Rui, a 24 year old historian was at an ancient Egyptian dig site overseeing the operation, While in the break room basking in the cool air of the a.c, reading a novel on his phone, his assistant James came bursting through the door with an ecstatic expression on his face.
(Rui's Perspective)
Confused, I ask James
"What's up?"
"Come outside, we've found an interesting artifact." He Replies
Intrigued, follow him out, while we where on the way to the correct dig site, he was telling me that the artifact seemed to be using some sort of energy or power source, as it was glowing, although that should be impossible, due to it being over 2000 years old.
Surprised, I gesture to quicken our pace. After we made it there, James yells out to one of the workers, who was holding an intricate wooden box that seemed to bare resemblances to a patterned chest, although the carvings on it were greatly withered I could still sense a tad of luxury emanating through the box, By the time I was done inspecting the box I realized the worker was standing right infront of us, after he got to me and James, James gestured for me to take the box, and so I did.
After taking the box, I realized that through the cracks, I saw a small shine radiating through the cracks in the box, excited to see what was inside, I ask James-
"Hey James, what's the artifact look like?"
"Look inside and find out for yourself."He Responds, with a smile.
Letting curiosity get the better of me, I start to pop open the latches keeping the chest closed, and after I unlocked both, the chest slowly creaked open revealing a knife made of an unknown metal that seemed to radiate light, but with no power source.
Once I opened the box James and everyone around where in awe at the light-producing blade.
I was confused as I thought everyone had seen it before.
James, realizing why I was confused, admitted that-
"no one has seen what was inside, we wanted to wait for you"
A little touched by my subordinates, I said-
"Aww, thanks guys", everyone smiled in unison.
After that little moment, I ask if I can be the first to hold it.
"Sure, why not, not like we care as much as you do" Says James, slightly teasing me.
As a smirk escapes my lips, I go to grab it.
After slightly touching the knife at the handle…
*BOOM*
A loud explosion accompanied by a overbearingly strong, blinding white light,
I feel an extreme pain in my whole body, my retina's burning forcing me to close my eyelids in an attempt to relive some of the pain, but all that did was worsen the pain from my ringing eardrums.
After minutes of excruciating pain all over my body, I start to feel a small sense of relief, still keeping my eyes closed as to not accidentally damage my retinae anymore than they already have been, but to call it damage control would've been a joke.
After maybe a couple of hours or minutes, I'm not sure, the pain diluted my sense of time, I heard an unknown voice, I contemplate trying to get up and look at them, I ultimately decide not to.
They then decided to speak openly, "Hello, Young one? Have you failed to withstand the transportation?" They say worried and confused.
Confused about what they meant, I finally decided to open my eyes and get up, after much struggle, I finally got up.
All they did while I was getting up was stand there, staring intently.
After I got up I was about to pat my shirt to get rid of the dust, but just when I opened my eyes I realized that I was standing on some pure white surface.
Confused and a little scared, I fall to the ground.
Confused as to where I am, I ask the only other person in the room, while looking around for them, I realize a long robe that's white in colour.
Tracing the robe back to its origin, I stare up at a person on a tall, golden and blue throne.
as they stare back, I hear the voice of what feels to be a grandfather come out there mouth as they start to speak…
"Young one, you've survived the transportation!" They said surprisingly happy.
"Umm.. Hello sir sorry to ask but, where am I?"
"Your in what humans would call heaven, or the afterlife."
"…"
"What? Where actually am I old Man." I said sternly.
"Your in the afterlife, if your having a hard time believing that, I can prove such to you"
Skeptical, I say "Sure, Prove it"
As I'm staring at the old man, now eye to eye once again, an intertwined piece wood wrapping around itself the same way a vine would came out of the floor, but without even damaging the floor, the floor simply opened up for the wood like it was a cloud.
Surprised, I try to comfort myself by saying "That's just a magic trick, that doesn't prove anything yet"
As I say that, the wood turns pointing its sharp edge at me, stunned i zone out, I only zone back in when I see the wood moving towards me rapidly I try to dodge, not fast enough, it hits me.
Giving up, I embrace this odd death, "thinking back, I really don't know what happened with that knife artifact, hope my subordinates are ok…"
Right as I'm embracing death, the wood impales me, I was expecting sharp pain, but I don't feel anything, slightly confused I look down, and realize that the wood went right through me, like I was a cloud.
The old man says "Do you still not believe me?"
"I Admit defeat, ok IF I am in heaven, then who are you?" I ask wearily.
"I, Am what humans call 'a god'"
"I Kind of already expected something like that but, 'A' god, are you saying there are multiple?"
"Yes, there are many gods, all ruling over different things."
"Well then, Witch one are you?"
"I, young one am one of the many gods, The god of travel"
Cutting to the chase, he says "The reason I have summoned you here, Is that I need to ask a favour of you…"
Confused, I ask "What favour could a god want from a human?"
He replies "I need a new source of mana."
Confused I ask, "What?"
He explains "After millions of years I have completely exhausted all of the mana from my previous source, and now I need you to go to a mana abundant planet and become a powerful mage, specifically a mage strong enough to go to new planets and claim them in my name, allowing me to absorb their mana and live on."
"…" I sat there confused, then while I trying to digest all the information-
"If your worried about compensation, I will grant you one wish, with only 3 rules, no wishing for more wishes, no wishing for immortality, no wishing to be able to break the rules"
"Before I use my wish I want to ask a question"
"Fair, we'll then, go on and ask"
"Are you saying I 'have' to become a mage or do I have a choice?"
"You technically have a choice, but if you don't become a mage I may be forced to strip you of your blessing, and transport you back to the afterlife, because, when granting a wish or using magic it costs me life force instead of mana due to my current lack of it, and the longer you have your blessing, the more life force it will cost me."
"So basically I have to become a mage if I want to continue living?"
"Well, put bluntly, yes"
"Alright, I know what my wish is."
"That was quick, are you sure you don't want to think it over?"
"No thanks, I know what I want."
"Alright then, name it"
"I Want a system that will help me become the greatest mage!"
"do you mean a system like the one in the novel you where just reading on earth?"
"Yes!"
"Is that all?"
"Absolutely!"
"Alright, it's been done, it will activate once you've been transported, certain functions are only activated after certain actions or conditions are met, remember that."
"Ok! I'm Ready, send me off"
"Before I 'send you off' I need to tell you a few things about this world-
Unlike in your old world, this world doesn't have as much crime, meaning you don't have to be weary of many people.
Usually, you wouldn't understand the language of this new world, but in a show good grace, I have given you the ability to understand all languages, not just the language of the humans.
Also, this wold is in the same era as the novel you where reading, the medieval period."
"Did you understand all of that?"
After digesting the information for a minute I say "Yes, I Understand"
"Alright, before you go I should tell you, if you actually successfully become a powerful enough mage and help with my mana issue, I will give you my godly inheritance"
"WHA-"
As I was about to ask him what he meant, I saw a white beam of light shoot all around me just like before, forcing me to close my eyes once again, and then I felt like I was laying on grass.
Already aware of what's happened, I sigh before opening my eyes…