He lay in the street, bleeding out amongst the corpses. It was, of course, extremely painful. It evoked despair, panic and dread. But although he could feel all this, the feelings did not fill him. Did not consume him.

The boy felt the breeze on his remaining cheek, and it was cool and gentle. The sunlight was warm, and although the viscera it illuminated all around him was disgusting, its gleam was still beautiful.

The demon stalking away from him was hideous, but its movements were full of grace and power. The boy’s life, though short and fading, had been full of considered, chosen actions. At least he could say that honestly of his second life, anyway. A good feeling.

Unbidden, fragments of memory began to surface in his ravaged mind. He laughed softly to himself, the words gurgling and unrecognizable in his tattered throat. “Flashbacks eh? How appropriate.”

...

- Five minutes ago.

The boy hurried down the street carrying a large load. The crafters were beginning to warm up to him. Already they were allowing him to perform simple tasks in addition to the usual errands. Sooner or later one of them would accept him as an apprentice, and then he would have a steady source of income and shelter. That would allow him to return the bulk of his attention back to his main goal.

This city was relatively far from the frontier, so it should remain peaceful here. If he honed his ability and continued to develop himself he might just be able to help people, even if only a bit. He smiled softly. His dream seemed closer than ever before in this life.

Then he picked up the pace. No sense getting ahead of himself. One step at a time. Besides, the way he was now, he was able to enjoy almost anything. He hadn’t known this would happen when he set out on this road, but it was a welcome benefit.

He turned at the sound of the wall exploding towards him. “Oh. Nuts.” A demon. A powerful one, by the looks of things. In that moment the boy realized he was about to die. No help for it then. He felt his regret, but it had no hold on him. Instead he watched the spectacular flight of the stone fragments as the demon charged in his direction.

...

- One year ago.

The boy stoked the forge. It was exhausting work, especially for someone as small as he was. The strain and heat registered, but they were far from overwhelming. He smiled as he watched the orange glow intensify.

This was a good job. The work was demanding, the recompense sparse, but most of the people around him were absentmindedly good, if somewhat harsh. The village was far out in the hinterlands, and the wars rarely were even mentioned. He was making good progress on developing himself. His dream seemed closer every day.

More wood. He set off for the woodpile at a reasonable pace, one that he could maintain indefinitely. He was hardy for his age, but there were limits, and he didn’t want to exceed them. Internal resources were needed for his primary goal, and he refused to expend them unnecessarily.

As he passed his master’s window he heard a scrap of conversation. “…it’s a shame indeed, but there’s no helping it. The village has to send a set number of recruits, and they up the quota every year. He’s a strong lad, you’ve seen him work the forge bellows. They’ll accept him as a camp servant. Would you rather it be one of our own?”

The boy ground to a halt. “Shoot.” It seemed that even here he couldn’t escape the war. He would have to flee again.

...

- Two years ago.

“Run boy!” The guard hastily unshackled the lad. “Reavers are headed right for the caravan, so you’ve got to run! I don’t care what the knights say, I’ll not have the death of a young one like you on my conscience, so run! Run like your life and soul depend on it!”

The boy smiled at him. “That’s very good of you sir. I’ll run. You should run too.”

The guard smiled grimly. “Oh, I intend to.” He matched the deed to the word, loping off to the North. The boy considered for a moment, then headed West.

Not for him the strong walls of a human fortress. Even if the suspicion of the nobility was taken out of play he wanted nothing more to do with this war. He’d been leery from before the beginning, but recent events had confirmed his fears. His dream couldn’t be realized here. He needed to find somewhere peaceful, far away from the front.

A horrifying scream echoed behind him. One step at a time. He focused on running. Mostly. The way the sunlight streamed down through the leaves was beautiful, and nothing could make it not so.

...

-Three years ago.

The boy roused as the wailing, wheezing, gurgling man was dragged into the room. “How’s my favorite young cannibal?” the demon boomed. He dropped the dying man next to the bars, just within reach.

The boy smiled. “I don’t eat people. That’s evil. You should change your ways. This path will never bring you true happiness.”

