It was evening of a fateful night, when all of this began.
Gideon, a high school student who went home late at night after attending cram school was returning home. The way to their house had a convenience store. He didn't have anything to buy so he just went past it as usual. However, to his surprise, his little sister was inside the store she was buying what seemed to be ice cream, sure that it was something she requested after supper. With her was their mother who was paying. When little Deborah turned her head towards the outside, through the glass window, she could see her brother returning from cram school,
She left their mother as she was paying for other groceries while she was at it already.
"Brother!" Deborah called out. Gideon also recognized the voice of his cute little sister who clung to him whenever they were together even at home.
"Debbie, where's mom?" Gideon asked.
Gideon carried Deborah and they talked a little bit waiting for their mother. However, it was at this time that a magic circle, someone of Gideon's age would be all too familiar with appeared beneath them. In horror after a second of relish that he was holding Deborah with him, Gideon put her down and started running away immediately.
It was after 3 meters away that he realized that the magic circle stayed with Deborah, what did this mean?
"Shit! Not Debbie!" Gideon coursed for the first time in front of Deborah as he desperately sprinted towards her. It was not known whether his athleticism was at work or some mysterious divine power, but Gideon made it in time as the magic circle fully lit up the neighborhood, obviously going to disappear along with his sister for who knows how long or if she would even have the chance to return.
Dread overcame Gideon. His desperation turned into something else entirely and his strength seemed to propel him faster. The light from the magic circle had reached a new level as the light became blinding. This was an indicator that whoever was inside that magic circle was going to be transported now.
Gideon released a howl that could not be discerned whether from a man or from a beast. At the last moment when the light had peaked, Gideon arrived and felt his sister's body and did not care whether he Hurt her physically with this tackle but he had to push her out, that's what all Gideon had in his mind at this instant.
"Ah!" The painted and full of terror scream of the little girl resounded as Gideon and the blinding light all but disappeared in front of the little girl who was clutching her chest. Feeling the warmth and the pain from the final push that separated the siblings from each other for almost a lifetime.
When she opened her eyes there was no one there. Not her brother who was just right there, not anyone! Deborah felt a greater pain in her chest that what she physically felt when she found no one on the spot where his brother was supposed to be. The pain only intensified when her mother came and asked what she was doing, not knowing that her brother had been taken from them by that same mysterious light. Deborah had no appetite for ice cream anymore, she was in shock, in pain, and in so much confusion.
"Debbie? What's wrong?!" Tap, tap, tap. Her mother came to her and saw that she was so pale, she was frightened and took Deborah, carried her to the nearby clinic to have her checked up. She was totally not aware of her son's disappearance. As they arrived at the closing clinic, she begged the doctor to just check up on Deborah quickly.
"Miss… fine. Come in quick." The doctor reluctantly checked Deborah and he found that she was unresponsive.
"Dear, what's bothering you?" Seeing as she was unresponsive even after speaking to her, the doctor turned to the mother and asked, what has shocked her so much to put her into this state of unresponsiveness? She doesn't even want to process anything else right now and shuts everything down."
"Wh-What? But we only went out for ice cream, she was excitedly hopping around because she wanted to share the ice cream with her brother who comes home later after cram school. Now, she's like this."
When she was telling the doctor this, the doctor wasn't paying much attention to the mother but on little Deborah. When the mother mentioned her brother, Deborah's pupils dilated and then her face fell even more. Her face became paler as if remembering something that she wished she could forget.
The doctor had seen cases like this before as well when children's are traumatized by the loss of their family members.
"Miss…" The doctor whispered to her as to not let Deborah hear them, "…Did you recently lose a member of your household, a death maybe?" He hesitated some more before adding, "Your child seem to be suffering from shock and deep feeling of grief as if someone had dried or had gone away from her life that she could not accept."
"No, doctor, no one like that. My son, he's just coming back from cram school, for all we know, he's already at home playing his video game's by now."
"That's odd." The doctor felt that he was right on the money, but since the mother denied it vehemently, he could only prescribe Deborah with a calming drug and an anti-depressants.
"Give this to her twice a day." He said before telling them that he could do nothing more in this case. He also added that if at some point tonight they discovered something awful and tragic, they should not let Deborah hear of it.
She was confused but she put it to heart. She carried Deborah out and left for home. Deborah remained unresponsive. She was put into her bed, while her mother came downstairs to check on her brother.
"Deo? Are you home yet? Honey, has Deo come home yet?"
"Nope. You're still the first to arrive even after you went out? That's totally the kid enjoying his time out!"
"You know Deo! He wouldn't stay too late since Deborah would hound him all night otherwise!'
"Ah, that is also the case. Why not try his phone?"
"I'm I've been trying since before I called you!" She was actually yelling and her voice traveled to all corners of the house which meant that Deborah, who knew what truly happened to his brother could hear it as well and her pain only intensified to the point that she developed a mental barrier against it. She fainted and the moment she woke up the next day, it was as if nothing happened.
