I clutched my head in pain.

Excruciating, undaunting pain.

I muffled my yells with the silk pillow on my bed. It hurt. Memories of my past lives. I was a salesman. I had a family. I was a prisoner. I used magic. I grew up in an academy. All of these memories piled upon each other, sorting them out through my poor brain. I felt overwhelmed. But I also felt a sense of understanding. After what seemed like forever, the pain gradually subsided, and I felt like I was born anew.

Deep in my consciousness, I opened my eyes to a black surrounding. Nothing. Just me and a bright spotlight shone upon me.

"Hello? Where am I? Is this a dream?"

The last question was directed more towards myself. I tried to pinch myself. Nothing worked. Soon, a figure appeared in front of my vision. A tall, 8-feet humanoid with a blank face. Long limbs, his skin a pale gray. He looked much too alienish, but strangely, I felt no discomfort upon gazing at him. It was like my emotions were absent, and deep in my consciousness I only felt my mind working at over-speed, trying to make sense of what was going on.

I stared at the humanoid. He stared back, or what I assumed, anyway. I broke out a smile and waved at him.

"Hello."

He, or it, didn't move. It simply stood there. The tension was subsiding, and it honestly was growing awkward.

"Uh, can you talk?" I asked, my voice sounding strangely hollow in the void.

The figure remained still, and the silence stretched on. I felt a strange mix of impatience and curiosity bubbling up inside me. The spotlight that illuminated the figure seemed to pulsate slightly, casting shifting shadows that danced around us.

Just as I was about to turn away in frustration, the humanoid’s blank face began to change. Not in a literal sense, but the expression seemed to shift, becoming less impassive and more... curious, perhaps? The air around it seemed to vibrate with a faint energy.

Suddenly, a voice echoed, not from the figure's lips but from everywhere and nowhere at once. It was a deep, resonant sound that seemed to penetrate my very soul.

"Greetings. You have many questions. The fabric of your existence has just begun to unravel."

I tried to respond, but no words came out. My mind raced, trying to grasp the meaning of this cryptic statement.

"Who... or what are you?" I finally managed to ask.

The figure remained motionless, but the voice spoke again, carrying an undertone of calm authority.

"I am a keeper of memories. A guide through the realms of understanding and transition. You are in a place between worlds, where the boundaries of time and existence blur. The veil is ever-encompassing, yet trembling at your existence. It is my duty to keep things secure.

I nodded slowly, absorbing the information. It seemed like an explanation was being offered, but it was wrapped in layers of ambiguity.

"Why am I here? What’s happening to me?" I inquired.

The figure’s form seemed to ripple, as if considering its response. "You are in the midst of a profound transformation. The memories of your past lives are merging with your current self, preparing you for a new path. The pain you experienced was a catalyst—a necessary process to integrate these fragmented pieces of your identity."

The words resonated with a strange clarity. My past lives, my experiences—they were all converging, shaping who I was becoming. The idea was overwhelming yet oddly comforting.

"And what comes next?" I asked, hopeful enough for an answer.

The figure's presence seemed to expand, filling the void with a sense of reassurance. "You will emerge from this transition with a clearer sense of purpose. The Choosing Ceremony you are about to partake in will be pivotal. It will guide you in aligning your newfound self with the path that resonates most deeply with your essence."

I took a deep breath, trying to absorb the weight of these revelations. The void around us began to shimmer, the spotlight growing dimmer as if signaling the end of this surreal encounter.

"Wait, is that it?" The figure did not respond, but its presence seemed to recede gently, the void around me slowly fading to black. I took in a deep breath, and muttered, "Thank you." I wasn't sure if he was able to hear it, but I felt glad that I was still able to exist.

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As the darkness enveloped me, I felt a sudden jolt, as if being pulled from the depths of my consciousness. I was back in the room, the soft glow of morning light filtering through the window. My head still ached slightly, but the overwhelming pain had passed.

Lienad and Niasuh were by my side, their faces filled with concern.

"Are you alright?" Lienad asked, his voice laced with worry.

I nodded, feeling a strange sense of calm despite the tumultuous experience. "Yes, I’m okay. I just... had a very vivid dream."

Niasuh's eyes widened. "You looked like you were in a lot of pain. Do you remember anything about it?"

I hesitated, searching for the right words. The encounter had felt so profound, yet it was difficult to articulate.

"It was more than a dream," I began slowly. "It felt like I was somewhere else entirely. There was a figure—a guide of sorts. It spoke about memories and transformation."

Lienad and Niasuh exchanged puzzled glances but remained attentive.

"And then, that was it. It just vanished, and here I was."

The two both began to have pondering looks on their faces.

"Memories and transformation.. "The God of that domain is Treiton. You think it was his doing?"

