Chapter 1
The cold seeps in, even through the furs. They tell me it is Summer. But all I feel is the coldness of my body.
They call me Genghis Khan. Khan of Khans. The world trembles at the sound. Seven hundred thousand warriors marched under my banner. Did I build an empire, or a monument to death?
Bokhara. I can still smell the smoke. The screams. They pleaded for mercy, yet my heart was a stone. Was it justice I sought, or the echo of those who wronged me? Vang Khan, Yemuka… their betrayals carved ice into my soul.
Idikut sought my protection. Offered me tribute, and I gave him my daughter's hand. A web of power, spun across a continent. Did it bring peace, or only a different kind of war?
The caliph called me an infidel, yet he sought my aid against the Sultan. Faith, it seems, is a fickle thing. Bending to the winds of power like the grass of the steppes. Even now, I hear whispers. Plots. Will my sons hold to the unity I commanded? Or will they tear my empire asunder, fighting for scraps like wolves over a carcass?
Jughi…. My son. He is gone. The first to leave me. The pain of it is a blade that never dulls. They say I am merciless. But what is a father without his sons? What is a khan without an heir?
They speak of my victories. The cities taken, the lands subdued. From the China Sea to the Caspian, my name is whispered in fear and awe. But what is conquest, if not an endless hunger? Each victory only fueled the desire for more. A fire that consumes all in its path, leaving only ash and silence.
Is that my legacy? A world in flames?
The darkness deepens. The cold takes hold. I am Temujin, son of Yezonkai. Not a god. Not a devil. Just a man. And even Khans must die.
* * *
The darkness closed in, a suffocating shroud that wrapped around my chest. I felt my heart slow, the beats growing farther apart like the last embers of a dying fire. My vision began to blur, the edges of the world growing hazy. I was Temujin, son of Yezonkai, and I was dying.
But then, in an instant, I was not.
I stood upright, my legs trembling beneath me as if I had been plucked from the jaws of death itself. The air was different, the scent of incense and something sweet, like honey, filling my nostrils. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to a light that was both fierce and gentle.
A figure stood before me, radiant as the sun. Her skin was like alabaster, her hair a tumble of gold that cascaded down her back like a river. She wore a gown that shimmered and flowed like the silk of the finest Chinese weavers.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
The woman smiled, her eyes sparkling with a light that was both warm and distant. "I am a goddess," she said, her voice like music. "And you, Temujin, are a curiosity."
I stumbled forward, my eyes drinking in the sight of the realm around me. The air was filled with glittering motes of light, like a thousand tiny stars. The ground beneath my feet was soft and spongy, like the moss that grew in the secret places of the forest.
I saw creatures moving in the distance, beings of light and shadow that moved like the spirits of the land. I saw trees that shone like crystal, their branches reaching up towards the sky like the fingers of the gods.
"What is this place?" I asked, my voice full of wonder.
The goddess smiled again, her eyes glinting with amusement. "This is my realm," she said. "A place beyond the mortal world. And you, Temujin, are my guest."
* * *
Temujin's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in confusion. "But... I died," he said, his voice laced with uncertainty. "I felt my heart stop, my vision fade. How is it that I stand here, alive?"
The goddess's smile never wavered. "You are not alive, Temujin," she said, her voice gentle as a summer breeze. "At least, not in the way you think. You have passed beyond the mortal realm, into a place where the rules of life and death no longer apply."
Temujin's face twisted in frustration. "I do not understand," he said, his voice rising. "What happens to us when we die? Is this some sort of afterlife?"
The goddess nodded, her golden hair rustling with the movement. "In a sense, yes. When a mortal dies, their spirit is released from the body, free to move on to the next stage of their journey. Some are drawn to the light, where they are judged and either rewarded or punished for their deeds in life. Others... linger, trapped by unfinished business or unfulfilled desires."
Temujin's eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications. "And what of me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why am I here, in this place?"
The goddess's smile grew, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You, Temujin, are a special case. Your life was marked by great deeds and great violence. Your spirit is... complicated, torn between the light and the darkness. And so, you have been brought here, to my realm, where you will be given a choice."
Temujin's face leaned forward, his eyes locked on the goddess's. "A choice?" he repeated, his voice full of curiosity. "What kind of choice?"
* * *
The goddess's words hung in the air, a tantalizing promise of possibilities. Temujin's eyes never left hers, his face a mask of intensity. "A choice?" he repeated, his voice low and husky.
The goddess nodded, her golden hair rustling with the movement. "Yes, Temujin. You have been brought here for a reason. Your spirit is strong, your will unbroken. And so, I offer you a choice: to be reborn, to start anew in a world beyond your wildest dreams."
Temujin's face twisted in confusion. "Reborn?" he repeated, his voice laced with skepticism. "But... how? And why?"