However, that night, the Johnsons were undergoing an upheaval since Gideon hadn't come home at all. The police were involved and even other departments were deployed to form a search party. Deborah did not come out of her room all day. It was a Saturday and they had no class. So, she stayed in. Her mother also did not inform her of her brother's disappearance to keep her from breaking down.
In the end, a month passed and still, Gideon couldn't be found as if there were no traces of him after he left the cram school that evening. Only Deborah knew that the reason her brother was missing was because he saved her from being the one taken by the light that night.
Her pain, her tears, her truth… she buried all of it to studying and her obsessions with the supernatural, especially the occult and their connection to religious groups and sects. It was only a month after Gideon disappeared that a new change also entered Earth on a world-wide scale.
In a place disconnected to the physical plane of Earth, a number of figures gathered. These figures were covered by heavenly lights, halos, and such majesty that morals would definitely call them gods.
In fact, they were the God's of Earth. Each nation had a God or God's that were deeply connected to them. The most famous being YHWH who was the monotheistic God of the Israelites. He was indeed sitting a seat above the rest of the God's who gathered. This was evidence of his supremacy over other God's in attendance.
Pantheons were also in attendance. The Greek pantheon, the Roman pantheon, the Norse pantheon, the Egyptian pantheon, the Assyria pantheon, Babylonian pantheon, and so on. All the God's of the Mesopotamian area were present.
"Sigh. That event a month back had actually left traces of our world wide open to evil God's outside. It seems that in desperate need of help, God's from other worlds called for one from ours."
"This is the problem. Since we allowed it, what can we do now to close up the leak? The evil god has already sniffed us up, it won't take long for it to come knocking. Even YHWH won't be able to posture up and stop this evil god."
"Zeus is right…" YHWH spoke up. "Even with my divinity, I won't be able to stop it from swallowing our world. Unless…"
"YHWH, you're not thinking of…"
"Yes, I am."
"However, doing this would weaken us, what if we are attacked by the evil god while in our weakened state?"
"That's impossible." YHWH responded. He was certain.
"The evil god, no matter how strong it is, cannot break into the Earth's metaphysical barriers without inside help. That's why, it would need to find champions, representatives or even avatars to develop a moral body to possess."
YHWH paused and continued after a moment of silence, "That's why, we still have a great chance to develop our own forces to combat the representatives of the evil god. Usually, he'd send creatures of varying power levels, however, we will develop our forces first to counter its movements."
"I see. You are indeed a god of wisdom, YHWH. I agree with this plan. All others in favor, say 'Aye'."
"Aye." The representatives of each pantheon and even independent and monotheistic Gods agreed with no one disagreeing. They were certain of this decision.
"Well then, let me represent the Earth's divine plane in opening the path to godhood for humanity. Let the Sacrosanctum Concilium Vasis Dei be opened to humanity."
"Well then, I shall select the little girl as my representative, does anyone want to contend with me for her?" YHWH declared.
"…" Everyone naturally understood him. This little girl had the highest affinity with divinity and the strongest resonance. It was also the reason why she was selected by the blind magic circle that searched for the most compatible not considering the age or gender.
"Fine. Well compromise on this but this is only because you are our last line of defense." The other God's agreed, albeit, reluctantly.
That was how, a month after Gideon disappeared, the whole Earth changed. The voice of the God's came to humanity just like in ancient times and representatives were chosen. Competition was encouraged for growth and the world entered a phase of growth both in technology and magic, and mystics.
The First awakened, Deborah Johnsons became the first S-Class Fighter.
…
However, that very S-Class Fighter who the world would fight for just to have on their side, was bawling her eyes out. She had finally released all 10 years worth of bottled feelings and depression and pains and regrets.
"B-B-Brother! I knew you were alive! I just… I just! Wah!" She continued to cry her heart out. She didn't even care about the other people present. The guards had the sense to surround them and cover them up. They were surprised that she hugged the intruder and even called him brother over and over again as if he was someone she lost for a long time and now found.
Some of them even sniffed as they listened to her crying. The middle-aged guard was also there and he confirmed his suspicion earlier.
"This young lad, certainly, he was the young misses' family." He thought.
Then, the butler of the household came with a few more Men when they couldn't get a hold of gate 1. In the end, there was a crowd that surrounded the car. Gideon patted his sisters head and told her to get inside the car and take him inside their new home. The little sister was back, she was clinging so hard on Gideon that Gideon, who was currently powerless felt so suffocated.
"Uh… Debbie, your strength, watch your strength. I'm just a normal citizen now, okay?"
"Eh? Normal citizen, but you're the only one able to pin me to the ground."
"That's because you're relying too much on your body's strength. If you train your body to the point that even when your power is disabled you will still be able to protect yourself, then you'd have succeeded as a real fighter." Gideon was teaching Deborah. She was after all his sister whom he missed so much and couldn't help but dote on.
"How has mom and dad, been since…?"
"That… brother… I'm sorry!" Because of her reaction, Gideon thought of the worse.
"Are they… gone?"
