from the news of death caused that small part of him that doubted their love to disappear. Now he understood they truly did care for him.

A minute of silent weeping later, using the sleeve of his t-shirt, Austin wiped away the tears from his eyes and cheeks. 

*Sigh*

After a while, Ulric sighed and apologized:

"Young lad, I sincerely apologize. My intentions were not to cause you emotional distress. I simply wish to give you closure as well as a goal to push you forward."

Austin's brows furrowed in confusion, he lifted his head and met the old man's eyes, which like his words showed genuine remorse. Yet, he was not confused by the apology, he was bewildered by the end of his sentence.

After a while, he asked skeptically:

"What do you mean by a goal to push me forward?"

Ulric smiled mysteriously.

"Do you wish to reunite with your adoptive family once more? Do you wish to rectify your mistakes from the past?"

Austin's breath caught in his throat, shocked by the old man's words. He knew the old man was God. How could he not know that simple fact? He knew from the beginning as soon as the old man had spoken in the bedroom. His voice and that mysterious voice from when he was entrapped in that dark place were the same.

"Could I… could I really go back to my family?" Austin hesitantly asked as his voice grew quieter before turning into a whisper. He didn't want his hope to rise only for it to come crashing down. Hope was dangerous.

Although Austin's voice faded to a barely audible whisper, Ulric heard every single word.

He smiled and then nodded.

"Yes-" but before he could explain the details, he was interrupted by the young man's gratitude.

"Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!" Austin was so overwhelmed with emotions at learning he could go back to his family that he vigorously shook the old man's hand and like a broken record kept saying the same words.

Ulric smiled bitterly, and simply watched the young man excitedly thanking him without knowing the complexities involved around the reincarnation cycle.

"Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to me." Austin said while still repeatedly shaking the old man's hand.

Ulric smiled, not minding his arm being shaken one bit. He could perfectly understand how the young man felt hearing he could be with his family once again. If it was him in the young man's shoes he would be dancing in joy too.

'One day everything will go back to normal. This is the beginning of our happiness.' Ulric mused, not only would Austin achieve happiness he and his daughter will too one day.

'One day we will reunite.' Ulric, couldn't help but reminisce about the happy days he spent with his wife, son-in-law, and his newly born granddaughter. Those days felt like eons ago, but even to this day, he could perfectly remember it like it happened yesterday. Those memories were just that precious.

However, before sadness could overwhelm him he forced the complicated emotions back down.

*Cough*

Ulric coughed to get the young man's attention.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I was not finished" Ulric stated.

Austin's eyes narrowed, he stopped his words of gratitude and took his hand back. His stomach felt a sinking feeling as if the words next spoken by the old man would be words he least wished to hear.

Ulric chuckled after seeing the suspicion in Austin's eyes. Though… his suspicions were well founded.

After nodding in appreciation at the young man's matureness, he explained:

"Reincarnating a person is not as simple as snapping my fingers. Even a God like myself has to follow the Universal Laws." He paused to allow the young man to understand the seriousness of the matter; however, after seeing him opening his lips, he continued, "Before you ask what the Universal Laws are, forget it, you are too weak, and knowing them would do you nothing but harm. I'm sure you don't want your Soul to cease existing."

Austin shivered. As a Mortal, he didn't really understand anything about reincarnation, Universal Laws, and Souls, but even an ignoramus like himself instinctively understood that his Soul ceasing to exist meant absolute death for him.

After gulping, tentatively, Austin asked, "S-so what's the catch?"

Ulric blinked and then smiled evilly.

Seeing that smile, Austin knew he was done for, what he was dreading was about to occur. 

'I should have known that there is no free lunch in this world!'

He felt like hitting himself for having hope. Just like Fate, Hope was a bitch. Hope was dangerous, if you wanted something, you should obtain it yourself. 

Ulric wryly smiled at the young man's thoughts. Although… he agreed with the young man's sentiment. 

'A free lunch in the multiverse was rare as-' He mused, but was interrupted, causing him to go into a coughing fit by what he heard.

"So what do I need to do? Sell my Soul to you?" Austin asked, despite wanting to escape, he knew it would be a useless endeavor. Attempting to escape before God was most likely useless. 

Ulric clutched his chest, despite being so old he never once felt old, but now he did. His chest hurt from coughing.

After taking a few deep breaths, with a forced smile and twitching eyelids, he inquired:

"Brat, do you think I'm the Devil!? What would I need your Soul for!?" At the mention of the Devil, he momentarily had a complicated expression.

Not caring for the old man's thoughts, Austin replied in a tone full of accusation.

"For someone who trapped me in that dark place, you're one to talk."

Ulric chose to remain quiet, rather than defend himself. He had countless words that he wished to say, but none could be spoken.