The first thing he noticed was the quiet. Not the hum of the city, the clang of bus doors, or the muted chatter of office walls. Just pure, weightless silence, as if the world itself had taken a breath and held it.

Slowly, he blinked, his eyes adjusting to soft, golden light. He was seated on a cushy armchair, deep and enveloping, the kind that begged you to sink in and forget the rest of the world. Across from him sat a stranger in a tidy suit with a soft, knowing smile and the kind of eyes that seemed to hold a thousand stories.

"Welcome," they said, with a voice that was somehow both gentle and amused. "I see you’re already wondering if you’re dreaming."

He hesitated. "Where…am I?"

The stranger leaned back, crossing one leg over the other with a touch of elegance. "Some call it Heaven. Some prefer the Great Beyond. I like to think of it as a kind of cosmic waiting room.” They grinned, one eyebrow raised. “Or, if you prefer—an exit interview.”

He shifted in the armchair, testing its strange, almost weightless softness, and glanced around the room. There was an odd familiarity here: soft, cream-colored walls, a fern flourishing in the corner, and a wooden bookshelf filled with leather-bound books and a few stuffed animals—a space that invited calm, like a therapist’s office.

The figure in the chair across from him gave a soft chuckle, as if they could read his every thought. "So," they said, leaning forward with a notebook and pen, "I’m sure you’re confused. We’ll get to that. But first, let me introduce myself." The figure tapped their pen on the notebook and grinned. "You can call me… Gabriel."

"Gabriel?" he echoed, feeling strangely muted, as though the very air pressed lightly on his chest.

The figure—Gabriel—gave a single, amused nod. "Angel names are traditional here. Less paperwork. Easier for newcomers." They leaned back, making a note. "Now, let’s see… You’re the one who dove to save the dog, yes?"

The memory hit him like a wave—the screeching truck, the dog’s panicked yelp, his own instinct to dive, the jolt of impact, and then... nothing.

“I... died, didn’t I?” he asked, more to himself than to Gabriel.

“Like a hero, if that’s any comfort,” Gabriel replied, scratching something down on the page. "But yes, you died. And welcome to the next step."

Silence stretched between them, warm and unhurried. Gabriel continued jotting notes, then looked up with an encouraging nod. "Now, let’s talk about karmic points."

“Karma?” He blinked, feeling as if he’d stumbled into someone else’s conversation. “…Karmic points?”

"Precisely," Gabriel said, holding up the notebook, where his life was laid out in tiny, glimmering points, each one like a faintly glowing star on the page. "Your life, my friend, was filled with small, unselfish acts. Giving your seat to the elderly, bringing coffee for your coworkers, and then, of course, the dog. Every bit of kindness matters, even the ones you never noticed. And yours," Gabriel tapped the page with a smirk, "have added up nicely."

The room felt warmer now, the light gentler. He felt a strange flutter, like pride, though it was distant, as though it belonged to someone else.

“So… these points,” he said slowly, “what do they actually mean?”

Gabriel leaned forward, eyes twinkling with that almost conspiratorial humor. “They mean options, of course! You’ve earned the chance to set yourself up nicely in the next life. Starting talents, protective luck for the early years, family background—the basics. Karma lets you cash in on a good beginning.”

He hesitated, feeling something tighten in his chest. “And… what about memories? Do I get to remember who I was?”

The smile faded from Gabriel’s face. “I’m afraid that’s the one thing you can’t take with you. That’s the price. New life, new identity. Your soul remains, but your past life becomes... an echo.” Gabriel placed a hand on their heart. “But those acts of kindness? They’ll be part of your nature, woven into the very fabric of your new self. In time, they’ll shape your path again, one way or another.”

He stared at Gabriel, a sense of calm settling over him as he digested the idea of this cosmic system, of karma and rebirth, and the bittersweet sacrifice of memory for a new chance. His life wasn’t just ending; it was transforming.

“Alright,” he said finally, with a nod. “So... what are my options?”