"Gone?" Deborah had a confused look on her face but then she remembered what she just said and did and she realized that her brother had misunderstood.
"No, no! Mom and Dad are alright, they're strong. I'm sorry, because they held a funeral for you, now you're basically a dead man walking… literally!"
"…" Gideon was stunned beyond relief. He was relieved when he heard they were okay, but then… they held a funeral for me? And now I'm no one's son?
"This… uh, I understand since I did disappear without anyone else knowing, I'm sure you knew. I'm glad you never told them." He felt comfort knowing that she did not unnecessarily worry them.
"What do you mean, brother? I did tell them! It's just… they didn't believe me at all. And I never brought it up again for their sake." Deborah explained innocently. She was totally back to her little sister mode when she's with Gideon who spoiled her rotten.
"Y-You…!" Gideon face-palmed. What was this girl doing telling them something so unbelievable. It was a relief that they did not believe her or else. At least by having a funeral for him they had been at peace.
"The question is, if I return now, would this disturb mom and dad more than comfort them? What do you think Debbie?"
"I don't know, but I know they'll also feel the same way as I do currently."
"Sigh. Fine. Let's go home first, shall we?"
"Yes, brother! Driver, please take us home. Handle everything that transpired outside the gates earlier. I don't want any rumors and gossip to fly about." The usual Deborah was back as she faced others not her brother.
Within minutes, they arrived at their house that had evolved into a mansion while Gideon was away. He had a lot of questions, but he kept it to himself before meeting his parents after all, that took precedence over other issues.
"Welcome back, miss!" The servants all welcomed Deborah while they, questioned in their hearts who the hunk who came with her was. That's right. From others perspective, if Gideon kept his hair back, he would show his beautiful face and his handsome appearance would already attract the babes. If he showed them his well-toned body as well they would be going crazy for certain.
"Prepare my brother's room post-haste! I want the best silk, the best water bed, the best of every thing prepared for him, do it now!
"Uh… Deb, no need for that. I'm not some sensitive Child that needs pampering." Gideon couldn't help but smile wryly. He was helpless. She was certainly showing this side of hers to only him. If this were others, they would have only gotten the cold shoulder treatment.
"Brother, say no more. I cannot let you stay in an uncomfortable room! And besides, you may have stayed in a world without an air bed or water bed, right?" Deborah whispered the end of her sentence to Gideon as this was a secrets that only she knows: that her brother went to the other world in place of her.
"Sigh. Fine." Gideon could only give up. In fact, he was remembering the time when he slept on a literal cloud because of a certain fairly who fancied him. Another time when he slept on the full bosoms of Amazon-like tribe of women since he provided for them the seed of a strong man. And another time when he was invited over to an elf kingdom's Spring welcoming where he slept in an unbelievably soft bed made off the leaves of a legendary tree.
He kept quiet about it. He wouldn't want his sister to feel dejected and deflated wouldn't he?
At her command, the mansion came alive. And this ruckus immediately alerted their mother and father.
When they came out, the first thing they noticed was not their dashing daughter but their son, who they buried and mourned for. Their son who disappeared and have given up on, their son who was standing there right beside their daughter who looked so happy and cheerful that they would not mistake this as an imposter, after all, their daughter was an S-Class awakened. They trusted her judgment. If she considers him their long lost son, then they would believe her even if she hired the best actor in the whole world to act as their son for a day.
And at this time, Gideon also looked towards them. His smile brightened the whole place. However, because of this joyous occasion, their mother couldn't hold herself back and knelt on the ground as she loudly yelled, "My son, I'm sorry! I'm sorry that we gave up on you! I'm sorry that we stopped searching for you!, I'm sorry that we could only comfort ourselves by thinking that you'd did somewhere and accept that as truth. I'm sorry!"
Her words, each one of them were filled with emotion and deep regret. Gideon felt his heart ache and he could even feel the bitter search for him through the years only to find nothing, not even a trace. As if he'd disappeared somewhere out of thin air, all this time, they believed he was abducted and sold or just became someone else's 'voluntary' donor for organs.
Now, he was here. He was standing there staring at them while smiling so warmly as if he didn't hear anything his mother said. He was without supernatural powers now, yet his movement was graceful and truthfully, even Deborah felt that this movement was indeed transcendent.
He arrived in front of his mother as he greeted them.
"Mom. Dad. It's been awhile. Sorry I'm late in coming home. I'm home." These were the words that Gideon had always wanted to utter towards them. It was a line that he felt was most used in their household, but right this moment, these words were the floodgates to the emotion that welled from deep within both parents. They wept. They wept hard and knelt at Gideon's feet even as Gideon brought them up not accepting this gesture from them, they kept doing it. In the end, Gideon also squatted on the floor and took both of them into an embrace and they all wept together. It was unknown when but Deborah also joined them and the family of four was complete yet again on this day.
And this night, was the first night, that they became whole as a family. On this fateful night, Gideon was finally back.
It was at this juncture that Gideon received a notification in his mind.