If I told you that the world was controlled by 4 supernatural powerhouses, and that the world was on the brink of a Third World War, would you believe me? I think you would, since the world is cruel anyways.
I'm sure many people have been through hard times like this before. You know how it goes; one day everything seems fine until your life takes a turn into hell. Fate always plays a game. Whenever something good happens, something bad comes along with it. That's how the world works.
That's just it.
That's just it [https://img.wattpad.com/bfb5645025ac825717b1fa871df0a3175b4dcdce/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f77616e596d626f4538774c3946513d3d2d313333313238393635382e31373533616537616663663534336561393233383430383730332e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
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". . ."
I'm met with an unfamiliar ceiling. It was of crystallized glass, which dispersed a rainbow-ish light in return. It seemed like something out of a fantasy movie.
"Ummm."
I could hear my own voice echoing back at me through the room. But it wasn't that strange—the walls were made entirely of crystal as well. This must have been some kind of sanctuary. There was no furniture here. No beds either. All I see is a huge clock, ticking every second. And above this clock, there hung a gigantic painting. An oil painting. Of course. That's why its colors looked so vivid.
"What happened?"
I asked myself where I am now, even though I knew exactly what had just transpired. What I didn't know yet was how long I'd be stuck inside this place. I stand up, using my knees to support me on the ground. My body felt heavy, almost immobile. Even breathing feels difficult.
I... I remember. I was on the ground with a gaping hole in my stomach. Eight had killed me. I should be dead right now but I'm not... Who saved me? How did they pull off such a feat? Was someone really able to heal wounds? That sounds absurd! A SPEC doesn't hold healing abilities or any of the sort. Something is going on here. Is this real life? Or am I still dreaming? I don't feel anything. Not pain nor sadness. Maybe I've already died and gone to heaven. If that's true then I can ask God about all these things.
"For that, there is no need to."
"WAH!!" I stumble back from shock and fall to the ground. That voice scared me. As I looked up at the person who just scared me... I couldn't believe my eyes. It wasn't a normal human being. It was a deity or some sort. It had 12 eyes, and it had a halo.
"What the..." I stand up, not averting my eyes from it at all. As incredible as it looked, it didn't really look like a God. But there was something about it. Normally I can sense other SPECs because we're the same kind... but that. I can't sense that at all. It has nothing resembling a presence. Nothing whatsoever.
"Who are you...?"
It answered without moving his mouth. "I am your savior," he says, making me flinch. His words aren't spoken by anyone else; it came from that directly into my head. I suddenly realized that everything around us stopped. Even the clock. Everything froze except for him.
"Savior...? What do you mean?" I ask, still shocked by it's unhinged answer.
"Natsuha Inose." It said my name, completely ignoring what I said. I stare at it with fear and desperation. "Natsuha Inose. It is with great sadness that I must tell you..."
"...?"
"That you have died."
My heart sank deep, and I felt a painful knot in my stomach. What did it just say? I'm dead? Did I die before coming here? I felt that hopelessness again. That hopelessness and helplessness and the fact that nobody would hear me call for help. So... I really have died. That's why all my wounds are gone... and that's why I feel nothing but despair.
"You've had an interesting life. You were among the top dogs of Ultima City, and SPECs in it's entirety. You had loving parents who unfortunately died due to an explosion in the suburbs. You've had interesting friends, who helped you end another civil war in Ultima City. You were someone with honour, respect and kindness."
"W-wait! Are you really telling me that... everything I've done... those 15 years I lived... were all for nothing!?" I said. Shortly after, it raised it's head up to me, and looked me straight in the eye with his own 12 eyes.
"No life ends without having fulfilled it's purpose." It lowered itself back down. The atmosphere around us kept changing, but time remained still. I slowly got up. It spoke again.
"Life is unfair, but that is how Gods have envisioned it to be. You can distinguish the rich from the poor, as you can distinguish the good from the evil. For example: One may become a successful businessman while the other becomes a criminal. Both will live their lives until they pass away. Now think carefully. Which one deserves more praise than the other? Wouldn't it be the business man?
"...What?" It looked at me, without saying anything. It expects an answer from me. "... The business man?" I reluctantly said with a low voice.
"Yes. Now would you choose the successful person that worked it's way up through luck or would you choose the one who had to work extra hard to come where he is now?"
"... ... The one who did the extra work." I answered reluctantly again.