Gabriel beamed, clapping their hands together with the air of a teacher pleased with a star pupil. “Wonderful question! Let’s take a look.”

Gabriel flicked their wrist to reveal a floating, ethereal panel of sliders, each labeled with a faintly glowing title. Each slider represented a spectrum, from minimal to exceptional, with markers showing how far his karmic points could carry him in each category. His balance of karmic points floated at the top, a reminder that each choice had a cost.

“Now,” Gabriel said, gesturing to the panel, “think of this as a chance to shape the essence of your next life. Broad traits, nothing too specific. Just enough to set the course.”

The sliders included:

1. Upbringing:

* Range: Unstable to Nurturing

* Description: Adjusting this slider affects the warmth and stability of your early environment. A higher investment ensures a supportive family and access to resources, while a lower choice means facing hardships and challenges from a young age.

2. Physical Health & Strength:

* Range: Frail to Robust

* Description: This influences your natural constitution. A higher setting grants physical resilience and strength, while a lower setting may mean health struggles or a weaker physical frame, which will require more cultivation effort to improve.

3. Mental Health & Stability:

* Range: Troubled to Resilient

* Description: Shaping your mental resilience, this affects your ability to face challenges, adapt, and maintain inner peace. A higher setting provides strong mental well-being and stability; a lower setting might result in struggles with fear, insecurity, or anxiety.

4. Spiritual Affinity:

* Range: Limited to High Potential

* Description: This slider defines your natural attunement to the world’s spiritual and mystical energies. A higher affinity might lead to ease in cultivating and understanding mystical arts, while a lower level could mean slower growth or a need to work harder to attune to spiritual energies.

5. Innate Curiosity & Willpower:

* Range: Passive to Driven

* Description: Reflecting your inner drive, this setting impacts your natural curiosity and determination. A high setting gives you an intense thirst for discovery, exploration, and a resilient will to pursue your goals, while a lower level means you might rely more on external motivation.

As he studied the panel, Gabriel leaned back with a gentle nod. “Use your points wisely. And remember: balance is key. You may want strength and resilience, but a nurturing environment could make all the difference. Each aspect will shape the others in ways you might not expect.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

He took a deep breath, fingers hovering over the sliders, feeling the weight of each decision.

“Ready when you are,” Gabriel added, watching with an amused twinkle. “Though, no pressure. You only get one chance.”

He stared at the slider labeled Spiritual Affinity with a mixture of intrigue and confusion, eyebrows furrowing as he tried to process what it really meant.

“Spiritual... affinity?” he asked, the words strange on his tongue. “You mean, like... actual spiritual powers?”

Gabriel grinned, tapping the slider with the end of their pen. “Precisely. Spiritual energy, mystical arts, even some technological enhancements in your new world—they all interact with a person’s inherent affinity to spiritual energy. In this life, you wouldn’t have known anything of the sort, but in your next life…” Gabriel’s voice softened, letting the possibilities hang in the air.

He tried to imagine it—a world where spiritual forces were as real as physical strength or intelligence, a world that relied on cultivation and mystical arts to thrive.

“Can you tell me more about what it’s like?” he asked, curiosity awakening at the thought of such a world.

Gabriel tilted their head, as if considering the best way to explain. “Think of it this way: some people will be able to connect with spiritual energies as naturally as breathing, while others will need years of training to feel even a fraction of it. This world uses spiritual energy in the way your world uses electricity—but it flows through life itself, interweaving with technology in ways that are both ancient and advanced.”

He let the words sink in, his mind spinning. The idea of a world that combined the mystical and the technological resonated with him deeply. He glanced back at the sliders, feeling the weight of the decision.

He lingered over the sliders, his fingers hovering over Spiritual Affinity and Mental Health & Stability. Both felt like natural priorities, resonating with something deep inside him—a sense that these two would provide the foundation for everything else, like the roots of a tree that would ground him as he reached for unknown heights.

“Spiritual Affinity…” he murmured, nudging the slider up to near its peak. A glow seemed to pulse around it, as if the world itself responded to the choice. Gabriel watched with an approving nod.