The demon laughed. “Always charming.” He suddenly stepped forward and glared through the bars. “Maybe if I twist you into a new shape you’ll sing a different tune!” His voice was full of menace.

“Hasn’t worked so far” the boy laughed, showing his mutilated leg.

The demon glowered for another moment, then laughed himself. “Perhaps, perhaps. I’ll give you credit for courage boy. But you’re cracking, little by little, and I look forward to seeing the end result. You might talk a good game, but you’re still alive, so you’re eating something.” He roared as he waved a clawed hand at the charnel around them, his humor restored. “And the only thing to eat around here are these corpses!” His laughter slowly faded as he stomped back up the steps.

As it grew quieter the grunts and whimpers of the dying man filled the room. “Didn’t think I’d die like this” he groaned. “Eaten by a corrupted cannibal child!”

“I don’t eat people” the boy insisted. His voice was calm, almost soothing. “I’m afraid I will probably eat some of the gyoks that feed on your body, but I don’t touch their stomachs. It’s like fishing. No one worries about eating the worms.”

The man stared at him incredulously. “Is that supposed to comfort me?”

“Yes, just a little.” The boy smiled. “You are going to die here, but it doesn’t have to be a terrifying experience. Can you feel yourself calming down just a bit?”

“Not terrifying? I’m dying! This is the end!”

“Not the end.” The boy was firm, sure of himself. “A transition, to be sure. Wouldn’t you like to work through things before you take your next step? Give yourself a solid foundation to move on? Can you feel yourself beginning to calm as death approaches?”

“I…I…” the man stopped in wonder. “I can. I can still feel the pain and the fear, but it no longer…”

“Consumes you. It probably won’t last long, nor will your body. Take advantage of it. Let’s talk. Do you have any regrets?”

The man considered for a moment. “Well…my final moments with my family. When the demons broke into the city I panicked. I didn’t abandon them or anything, but I dithered. First I thought we should run, then we tried to hide, then we tried to flee again. I was just out of my mind.”

He sighed. “Worst of all, I scared my children, even my wife. They couldn’t rely on me, so even before the demons drew near…they were so afraid. I didn’t even manage to die with them.”

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The boy’s voice was gentle. “Do you blame your wife for not finding a way for you all to escape?”

“Of course not! They were demons, and she was…oh. That makes sense. I guess she probably wouldn’t blame me for not knowing what to do either.”

“Doesn’t. She probably doesn’t blame you. When you meet her again you’ll find out. All in all though, you can’t be defined by a few moments of crisis. Are you a good husband and father? A good man? Does your family love you?”

The man thought deeply for a long time. Then he died. Calmly. Quietly. With a faint smile on his face.

The boy smiled too. Even while he was waiting for the gyoks to come.

...

- Four years ago.

“Boy, let’s go for a walk.”

“Where are we going parah?”

“To check the traplines by the river. Come along now. Quickly.”

The boy cocked his head. Parah certainly was in a rush today. That was odd. But the boy smiled anyway.

His parah smiled too, if perhaps a bit sadly. The boy had come into the world screaming in pain, but now nothing kept him down for long. He intended to keep it that way. “Let me lean on you boy. We need to move today.”

“Yes parah.” They stumped along in silence for a few minutes. “The camp is very quiet today parah.”

“Everyone is out and about my boy. Quite a day.”

“Even the guards?”

“Especially the guards.” The man’s voice held just a trace of bitterness. Not enough for a child to detect. He didn’t see the momentary recognition that flashed across the boy’s face, but he did hear the continued silence.

“Boy, did I ever tell you about the time I met a sojourner?”

“No parah.”

“It was a long time ago, when I was still young. Back then the penalty for all serious crimes was execution. It was simple, it kept the prisons clean and it let young nobles power up a bit. Now as I’ve told you many times, back then I was maliciously framed for various crimes. The details aren’t important. Ah, here’s the river.”

He peered down near-sightedly at a trap. “Hmm, yes, everything seems in order here. What about the ones across the river? Go ahead and shimmy over on that branch, there’s a good lad.” As the boy complied the man rested his weary bones against a tree and took a long draught from his canteen. “Ah, that’s the stuff. Where was I?”

