"What's this sensation, it's warm. Almost like when I'm in the embrace of Mom. I feel safe and comfortable, like all my worries suddenly vanished. Is this what the afterlife is like?" Novak remembered how Mephiston had wiped him from existence. This thought jolted him back to awareness.
"Where am I?" Novak wondered as he floated in the starry sky. He couldn't move. He was nothing more than a glowing ball of ligh, with only his consciousness left. He took a deep breath to understand his appearance and where he was. Suddenly, a voice spoke, surprising him. "So you are the last survivor of humanity." Novak felt the voice was speaking directly into his mind, and he responded with a sense of confusion.
"Who's there." He questioned trying to find the owner in the endless sky. "What's your name, child?" Novak couldn't understand what was going on… is this what the afterlife was meant to be? . Regardless he answered the voice in his head. "Novak… Novak Leone."
"Mhmm, Novak Leone." The voice repeated with an unusual cheerfulness. "Where am I?" Novak asked the voice. "You wish to know where you are… If you agree to answer one of my questions, I will answer yours." The voice responded.
Novak wondered what a mysterious voice might ask. But thinking about it wouldn't help much. "Alright, I agree." He answered.
"Okay then it's settled, I will answer yours first.... You are in my domain." The voice replied. "Domain?" . "Right before you died, I summoned your soul before it dissipated, bringing you to my domain. This way, you can survive a little longer before you disappear for good."
Novak couldn't wrap his head around what the voice was talking about. "So I'm dead... But is such a thing… possible? Reviving someone who's already dead, that kind of power is unfathomable… almost on the level of a god." The voice chuckled. "That's up to you to decide what you consider to be a god..." The voice answer confused Novak. It never claimed to be a god, nor did it deny it. After facing many powerful beings, he realized they were what legends call divine.
"Now it's my turn." The voice drew Novak's attention. He prepared himself, wondering what this being could be curious about. "What kind of life have you lived?"
"What kind of life have lived?" He repeated. Novak didn't understand the question. It seemed direct, but after years on the battlefield, it still caught him off guard. The memory of his comrades returned. They fought many battles together. Each was short and painful, yet precious. But bloodshed stained all those memories.Is it something you could actually call living?
"I have been stuck in this place for as long as I can remember... The only thing I have to cure my boredom is watching the life cycles of other beings. Including your world, but I guess now it's reached its end. I want to at least understand what it felt like from another person trapped in their own solitude for so long." Novak felt stunned as the voice spoke, he could feel the sincerity in the voice words. It hurt him to think about how lonely it must have felt afterall he could feel the lingering sense of joy communicating openly after spending a couple of years in solitude.
He could only imagine how alone the Voice must have felt, watching Civilization rise and for Centuries. It understood the loneliness that Novak felt. In that moment Novak wanted to respond with his own sincerity. He wasn't certain if it was the voice that resonated with him or the simple desire to be understood and remembered. "Regret," Novak said, his buried emotions finally rising to the surface. "I was born unable to hold Mana, so everyone shunned me. Instead of fighting for my right, I accepted my failure. Then, I lost my sister to the zodiacs. That's when I finally tried to change my fate, but it was too late. I lost everything I loved before I got strong enough. I hate myself. Every time I swung my sword, I felt regret. If only I had picked it up sooner, maybe I could have saved her and the others I cared about," Novak lamented. "Tell me… have you ever made a mistake you regretted deeply before?" he questioned without expecting a reply, but the voice answered. "I have lived for many generations. If I focus on my past mistakes, I fear I won't be able to look ahead."
"I see." After a brief pause, the voice continued. "Though I have witnessed countless civilizations rise and fall, I do not wish for you to experience that fate… if you truly want to change your destiny, I will assist you."
"Help me, what are you talking about?" Novak didn't get what the voice was trying to say. "You wished to know what I was." A bright light appeared in front of Novak inside the light. Novak could see the silhouette of a figure inside. "I am the great spirit Daria."
"Great spirit?" Novak had heard about spirits from an ancient text he studied in his childhood. These creatures, said to be loved by Mana, are very rare; however, on special occasions, a spirit can possess a child during birth, granting them abilities that far surpass human potential. But the text only mentioned about spirits never did it come up that there was another class such as great spirits.
"Yes we are beings who share a similar structure as spirits… whereas spirits bless their host with mana making them grow stronger than normal. We great spirits are bound to our host… meaning we grow stronger accordingly."
"But what is the purpose of fighting when I have lost it all?" Novak lamented. Daria shifted closer to Novak. "The biggest difference between a spirit and a great spirit is the unique Ability each one possesses…" Novak raised his head as Daria continued.
"My unique ability is called Time Distortion… I will say it again: do you truly wish to change your fate?" Daria stretched out her hand; Novak stretched his in response.
"Good, now repeat after me." She said. "In the shape of all those divine, shape the soul in guardian light. Bless thee who wish to serve, returning back as one I accept the contract. Form." A bright light grew among them, covering the sky.
"This will be our second chance Novak Leone.... This time, live the life you wish for." Novak stared in awe at Daria as she said, catching a clear glimpse of her face in the light as she wore a smile.
Novak opened his eyes as the light dimmed. Instead of a starry sky, he saw rocky edges of a cavern surrounding him. He was in a cave. His hands and feet felt heavier than usual. He looked around at the rustling sound of metal clanking nearby. His hands and feet were in chains. Before he could react to what exactly was going on, something pushed him, tripping him over.
"Move it already, you damn brat." The man shouted after pushing him, leaving Novak dazed. It had been so long since he'd seen another person that he almost forgot their warmth.
Even though the bandit-looking man was anything but warm as he scowled staring at Novak's battered body he didn't mind. The bandit looking man dragged Novak back to his feet, "Are you going to lay there all day?... Get to work." He pushed Novak forward, towards the exit of the cave. Novak stared at the bright, warm light outside. He wondered when he last saw it. A smile spread across his face as he got up from the ground. He headed out of the dark cave toward the light he had missed so much.
"How long I have wished to see the Sun once more," Novak said, staring at the sky in awe. "I've done it." He said laughing out loud. "Haha… I have returned!" he shouted with all his might.