On the night of my sixth birthday, something within me began to stir.  Due to my mother’s teachings on magic, I realized that my mana, the gift from the god Isabella, had awoken within me.  Mother taught me that everyone in this world is born with magic sealed within them, as the goddess said when I was reincarnated; it was their gift to humanity.  Usually, on the twelfth year, this magic becomes unsealed, the mana within them that had been collecting and growing since birth, becomes too large to stay sealed.  However, my awakening seems to have been cut in half, my magic, too large to stay within, has broken its bonds early.

My parents couldn’t have been happier when I told them, while not uncommon, it’s still a rare occurrence; about ninety percent of people, my father says; awaken at twelve.  I am fortunate to be part of that ten percent. 

According to my last encounter with the gods, I should be expecting a meeting with them any day now. 

After dinner, I excused myself to my room; allowing my parents to flirt once again with each other.  I’m blessed to have parents that love one-another so much, but I don’t want to listen to it, it’s too much for a kid like me.  I want to be alone so I can check out my mana. 

As Christopher was on his way to his room, leaving his parents to their non-stop flirting; Christopher, excited to catch a glimpse of his mana, loses consciousness in the hallway.  He falls to the ground with a loud thump as his body meets the hard-wood floor.  He’s not hurt by this, he only stands a few feet above the ground, so his body wasn’t able to achieve much downward momentum; however, his parents, who dote on him constantly could not be bothered to realize this as they shout for him, running down the hall in a panic.

His mother caresses him in her arms, as his father waves his arms around frantically.  “Christopher!” They yell.  “Let’s get him to bed” Says his father; “He must have been so tired that the exhaustion got to him before he could get to his room.” “He’s going to be ok babe; I just know it!”

Christopher, however, was somewhere else.  “Hello again.” Sings Isabella: “You sprouted early, didn’t you.” She says with a smile. 

“We told you the first time, we would have you come back to us when you received your mana, so welcome back to the realm of the gods.” Says the head god.  “We have much to discuss.” Says Socraxes. 

“You seemed to have awoken your mana much earlier than anticipated, fret not, this works in our favor.” Says Herox.  “This is to be expected, my fellow gods.” Interjects Atrius; “He has the blessing of every god here, which, in the history of creation, has never happened.”  “We are fortunate it didn’t happen sooner.” Says the head god; “Had he awoken before the age of six, humans would question him, or maybe take him for their own purposes.” Says Ivantis. 

“It’s unusual for humans to awaken at six, but it is unheard of for a human to awaken before then.” Says Isabella lovingly.  “We cannot control the awakening process, but, yes, we are fortunate.” Says Socraxes. 

“Listen, Christopher Ashbourne; son of Michele and Abigail Ashbourne.” Says the head god authoritatively.  “In nine years’, time, your world, will fall into peril.” “The nature of this peril, however, is unknown to us.” He says, showing faint disappointment in their ignorance. 

“Be it, by monster.” Says Atrius. “Or man.” Says Socraxes. “Or natural disaster.” Says Herox. “Your world, will fall.” Ends the head god. 

“My world? I thought?” Christopher says, a concerned face looks towards Isabella, he thinks back to the words of the goddess from when he first met her, how she said this new world would be a nice world, where he could live his life to the fullest.

“My dear sweet Christopher, I remember I told you; that your world would be sweet as honey.” “However, I did not perceive the cascade of disasters, the world’s created, are flawed.  No matter what changes we make in the building of these worlds, they always lead to their eventual doom.” Tears flow down her face, as, while she converses, the screams of the dead from other worlds can still be heard in her heart, as she is the nexus for the dead.  

“I will not stand by as your world ends too.” She says softly rubbing his head.  “We will work with you, so that we, the gods, can finally understand what it is that is causing their destruction.” Says the head god.  “Will you help us in this endeavor? Christopher?” Isabella asks, hopeful.

Her words, and those of the other gods take him aback, all worlds. Even his old world? Where his brothers are? Can he, if he were to help them, stop the destruction in not only his current world, but the world of his past life? Could he finally repay his brother’s kindness, by doing this?  He sits there, on the goddess’s lap for a while, pondering the massive, world-ending information he was told.  He sits there, until finally, he speaks. 

“I died in pain, I cannot remember most of it, but I remember the hopelessness I felt, the horror of it.  I died, leaving behind those precious to me, my brothers, my family.” He says, taking a moment to gather his next words.  “But you gave me a second chance, you gave me a loving family, in a world of peace.  You even put my brothers concerns at ease after my death.”  “If this, working with you, will help you, and coincidentally, help my brothers from my past life.  I would be honored at the privilege to repay the kindness you showed me, and the kindness of the other gods here, for allowing my life to continue.”

His words sound, to the gods, as words that of a man, not a six-year-old.  What did that portal do to him? They start to think to themselves, how can a six-year-old be so eloquent with his words? There must be, must be, something more at work in his soul.  How can a boy at the age of six, be so kind and forthcoming? To put himself in danger unknown to repay a debt? I’m glad we listened to Isabella, they think, his soul, it is unlike any we have seen.

“But how will this work? How can I, help the gods with something so much bigger than me?” He asks, rightfully.  This is a tremendous task, a huge duty, that he had accepted.  How can a boy, who just unlocked his mana, be of any help?

“With our blessings, and our gift of mana.” Says Atrius.  “You are no mere boy.” Says Ivantis.  “having traversed to heavenly portal.” Says Socraxes.  “You are more powerful than even we know.” Says Herox.  “We will guide you.” Says Isabella. 

