When I came to myself, I realized that I had dozed off with my head and hands on my desk. My back felt pleasantly warm from the sun.
Barely opening my eyes, I squeezed my eyes shut from the bright light that blinded me. My tired eyes couldn't get used to this annoying glare.
Lifting my head, I looked around my office and breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that everything I had seen was just a dream.
Rubbing my eyes, I turned my attention to the table, where my work supplies lay in the usual order: a stack of papers, pens, pencils, stamps and, of course, my favorite mug, donated by my colleagues.
My gaze fell on an unfamiliar envelope that seemed to have appeared there while I was sleeping.
"Hmm, who is it from?"
I thought, picking up the envelope and examining it from all sides. There were no addresses on it. Feeling heavy inside, I realized that there was something there besides writing.
Opening the envelope, I pulled out the letter and found the key in it. After carefully looking at the unfamiliar key, I opened the letter itself, where there were only three words.:
"Don't trust God."
Was it someone's joke? Grinning, I took the key and put it in my pocket, crumpled up the paper and wanted to throw it into the trash can under the table, but after getting wet, the package fell at my feet. With an exasperated sigh, I bent down to pick up the fallen piece of paper and throw it into the trash, when at that moment
The knocks on the door echoed through the room. Holding my breath in surprise and growing alarm, I straightened up and, coughing, said as usual:
- Ahem... Come in.
The door started to open slowly, and I noticed an unusual behavior coming in. Usually, everyone in the department burst in without knocking.
When the door opened halfway, I felt an unimaginable feeling of fear that I had never experienced before. This feeling told me not to look in the direction where the incoming person was supposedly standing.
William abruptly tilted his head on the table, bruising his forehead. He wanted to escape from here, but he couldn't. All that remained was to sit and wait for it all to stop.
When the door finally swung open, he heard footsteps approaching the chair opposite him in a relaxed manner. When the guest sat down, everything was quiet for a second, only William's heavy sighs could be heard. He wanted to say something, but the guest spoke first.:
— Do you believe in God?
Hearing the guest's question, goosebumps ran through William's body. He realized that God or his representative was in front of him now, and everything that had happened was not a dream, but a reality.
William swallowed and said:
— Y... yes, I believe in God.
As soon as he said that, he felt his back become wet with sweat. He understood that he needed to be obeyed.
The guest, having heard the answer, chuckled and said:
— It's very good.
After pausing for a second, he spoke again, raising his voice.:
"You want to avenge your friends, don't you?"
Having understood what the guest was talking about, William wanted to clarify how this was possible, but the guest continued to talk:
— I know deep down you really want this, and I can give you this chance.
When the guest stopped talking, William nodded his head and said:
— Ch... What do I need to do for this?
Hearing William's trembling voice, the guest grinned, having received what he wanted. Coughing, he said:
"I'll give you the power to do what I want you to do and give you the opportunity to go back and save your friends."
Listening to the guest, William remembered the words from the envelope and the key that came with it.:
"DON'T TRUST GOD."
He realized that this guest was not just a god who wanted to help. Having sorted out his thoughts, William noticed how the guest fell silent and asked:
— And what should I do with this power?
Having asked the question, William waited tensely for an answer.
"All you have to do is kill the fourth prince.
Upon hearing the guest's reply, William realized that this was no ordinary prince standing in front of him. Perhaps this person has already done something or is just about to do something that could interfere with this "god."
"Do you agree?"
The guest asked William, who was deep in thought at the moment. After a moment of silence, William finally made a decision.:
— Yes, I agree to fulfill your request.
"That's great.
The guest said, getting up from his chair and approaching William. "I'll give you a piece of my power. She'll let you control fire and blow up anything you want.
William was thrilled at the prospect of having such power. However, when he heard the warning that using a lot of mana could cause his inner vessel to collapse, he became wary.
"Is it worth the risk?"
He thought, waiting for the guest to finish his explanation.
"You're going to feel a little pain in your shoulder."
Said the guest. Before William could ask a question, he felt a burning pain on his shoulder and inside his body, as if something was burning him from the inside out. William buried his face in the table and curled up, frowning in pain.
- I didn't expect you to be able to bear the pain so calmly. I thought you'd be begging for it to end.
He said "God" mockingly.He wanted to strike at this "god", but he restrained himself. The pain was physical, and it could be endured.
While waiting for the agony to end, William began to suspect that this "god" might not reveal all his cards to the end, so he should be careful in using force.
Thinking about many things, William turned to the guest with a question:
"Where are you going to send me?"
Looking at the man who was trembling in pain, "God" replied:
— You will be taken to a place called "Balteon". You'll be near the capital of the Levite Kingdom, but I don't know where exactly.
Listening to the explanation of "God," William realized that he would find himself in the "Middle Ages." William read books with interest that described events similar to those that took place in the Middle Ages, and magic was mentioned. Although he realized that it was all just a fiction, he wanted to see it for himself.
And he asked the question again.:
"Will there be magic?"
Grinning at William's question, "God" said:
- Of course, but how else are we talking to you? It's going to be hard for you to get used to this place, but you don't have to. All you have to do is kill a man, that's all you need.
"Why would I kill him?"
William asked, waiting for an answer. He felt himself getting better, the pain was leaving his body.
"You don't need to know that.
William became convinced that this "god" might not be a very good person. He needed to figure everything out in order to understand the world he would be sent to. But he was sad to realize that if he didn't kill the prince, he wouldn't be able to save his friends. His feelings told him that it was the wrong choice, but what had happened couldn't be changed.
Realizing that the pain had subsided, William waited to see what would happen next.
- It's done. Now it's time for me to leave.
The guest said, heading for the door. Pausing for a moment, he said:
- Remember what you're going there for.
* The creak of a closing door*
With these words, the door closed behind the guest, and William felt the tension leave his body. He realized that he could raise his head. Looking around, he saw a familiar office and thought:
"I'm only going there to kill a man."
William shook his head and looked at the glass, realizing that he would never see those faces or his friends again.
He didn't even have time to say goodbye to them, and we didn't have time to talk properly that day.
"I'm really sorry that I couldn't give you more time."
He felt homesick for those times, but he remembered that killing people was not his way of existence.
Nodding his head, William turned his attention to the place where the guest was supposed to be. He noticed a suitcase by the chair. Getting up from his seat, he walked over to it, and goosebumps ran through his body from the realization that it was the same suitcase with which he had blown up the office.
Unconsciously stepping back, William froze in fear. But, pulling himself together, he went over and picked up the suitcase. When he opened it, he saw the pendant inside, which was his. He remembered that he had had this pendant with him all his life, but he didn't wear it that day. The pendant was in the form of a Phoenix, spreading its wings in different directions. William liked this pendant, he kept it in memory of his grandfather, who died when he was five years old.
After putting the pendant in his pocket, William heard a squeak from the suitcase and realized what it meant.
- BAstar...
Before he could shout, there was an explosion.