The goddess's smile grew, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "The how is not for you to worry about, Temujin. The why... is because you have something to offer, something that would be wasted in the afterlife. You have a spark within you, a flame that burns bright and true. And I would see it fanned into a blaze, in a world that needs it."
Temujin's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. "And what of my memories?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Would I retain them, or would they be lost to me?"
The goddess's smile never wavered. "You would retain them, Temujin. Every moment, every decision, every triumph and every tragedy. You would be reborn, but you would not be remade. You would be yourself, in a new skin, in a new world."
Temujin's face went still, his eyes fixed on some point beyond the goddess's shoulder. He was seeing it, imagining it: a new world, a new life, a new chance to make a difference. And when he finally spoke, his voice was low and husky, full of longing. "What is this world like?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the goddess's face.
* * *
The goddess's eyes seemed to gleam with excitement as she began to describe the world Temujin would be reborn into. "It is a world with similarities yet different from the one you knew, Temujin," she said, her voice painting vivid pictures in the air. "The skies are blue, the grass is green, and the mountains are tall and proud. But... "
Temujin's eyes were fixed on hers, his face intent. "What kind of differences?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
The goddess's smile grew. "There are magical beings in this world, Temujin. Creatures of myth and legend, with powers beyond your wildest dreams. And magic... oh, the magic is a part of the very fabric of the world. It pulses through every rock, every tree, every breath of air."
Temujin's eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications. "What kind of magical beings?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity.
The goddess's laughter was like music. "There are so many, Temujin. The fae, with their delicate wings and mischievous grins. The shifters, who can take on the forms of animals and run with the wind. The wizards, who wield the very elements themselves. And so many more."
Temujin's face was a mask of wonder. "And the humans?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What of them?"
The goddess's smile never wavered. "The humans in this world are not so different from those you knew, Temujin. They are flawed and fragile, but also strong and resilient. They live alongside the magical beings, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in conflict."
Temujin's eyes were drinking in every word, his mind racing with the possibilities. He could see it, imagine it: a world of wonder, a world of magic. And he could see himself in it, too, a warrior, a leader, a force to be reckoned with.
* * *
Genghis's eyes narrowed, his mind working overtime to process the goddess's words. He had always been a man of action, of decision, and the idea of being reborn into a new world was both tantalizing and terrifying. But he was not one to jump into anything without considering all his options.
"What is the other choice?" he asked, his voice low and even.
The goddess's smile faltered for a moment, and Genghis caught a glimpse of something else in her eyes. Something that looked almost like sadness.
"Ah, Temujin," she said, her voice softer now. "The other choice is... complicated. It is not one that I would recommend, but it is one that I must offer you nonetheless."
Genghis's eyes locked onto hers, his face intent. "Tell me," he said, his voice brooking no argument.
The goddess took a deep breath, her shoulders squaring. "The other choice is to remain here, in this realm, as a spirit. You would not be reborn, but you would not truly die either. You would exist in a state of... limbo, I suppose, watching the world of the living but unable to participate in it."
Genghis's face was a mask of thought, his eyes weighing the pros and cons of each option. He could see the appeal of being reborn, of starting anew and making a difference in a new world. But he could also see the appeal of remaining in this realm, of watching over his people and his empire from beyond the grave.
* * *
"I will take the offer of being reborn," Genghis said, his voice firm and resolute. The goddess's face broke into a radiant smile, and she nodded her head in approval.
"Excellent choice, Temujin," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "As a gift to you, I will grant you a Magia. It is a unique magic that is embedded within a person, and it is a privilege to have. Not everyone in this world is blessed with a Magia, but I believe you would be a worthy recipient."
Genghis's eyes narrowed, intrigued by the concept of a Magia. "What kind of Magia can I choose from?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
The goddess gestured to a small pool of water that had appeared at her feet. The surface of the water rippled and shimmered, revealing several images. "You have three options to choose from," she said, her voice guiding him through the choices. "The first option is the Magia of the Storm. It would allow you to control the elements, summoning storms and whirlwinds with a mere thought."
The image in the pool of water changed, revealing a figure standing in the midst of a raging storm, lightning bolts crackling at their fingertips. Genghis's eyes widened, impressed by the display of power.
"The second option is the Magia of the Shadow," the goddess continued, the image in the pool changing once more. "It would allow you to manipulate darkness and shadows, moving unseen and striking from the most unexpected places."
The image revealed a figure blending into the shadows, their presence almost imperceptible. Genghis's mind whirled with the possibilities of such a Magia.
"And the third option?" he asked, his voice eager to hear the final choice.
The goddess smiled, the image in the pool changing once more. "The third option is the Magia of the Flame," she said, her voice dripping with excitement. "It would allow you to wield fire and flames, summoning infernos and blazing with a fierce inner light."
The image revealed a figure standing amidst a sea of flames, their body aglow with a fierce inner light. Genghis's eyes locked onto the image, his mind weighing the pros and cons of each option.