Miko was standing on the verge of death. Just betrayed by his closest ally his life had reached an abrubt end. His own body was torn apart by things i may not tell but in his eyes, in those resolute eyes, there was still that light. It was neither hope nor joy but the light of someone who could see clearly his objective. All around him the armed men freezed in disbelief when, with his right arm, he punched the thin wall of the building.
Cracks formed as he punched the wall, it was an error made during construction to make it that thin. The last thing he did was to tell the world what did happen to him by letting himself down from the second floor of a skyscraper.
He did not die from it as he was already gone the moment they stabbed him for the last time. He was unlucky to be hit at the heart right after the wall crumbled. Those were his last moments...
When he opened his eyes again he was no longer there. Betrayed and slain by his own allies. A humanoid figure was sitting right in front of him on a desk, a beatiful desk at that. He was writing something on a small book with an elegant pen. Miko could not see him well but he felt in his bones that that creature was neither the reaper nor god but just something too different from what humans ever idealized to have a name.
The figure finally spoke "Interesting, is it not?" his voice was calm but still unnatural and dead. It was as if it was never alive to begin with. It was then natural to question what he was.
"Who are you?" Miko asked.
"I am someone who makes stories" he replied gently.
"How?"
"I am nothing more than an humble storyteller. A powerful one indeed but still a storyteller."
"What is your... name?" Miko asked knowing the futility of the question.
"I? I am many and many more. Does it matter? What does it change to a story if the one who tells it is a man, a woman, a kid or something else?" he said.
"I get it."
The being stopped for a moment then he said: "Then? Are you not going to say anything about your death?"
"No." Miko replied firmly.
"Amusing. I can't tell if you get what it takes to be like this, you just amuse me. To tell the truth you are the very first one who behaved like this, not even the greatest one ever accepted death that swiftly."
"Is that so? I had about twenty minutes to accept it so i guess that was enought."
"Yes, a gruesome end indeed. I wonder..." The figure stopped abruptly at the thought of something. Miko could feel the difference between them but at the same time he felt like he was not weaker than that figure he could not see. It more like Miko was an experienced fighter while that being was a mere boy, a rich boy who ruled over anything but owned nothing.
Finally the storyteller spoke: "What about another round? In a different world that's it."
Miko widened his eyes in surprise at those words. "Another round? Am i allowed to?"
"It's up to me, really. I may not be omnipotent but i decide upon the stories of many. It is my role and my privilege. No one else will offer you this."
"So, what do i do now?"
"Do you want to give it a try?"
"Sure i do"
The storyteller laughted and, with a move of his finger, made a paper scroll fly over Miko. It was a blank but elegant sheet. Then some words appeared on it [World 1945 -- A world were people are born with natural abilities called skills. Skills can be used under certain conditions that vary for each one. (The harder it is to activate one the cheaper and harder to cancel it will be). The number of skill may vary between individuals.] Miko readed slowly.
"Can i choose mine?" Asked Miko after examinating the writings.
"Well, i was not intending to but it sure work better for me. You may get only three sice you are choosing them, it is the average amount of skills people have there." The storyteller replied with a calm voice as another sheet full of writings flew over Miko. It was a list of skills, a very long one at that. Miko examinated the small words on the sheet who was twice as tall as him ad just as wide as his shoulders. Only the names of the skills were written on it. Miko then choosen three skills who worked well togheter and transcrived their names on the smaller sheet.
"Very wise of you to choose those three but i suggest that you excercise caution. There are many dangers lurking by in the shadows."
"I get it, just get me started" Miko replied with confidence.
"Very well, i hope you won't disappoint me"
Then the small and elegant sheet returned by the storyteller's side flying right behind hil left shoulder. Miko heard the storyteller say something he could not comprehend and thousands of paper sheets flew in the air from the desk. Dancing in the air they moved like birds who migrate in the arrival of the winter fast like the rats who flee before a disater but gentle as the spring's winds may ever be. Miko could not grasp what moved them as there was clearly no air there, he didn't even breath.
The thousands of paper sheets then splitted in groups of hundreds and then again in gruops of tens. Miko didn't realize around whom they were flying nor the fact that they were getting closer. As fast as they could be the paper sheets caught Miko in a giant empty sphere of blank and luxurious paper sheets. Every single one of the paper sheets was blank before closing on him but now words appeared on each one generating a huge text.
[You will be sent in the world 1945 soon. The current year is 987 p.s. (post skill). You will be sent to the border between Mivia and Gillio. Mivia is a peaceful kingdom based on magic and agriculture that has a long history behind it. Gillio is a new kingdom born after a huge revolution by the farmers in the Ginnar empire. Gillio has an agricolture based economy and many dangers are lurking in the lands. Gillio's army is weak and bandits spread through the territory while the Ginnar empire is getting into major changes.
You may be reborn with similar capabilities to your older self but always remember that the standard of world 1945 is different from the one of your older world.]
Miko smiled while reading trough the text.
"Then you are ready to go..."
The sheets flew away and Miko found himself in a clompletely new world.
End of chapter one, if you enjoied this small preview please consider leaving a like and adding this to your library.