“Boredom…. That has to be the worst thing in existence” I thought to myself as I stared at another passing shade for the millionth time, looking around I took note of the fact that nothing had changed, today was the exact same as every other bloody day. Monotonous is what I would use to describe this place, except that would imply that there was something to be monotonous about, being surrounded by an endless grey fog that went on for eternity is not exactly the basis for excitement. Seven centuries I have spent in this place, that’s seven hundred years of complete boredom, just floating around a place that I’m sure would make even Ghandi commit suicide.

“Well, enough is enough, either I am strong enough to do this or at least the boredom will end”, I hyped myself up, looking around at the countless shades that surrounded me, spirits trapped in this purgatory just like myself, just waiting around for their turn at being judged. I try to spot the telltale vibrations within the fog, the signal that one of us has just been judged and going on to reincarnation.

“Finally,” after a few minutes I spot it, slowly starting to rise in the air, a shade, slightly translucent and white, like a will o’ the wisp, a far cry from my own dark shadowy form. Well that will happen if you have done the things I have, I’m certainly no angel, I smile to myself, with a burst of willpower, I send myself floating at the shade and latch on. Soon it starts to struggle under my smothering grasp, but I hold on, I am much stronger than it, as I learnt a few hundred years ago, how to stave off being judged.

“It’s simple really, just eat the others” I chuckled, the deity or whatever it is here can’t seem to find you if you consume another shade, it masks you somehow, you must do it every ten years but... totally worth it to avoid being obliterated wouldn’t you say? I nod agreeingly to myself. I did say I’m no angel.

Soon we start to speed up, the fog swirling around us, faster and faster we rose until suddenly we were there, the great maelstrom. Always present above the fog, I have gone out of my way to avoid it in the past, so would anyone one if they saw what became of those who were judged and found wanting, being obliterated into nothingness is not my idea of a good time, hence my impromptu hitchhiking. Taking up the space above the fog, the maelstrom stretched into infinity too, like a grey blackhole made up of clouds, constantly churning away.

“We will be approaching the barrier soon, it’s now or never”, I sigh to myself as we closed with the maelstrom, suddenly all motion stopped, I tried to go forward again but I couldn’t move past a certain point, as if a pane of glass was in the way, the barrier was here. I backed up dragging the shade with me, then with another effort of will, I shot at the barrier with my utmost speed, holding the shade in front like a battering ram.

“Dammit, not enough!” I thought to myself annoyed, as I ricochet off it, I try again and again, still no luck.

“Well plan B it is” I look at the shade within my grasp, it squirms in struggle, as if sensing what I am about to do, I shake it a bit, enjoying it’s struggles, even laughed at it’s futile attempts. Then I consumed it. Slowly.

I feel my very essence solidify a tiny bit more, well as much as a shadowy shade can turn solid I suppose, still the point stands, I grew a slight bit stronger, time to attempt this one last time.

Backing up once again, even further this time, I give it my utmost and slam into the barrier as hard as I could.

“Shit, no dice”, I swore at the barrier, I continually bashed away, taking my frustration out on it, not for any hope of a different outcome, just to make myself feel better, it helped a little.

“Enjoying yourself, are you?” A voice boomed out, seemingly coming from the barrier in front.

“well… damn” I sighed, caught at last, 700 years of preparation gone up in smoke.

“Damn indeed, you finally made your attempt I see, it sure took you long enough, what where you waiting for? Me to die of old age?” The voice boomed out, seemingly amused somewhat at my expense.

“I was having fun with the others, we went bar hopping for a few hundred years, picked up some women, had a party, some cake, just great fun all around”, I sarcastically replied.

A tall ghostly form slowly materialized in front of the barrier, I saw that he was gigantic, my whole shadowy form probably wouldn’t even be as big one of his fingernails, seemingly made of a faint golden light, he was kind of blinding, I wondered what would happen if I tried to eat him.

“You would explode, kind of like a fire work from your world, only with lots of pain and screaming”, his own sarcastic voice answered my unsaid thought.

“Just great, you can read my mind, is there nothing that you can’t do? Are you any good with drinks? I would love a cocktail, with a little umbrella if you would please, the sparkly kind”, I respond.

The voice just laughs back, still amused, I get the sense he is as bored as I am, well…. This place is a yawn fest.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Yes, I am quite bored too, an eternity judging souls for reincarnation can get a bit, shall we say, stale. Which is why you, in this particular instance, have not been consigned to oblivion just yet, it’s your lucky day”.