“The others are right, the blessings, the portal, these have changed you, and as your soul is of such purity, you have grown into something much more than we can know, at least for now.” Says the head god.  “I, along with the rest, do not like, not knowing.  We will do everything we can to figure it out.”  “In the meantime, prepare, hone your magic, your body, and your mind.” He says.

“You still have nine years before the end begins.” Says Atrius.   “All you can do, for now, is prepare.  We will call you back here again when we have an effective plan of action.  I am sorry that we are so ignorant as to what you could do now.” Atrius says regretfully.

“Now my love,” says Isabella; “You know that your world along with countless others are doomed to end, and having learned this, you have agreed to help us stop it.” “We will help you, and guide you, through whatever may come.”  “We will never leave you.” She says lovingly.  “Now, be a good boy and go back to your family, I’m sure they are worried.” She says with a smile. 

Christopher, having said his goodbyes, awakens in bed, surrounded by his parents.  While they did try to calm down, they couldn’t help but worry, so they stayed by his bedside until he woke up.  

“What happened Chrissy?” Asks his mother frantically; “If you were so tired, you could have told us!”

“What happened?” Asks Christopher.  His father, on his left side, lets out a sigh of relief? Maybe exasperation.  “You passed out in the hall, kiddo, you hit the ground and sent us into a panic.” He looks to Abigail: “Maybe the classes are too much?” He asks, “Maybe we should cut them early from now on?”

“No.” Interjects Christopher, “It’s alright, it’s not that I’m too tired, the classes are just fine, I really enjoy mom’s classes.” He says looking at his mother.  He sits there in silence for a while, not knowing what to say; the concerned looks of his parents growing more intense.  What could be wrong with their dear boy?

He ponders for a while, this will just keep happening, whenever the gods need to call on him, they will.  Their gods, they probably don’t have a good eye for timing, after dinner may have been, in their eyes, the perfect time to call him to their realm.  “It’s ok.”   Speaks a familiar voice, Isabella? It’s the voice of the goddess.  Does that mean they are watching me even now? “Yes, we are dear, don’t worry, tell them.” She says. 

He looks to his parents, “Mother.  Father.” “I have something I need to tell you both.”  His vague words only heightened their concern.  He doesn’t know if he should tell them he was reincarnated, will they still love him? Will they still see him as their son? If I tell them I used to be someone else, and was brought into this life by divine intervention, how will they take it? 

 “You must promise me something, mother, father.  That no matter what I say you wont hate me, that you will still love me.”  Their concern till this point has evolved into full blown panic, what is so serious that their boy would say something like this, that he would be so concerned with the outcome, he’s only six, what kind of news could change the way they love him?

“Honey! Nothing you say could change the way we feel about you!” His mother shouts, with tears running down her cheeks.  “What is so serious that it would change our love for you?! Your our boy!” She continues.  “Your mother’s right!” Michele says, “We love you son! Theres nothing you could say that could change that!” He shouts. 

“My fainting earlier, and the time in the field.  I was called upon by the gods in the heavenly realm.” He says hesitantly, looking down at the sheets that cover his legs.  The shock on their faces is clear, they did not expect something like this to come out of their son’s mouth, the gods!? Like the gods, gods? “What are you saying son.” Asks his father, collecting himself, to ask calmly.  He doesn’t want to upset his clearly anxious son, and with the way he said it, he must be telling the truth.  That’s not something you would joke about, especially after what he said earlier. 

“Are you saying the gods, like the gods of legend, called you? Into their realm? Like the heavens?” He asks.  He looks at his wife, she’s trying to hold in her shock, but it’s clear she is having a hard time maintaining a semblance of calm.  They must, for their boy, who worked up his courage to tell them this, they must be there for him; to show him, they love him no matter what.  They collect themselves, pushing down their emotions, his father would take on a horde of beasts for his kid, pushing down his emotions for his sake is child’s play in comparison.

Christophers anxiety within him grows and grows, he has more to tell, a lot more.  He begins to wish it never happened, he wishes he didn’t have to tell them, he feels sorrow for his parents, all they wanted was a good boy, a son, they could love and take care of, but instead they got something different.  They got a boy, who had another life, a boy who died a horrible death, a boy linked to the gods.  They got a monster.

He grabs his face, his emotions exploding to the surface.  Tears begin to flow violently down his cheeks.  Erupting in immense sorrow, he couldn’t contain it any longer, how could he? How could he? He asks repeatedly.  Nothing will be the same, they wont see him as their own anymore. How could they?

Abigail shoots forth from her seat and envelopes her son in a warm embrace, tears flowing from them both; “It’s ok honey, it’s ok, we’re here honey, we’re here!” She says frantically.  Michele follows, enveloping them both.  “It’s ok my boy, we love you no matter what, be it god, or anything else.” He says.

Christopher, enveloped by his parents, begins again.  He tells him of how he met the goddess Isabella, his death, everything.  He loves them, he doesn’t want to hide anything from them, they gave him such a loving life, such a warm home.  If this is the end, then that’s ok, his life till now had been amazing and warm.  If they hate him, then he will leave, he wont be a bother to anyone else anymore. 

His parents are silent for a while, still holding their boy.  The news shocked them, how could it not? He was right, this was too much, he should have shouldered it alone, he could have, why didn’t he? Why did he tell them? He doesn’t want to leave, no matter what he tells himself, if they hate him, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.  He wouldn’t be able to carry on, not after the life he has had with them these six years.  He doesn’t want to be abandoned again.