Looking around, I found myself in a room that shone brilliantly with golden hues. The room was quite bare, except for a mirror and a fancy chair where the man sat.

I asked, "So, what's this offer all about? What could you want from a dead guy like me?"

The man replied calmly, despite knowing he was dead himself. "You're pretty calm for a dead person."

I responded, "Well, staying cool is the first rule of being a magician. Why should a magician be scared? So, I always evaluate the situation first. I get it, I can't survive that fall, so I'm dead. But I don't know where I am. I hope your offer explains that."

"Alright," the man began, "you're right, you're dead."

He moved the mirror and showed me some images, explaining, "Normally, when someone dies, their soul goes to another place, and they forget everything. They get reborn in a new body with no memories. Sometimes, a few memories stick, and that's called 'talent.' But keeping all your memories is impossible without help."

"Are you saying I kept all my memories, and that's why I'm here? That doesn't make sense. Are you behind all this?"

"Yes, you're spot on," the man admitted. "Normally, souls go away, lose their memories, and that takes three days. During that time, we can bring souls to a specific place, keep their memories, and even control where they're reborn. That's what I did with you. You met all my criteria: a dead person who wanted another chance and was once the best at what they did. I started looking for someone like you two months ago, and you turned out to be the best fit. You were the world's greatest magician with some lingering regrets. It was too perfect to pass up."

"Okay, I get that part," I said, trying to understand it all. "But what is this place?"

"This is a special prison," the man explained. "I was betrayed and ended up here. I can't leave, but I can bring some things here, like this mirror, which is one of my creations. And I called you here because you're a piece of my plan to escape."

I had to ask, "Why choose someone at the top? Wouldn't it make more sense to pick someone skilled? It seems like you took a big risk. The chance of someone at the peak of their career dying with regrets is super low. Two months seems like a generous amount of time for such a search. I can't see a logical reason."

"You're right; there's no logic to it," the man admitted.

"None at all? Please explain."

"I did it on a whim," he said with a grin. "Surprised?"

"Not really," I replied. "You do seem like someone who acts on whims a lot."

"Many people say that," he chuckled. (And that's the reason I'm here.)

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"Did you say something just now?"

"Nothing important," he reassured me. "Now, let's get to the point. Shall we talk about why you're here?"

"Finally, we're getting to the important part, huh?" I remarked.

Regarding your memories, you might not have noticed, but they're gradually fading, beginning with the most personal ones. Can you recall your name?

I responded, "Of course, something as basic as that. My name is...? Wait, what? I can't remember! Why is this happening?"

The man offered reassurance, "Don't fret. As I mentioned earlier, I brought your soul here, detouring it from the usual reincarnation process. The memory erasure is an internal process within your soul, unrelated to the soul realm. It's quite normal to experience memory loss at this stage. However, rest assured, this memory loss will cease once your soul finds a new body. The challenge lies there."

I inquired, "What is the problem? Can't you simply put me into a dead body?"

The man explained, "No, it's not that simple. When a soul reincarnates, it takes a body with no soul and adapts it to itself. A dead body loses its soul but has already adapted to it. If a different soul enters such a body, it will break."

"So, what's your plan then?" I asked.

He replied, "I have a spell for this situation. It will merge your soul with the soul of someone who wishes for a fresh start in life or no longer wants to live. Your personality, morals, knowledge, and wisdom from your previous life will dominate, but your memories will be from this world. You will recall this conversation, but not the details."

"So, it's like altering my memories?" I sought clarification.

"Something along those lines," he affirmed. "You'll understand when the time comes."

I accepted, "Well, that sounds reasonable. My personal memories aren't that valuable to me. However, I'd like to preserve my wish to avoid repeating my past mistakes. Losing my personal memories is one thing, but forgetting my regrets and errors could lead to the same blunders. I don't mind striving for greatness again, but I fear sacrificing everything else for it."

The man reassured me, "Your regrets are part of your personal memories, but your mistakes contribute to your wisdom. So, even if you lose your wish, you'll likely retain something similar."

I sighed with relief, "That's a relief. If my mistakes remain, I won't make them again. As long as that's intact, I don't care about the rest."

We then discussed the new world I was entering, with the man hinting at the presence of magic, different races, and other elements. He mentioned that I would have unique abilities, providing me with talents, magical potential, skills, and an attribute.

"Attribute?" I questioned.

The man replied, "You'll learn about it in due time, but rest assured, you have one. While some may possess more of these attributes, you will have a well-rounded set of abilities. You'll be a jack of all trades but a master of none. Any more questions?"

"No," I responded.

Before the spell was cast, the man issued a warning.

“I almost forgot to say, I don’t know if you will remember, but don’t tell anyone about what happened here, especially to a man called Merlin”

As he pointed his finger at me, a vibrant green light enveloped me, and I remember one last question, "Wait, what was that initial question you mentioned? The one only I can answer?"

The man replied, "I wanted to know if someone who had reached the pinnacle but regretted their departure from the world would attempt to achieve greatness once more if given a second chance."

"I see," I said, recognizing the depth of that question. "It's a question only experience can truly answer."

The green light intensified.

"So then, until we meet again, don't die, Mr. Magician," the man said.

"Don't worry; I won't," I assured him.

With a grin, the man chanted, "Ultimate spell: Once upon a time."

The room was flooded with light, and then I woke up in a different world.