“Really? Well that’s rather nice of you then, so…. How can I help you?” I gave my most salesman like smile, I think its best not to mention the person I just ate, probably not a good idea.

“Humm… you do remember that I can read your thoughts, right? I can read everything that passes through your feeble mind, so trying to hide things from me is pointless, anyway I don’t punish people, that is not my purpose. I am the Arbiter, the judge, I weigh your sins and assign you to your fate. Under normal circumstances, your soul would be sent to oblivion, with all the things in your past life that you have done, it would be an open and shut case.” The Arbiter said.

“Well sorry for the mistake then”, I respond, my salesman smile still in place. Oh yeah, I probably didn’t mention it huh? Yeaahhhhh…. Before I died and came to this place, I was a murderer, more specifically I was called a serial killer, so… yeah, I have done a lot of bad things, like, a lot of bad things. Still I regret nothing, it stopped the boredom.

“You do that a lot, you know? Talk to yourself, hmm must be a coping mechanism. Also knock the smile off, it’s so fake it must hurt. Anyway, down to business, your judgement”.

I let smile slide of my face and my normal expression resume, bored apathy, it didn’t really matter now, I awaited my judgement.

“My declaration is as follows, you will undergo a trial, assigned to a hostile world, one that I am sure you will enjoy, this world is unlike any you have seen before, it truly is a kill or be killed world, full of danger. You are charged with the protection of an innocent, a young girl. You must help her grow into someone powerful and survive any situations that may arise, she is a rare individual, a true innocent.” The Arbiters words echoed to me once again.

“Ok, sure, the world sounds like fun, but why would I help this girl? What’s in it for me? I will not be anyone’s slave.” I respond, no way was I babysitting some little brat for nothing.

“If you pass this trial, I will allow you back into the maelstrom of reincarnation, but with your memories intact and sins wiped clean, also this is no normal world you are going to, you can live for a very long time under the right circumstances. Your alternative is oblivion.”

Well that does not sound so bad, protect some little kid, kill some people. Actually, that sounds great, what the hell am I waiting for?

“OK, how do we start?” I say, a different kind of smile already creeping up on my face, I’m sure it didn’t look wholesome.

A bright golden light enveloped me, a pull exerted, and I slowly slid through the barrier, stopping Infront of the Arbiter, he seemed to be finding something amusing again.

“We start now, just know I will always be watching, I will help you out a bit when you get there and give you an upgraded version of the system you will be using”

“system? What’s that?” I ask curiously.

“It is a set of rules governing the particular galaxy that you are heading towards, vastly unlike the one you came from, don’t worry, I will implant some basic knowledge of the systems within your memories, as well as make a few improvements and surprises along the way, you will work it out pretty fast.” He still seemed amused, I didn’t like that, he was plotting something, the prick.

“Mind your manners, remember, protect the girl against this world, help her grow and yourself in the process, accomplish this and earn your reward”.

The golden light spread into a giant sphere that surrounded me, sparkling with a golden shimmer, then suddenly, I am flying at insane speed toward the maelstrom, rushing into the very center. With a gigantic flash and a deafening thunder, everything turns white, a blinding light, then I hear a voice calling out to me, over and over again, it was really irritating truth be told, I tried to ignore it but to no avail, so I went to see what the hell it wanted.

I open my eyes, “wait what?! I have eyes now!? Holy fuck it’s been so long!” I glance around everything ablur; I notice a large form staring down at me, it must be a giant, it towered over me.

Things started to come into focus, I look again at the giant. Only its not a giant, it’s a girl, a very young girl, only around ten years old or so. But why is she so big?

I look around and notice something with a bit of alarm, it’s not her that’s a giant, its me, I’m small as hell, I note a table next to me, it was massive. Oh no, what has that arsehole done to me?! I glare down at my hands, only…. I don’t have hands, but bloody paws, yes goddamn paws!!

“What.The.Fuck.Have.You.DONE?!!” I scream at the Arbiter, remembering his stupid smirking face, suddenly something changes. Words spring up in front of my eyes.

*********************************

Name: Amarax

Title: Awww

Race: Feline (Kitten)

Level: 1

Combat ranking: 3

Strength: 2

Dexterity: 8

Agility: 9

Willpower: 2

Intelligence: 5

Vitality: 3

Skills: Swipe level 1, Pounce level 1, Bite level 1, Stalk level 1, Furball level 1, Cute-ness level 1

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“I AM A CAT?! I WILL KILL YOU!!”.

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New Title Obtained: Lethal Puddy-cat

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“Seriously?!”