The darkness surrounds me like a warm loving blanket. I don't know how long I've been here floating in the nexus of nothing, there is no concept of time. I have memories of my life, the family, my role for them, and even my death but those are all slowly fading away. Waiting for them to all be gone ready for my next cycle of life. 

For the first time, I feel something uncomfortable, something is dragging me in a direction. I don't want to go, this feels wrong, so, so wrong. I try to fight against the force that is dragging me to an unknown destination but I don't know how to control what is happening. I don't know how to stop it. All I know is that it isn't time, my soul isn't ready. In the corner of my eye, I can see two different lights, one is what I'm being dragged into, and the other is slowly moving towards me. 

As I get closer the light moving closer to me begins to take the form of a young girl, she’s reaching her hand out towards me. I reach out and we clasp each other's hands, with her being dragged away from the light and me being dragged into it we are able to reach a stalemate of just floating in a single spot. 

“I knew I would be the one”, she says to me with a sad smile.

“The one what?”, I reply, thoroughly confused as to what this situation is.

“The one who would be able to summon a special soul”, her voice comes to me in a remorseful tone.

“... You’re the one doing this to me? This is wrong, I’m not ready, it isn’t time!”, I angrily exclaim.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry that this is happening”, as tears slowly flow from her eyes.

 “We don’t have much time, I need to explain the situation to you before you arrive into my body”. Her body? If my soul is going into her body, where is her soul going to go? Then my eyes slowly widened in realisation. 

“Why have you done this?” I hadn't spent much time around children and was guessing her age to be around 16, that's way too young for someone to be giving up their life.

“You think I chose this? You think I had a choice?”, she angrily snaps back and then with a melancholy sigh continues, “Six months ago I was taken in by a cult. At first, it wasn't so bad, I wasn't allowed to leave the building and was locked in my room each night, but for once in my life I had 3 meals a day, clothes that actually fit me that weren't rags and a warm bed to sleep in. Before, I was living on the streets begging and pickpocketing so it was like I was living the dream I had always wished for.” she pauses and then mutters, “Should have listened to Felix.”

I don't say anything in reply, it's obvious with the situation that we are in that things didn't end happily and honestly from what she has told me so far it's not something that surprises me. I simply clench my hand which is still paired with hers in an offering of sympathy.

After gathering herself she continues, “I began to notice that some of the other kids weren't around and when I asked about them my questions were simply ignored, so I did some sneaking around the building at night after picking the lock on the bedroom door but I still couldn't find them. Then one night I overheard a conversation from the adults. They were discussing a ‘ceremony’ and how it kept failing. Obviously, at this point, I realised that something bad was going on but I was caught listening in to the conversation and they decided that a simple lock on my door wasn't good enough and they then started using magic to lock it.” 

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I had been quietly listening along until this point but there was one word that struck me. “Wait, what? Did you just say magic?” 

“Yes, it was one of the reasons that I was taken, I hold 3 of the elements”

So either this child was crazy or the place I'm being dragged into isn't my world. To clarify I ask “Where are you from? What's the name of your world?”

“My world is called Uvathia and I’m from the kingdom Enohith”

“And there is magic in this world?” I know I'm coming across as stupid at the moment but you try being told that you are about to go to a world where magic is real and be completely clear-headed about it. 

“Of course! Why are you so surprised by this? Was magic rare in your world?”

“Magic was non-existent in my world!” 

“No magic? How did people survive? No wait, we don't have time for this.” As she says this I feel the reel dragging me in getting stronger.

“The Order of Eloth's goal is to create the ultimate weapon to wipe out the Beastmen and Daimon so that humans can rule the continent. They plan to offer this weapon to the King to encourage the action. You are this weapon. I was the last child in this cell and from what I have been able to overhear the other cells haven't had any success.” She was carefully watching my reactions as she explained this. 

My rage had been slowly gathering as she went on. ‘A weapon?! Again?!’ This was how I was raised in my previous life, devotedly following the orders that were given to me, never asking questions following orders and taking out whoever caused problems for the Family. When I finally gained some semblance of a conscience and tried to get out, I myself was killed off. Too much of a risk to be free.   

I don't know who or what these Beastmen and Daimon are and don't really care. I will not live my second life as a weapon and slave to other people's wills. ‘Never again’.

The girl sighs in relief when she recognises my anger, “Well since I'm giving you my body there are a couple of favours you can do for me”

“Even though this situation is something out of my control you’re still trying to get something out of me, huh?” 

“Think of it as a thank you for giving you such an amazing body!” 

I chuckle, “ Alright, let's hear these requests”

“I'm sure that you will like the first one based on your reaction to the tale. Get rid of the cult, get revenge for me and all the other kids they killed off on this stupid mission.” 

I grin and nod my head waiting for the rest.

“The other request I have for you is to, please, look after my friend Felix. He’s like a big brother to me, we were on the streets together for a long time and he was the one who told me to keep away from the cult and tried to help me escape. I owe him so much. He’ll show up at your window at night to speak to you” 

This boy obviously means a lot to the girl, as shown by the anguish that is on her face. This isn't an unreasonable request, so I agree “I’ll keep an eye on him and do what I can to help him”. With a small sad smile of relief, she replies with a quiet “Thank you”.

I think for a moment and then give a manic smile with a chuckle, “They want a weapon, a weapon they will get. I just don't think they are going to like the direction in which it’s pointed, I’m going to have some fun with this”.

She looks at our hands, “I guess this is goodbye then, and good luck!” Letting go, she drifts away as I am suddenly yanked through the final stretch and into the light.