No other man could bear this freezing cold. He stood there, alone on the mountain top, looking down upon the world. He reached out his hand to see if he could grab it, and realized that he could; however, he lowered his hand instead. Such beauty couldn’t possibly belong to anyone, even if they wanted it to. Bert knew this all too well; but this man on the summit was not Bert. He couldn’t understand why he did not dare grab it.

In a town not far from that mountain, a child was roaming the streets. Laughing as he went. His pockets were filled with potatoes and various vegetables. That boy sure liked his veggies. An angry man was chasing him. Perhaps he liked veggies too.

“Get back here you runt!” he shouted at the boy.

But the boy only laughed in return. The man was flustered and sweaty. His legs gave out, as the speed of the runt was too great. The boy ran to his home at the corner of town. T’was a small shack. He entered and shouted “I’m home!” but received no answer. He sat down by a window and sank his teeth into a raw potato. He looked out into the world; and man, was it beautiful. However, this boy was not Bert either. This was Kiden.

Kiden ran out into the wilderness to play with the animals. Birds, cows, horses, boars and other creatures were running wild in the forest. He tried to tame a boar by petting it’s tusks. The boar charged at him instead, but Kiden saw it as affection. Bruised and bloody, Kiden returned to the shack. On his way there, he looked up at the stars. He reached out a hand to grab one, but it was out of reach. Shiny, he thought, and thought nothing else of it. He opened his door and shouted “I’m home!” but still, only silence greeted him back. Or rather, that’s what he thought would happen. A snore greeted him. Kiden followed the sound to the kitchen. A man, dressed in black, tattered robes was sleeping in a chair with his feet on the table. His snoring was louder than Kiden’s thoughts. As Kiden approached, he noticed something large in the man’s lap. Something covered in the same kind of tattered cloth. Kiden gently pulled the cloth away. It was a scythe. Purple, sparking with energy. It almost looked alive. The man was still snoring heavily. Suspicious of this man, who strangely reminded of a grim reaper, and had broken into his home, Kiden grabbed his trusty sword. Sweating, with a heavy heart-beat, he charged at the sleeping man. He swung his sword to cleave his face. An inch away, and his sword was caught by one hand. Behind the hand covered by a blue glove, was two wide open red eyes staring directly at Kiden. Burning with fury and ambition. The atmosphere changed in the room. It was an awe-inspiring pressure. Kiden was helpless. His knees trembling, he fell to the floor. With tears emerging from his eyes, he truly had never felt so powerless. The man stood up, staring down upon him. He picked up his scythe and leaned on it.

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“Oh sorry, I’m always in a bad mood after waking.”

He looked at the exhausted child in front of him with confusion.

“So uh, did you want something?”

“Wh-who are you?” Kiden asked while gasping for air.

“I’m Bert. What’s up?”

Kiden coughed and still had trouble breathing. Bert looked at him with a curious face. He snapped his fingers, and just like that, Kiden was healed. The terrible atmosphere was no more. Kiden couldn’t fathom what had happened to him.

“I’m Kiden… what are you doing in my house?”

“Your house…?” Bert looked around, scratching his head.

“Oh right, do you have any of those delicious earth beans?”

“Earth beans…?” Kiden stared at him with gloomy eyes.

Bert opened every drawer in Kiden’s kitchen, searching for earth beans. At last, he found some canned beans. He sat down again and leaned back with his feet on the table. He threw the can into his mouth and devoured it.

“Wow. Rich in iron, isn’t it?” Bert said, while crunching.

“Anyway, Kiden, will you come with me? There’s much to see.”

“Uh… sure, or, I mean...” Kiden tried to collect his thoughts.

Everything was shaking. The room expanded and started warping. Everything went black with a red tint. Kiden closed his eyes until it stopped shaking. As he opened them, he looked around. Bert stood beside him, talking to a woman on a white throne. She was dressed in an Egyptian white dress. Her look and aura was that of a goddess.

“Good day to you, The Divine.” Bert said to her.

“Why have you brought this mortal to my domain, Prime Two? Weren’t you supposed to bring a new Devdas?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.” Bert answered, pointing at Kiden.

“Enough with your jokes, Prime Two. You’re a Born; act like it.”

Bert lowered his hood, revealing his face. Silver hair covered his right eye. His left eye was shining of red. It looked as if both of their faces were sculpted by angels.

“We had located a blessed one with immense potential on earth, why did you pick this piece of trash instead?”

“You’ll see, Vienna.”

She leaned on her hand and looked at him with a curious face. Then she burst into laughter.

“You’re an interesting one, Bert. I need not to repeat the consequences if he fails?”

“You need not.”

“Very well!” she says with an amused face. She reaches out her hand at Kiden.

“I grant you the power of a God, Kiden! Stand tall above the rest, let no mortal soil your shoes!"

Kiden’s body started to illuminate. He looked up, expecting the stars to meet his eyes. But there were no stars. He looked down to his palms. Shiny, he thought, and thought nothing else of it.