“Oh right. So there I was, about to be executed, when a sojourner bursts into the square. It seems he’s just come from battling a mighty demon, but when he heard what was happening he still ran all the way to the town square.”

“Now to be completely honest I really didn’t hear what he said. He gave this long impassioned speech, and at the end everyone cheered, so it must have been good. The whole time I was just staring at the noble whelp with the sword about to strike my head off.”

He paused, then sighed. “That usually gets a laugh.”

“Sorry parah. Eheheheh.”

“I don’t need your pity boy. Keep going. Anyway, soon enough someone tells me the sojourner convinced everyone that crimes like mine…I mean like the ones I had been maliciously framed for…ahem…didn’t warrant death. So I was sent to help set up this camp instead.”

“You make it over there boy?”

“Yes parah. I’m checking the traps now.”

“Good. Anyway, remember what I’m telling you boy. Some folk don’t like the sojourners, and I’m not saying they’re wrong. But in my experience they do some good. Anyone smart enough to see that my head should remained attached to my shoulders is a corker in my book. Understand?”

“Yes parah.”

“Good. Now…” he grunted. “I’ve got some bad news boy. The demons are coming for Wisp’s Dell. That’s why all the guards are gone. They must have gotten the news last night and they all fled. Everyone else took off early this morning.”

“So you need to head northeast and not stop until you reach Wiitsboro. Tell them Wisp’s Dell has fallen, and that they might be in the line of the invasion. It’s not that far, and you’re reasonably healthy. You should be able to make it.”

“You should come with me parah. I can get you across the river.”

“No boy. The demonlings would quickly catch up and rip us apart. But you can make it.”

“I’d like to try with both of us parah. Please?”

The man sighed. “You’re a good lad. I didn’t want to burden you with this, but I’ve seen demons a time or two. Even a healthy man has trouble keeping ahead of them, so a little squirt like you doesn’t have a chance, much less an old cripple like me.”

“That’s why I’m staying behind. They’ll track us here for certain, and the first demonlings on the scene will find and eat me.” He held up his canteen and took another long draught. “This is…well let’s just say it’s something I know about from my youth. As long as this is flowing through my veins it’ll give even a demonling digestive troubles. That’ll buy you the time you need. I’m already dead now, so make the most of it.”

The boy looked at him, his eyes glistening just a bit. Then he smiled. “Alright parah. I'll honor your wishes. I’m sorry though, and thank you.” He paused for another moment. “I love you parah. Have a good trip.”

The man slowly shook his head, already beginning to slump. “You’re a good lad. I love you too. Be safe. I hope you meet a sojourner some day, and become truly safe.”

...

- A lifetime ago. Give or take.

“Sojourners my ass.” The man grumbled under his breath as he stalked past the rows of brightly colored stalls, glowing unnaturally in the night. He kept his head down and ignored the calls of the vendors.

“Power sets! Complete builds! Set bonuses!”

“Fine-tuning! Stat adjustments! Passives!”

“Upgrade your bloodline! Pre-position with allies!”

“Affinities! Who doesn’t want fated allies, pets and equipment?”

“Buncha bullshit.” The man rounded a corner and cut through a dark alley.

“Bullshit indeed” a mysterious cloaked stranger agreed from the shadows. “Perhaps your tastes run in a slightly more mature direction? Something with a bit more…edge? A forbidden ability perhaps? A slightly more...competitive body? Do you have what it takes to embrace true power? To truly become OP?”

The man walked past him without even acknowledging his existence, turning left onto another well-lit road and continuing to move with purpose. “Must think I died yesterday” he muttered quietly. He glared at a trio eagerly engaging with the vendors. “Stupid assholes.”

After a good deal of profanity and walking he finally arrived at his goal, a nondescript blank wall. He carefully checked his surrounding to ensure he was unwatched, then sought out nearly imperceptible handholds and climbed up in short order. Once on the other side his demeanor changed slightly. His slouching stalk became a more relaxed, energetic stride, and his head rose as he moved eagerly towards his objective.

