"Good Morning!"
I heard a voice pulling me back into reality. It wasn't deep in a commanding sense.
It was gentle, velvety, slow. The kind that makes people lean forward.
Barely opening my eyes, drowsed in sleep, I stared in the direction of voice.
But the first thing I noticed was the completely white room. Not a single furniture or decoration in sight.
Except the chair in front of me. A tall stool designed for a bar or high countertop. And on it, sat a rabbit. Humanoid rabbit.
It was tall. Taller than most people. His fur was soft silvery white, glowed with the touch of lights. He wore a deep smoky indigo three piece tailored suit. Tiny moons acting as buttons, a universal hue in his tie as if he was binding the reality.
'What's happening?' I thought. I felt a strong sense of hungover, but I didn't drink.
Moments ago I was just checking the top speed of my brand new sports bike, and now I'm here.
I wasn't able to think straight. More like, I couldn't think straight. It was the atmosphere.
Plain but eerie. It gripped hold of my senses. I felt like the reason I'm alive is because of the room. I felt a strange and strong connection towards that rabbit.
But it didn't say anything, just stared, waiting for me to grab a hold of reality.
"Where am I?" I murmured.
"You're in my domain. A place where what you refer as time, doesn't exist." The rabbit spoke.
It was amused. It leaned forward with it's legs crossed and chin resting on hands and stared at me.
"And...why am I here?" I asked. Even if it was a dream. It was strange. I've never once dreamt like this. I never had a pet rabbit for my emotions to hallucinate. Everything was strange. Dreams didn't feel this real.
"That's because you died. But I see that you don't want to admit that..." The rabbit replied.
'The fuck did he say? I died? Me?', I looked down at my figure. I was wearing the same white hoodie and cargo pants from when I was riding my bike. I didn't feel pain and there were no traces of blood.
I squinted my brows, tilted my head and looked back at the rabbit.
"If I'm dead, then how do you explain this?" I asked spreading my arms. I wanted to show him, I was perfectly fine.
"That's not your physical body... That's just a projection I found fit for our conversation", Rabbit replied.
"If you don't believe me, try clapping your hands," It added.
'Clap my hands? What's this a child's play? A prank?', I thought and brought my hands together with palms stretched for a loud clap.
But... my palms passed through each other.
As if, I was a holographic image. Just surreal.
"What?" I murmured in disbelief. I felt scared. But I couldn't feel my heartbeat. I know my body well, I've felt my heart beat against chest but I couldn't feel it even in fear.
"What have you done to me?" I groaned in frustration. But behind that frustration I had a scent of fear.
My life wasn't regretful. I was successful. I worked my ass off, I climbed that fucking ladder even when people talked shit. I agree I had no one, but that doesn't mean anyone has the right to take my life.
I decide when I die. I decide how I live. Who the fuck does that rabbit think he is?
"Acceptance... is an art in itself. You accept you die, but you refuse to admit that. I'd say fine work but little execution." Rabbit's words pulled me out of my thoughts.
"How'd I die?" I asked staring in his velvet eyes.
He smirked. "You know that already!"
"..." I stayed silent for a while. I couldn't stop thinking about my life. I couldn't stop thinking about my dog. Who'll care for him? What about my company? What about my fortune? What about my fucking life that I built to enjoy?
"Who are you then? A god?" I asked. A humanoid rabbit. That's not something you witness in reality.
"God... would be an exaggeration. I am mere observer. Orryn is what I call myself." He replied.
"And why am I in your domain?" I followed with another question.
"I found you, peculiar. I thought, it would be such a waste for your soul to be passed through cycle of reincarnation. So, I brought you here... to strike a deal!" He leaned back and spread his arms, as if he was declaring his deed.
"Deal? Deals are a stronghold of devils." I replied.
"True, but devils learn from the best. As I told you... I'm Orryn the observer. I don't claim to be a god, I don't claim to be an overseer, I don't claim to have power over the laws of reality, I don't deceive, I don't play mind games. I am a mere observer." He replied with a smile, perking his ears up in excitement.
"And what do I get from your deal?" I asked.