"That is right. But it would not matter which one you chose, since both of them are on the same level. Success isn't always determined by hard work alone. Luck plays a role too. Sometimes people get lucky despite working less than others. And sometimes they fail despite working harder. They both worked equally hard. However, only one of them became a millionaire. Do you understand? Life is like this. There's luck involved, along with effort. But, in some cases, even the person who chooses the path of evil is morally correct, even if his actions define the opposite. The person who chooses evil may very well do so to enact revenge, or to avenge the death of someone. He might also act in self defense, or simply out of the kindness from his own heart. We cannot judge a book by its cover. Only when it's read, can we know its content. And most importantly—we shouldn't make judgements based on our own standards."
Why is this deity talking in such a cryptic manner? Is it telling me something I should know? Does it want me to learn something? What is it trying to say?
"What are you trying to imply with this?" I ask.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"Natsuha Inose. I understand your pain, your frustrations. Tsuki Inose is in the hands of an evil Chairwoman who wishes to test on you for her own absolution."
"... You... understand?"
The deity nodded with a rather certain smirk on it's face. It's like he knows my next move. It speaks once more, lowering it's arms and staying in a comfy and still pose.
"The fact that you have been forced to be tested on by Ultia once more, is an seriously unfair and unlucky situation that you are facing once again. With the addition of keeping your little sister hostage and potentially your friends accountable." It lowered it's head. "I am no more than a deity, so I cannot understand what you may be going through."
I listen to him while my emotions mix up. My mind wanders for a moment, thinking about how this deity is probably the cause of my current predicament. I take over the conversation for now.
"It... it wasn't my fault." My pride is speaking. "It's all Ultia's fault and Eight was lying..!"
"I know. And I will help you. But first, I need you to hear me out." It looked at me directly as it said these words, which seemed almost impossible to comprehend. Wasn't God supposed to have infinite power? And why would God appear before me right now? The answer to both questions lies in what it just told me; there are two sides to every coin.
"Natsuha Inose," the deity started talking again. "You were killed by the very person who saved your life when your parents died." He spoke with the same tone as when he gave me news of my death earlier.
"!" I take in that news with the worst type of reaction. It was Eight? Eight saved me when I 'awakened' that day? If... If that's so, then why didn't he save my parents? I never knew that. No matter how many times this came into my mind, I couldn't get rid of this feeling that Eight had betrayed me. That, perhaps, if he hadn't abandoned the city, everything might've been different. If he hadn't killed me... But... Who am I to talk about Eight's stupidity when I gave up from the very start anyways? I'm a hypocrite. Even though I keep cursing him for being a coward. How pathetic! I'm worthless, too! He is not a coward! I am!
"... Natsuha Inose," The deity says while raising its hand and placing it on top of my head. "Let me ask you one more thing."
I close my eyes and look down. I realize that I was trembling extremely. Haha... scared? I'm dead, damnit.
"What if I told you..."
"...?" I look up at it.
"... That you could continue from where you left off?"
I freeze completely. My heart races out of control. I can't speak at all. My mind became blank instantly after hearing those words. Everything went black. I have no words to say anything else other than: "...W-what?"
The deity smiles and then cracks into a sophisticated laugh, leaving me in a state of elevated confusion. I didn't want to ask why it was laughing. Do Gods even laugh? Wait, that isn't a God, I confirmed that a few minutes ago. If that deity is showing emotion, then it's surely not a God, but like an Angel or some sort. Then what...? What does that mean? I'm getting nowhere with this.
"Wait, just- hold on! What do you mean by that?" I finally ask, getting tired of it laughing. "Is there something you're trying to tell me?"
"Yes," it replied calmly. "You still remember the ending scene of the girl's story, right?" It says. It clearly has a habit of talking in a cryptic manner. "If I shall bring back the person who died, would she be willing to experience everything again?"
I looked up at it, dumbfounded. Now it's talking about me in third p- Wait, did it just say 'bring back'?
"Y-you are... telling me to come back?!"
"That is correct."
"... How?" The questions keep coming from my mouth nonstop as they pour out my emotions. I thought that my death was final, that it was what Fate wanted. As supernatural as this world can get, it's still unbelievable. I feel sick to my stomach. I'm too shocked that I can't move properly. This creature before me might've been able to hear every single feeling in my mind when it told me all these things.
