Opening his eyes, he saw his body perfectly fine but puzzled where he was at the moment. A white room without walls and seemed to be endless and solemn, "Heaven." is the only thing he could think.
Confronted by a being he did not know and Daren was sure it was alive but mysterious. With subtle movements that radiate supernatural and majestic aura; it calmed his mind. The entity was a golden glow with slime like properties that floated in the air and had no exact appearance that continually changes its form every moment.
"Young one, I am here to assist you in your journey to the next world. They call me the 'Guide' and for saving a sheep, you will now be given a chance to reincarnate. Please specify a request and I will try the best of my ability to place you somewhere where you want." So delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe its movement. The golden light changed its shape as it spoke and exude sumptuous sense.
"I died huh? Guide can you tell me what happened to my companion in the car?" Daren requested feeling down as he remembered Mimi's face.
"I could not inform you something like that, I am only but an entity to guide souls in their next life. I apologize but I can give you details of the matters related to your reincarnation." Its voice was so majestic and pure it exudes wisdom but its limitations were the obstacle.
Daren was saddened by the situation. He will have no idea what happened to Mimi also he could not even say his last goodbye to her or his grand uncle, and knowing that he will be reincarnated somewhere; the likelihood of meeting his parents and ancestors in heaven was also zero.
After finally calming down, he resolved to move on. But was unclear about some details so he asked some questions first. "Will I retain my memories when I reincarnate?" If he could not retain his memories, then he will have to at least savor the last moments before he advances to his next life.
"That will depend on your offer. Depending on the setting, your status, and abilities to have an effect or advantages in that world, will all be traded with a currency which is 'Memory'." The explanation made Daren ponder.
"Memories" He continued to consider. "Alright, I understand it a little. I suppose." He nodded squeezing his chin then proceeded to explain his interests, and with a few alterations to his decision, the agreement finally was settled.
<>
Re-opening his eyes he felt somewhat stiff. "How many times did I felt something like this?" Daren thought as his consciousness slowly drifted into the new world he was supposed to reincarnate but..."What is this?" He was shocked to discover his current predicament.
Stiff neck, unmovable limbs, and lastly; he could not feel his entire body. As his vision inspected the surroundings area; he saw a wide wheat field and a small crude mudbrick house not far. Animal enclosures surrounded the house that shelter a variety of live stocks. "Meeehhhh" Some sheep cried as if noticing his arrival while the others did not bother and continued to feed.
"Sheep." He cursed to himself remembering his last moments but it was his fault after all. While remembering his last moments, something caught his attention. "Am I tied?" Considering that he could not move at all, and the height he was in; he thought that he might be tied and somehow started to panic.
"Please not crucifixion. Did I awaken into a criminal person or something?" He became cautious and struggled to calm down to assess the situation properly; if death was certain, the chance of resurrection will be slim after all he was resurrected because he evaded and saved the sheep's life but he could not blame the sheep for his death rather the sheep gave him a second chance. His panic and desire for information drive him insane, it was just a few minutes after he woke up but his mind was in chaos and his attentiveness to details was getting severe.
The wheat rustling in the wind, its dancing movements, insects occasional buzz, and even the animals' noises seem to be in rhythm in his mind, "I'm going crazy." bored with the surroundings; he then examined the things in the edges of his vision and saw something strange, "Is that dead branches?" Thinking of where he was tied; he thought of a tree while observing the dead branches that were protruding out from the sleeves of his shirt in both ends, left and right.
Edges of the tattered clothes waving from the wind, "Am I a beggar or something, or I might have engaged in a fight before being tied. But...I don't feel any injury at all." He was relieved but somehow worried about the strange feeling of the stiffness of his entire body.
Above his vision; the edge of a straw hat that fluttered from time to time, cover his face from the sun as he continued to observe, while below was only the dancing wheat as he could not look down to see what's underneath. "Damn, I am bored," he uttered as he could not conclude what is occurring.
"Hah...I need to find someone and ask." Without a result from his observations, he sighed but calm himself and waited for someone, after all, there is a house not so distant from him and soon the owners will be back home, he thought. With nothing to do, he remembers something important that needs to be confirmed.
"Oh! I forgot the skills." Remembering the last moments with the Guide, he was quite amazed by this resurrection and abilities but still uncertain of what will happen. The Guide could not provide information on this world after all.
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FlashBack
During that time he did not choose immediately any special ability suggested by the entity but asked some questions. As the discussion got deeper; the details were becoming profound and it confused Daren. What he understood was; that memory is the currency they used to generate these abilities which are granted to reincarnators like him.
Some need to sacrifice all their memories just to gain powerful abilities; to fly like the birds, breath in the ocean and even prolong life, but he was not tempted of it all. His wish was to forget the pain and bad memories he had and live a simple life.
