PROLOGUE
“So this is what it was all about,” the man spoke aloud, his arms raised in a magnanimous gesture.
The ancient vault glittered in the firelight, with priceless treasures scattered all around. Most people would have snatched up something by now, unable to resist the temptation but years of research informed the man that he was allowed to take one treasure and there was only one that had his interest. So he walked past the swords that could cut dimensions, the boxes that held an infinity and even the chains that bound time, his eyes fixed on the prize.
The man walked up to a small pedestal where an ornate silver mirror about the size of a dinner plate sat. It was a beautiful object but compared to the other treasures it seemed lacking.
“The Samsara Mirror,” the man whispered reverently. He bent and contorted to look into the mirror, being careful that the one before him was the mirror he sought.He found what he was looking for immediately. He could see his reflection in the mirror but the background was a different place. A different world.
This was it, he had searched and fought and killed looking for this treasure. The Legend said the Samsara Mirror would appear to those fated to find it but he had no strong destiny with the magical mirror and could only give up, and realise it was beyond him to reach.
That was when he refocused his goal, he couldn’t track the mirror but there were places the mirror was destined to appear in so he looked for this place instead, the Vault of Babylon. All treasures existed here despite where they actually were in the world, the caveat was that you could only take one before being expelled.
There was always a caveat when it came to treasures, according to the legend the mirror had a Djinn in it. It was rumoured to be the most powerful Djinn in existence but it was twisted. Not the kind of twisted where the Djinn always aimed for the worst outcome for the user. It was the kind of twisted religions offered, where you got your reward after death.
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The man reached out his hand and claimed his prize.
YOU HAVE WON THE GAME. YOUR REINCARNATION IS GUARANTEED.
“Well that was easy. Um. To whom am I speaking?”
A SYSTEM MANAGER.
“Thank you, that answer was as clear as mud,” this entity spoke like a grand machine, he had heard theories where reality was a dream, but could it be a program? Questions for another time. The voice of the Mirror continued.
ASK FOR ANYTHING. WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE FOR YOU SECOND LIFE?
There was a good chance that the Mirror was as big a scam as religion, just some demon waiting to eat your soul but the offer of anything you want was too tempting to resist.
Either way he was prepared.
“Easy, I wish for Omniscience.”
DENIED.
“What? You said ‘anything’.”
APOLOGIES, ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE IN ALL THINGS IS NOT ALLOWED WITHOUT ADMINISTRATOR PRIVILEGES.
"Ok, grant me Administrator Privileges."
DENIED.
"Well what can I get?”
ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE IN ONE SUBJECT.
“How about Magic?”
MAGIC, DERIVATIVE OF MANA. 75% OF WORLDS HAVE IT. ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE AVAILABLE.
“Wait, on how many worlds is Mana available on?”
100% OF WORLDS, MANA IS UNIVERSAL.
“OK, can I get absolute knowledge in Mana instead?”
There was a pause as the voice deliberated.
ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE OF MANA, IS AVAILABLE.
“Ok then my wish is absolute knowledge of Mana, and don't short change me, reincarnate me into a body that has a high affinity in it.”
YOUR WISH IS GRANTED. ENJOY THE REST OF THIS LIFE.
His business concluded the vault ejected him. He was instantly moved from the treasure trove to an untamed jungle, he wasn’t far from the river where his refurbished Canadair CL-415 sea plane awaited.
His goal reached the man mused over his life. Thus far he has had no great loves. He has lost all of his friends. And he has created no legacy. Even though he has won it felt to him as if he was the loser.
“I have spent sixty years of my life chasing knowledge, maybe I should spend the rest learning to feel.”
With that thought he turned around with new purpose, marching through the thin underbrush down to the river. He was determined to leave no regrets behind.
33 years later he died.