The sun's almost done setting out the window.

I've been in bed for almost the whole day, stuck in my thoughts, feelings festering in my head.

Not a lot has been going on for me. School's been doing horribly, haven't found a real job besides working on my family's store, and most importantly; I've been thinking that I haven't been good at anything. I have a lot of hobbies, and I love them with all my heart. But somehow, I don't think I'm that good with any of them.

Maybe I am good at something. Maybe I just haven't found out yet. But time's running out, and if I don't find out soon enough, I don't know where I'll be headed.

I don’t know why I’m thinking about stuff like this right now.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t talked to anybody in a while. And because of that, all my thoughts have been echoing inside my head non-stop.

It's too much to think about, honestly.

It's too noisy.

They've been hammering across the street for a while now. So many cars beeping. Is that a jet plane? Can’t they like, sto-

The sound of sirens pierce through the bustle of the city. For a second, everything stops to listen.

Air raid sirens. And it's probably a nuke.

Social media sites have been lighting up about the tensions between the world's superpowers. Before my country could call for an armistice, it looked like the other side pressed the big red button. That dictator always seemed like he had a screw loose.

Whether you can call it lucky or unfortunate, I could see a big dark spot in the air. It looks like I'm sitting right on top of ground zero. 

I open my window and take a front row seat to the last light show I'll ever see. Everyone on the ground is screaming and running. It's futile, and a shame. There are no nuclear bunkers in the entirety of this country. Trying to hide will only prolong the suffering.

It's strange. I don't feel any fear or anger. I am a bit sad, since it doesn't look like I'll have any time to call my friends and say goodbye, but other than that I feel…at peace.

It's been a good run. I lived quite an uneventful life, and a fortunate one at that. Great family, great friends, never had to face great hardships. I do wish I had a bit more going on, but I am pretty young. Not like I had much time.

The bomb is in sight now. It should be over in a moment. Just to try something fun before my demise, I try to time my jump from the 5 stories I'm on with the blast that's about to hit. I close my eyes, and swan-dive into the streets below.

In an instant, a flash sears into my eyes, and a ringing noise swallows up my ears. I could feel my body burn for a moment, until I could feel it no more. The light washes over me for a second, and as quickly it came, fades away, giving way to a pure black void, and perfect stillness.

…

Hm? I can still think? Weird, I should be dead by now.

I tried to reach out, but I can't move a muscle. More specifically, I can't move at all.

This is getting creepier each second. Where is everybody? I can't feel the ground, or anything else.

"You're not supposed to be here."

A low, feminine, echoing voice shot into my chest.

"Yeah, I think so too. For the record, I don't know why I'm here..."

"...Hilik? No, this isn't funny enough for him. It couldn't be Theris, they'd atleast have the dignity to tell me..."

It's been only about, 15 seconds? The gravity of this whole situation’s only began to catch up to me. Who’s this person talking to anyway? Should I try and wave at them?

I wave.

I can't.

Turn around?

Can't tell if I just did.

What am I doing here? This would be intensely scary if it weren't for the voice rambling off in the distance.

Like, I mean, if I died, I was pretty much prepared to be met with non-existence. Just wasn't expecting to spend non-existence while conscious.

Maybe I'm just blind. Maybe I'm in a room somewhere, and I can actually move. I mean, can't hurt to try?

They seem to be pretty self-absorbed right now. Could I sneak off?

Looking around, there's nothing to note. Am I even turning my head? How am I looking to the side? Now that I think about it am I actually-

"Dead. Yes. But you're not supposed to be here."

"Oh, okay, uhm, yeah, uhhh...."

"...."

Pull yourself together!! This could be a freaking all-powerful being for all we know! The last thing we want is to be sent into oblivion for being an awkward piece of shit!

I should probably be careful with what I ask. How did I die? No, she seemed confused as to why I’m here, so I probably shouldn’t ask that. Maybe I can get an idea of who they are?

*quick breaths* "okAY, uhh, is this hell? Or heaven? Or whatever the Hindu people had going on?...."

"No."

"...No?"

" You're in my realm. Where I reside alone."

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"Oh. Trapped, or of your own volition?"

"The others are too noisy."

"I see, I see."

"Metaphorically speaking, you are in my abode, but you were supposed to be in the fields, where the rest of the souls here go."

"Mhm."

"..."

Okay, this is really awkward.

"Sooo, what now?"

"...The situation you are in is quite the conundrum. It seems you have died, but have been sent to the wrong afterlife. Furthermore, you cannot go back to your world’s afterlife without another hole popping out, just like the one you came out of. You will be stuck in this void for who knows how long.”

“That…sounds…terrible. I really don’t want to stay here, ma’am. It’s cold and lonely. Is there anything you can do?”

“I will make you an offer, child. You have to know, there is little I can do for you. The choices you have are these; stay here. At times, another portal may appear in our realm, just like with you. If it ever does appear, I will make sure you go through there, and you will be sent back into the afterlife as you should have."

"Cons?"

"To do so, I am not allowed to touch your soul, for if even a miniscule amount of this realm's essence were to cling to you, you will not be able to head home. Your state right now is so that you know nothing of this world, and grow no attachment. Be prepared to wait for eons here."

"I see."

"Now, your second option is an offer; a request. I will release you of your seals, and you will turn into my vassal. There is a child that I want you to protect and guide. However, to give you a body and let you out into this world would be beyond my authority to do so. Therefore, you will accompany the child I speak of as a spirit. No mortal will be able to see you, not even them. You will simply be the voice in her head."