"I want a skill that you have." He blurted thinking of the entity's role and his abilities to manipulate memories. In their conversation, the entity said something about utilizing memories into currency, copying, recording, granting, ETC which he did not understand but what he wanted, was the ability to delete his bad memories and somehow relieve himself of the pain.
"Mhhh...Interesting..." The entity could read Daren's thoughts but he could not see malice in it. "I have to ask for permission from the higher-ups for your request." The entity said.
And after a long wait, he was presented the list of the abilities in a game-like interface which made Daren amazed..."These are the only ones that can possess. Also, I can only exchange these abilities with your soul." With that sentence, Daren knitted his brows.
"Is this guy the devil, or something." He said in his mind but he was shocked again after the entity answered. "I am not what you are thinking...I am only following instructions." Daren stepped back, after discovering his thoughts are being read.
"Ahahaha...Fine...I have nothing to lose, I am dead anyway. As long as I can forget bad memories and preserve others."
<>
"Status Open." I concentrated and a projection appeared in his view. It was the interface to see the current status but he was startled by the information he saw.
Name: ???
Race: ???
Sub-race: ???
Gender: ???
Age: ???
Memory: 7 Years, 2 Months, 6 Days, 22 hours.
MP(Memory Points): 0
Abilities:
*Memory Conversion - Convert memory to MP and Vise Versa.
*Memory Manipulation - Extract, grant, and delete memory from/to Memory Bank.
"I even have no race and gender or at least a name." He could only sigh remembering that he was not specific enough with his requests and underestimated the severity of the situation. First of his request is the skill/ability, the second was for him to be reincarnated into a farming village, and lastly to be peaceful and undisturbed by others. Then noted that to the Guide "No matter how boring, he only needed peace."
He did not expect it will be this grave because of his stupidity therefore now he needs to ascertain everything, but no one yet came so he continued to check the other available interface. It was easier if he could only use his hands to manipulate the interface but for now, concentrating was the only thing he could do; it was not easy but was perfect while waiting for someone to appear.
As he was in the second interface those bold words 'Memory Bank' were visible and glowing. He was excited and looked around it. "Mhh...I forgot to ask for details. Stupid" Seeing the gray '???' written characters, he knew that it needed something to unlock the features. "I played some games on the phone but was not adept with these kinds of things." Thinking of the games, he thought that it might need requirements or leveling to unlock the features so he move-on to the others.
"Shop?" He browsed the 'Shop' Interface which he can buy things using the memory currency. Potions, equipment, and few items are available but the other things are blank with '???' characters without a piece of single information to see. He checked the items for the descriptions and price.
HP Potion (Low) : 1 MP. Under the details, 1MP is equivalent to 1 day of Memory. "Mhh. It is not daunting but a day of memory is such a waste." Daren now pondered. "But if I can absorb memories, maybe..." He was excited about the thoughts but remember again his current predicament so he could only sigh. Browsing again he saw a weird category 'Earth Items'.
"Wow, I can even buy toothbrush in here, but there were very few available items for now." He was more excited seeing that he still has access to some things from Earth. "I need to try some things" He was very excited; concentrated and chose 'Mirror (Small)' Which is 1 MP each, He then clicked to purchase the item. [Tring...0 MP remaining...Please replenish MP]. The mechanical voice startled him but after all these craziness that is happening; he calms down immediately and proceed.
"Shit, I forgot that I need to convert memory into MP." After manipulating his memory he converted 2 days of bad memory into 2 MP; it was a safe number for a trial and he did not want to lose so much memory, afraid he will become stupid or something. Then finally click the purchase button. [Tring...No available Soul Energy...] The mechanical voice echoed in his mind stunning him.
"What? Soul Energy?" He pondered and remembered that he did sell his soul to the Guide. "Ahhh...Dumb Shit" He cursed in anger for a moment, then in regret, followed by sadness finally acceptance. "What should I do now?" He was feeling alone after hours without someone to talk but himself, tried to forget the Soul Energy situation but it kept coming back in his mind making him more stressed.
Bored and anxious, Daren inspected all the details of the interface but soon enough his worries dissipated. Marching from afar, a silhouette of men came from the distant horizon. Men, women, and even children carrying tools and pushing carts while dear like creatures as big as a horse were pulling it. As they got closer Daren's excitement could not hold and he shouted with all his might but they seem not to notice. "HEEEEY...HEEEEELP" Shouting with all his might there seems to be no response. Till this moment he did not try to shout but now that he was certain, he felt helpless.
"Damn it." He thought it was strange but those moments when he tried speaking; seemed to not hear his voice but ignored it thinking it was the numbness of his whole body that his ears were not working properly.