In a completely white and empty open space, many would say this place was heaven, the afterlife, the place after death.
It was white and the light there was strange, like a morbid and cold glow, but not cold in a bad or freezing way — something more neutral.
In this infinite empty environment, there was a boy lying down.
He had fair skin and looked young, average height for his age.
He was lying with his eyes closed when suddenly he began to wake up.
His name didn't matter — to be honest, he didn't remember his name or who he was. When he died, he forgot everything about himself.
Of course, he knew basic things, general knowledge he had learned.
Like science, mathematics, human relations, history, books he read, series, culture — that kind of thing. He remembered all of that, but didn't remember how he learned it.
He had forgotten only his memories related to people and to himself. His memories still existed in his soul, only the ones about his body and his identity were gone.
After some time — he didn't know how long — the boy opened his eyes and stood up.
"Where am I? What the hell is this place?" he said, with a hint of fear.
He looked around and all he saw was emptiness, stretching in every direction and every corner.
He turned around, looking for anything that wasn't empty.
Then suddenly, he flinched.
"This is the afterlife," a majestic voice said.
The boy turned, startled.
"Ah— damn, who said that?" he said, spinning in fear.
Turning around, he saw an old man sitting in a chair, looking at him.
The old man had a long beard and was Black.
"You are…?" the boy asked.
"Yes, I am God…" before he could finish, the boy interrupted.
"You're Black…" the boy said.
God looked surprised, and a little irritated, one eyebrow raised.
"Yes… yes. Is there a problem with that?" the old man asked.
"No, I just thought God would be…"
"White?" the old man asked.
"Well… that's not exactly what I said, I just… to be honest I didn't expect you to look like this," the boy replied.
The old man sighed.
"It's fine, I understand. Happens a lot."
"Did I die?" the boy asked.
"Yes, you died," the old man answered.
"I don't remember," the boy said.
"That's normal. Most dead don't remember. Some do, but it seems you forgot almost everything."
"Can you help me remember?" the boy asked.
"I could, but I won't help you…" the old man replied.
"What? What do you mean you won't? You're God…!" the boy protested.
"Yes, but I've already done a lot today, I'm feeling lazy…"
"What? I don't get it."
"Well kid, restoring memories takes time, work, that sort of thing. Instead, how about receiving something else — an advantage for your next life? Sounds better, doesn't it?"
"Next life? I won't go to hell or something?" the boy asked.
"No… not really. Usually I send most to heaven or hell, but when I'm bored, I send a few of you humans to random worlds for my entertainment. You know, being God is boring — eternal boredom — so I have fun watching you humans struggle to survive, that kind of thing…" the old man said, standing up.
"I see… I think. Wait, God is a sadist?" the boy asked.
God stared at him, considering sending him to hell for a moment.
"You've got a big mouth, kid. I like that," the old man said, smiling.
He snapped his fingers and three black boxes appeared suddenly — one labeled "Advantage," another "Assigned Body," and another "World."
"What's that?" the boy asked, curious and a bit scared.
"These are the boxes of destiny. They decide where you'll go, who you'll be, and what advantage you'll get. Inside them are countless options. After drawing one slip from each, you'll reincarnate into your next world," the old man explained.
"After I draw a paper from these boxes, I'll reincarnate? Just like that?"
"Yes… you may choose. I have thousands of other things to do, so make it quick," the old man said, sitting again.
"I see… which one should I pick first?" the boy wondered.
He looked at the boxes and thought. He would choose the box that decided his body last.
He walked to the World box and put his hand inside.
Outside, the box looked simple and empty, but inside, it felt infinite, bottomless, something that made no sense — as if there was much more inside than it seemed.
He moved his hand through the papers, grabbed one, pulled it out, and handed it to the old man.
The boy looked, but to him it looked blank.
"Let me see… hmm, interesting…"
Suddenly, words formed on the paper:
"Game of Thrones"
He remembered that world. No way. I'm screwed. I'm so screwed, he thought. A world where dragons and White Walkers, giants and other creatures existed, along with gods, wargs, and many other beings.
And it was medieval — where bloodlines mattered. He could be born a bastard, or a commoner. If he were a commoner, he'd likely have a miserable life.
The boy sighed and walked to the Advantage box, reached in, prayed to the Old and New Gods, and pulled a paper out.
He handed it to God.
It said:
"Tony Stark's super intelligence"
"That's… good, very good!" the boy celebrated.
"It is a very good advantage. I saw you touched another paper earlier but didn't take it — want to know what it was?" God asked.
The boy thought and said,
"I'd rather not know. I'd probably be disappointed anyway."
"It was Captain America's super strength."
The boy sighed in relief. Good thing he didn't pick that. A super soldier? What could a super soldier do against thousands in war? Nothing.
The boy moved to the last box — the Soul box.
If he got Game of Thrones, he would probably be reborn as someone from that world.
He moved his fingers through the slips, hoping for something good.
He wanted a rich family — maybe Tully, Lannister, Targaryen.
All would be good. And most importantly — he hoped to be male. Nothing against it, but he preferred to be a man.
After a few seconds, he grabbed one and pulled it out.
He handed it to God.
"Tyrion Lannister," God read.
The boy's mind instantly searched his memories.
He remembered — Tyrion Lannister. The dwarf. The Lannister dwarf hated by his sister and father, despised by everyone.
Ugly and short.
He would become him? The boy immediately began begging for mercy.
"Wait… give me another chance… I don't… want to be him…"
Before he finished, his vision blurred, dizziness hit, and he began to faint.
"Good luck, kid. I'll be watching," God said.
He fainted, and his body vanished — or rather, his soul moved, and his body was completely destroyed.
When he opened his eyes again, he was already somewhere else.
"Where am I?" the boy wondered.