"What's in it for me?"

"You will not be stuck waiting in the dark. And I think you will like the work my friends have done to the place."

"Okay, sorry if I have to repeat things, but basically I have to be this kid's guardian while being a ghost that no one else can hear but her?"

"Mostly right. A lot of details here and there, but I believe you can figure it out."

...Stranger danger is a thing. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s a non-zero chance of this person being a jerk. The options look kind of rigged. It's almost like they're blackmailing me. But what would they get out of tricking me?

...

They sound like I can trust them.

…

Can I?

…

Too much I don't know. Too much to think about. Fuck it.

"Fuck it, I'm in."

"Wonderful!"

A loud clap echoes in the distance.

Like mirrors, the darkness fractures into pieces that spin into a kaleidoscope of colors, each creaking with a note. The world around me almost breaks into song as hues fill in what was left of the shadows, after which the light gives way to a scene, and a scent.

Musty, old books, and a whiff of dusty carpet. Office lights dot the space in front of me and reveal endless rows upon rows of bookshelves. Stairs to my left spiral to floors beyond my sight.

This grandiose sight is just way too much to take in. Though the more you look at it, the more home-y it looks. Like the railings on the balconies here are kinda simple but cute. There's couches every few meters or so. The lamps do look out of place though. Everything looks pretty old, but the office head lights stick out.

"Sorry, the lights are a new fixture. I have been meaning to keep up with the times, but changes like these take time."

"Huh. Wait wha-"

"Yes, I can read your thoughts."

No fair, was I staring that hard? Wait, do I have a body? That sounded like it came from behind me. Can't turn my head.

"Excuse me, uhm..."

"Historia. Not my real name, but it will do for now. And yes, one second."

Two hands pull at my side and turn me around, sliding into view the visage of the being I've been talking to this whole time. They're a pretty woman, looking to be around their 30's, with a perfect tanned face framed by their white flowing tunic and various golden accessories. Despite rocking a face that would put most models to shame, she's got a more soft-spoken beauty to her, though it was more than enough to make me ignore the multitude of arms she had. She's got like, 10, maybe more.

Each of her arms tugged at a glowing blue mass where my body's supposed to be. With each pull she makes, strings of gold light form a sort of wire frame, like something you'd see in 3D software. I saw her moulding vague arms, legs and an abdomen. Just a quick little sculpt, then a few finishing touches, and then she takes a step back to look at her work.

"Are you done admiring me? Dear me, I am going to get an EARFUL from that snob. *clears throat* Anyway, I made your soul into a rough shape, should be vaguely humanoid. Can you move?"

Huh, that definitely did the trick. You really don't appreciate your senses 'til they're gone. Having arms is also nice.

"This should be enough for you to do your work. I think from the rambling I have been doing you can tell that I am not the only god of this world, and you are quite the phenomenon, so do expect that my friends will pull you out into their realms from time to time. Hold on a second while I find our little girl."

Historia tidies up my soul's form one last time, then without a sound, floats away. She hovers off into the endless expanse of books, her many hands skimming past their covers. They keep going. And going. And going. And going.

...

Looks like it'll take a while. Looking around, this place just doesn't seem to end. Looking up, the spiral leading up is almost maddening to look at. Looking behind, I see... Historia? Yeah, that's her. Man, this place is trippy.

It didn't take as long as I thought 'til she came back with a book in hand.

"There you go. Here is her book. When you are ready, just open the book to any page and start reading. Once you are almost done with the story, you will appear before her, and your job will officially start. Any questions?"

"Yeah, uh... Do I have to worship or pray to any of the gods here?"

"For you, not much will come of it. You are my vassal, and you will not be able to contact any other god through simple prayer. For the others, just stepping into their churches will put you in their sight. What that entails depends on who you're dealing with. What is important is that praying to different gods isn't a crime, but receiving blessings from one sets an expectation, and some gods do not mesh well with others. You will have my blessing from the start, but I am by far the most neutral god there is, so you do not have to worry about my relationships."

Good, wasn't much of a person of faith back home.

"How different is this from Earth?"

"Pretty similar. Whatever works on Earth will work here, just not the other way around. Otherwise, you will find plenty of familiar things. You would not be able to exist here if that were not the case."

"Alright. Thank you, Historia."

Whew, that went smoothly. Clean and professional.

"I like people like you. No fuss, but a pleasure to work with. It's only been a few minutes, but I am already looking forward to what lies ahead of you."

Historia gives me an innocent smile, as her many arms pulls at strings of light, forming lines into a wireframe shaped like a bedside cabinet with a little bookstand on it. The bookcase fully materializes, and her hands reach into my heart, and bring out a book from within. She sets it down gently onto the stand, and opens the book to the first page. In its empty spaces, letters slowly fade into existence, detailing my stay here at the library.

"Now all you need to do is open the book and start reading. Have fun!"

I probably shouldn't put so much trust into this sketchy of a person. I honestly don't know why I just did. Thinking about it though, this just seemed like the more exciting option. If I've been conned, shame on you, Historia.

…

All of this was way too sudden. Why did I agree to this?

…

Welp, too late for second guessing.

I heaved a heavy breath, looked down and opened the book she handed to me.

Taking care of a child would be a new thing for me. I don't really like kids, but I do have experience tutoring some. 

I did regret not being able to live long enough to have a family. Maybe this'll be the brand new start I'll need.

The pages of this book are lined in gold, and the text seemingly hand-written. In it, the name of the kid I'll be looking after shimmers gently.

Alright, Emi. Let’s see your story.