"A new life. A sure new life as a human. Not an insect, not any animal, not any demon, or any lacky. You get a life as a human." Orryn replied.
"That doesn't sound favorable..." I murmured.
"Why do you think so?" He asked, raising his brows.
"Because I won't have any memories of my past life. Being reborn as anything would just be a new life. A life...is life. You can only hate it if you knew you could be reborn as anything else. Otherwise you live with what you are. Improve yourself not change your entire existence." I replied.
Orryn nodded. "If you put it like that, it does sound unfavorable. How about you retain memories of your past and then live a new life?"
"Depends on what kind of world it is. Is it the same as my own or is it different? And what do you want from me in this deal?" I asked.
"Oh trust me. I've laid a decent foundation for you in a form of simulation, apparently, you quite loved it too..." Orryn said and brought middle finger and thumb together.
Snap.
In front of me was a holographic image. An image of the game I know very well. 'Authority'. A single player story based game known for it's level of difficulty.
I squinted my brows and looked past the image in the eyes of Rabbit. "Authority?"
Orryn nodded. "What do you say?"
"A new suicidal life, is that your idea of new life?" I asked.
"It will take a lot more than just my memories to clear the game, if that's what you want me to do..." I added.
"Clearing the game huh, you could consider that as a side quest. But that's not the real reason why I want you there." Orryn replied.
He snapped again and the image disappeared.
"You see. The reality under my jurisdiction is facing with inside conflict. Gods, weaker gods are trying to rise in power. And to be a complete god, one needs to have control over at least one world. Divinity without having a world under your control is pretty much useless in front of complete gods." Orryn said.
"You want me to fight the gods on your behalf? Me? A human?", I asked, pointing at myself.
"No, their apostles. But you'll have time for preparation. Gods can't directly intervene with the world, just like how I can't directly intervene with my reality. If things really meet the worse case scenario, I might break the laws. But I prefer to live as a lawful citizen, I hope you understand..." Orryn replied.
"Again... it will take a lot more than my memories and experience in game to do what you want me to do..." I told him again.
'Authority' was a single player action game. Where even among awakened, a rare few individuals possessed the power called authority. Authority signified the soul, and unlike normal awakeners, which themselves were a few. Authority was a really powerful ability.
Its kind varied depending on the soul, and individuals with authority try not to reveal it. Because they are repetitive. So their authority might already have been recorded in history and studied. But it's the only power that can fight off anomaly powers like regeneration in demons.
"Ofcourse!" Orryn exclaimed. "You'll have my support!"
"But..." Orryn added. "Learning how to utilize my support, will be totally upto you, as I said. The moment you're granted a new life, our connection would sever."
"Are there others like me? Others you've sent before?" I asked.
"You're the first and only one to ever make a deal with me. I don't like trial and error method." Orryn replied.
I thought for a while. Contemplated over the situation. I didn't know what to do? Live a new life? Well, I don't see any better option. I brought my hands up to brush my hair but they just passed through.
With a sigh, I stared at Orryn. "I've got five conditions..."
Orryn raised his brows and leaned forward, "Very well, let's hear you out~"
"First, The mark of enslavement, mind control or restraints if ever placed on me by any apostle, god or being, shouldn't work." I said.
Orryn tilted his head, and then nodded, "Next."
"Second, If I ever become something hideous, if I become what I am fighting. End me."
Orryn raised his brows, but still he nodded. "Next."
"Third, I need authority. Authority that symbolizes your existence, so that I'm reminded that our conversation wasn't mere fluke."
Orryn nodded. "Next."
"Fourth, Don't let me be born as a commoner. I'll need support monetary. I don't want another life chasing money."
Orryn smirked, and nodded. "Next."
"Lastly, take care of my dog. Make sure he doesn't suffer in any way."
Orryn nodded. "Five conditions, perfectly doable. I give you my word, all of them will be adhered to strictly."
"Now then... Shall we begin?" Orryn again brought his middle finger and thumb together. And he snapped.
*Snap*
This time, his snap resonated as the reality shifted and everything went dark as I felt falling in an endless void.