The dimly lit cathedral seemed to amplify the tension in the air. Luke stood, his heart pounding, face tear-streaked, and hands still throbbing from the bruising they'd taken against the stone walls. Gareth's words echoed in his mind, but his turmoil hadn't settled.
As Luke struggled to regain his composure, the creak of the cathedral door announced another presence. Mayor Kingsley stepped into the hall, his expression a mix of concern and resolve. He had followed Luke, much like Gareth, knowing that the young man would seek refuge in the only familiar place amidst the chaos. The mayor had overheard enough of the heated exchange to understand the gravity of the situation.
"Luke," Mayor Kingsley began, his voice steady yet filled with empathy. "The people need you."
Luke looked up, his eyes reflecting emotions—anger, fear, doubt.
"You heard them," he replied bitterly. "They're starting to doubt me. They think I'm a fraud. And maybe they're right."
The mayor nodded, acknowledging Luke's words.
"Yes, I heard them. But I also saw something else tonight. I saw a town saved because of you."
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing.
"Think about it, Luke. If you weren't here, what would have happened to Purewood? Gareth wouldn't have made it back alive from his mission, caught by an Aerdeich before he could return. And when those monsters attacked, who else would have had the courage—or the foolishness, some might say—to grab that cursed heart and drive them away? Without you, Purewood would have fallen."
Luke opened his mouth to protest, but Mayor Kingsley held up a hand to stop him.
"Yes, there were consequences. The Enraged Aerdeich was drawn here because of the magic residue on your hand, and yes, Sir Carrick might never wield a sword again. But you still saved lives, Luke. You saved our town. You gave us a fighting chance when we had none."
"He's right. We may have suffered, but we're still standing. And that's because of you," Gareth, still holding the briefcase and phone Luke had thrown at him, nodded in agreement.
Luke's gaze shifted between the two men, his mind racing. He wanted to argue, to deny their words, but deep down, he knew they were right. The image of Sir Carrick, broken and bleeding, haunted him, but so did the memory of the people he had managed to save.
"You don't have to be a mage to be a Godsend, Luke. You don't have to perform miracles. You just need to be someone who believes in something more than just fear. Someone who gives others hope when they need it the most," Mayor Kingsley stepped closer, his voice softening.
Luke felt a weight lifting from his chest, though the burden of responsibility remained. He wasn't sure he could live up to the expectations placed upon him, but he realized that running away wasn't the answer.
"I'm not a mage," Luke whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. "I'm just…me."
"And that's enough," Mayor Kingsley said, placing a reassuring hand on Luke's shoulder. "More than enough."
The three of them stood in silence for a moment, the enormity of the night's events settling over them. Luke knew he still had a long road ahead, filled with doubt and uncertainty, but for the first time, he felt a glimmer of acceptance. He might not be the hero they wanted, but he could be the one they needed.
Luke's question hung in the air, a desperate plea for guidance. He searched their faces, hoping for a definitive, reassuring answer—something that would make everything clear, that would tell him what to do next. Instead, Mayor Kingsley and Gareth exchanged glances, their expressions mirroring the uncertainty Luke felt inside.
"We don't know, Luke," Mayor Kingsley finally said, his voice gentle yet firm. "We can't tell you what to do."
"We can offer support and advice, but we can't make this decision for you. It's your path to choose," Gareth nodded in agreement.
Luke felt a pang of frustration. He had hoped for clarity, for someone to take the burden of choice from him. But he realized that, just like him, they were only human. They didn't have the power to see the future, to determine the right course of action. They had compassion, yes, and they wanted to help, but they couldn't decide for him.
"You're in a unique position," Mayor Kingsley continued, sensing Luke's unease. "The people have already started calling you a Godsend. Whether you like it or not, that's a title they've bestowed upon you. And while some may begin to doubt, others believe with all their hearts. You can't go back to the life you had before."
The weight of those words settled heavily on Luke. He knew they were right. The life he had once known, the ordinary, unremarkable existence he had taken for granted, was now beyond his reach.
"What you decide to do next," Gareth added, "that's up to you. But you should know that whatever path you choose, you'll have to live with the consequences."
Luke's mind raced, thoughts tumbling over one another. His smartphone, his briefcase—these were more than just tools; they were keys to unimaginable possibilities in this world. Knowledge from his world that was unknown, forbidden, here was at his fingertips. He could revolutionize societies, create a nation like no other, explore uncharted territories, and bring advancements that this world had never seen.
But with that power came immense responsibility. He could indeed become a true Godsend, shaping the destiny of this world. But what would that mean for him? Could he handle that role? Did he even want it?
"You have something none of us do," Mayor Kingsley said, breaking into Luke's thoughts. "You have knowledge, power, and the freedom to choose how you use it. You could change the world, Luke. But how you do that—or even if you do that—is entirely up to you."
Luke looked down at the smartphone in his hand, the device that had so profoundly set him apart from everyone else here. He knew that with it, he could wield influence unlike anything this world had ever seen. He could be the architect of a new era, a pioneer, a leader—or he could walk away from it all, seek anonymity, and try to live as normal a life as possible in this extraordinary world.
The choice was his.
Luke stood in the dim light of the cathedral, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. This was not the life he had imagined when he had found himself in this strange, new world. All he had wanted was to fulfil a simple promise—to repay the kindness of Mrs Williams, the first person who had shown him compassion when no one else had. Her memory was what drove him, a beacon in the darkness of his past life. But now, that simple desire seemed worlds away from the reality he faced.
He could no longer deny the truth in Gareth and Mayor Kingsley's words. He possessed something extraordinary, something no one else here did. His smartphone, his knowledge—these were his tools, his weapons. They could be used to change lives, to shape the future. He had always thought that power was about magical abilities or physical strength, but now he understood it was about influence, about the choices he made.
He remembered the feeling that had washed over him earlier, the resignation of his fate. If this was his destiny, he had told himself, then he would embrace it. But now, it wasn't just about resignation—it was about resolve. It was about stepping into the role he had been thrust into, not because he had no other choice, but because he chose to.
Luke looked up, his eyes red from tears, but dry now. His breathing had steadied, the jagged, uneven gasps replaced by calm, measured breaths. He felt a sense of clarity settling over him like the fog in his mind was finally lifting. He knew what he had to do.
The people of Purewood needed someone to believe in, someone to give them hope. They had lost so much—their homes, their loved ones, their sense of safety. They needed a symbol, a figure to rally behind. And that figure, for better or worse, was him. The Godsend.
He had no magic, no supernatural powers, but he had something just as important: the willingness to stand in the gap, to be what they needed him to be. He could decide not to be bound by Purewood, to leave and continue his journey to Virencia as he had planned. That desire still burned within him—the need to learn, to understand why he was here, what his purpose truly was.
But before he could embark on that journey, some things needed to be done. The people of Purewood were counting on him. They needed him to be strong, to lead, to be the beacon of hope they saw in him. And he would not let them down.
Luke reached down, picking up the smartphone and the briefcase that had slipped from his grasp earlier. He held them tightly, feeling the weight of his resolve settle into place. These items, these remnants of his past life, would be the tools he used to forge a new path. A path that would not only fulfil his promise to Mrs. Williams but also shape the future of this world.
As he stood there, the decision made, Luke knew that this was the beginning of something new. A new chapter, a new era—not just for him, but for everyone around him. He was no longer the uncertain, frightened boy who had stumbled into this world. He was Luke, the Godsend. And he would do whatever it took to live up to that name.
With a deep breath, he turned to Mayor Kingsley and Gareth, who watched him with a mixture of concern and anticipation.
"I know what I need to do," he said, his voice steady and resolute. "And I'm ready to start."