The small room he ended up in didn’t contain much, just a stone desk, a chair and a small platform. He sat down and tapped precisely on the desk for a minute, then nodded as lights and images appeared above it. “Good. How are we doing?”

A few gestures caused two images to take up most of the space. He turned to the first, which showed a bright green light, with a smaller one flickering one below it. He carefully read through the script accompanying both, then reached out and touched the smaller one. “Still struggling, eh? Hang in there little guy. Help is coming.”

His attention turned to the second image, a large slowly flickering light with a smaller fading red light below. “And I see you’re still in about the same shape.” He sighed, leaning back in thought.

After an interminable amount of time he pushed himself forward again. “Listen you two. I know you can’t hear me, but I’m making you both a promise. Even though I’m ultimately doing this in support of my own goals, I’m going to try my best to ensure you don’t regret my actions.”

“Little guy, I’ll give you enough of what I get to get you back on track, and a little extra besides. Not enough to put you on anyone’s radar, but enough to see you comfortably through life, okay? It shouldn’t do any harm.”

He turned. “And…I know things are really hard right now, and what I’m about to do will in some ways make them harder. But I promise, I promise that if I make it I’ll support you. I won’t be able to work any miracles, but I should have enough left to keep you comfortable, okay? We’ll live a quiet, peaceful life, and as soon as I’m old enough I’ll provide for you.” He laughed softly. “I think you’ll be surprised by how quickly that day’ll come. So hang in there, okay? And…for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“I just can’t think of another way. I suppose I could just…” raising a hand he looked at his slightly translucent form, slowly losing coherence. “That seems a waste somehow. Especially give how far I’ve come. So just hang in there. You might still regret it, but I’m hoping you won’t.”

He smiled softly, then stood. “Alright, enough stalling. Time to begin. I’ll see you both soon.” He laughed again. “In a manner of speaking.” A few more gestures and the floating images changed again, into a highly complex series of runes and interlinked symbols. He consulted a book, carefully surveyed the symbols and made a few adjustments. Then one last gesture before he stood on the pad.

The symbols glowed, as did the pad and the man himself. Then he was gone. The room darkened behind him.

...

- The present.

“Ah, those were some good flashbacks” he gurgled, the words a buzz only intelligible to himself. “And this wasn’t the worst life, all things considered. Not what I was hoping for, but still, not the worst. I’m ready to die. Although I am a bit worried that this is becoming a bad habit.” He died, a faint smile on what was left of his face.

“…waited…”

“Eh?”

“…glad…”

“Er…” the boy looked around in confusion, then looked at himself. He was standing in a lightless void, but he could still see himself clearly. His restored form was sharp and distinct. Ah. “I didn’t think this would happen without outside intervention. I guess I’ll just have to wait for my soul to completely separate from my body.”

“…no…”

“Is there actually someone there?” He squinted into the nothing, eventually making out a wisp of…something. An indeterminate, slight blur, barely discernable against the void. “Ah, hello there. Looks like you’re almost done here. Well good to meet you.”

“…again…”

“Oh?” He thought for a minute, trying to remember. “Ah, so we knew each-other, eh? Well it’s good to see you again. Is there anything I can do for you before you go?”

“…good life…”

“Hmm. Well I can think of several interpretations for that. If you had one, then I’m glad. If you would like one, I’m sorry, I don’t think I can help. And if you’re asking if I had one, then I did, thank you.”

“…glad…”

“Well that’s good.” He assumed a sitting position and smiled.

“…have back…”

“Eh? I don’t quite get that.”

“…nice…”

“Well…actually, I’m starting to feel a bit strange. Are you doing something? Because I’m not doing anything, and I don’t have much left to have anything done to, so it’s odd that…”

“…hang in there…”

“Eh? Seriously, what are you doing? I feel like…wait, don’t tell me you’re…”

“…thank you…”

The boy sat up. Carefully he extricated himself from the corpses all around him, pulling his barely functioning body to its feet and stretching. He was surrounded by carnage and misery, but it was a beautiful day. He smiled. Then sobered just a bit. Perhaps it was time for a new approach.