Jace Elinham always thought he'd have a more dramatic end. He pictured himself going down in a blaze of glory, fists swinging in a bar brawl, or perhaps in a daring escape from a dangerous situation—anything but this. His whole life had been a chaotic mix of defiance and freedom.
He wasn't a criminal, but he wasn't exactly a model citizen either. Jace did things his own way, never caring much for rules or expectations. It wasn't that he set out to be a troublemaker; he just found the traditional paths laid out for him unbearably restrictive.
But this wasn't the way he expected his story to end.
The day began like any other. Jace was on his way home, earbuds blasting music as he strolled down the bustling city sidewalk. His mood was light, and the cool evening breeze felt refreshing against his face.
The streetlights flickered on, casting long shadows over the pavement as he approached the crosswalk. The pedestrian signal turned green, and without a second thought, Jace stepped off the curb.
The sound came out of nowhere—screeching tires and a blaring horn. Jace's head snapped up just in time to see a truck careening down the road toward the crosswalk, way too fast for a residential area.
"My god!" Instincts took over, and he threw himself to the side, narrowly dodging the oncoming vehicle as it barreled past him.
His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "That was close," he muttered, picking himself up off the asphalt. For a moment, relief washed over him as he took a deep breath, shaking off the close call. He exhaled and started to rise, ready to continue his way across the street.
Then he heard it—a second blaring horn, much closer than the first.
Before Jace could react, the world around him exploded in a blur of motion and sound. The impact was brutal, sending him flying like a ragdoll, and everything went white. The last sensation he felt was the hard pavement against his skin, and then… nothing.
•••••
Jace didn't know how long he drifted in the darkness. It was as though he were floating in a void, with no sensation, no sound—just emptiness.
He had never believed in an afterlife, but he supposed if one existed, this was it. It was lonely and hollow, devoid of any purpose or meaning.
His thoughts flickered back to his life. He had lived as though each day could be his last, a streak of rebellion and defiance coursing through his veins since childhood. But now, as he hung in the empty darkness, he wondered if he had squandered that freedom.
Maybe if he'd taken things more seriously… no, that wasn't it. Jace had always done things on his own terms, and he wouldn't change that. But still, he wished there had been more to it all. More to his story.
"I wasn't ready," he murmured, or thought he did. The words seemed to dissolve in the blackness. "I wasn't… done yet. Damn those trucks!"
The darkness around him began to shift, the sensation of floating giving way to solid ground beneath his feet. The void morphed into an endless expanse of marble, its surface polished to a perfect sheen, reflecting a sky of swirling colors—blues, golds, and purples.
And in that endless space stood a figure, radiant and otherworldly. A woman with flowing silver hair that reached her waist and eyes that glowed with the light of distant stars. Her skin shimmered like moonlight on water, and the flowing gown she wore seemed to ripple with the colors of the sky above, barely thick enough to hide her body itself.
"Welcome, Jace Elinham, the one loved by trucks," she said, her voice soft yet carrying an unmistakable authority. "Or perhaps I should say… welcome to what lies beyond."
Jace took a cautious step back, his mind struggling to catch up with his surroundings. "What… where am I? Who are you?"
The woman smiled gently, the kind of smile that held both compassion and amusement. "I am the Goddess of Life and Rebirth," she said. "And this place… well, it is neither the world you knew nor the afterlife you might have imagined. It is a space between worlds, a place where I can speak to you."
Jace's brow furrowed. "A goddess?" he echoed, trying to make sense of her words. "So… I'm dead?"
"Yes," she replied simply. "But that does not mean your story has to end here."
The statement hung in the air, a thread of possibility that Jace instinctively reached for. "What do you mean?" he asked, taking a step forward. "If I'm dead, then… why am I here? Shouldn't I be moving on or something?"
The goddess's eyes sparkled as she met his gaze. "Indeed, you could move on, if that is what you wish. But I have an offer for you, Jace. An opportunity to live again, in a different world—a place far removed from the one you have known."
She raised a hand, and a shimmering orb of light appeared between them, glowing with a warm, golden hue. "This world is in need of a champion, someone who can do what others could not. In exchange for a second chance at life, I ask that you fulfill a mission for me."
Jace eyed the orb warily, suspicion creeping into his thoughts. "A mission?" he repeated. "What kind of mission are we talking about?"
The orb expanded, displaying a vision of a vast, unfamiliar land—mountain ranges reaching into the clouds, forests teeming with life, and cities surrounded by walls of stone and steel.
But amidst this beauty lurked shadows, and Jace saw monstrous figures moving through the mist: giant, twisted creatures that defied any natural form. There were seven of them.
"These are the seven great evil beasts," the goddess explained, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "They are powerful entities that seek to devour and corrupt all life. I have already sent many champions to face them, but none have succeeded in defeating all seven. The powers they chose were insufficient, and the beasts grow stronger with each failed attempt."
Jace's skepticism grew as he listened. "And you think I'm going to be able to do what a bunch of other people couldn't?" He crossed his arms, giving her a skeptical look. "I'm no hero."
"No," she agreed, "you are not. But you are different from the others. You have always walked your own path, never allowing yourself to be constrained by rules or expectations. I believe that is precisely what is needed—someone who isn't bound by tradition, someone who will not hesitate to use unconventional means to achieve victory."
Jace mulled over her words. He had always seen himself as a bit of a maverick, a man who operated outside the lines.
The idea of being chosen for something because he wasn't a conventional hero had a certain appeal. But at the same time, he wasn't sure he wanted to be anyone's pawn, even if it was a goddess asking him.
"And what if I say no?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of defiance.
The goddess gave a small, almost imperceptible shrug. "Then your soul will simply move on to the next phase of existence, whatever that may be. You will cease to exist as you are now, and your story will come to an end." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.
Then she continued. "But if you accept, you will have the opportunity to live again, to start over in a world filled with magic, wonder, and danger. You would not be bound by your past mistakes, but free to carve out your own future."
Jace felt a surge of excitement rise within him, mingled with a touch of fear. The prospect of living again, of having a new chance in a world where magic was real and monsters existed—it was beyond anything he could have imagined.
A chance to do things differently, to be more than just a rebellious young man with no clear direction.
He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he considered his options. The goddess watched him silently, her expression patient and understanding. It didn't take long for Jace to make his decision.
"Alright," he said finally, a faint smirk curling on his lips. "I'll take your offer. But I'm doing this my way. No rules, no strings attached."
The goddess's smile widened, her eyes glowing with approval. "Of course," she said. "I would not expect anything less from you, Jace Elinham. Now, prepare yourself… for a new world awaits."