Niasuh replied, a bit too shocked at that revelation. "A God directly speaking to a mortal? What blasphemy." Shaking his head, he stood up. "Well, we can ponder on that later. For now, you got to meet your family."

I sighed internally. Looking at the two of them, I nodded. Bracing myself for what was to come, I decided I was going to treat this life as if it were my own. The predecessor of this body, Rowan Dolidze, was now me. His experiences and memories were now mine. In a sense, we were both one. There was no way in hell I was going to let this opportunity go to waste.

***

We walked through the village streets until we reached a small, familiar-looking cottage. Knocking on the door of the small cottage, the knock was answered by a middle-aged woman with what seemed to be a little girl, her daughter I presumed.

And my little sister.

The moment was both surreal and deeply emotional.

"Hello," Elena said, her voice trembling slightly. "Rowan, is that really you?"

I looked at her, feeling an overwhelming wave of familiarity and emotion. “Yes, Mom. It’s me.”

Elena's eyes welled up with tears as she took a step forward. “Oh, Rowan! We’ve missed you so much.”

Lila, clutching her stuffed animal, peered up at me with wide, curious eyes. “Rowan?”

“Yes, Lila,” I said, crouching to her level. Laughing, I replied. “It is me.”

Elena enveloped me in a warm hug, and I could feel the bond we shared, despite the strange circumstances. The past was converging with the present, and here, in this small cottage, it felt like I was coming home.

After the initial emotional reunion, Elena guided us into the cozy interior of the cottage. The smell of freshly baked bread and stew filled the air, and the warmth of the hearth added to the sense of comfort.

"Please, come in and sit," Elena said, her voice now steady. "We have so much to talk about."

As we settled around the dining table, Elena and Lila welcomed me with open arms, and I shared what I could about my fainting and what I experienced. Lienad and Niasuh joined in, helping to bridge any gaps and making sure the conversation flowed naturally.

The meal was a mix of warmth and awkwardness, but through it all, I felt a profound sense of belonging. Elena and Lila’s kindness and concern helped to ease the disorientation I felt.

"So the Choosing Ceremony can still continue, yes?" My mother inquired about my two friends. "Yeah. The Ceremony lasts 3 days, so Rowan's got plenty of time." Lienad muffled through stuffing his face with a sausage. A purple sausage.

"That's great. Rowan, I hope you're ready. This has been your dream since you were a little boy, to be chosen by the God of Combat, Andor."

Grinning, I began to think about my past childhood. After reflecting a little, I began to think about what I really wanted. Did I want a God to choose me? I feel as if I've matured a little, and the prospect of being under the blessings of a God did excite me a little, although I couldn't help but be opposed to that fact.

Lienad and Niasuh also began to chime in.

“We’ve been discussing the details of the Choosing Ceremony,” Lienad said, taking a seat at the table. “It’s crucial for you to be prepared.”

Niasuh nodded, adding, “The Ceremony will test not just your physical abilities, but your mental and emotional resilience as well. It’s designed to gauge your readiness for the path you’re about to embark on.”

Lienad began to explain further. “The Ceremony is divided into three phases: the Trial of Strength, the Trial of Wisdom, and the Trial of Heart. Each phase will challenge different aspects of your being."

Niasuh interjected, “The Trial of Strength will test your physical prowess and endurance. The Trial of Wisdom will challenge your strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. And the Trial of Heart will examine your emotional strength and moral compass.”

"--examine your emotional strength and moral compass," I repeated at the same time as he spoke. "Yes, yes. I know. You think I would have went last time without properly preparing?"

"Still, I think Elder Soren has some herbal remedies that are supposedly useful for helping you to be more appealing to the Gods," Niasuh said. "Although, I think that would be considered cheating."

"And it's just a rumor," Lienad added. "The only people that are able to enhance their offerings are those from big, important backgrounds. Those stupid n-n-..."

Lienad almost couldn't get the word out of his throat, he hated it that much.

"Nobles.." Niasuh helped finish the sentence, although the look of disgust on his face was evident.

Glancing between the two of them, I spoke to my mom and Lila who were also looking at the two of them, trying not to laugh. "Alright, I think it's time for us to get a good night's rest, for the big day ahead."

My mother laughed, "Hopefully, you won't faint this time." And then her tone became serious. "Seriously."

I hugged her. "I won't, I promise."

"You sure you can't stay the night here?"

"I can't. I'll go head back with Lienad and Niasuh, but I promise I'll come tomorrow."

Mom smiled. "All right, stay safe."

"I will. You too, Lila."

Heading out the door, I shook my head Lienad put his arm around me. We walked down the street, the night sky already becoming apparent.

Until suddenly, my vision grew dark, and everything went black.