I got up from my bed and began to pace back and forth. To say I was depressed was an understatement. I was utterly devastated. I had no idea what to do next. All I could think about was the fact that I had failed in my mission as a creator. I had failed in my duty to protect and guide the people of my world. I had failed in everything I had set out to do.
"Benny, is there anything I can do? Could I bring back everyone from the dead?" I asked but I already knew the answer to this question.
"Unfortunately not, Thomas. Your power as the Author of Life is too weak to bring everyone back from the dead. If you try, you will die. I would not worry too much though. This is your job as the Author of Life. Civilizations will thrive and crumble. What is most important is your growth which you have successfully accomplished."
I couldn't accept what Benny had said. My friends were all dead. Althea, Cyrus and everyone else was gone. I never got to see Arron find his parents either.
"I guess I have no choice but to start from the beginning. I'm not going to make the same mistake again. This time, I'll create a world where everyone can live in peace. I'm not going to fail my friends this time. I won't be so naive," I replied to Benny.
Benny responded with a simple "Very well." Benny's voice was flat and emotionless.
But first, I needed a break from my role as the Author of Life. I put on some sneakers and walked out of the house.
As I walked down the street, I could hear the birds chirping and the leaves rustling in the breeze. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and the clouds were fluffy and white.
The neighborhood was quiet and peaceful. I could see a few people walking their dogs, and the occasional car driving by. It was a nice change of pace from the chaos and violence of my recent adventures.
Although I found the idea of escaping to another world to avoid real world responsibilities appealing, in reality the real world couldn't be beat. I didn't enjoy my loneliness in my world but I did find the peace and quiet enjoyable. I was also a little afraid of my power of being a creator. I had created life only to have it destroyed by my hubris and incompetence. It was a scary thought that I had the ability to create life but not the ability to sustain it. I had to become a better god and a more responsible creator. I couldn't just create life for the sake of it.
I walked about a mile to my nearest park and I could smell the fresh, clean air and the sweet aroma of flowers in bloom. The grass was green and lush, and the trees were tall and strong. I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me.
As I approached the park, I saw a group of children playing on the swings and slides. They were laughing and running around, and I couldn't help but smile at their joy.
The scar on my soul would probably never heal. The trauma of losing my friends was too great. It made me feel like a failure. I was supposed to be a god, but I couldn't even save the people I cared about.
I felt a wave of sadness come over me. I had lost everyone I had come to care about. The elves, the demons, even the Great Tree. They were all dead.
"Benny, on second thought, I want to give up on being the Author of Life," I said in sorrow. "Could you choose someone else?"
Benny was silent for a few seconds then answered, "No Thomas, you cannot relinquish your role. The Box of Dimensions found you, you didn't find it. It chose you for this role." His voice was calm and collected, but I could detect a hint of sadness in it.
"I don't know what I am supposed to do," I replied. "I know I said I would try again, but I have immense doubts."
"You must keep trying," Benny said. "You must use your power to create life and guide it to a better future."
I sighed. "I don't know if I have the strength to do that. I don't know if I can handle the responsibility. I know I said I would get up again and start from scratch, but the more I think about it, the more inept I feel. I need to spend some time away from the Box of Dimensions."
I found an open bench and decided to spend a few hours in the park. As I watched the kids play, I noticed one of them fall and sprain his ankle. I rushed over to him and used Imagination Amplification to heal it. The kid was astonished and ran back to his friends.
"Whoa, did you guys see that? He healed my leg with some blue light." the kid said excitedly. His friends were equally astonished and started to gather around me asking me questions. I told them that I was just an ordinary guy and that they shouldn't be too amazed.
It seems that my abilities were really starting to become reality. I wonder how much longer until I can become a true god in both worlds. I thought to myself while chuckling. Like that'd every happen.
After a few more minutes of talking, the kids went back to playing and I was alone again. I leaned back on the bench and looked up at the sky. I could see the clouds slowly moving across the blue expanse and I felt a sense of peace wash over me. It was nice to be able to just relax and enjoy the world without having to worry about anything.
Once sunset came I returned home and took care of my needs. I looked in the mirror and noticed that my golden eyes became an even brighter gold color and my face appeared to be giving off a faint glow but not from fair skin, rather a literal glow. I also looked more handsome than I had before.
After admiring myself in the mirror, I changed into my pajamas and laid in bed reminiscing about my role. I knew that I couldn't be sad forever. I closed my eyes and after a few minutes, the darkness of sleep consumed me.