Rian Kaelon stared at the twilight sky through the window of his cramped apartment. At thirty-five, his only companions were the hum of the air conditioner and a shelf filled with fantasy comics. The silence didn't just come from the empty room, but also from his heart—a heart that was once whole, but had been broken ten years ago.
Let me tell my own story. My life feels too dramatic if you're the one telling it.
Okay, I'm Rian Kaelon, thirty-five years old. It's true what the narrator said; I'm a lonely middle-aged guy whose wife and child left him because she found a richer man.
That happened ten years ago. Not like me, still an employee in the marketing department of a lighter company to this day.
You know? I've felt so lonely ever since they left me, and even my parents died before I got married.My daily life now isn't special; nothing makes me happy except comics.
Comics? Yeah, comics... I escape from the bitter reality I've experienced into fantasy comics.It's so much fun, and you reading my story probably understand what I mean right now.
My routine now is just work, read comics, and sleep. Every day, the same monotonous things.
Boring? No... Why, doesn't that sound like a boring life? Because I have comics.
I imagine myself entering those comics and becoming the main character.
You know? I even use my meager salary to buy limited-edition comics, and the rest is for daily living expenses.
But can I complain? Why is God so unfair? If only I could go back to the past, maybe I would have tried harder so I wouldn't be left.
Now, it's six in the morning. The alarm beside my ear rings, signaling I have to start my very boring daily routine again.
I get ready, drink coffee, eat a small snack to fill my stomach, and then leave my small apartment.
The exit stairway feels narrow. This apartment of mine is an old building stuck between large ones.I walk down the still-quiet street, past kiosks that haven't opened yet.
By the time he reached the office lobby, Rian had already put on a half-hearted smile. Soon he was at his desk, staring at the glow of spreadsheets and deadlines. The desk was messy, cluttered with sticky notes, marketing drafts, and, of course, a comic tucked between folders.
Hey, that's embarrassing, don't tell them it's messy, it makes me look bad...But fine, just stick to your role as narrator, telling things from other perspectives and the stuff I don't know.The rest about me, let me tell it, okay? Let's just assume that's an okay.
When boredom struck, he stole a glance at a comic. For a moment, his heart pounded. In those panels, he imagined himself as a hero with a flaming sword, cheered on by thousands. But reality always pulled him back. The laptop screen flickered, demanding his attention.
Boss, this is just a story. If you read the narrator's part about me slacking off at work, just assume it's a lie, okay?
Right now, I really don't know what content to create, so I went out during my break to look for references.
A girl stood frozen in the middle of the crosswalk, engrossed in her phone, unaware of a car speeding toward her. The driver, panicking, honked the horn, but she didn't move.
There's a pretty girl across the street, but wait... It looks like she doesn't realize a car is speeding toward her, and she's totally focused on her phone...
This is an epic moment, I have to seize this... If I save that girl, I imagine she'll hug me, crying with gratitude, and thank me for saving her.
Then I'll be on the news. The headline: "Mysterious Middle-Aged Man Saves Pretty Girl From Death!"Wooooo, I'll finally be a hero like in the comics, but the modern version.
I can also imagine the flashing lights of cameras as reporters photograph my heroic deed...
Rian straightened his chest, bracing himself to run toward the girl and save her.
"Time to be a real hero!!..." I shouted in a mumble.
As Rian took his first step in a quick dash, he stepped on a pebble, slipped, and fell, his skull hitting the pavement hard. Comics spilled from his bag, scattering onto the street. The smell of the sewer filled his nose. Horns blared. The world spun. Darkness closed in.
Huh?.. Am I dead just like that? What about the girl?I whispered hoarsely.
My vision was blurry, but I managed to see the car stop just in time, and the girl smiled in relief.But wait, my comics are scattered. Oh, my adult comic collection fell out of my bag too. Noooooo!!!...
When his eyes opened again, the asphalt was gone. Everything was white. Endless white. There was no ground, no sky, no shadows.
I hope the author blurs out the part where I died, amen... it's so embarrassing.Instead of becoming a hero, I died ridiculously. Ah, damn it.
"Where is this? Am I in heaven?..." I mumbled softly.
A soft laugh broke the silence, sending a chill down his spine. A floating figure appeared, a being draped in a white silk robe embroidered with patterns that glittered like snow. Her face was perfect: porcelain skin, luminous eyes, hair flowing like clouds. But her smirk, barely hiding her amusement, made Rian's blood boil.
"What a ridiculous way to die, Rian Kaelon," she said, her melodious voice tinged with mockery. Her shoulders trembled as she held back laughter.
Who is she? Is she God? I swear, her mockery is infuriating, but it's true.
"Is this heaven?" I asked the being.
She chuckled. "Heaven? For someone who never prayed and died by slipping on a pebble? That is far too noble for you."
OMG, her words are so sharp... So pretty, but so annoying. Who is she?
"Then who are you? What is the meaning of all this?" I asked, demanding an explanation.
The figure lifted her robe gracefully. "I am the Fifth Goddess, Bodas. My duty is to guide souls like yours to the second life cycle."
She waved her sleeve, and a light sparkled in her eyes. "Humans have two cycles, a first and a second life. After that, eternity in heaven or hell awaits."
"Your next choice determines your eternal fate. Choose wisely." she said, giving me the choice.
With a single gesture, she conjured a hologram: heaven shining brightly, hell burning darkly. Three worlds then appeared before Rian. The Mecha World featured cities of steel and giant combat robots. The Fantasy World showed magic-lit forests, soaring dragons, and towering castles. The Ancient World revealed tribes in misty jungles, stone spears, and the survival of the fittest.
Rian's heart pounded. He stared at the vision, then at the Goddess, whose smirk remained teasing.
"So... after the third cycle, I'll live forever? And what do I do after I choose?" I asked.
"Yes," she answered. "Eternity will be yours. Heaven or hell will be your final home."
"Until then, live this new life as best you can. You know what is right and wrong... don't you? Now, choose."
It didn't take long for me to focus on the second hologram panel; it showed a fantasy world very similar to the fantasy comics I often read.
"Maybe this is my time to become a real hero," I mumbled with a small smile.
So I pointed to the second choice because it was exactly what I wanted.Since this is my second chance at life, I won't waste it in my next life in the fantasy world.
"The Fantasy World," I said.
"Are you absolutely sure?" asked Goddess Bodas, mischief twinkling in her eyes.
"Yes. I'm sure," I replied.
Her smile softened, though her tone remained playful. "Very well. Since you made me laugh earlier, I will give you a gift."
A silvery light enveloped Rian's body, warm and startling. Bodas raised her hand, her hair swaying gently.
"Good luck," she said.
Darkness swept over him. In the final moments, a whisper echoed, chilling Rian to the bone:
"Your new world... is not as wonderful as your comics."