He paused at Mental Health & Stability next, sliding it close to its limit. He couldn’t explain why, but he felt a deep-seated need for resilience, to face whatever lay ahead without losing himself. Maybe it was because he had seen enough of life to understand that inner peace could be the difference between living and merely surviving.

With those two set, he looked over the other sliders, balancing them with what points he had left:

* Upbringing — somewhere steady, he thought, though not without challenges.

* Physical Health & Strength — enough to carry him through, but not so much that he would coast without effort.

* Innate Curiosity & Willpower — a moderate level of drive; he could cultivate the rest with experience, as he always had.

He stepped back, satisfied. It felt... right, as though each choice was an honest reflection of who he was and who he wanted to become.

Gabriel watched him, a hint of a smile tugging at their lips. They clasped their hands together and took a measured breath, leaning back in their chair, their gaze soft and reflective.

“You know,” Gabriel began, their tone quieter now, almost reverent, “I’ve seen a lot of souls come through here. Many struggle, scrambling to maximize every last karmic point on strength or influence, thinking that power alone will make life simpler, safer. But power only protects so far—it’s the kind of person you are that carries you through.”

They gestured toward the sliders, an approving look in their eye. “And you, Mike, well… You made these choices with the same heart you lived with. Choosing to be resilient, mentally strong, and deeply in touch with the world around you. It shows a wisdom that’s rare, even here. I’ll say it plainly: you should be proud. The life you lived—the kindness you practiced so naturally—is exactly what brought you here with this opportunity.”

Mike blinked, surprised. “I... I didn’t really think about it that way.”

Gabriel nodded, a smile flickering. “That’s exactly my point. You acted without needing praise, without thinking you’d gain from it. You did so many nice things, that I can’t even list here and never strayed from your path…” Their eyes glinted with warmth. “Kindness was simply your nature.”

A faint shimmer of pride—an unfamiliar feeling for Mike—rose in his chest. He hadn’t thought of his life as extraordinary, just... ordinary, if not a little lonely.

Gabriel tilted their head, voice softening even further. “Take this with you: no matter how small, the echoes of our actions ripple out in ways we can never quite see. Every life has its difficulties. But you, with your heart, your resilience, and your connection to the world—you have a rare chance to make a real difference. To live in a way that resonates, both here and there.”

Mike’s gaze drifted down, warmth filling him at the angel’s words, grounding him in the choice he’d made.

Gabriel placed a hand on his shoulder, their voice kind and encouraging. “So hold onto that kindness, and don’t forget that the strength you seek, the peace you yearn for—it’s already within you.”

Gabriel’s hand lingered on Mike’s shoulder for a heartbeat longer, then they stepped back, their familiar, easy smile returning.

“Now,” Gabriel said, adjusting an invisible tie with a wink, “it’s time to set you loose on your new adventure. All the paperwork is in order, karmic points well-spent, sliders adjusted to perfection… I’d say you’re ready to go, Mr. ‘Top Ninety-Fifth Percentile.’ You’ve earned it.”

Mike chuckled, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness welling up in his chest. “Guess there’s no backing out now, huh?”

“Afraid not,” Gabriel replied, eyes twinkling. “But look at it this way: life may throw you into situations you never saw coming, but remember, you’re in control of how you meet them.” They offered a reassuring nod. “And trust me, you’re more ready than you think.”

A warmth settled over Mike, the last of his doubts slipping away. He gave Gabriel a grateful nod. “Thanks… for everything.”

Gabriel raised a hand in a half-salute. “Give it your best, Mike. I expect nothing less than your finest ‘karmic echoes.’” They offered a final wink. “And hey, don’t worry if the first ten years are a breeze—that’s just the calm before the storm.”

The room’s light began to shift, becoming warmer and softer, until it was almost blinding. Gabriel’s face blurred as the light intensified, their comforting voice echoing one last time as everything faded.

“Good luck out there. The world awaits.”