"I may not be the God, but I am *a* God. And so long as you fulfill the conditions set for you, you will regain your old life," The deity explained while standing straight and tall. Its eyes were glowing with a dark shade of red and purple. A shining, fiery aura seemed to cover its entire body, making a soft halo around his head.
"... Conditions?" I ask softly. It is silent and doesn't answer at first, letting me wonder if he'd heard me or not. Eventually after some time has passed, it replies:
"I know what you strive for. I know what you seek. I can give you that power, as well as take it away from you. You want to save Tsuki Inose from Alice Ultia's grasp, and you want to see the death of everyone who is involved with the Dark Infinite Project."
". . ." Nothing came out of my mouth.
"You want to bring about peace to the city again. You want your friends to grow without having them feel worried about doom. You want Alice Ultia buried six feet underground. Those can happen."
"... Really...?" A shimmer of hope flew around me.
"Yes. There is just one condition for what I wish for." It replied while walking forward slowly, looking at me carefully. "Let go of your SPEC, and become one of my many children. A Magician."
"..."
"..."
...What?
"..."
M-Magician?
"..."
I couldn't believe it anymore.
A Magician? Why? ... I remember now. The reason why I couldn't feel its presence, its power... was because it is a Magic God. I've fallen right into it's trap... but... Why am I saved by a Magic God?
Thousands of questions cloud my mind as I can't comprehend the deity's true colours.
"..." It stared at me for a long time as if waiting for me to answer with an emotionless expression on the face.
I... I can't be a Magician! Can a SPEC even become a Magician!? That's... that's just impossible, right? That's impossible! It has to be! This must be some foul joke! A jest! A cruel game that would lead me straight into hell! Is this all just a sick fantasy, a fake reality brought upon me only to torment me forever? Or is there some way to escape from here?!
"Natsuha Inose," It spoke. "If you truly wish for things to go like the way you want it to be, then the only way for it to happen is to become my child. You will be granted unmatched power that will rival even the power of Ultia... or Divo Aoyami, your rival."
"..." I went quiet again.
"You will be able to save your little sister. You will be able to stop the human experimentation project you so despise. You will able to save your friends from impending doom... You will become like me, a saviour to the good and the punisher of the evil."
It said something very strange just now: "... and punish?"
What does that mean? Punish who? What could it mean? I'm stuck with these questions in my mind as it looks at me carefully, letting me know it wants an answer.
"Or... you can continue your life while remaining as a SPEC. But do know the consequences of choosing this option. You may very well try and save whoever you can save in the state you are in, but I do not guarantee that you will succeed without my power."
This deity... This fucking deity! But... he's right... but I can't be a Magician... no matter how hard I tried! No way! Even if I did get some sort of power to fight against Ultia! And even if I somehow manage to save Tsuki and my friends, what would I do? My life would be ruined! Everybody would look down on me because I'm a Magician... even him...
"..." I look up at the deity, and shook my head. "I can't be a Magician..."
I don't want to be someone who's treated like trash by everybody. If I became a Magician, everyone would treat me like shit. I wouldn't have any friends anymore. Not even my own sister. SPECs hate Magicians... and I can't be something my own kind hates.
"I see. You choose to remain as a SPEC." The deity would wave it's hand, seemingly distorting reality around us. My heart feels pressured by an unknown force, as the room around us begins to change into a wider landscape that of grass, water and trees. We're somewhere outside now, maybe a forest, but the sky was still pitch black. There were only stars above me now. It wasn't day or night, or anything that resembles either of them. That doesn't mean we were out in space though; there was nothing else but darkness everywhere except for those few small spots. What is this place?
"The option to become a Magician is always open. I will be loosely following you in your future endeavours." The deity stands in front of me, wearing the same robe with its hood down while standing tall in front of my face. "Natsuha Inose. If you wish to call for me, this will be the place. The place where you died." It waves his hand around again, distorting reality around us.
As the world started to reform again, I'm in the building where I crashed and succumbed to my injuries. The deity spoke again:
"If you wish to become a Magician, stand here and call for my name whenever you want to." The deity looked at me.
"..." I looked at him, dumbfounded once more. It never told me it's name. But what did it mean by 'calling' for him? As far as I knew, calling upon any deities could lead to a bad ending, especially when calling for him means that I will become a Magician.
"..."
"... What is your name?" I finally ask.
The deity smiled, his form seemingly starting to fade away. I think my time is up in this limbo that I've been stuck in for what feels like an eternity. The deity spoke for the last time in a tone unimaginable:
"I am Esthic."