Darkness clung to his failing body like a lover unwilling to part. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the ancient ruins where he had made his last stand. Zephyr Ravencrest, once a powerless failure, lay dying under the eerie glow of the twin moons.
Is this how I die? Why? What have I done wrong to deserve this? Why is this happening to me? Why is my life like this?
How did it come to this?
18 years ago, when I was seven, I was excited to be blessed by a god. Our family was a branch of the royal family. We were going to the temple to get blessed by the gods. In this world, when someone turns seven, we go to the temple to get blessed by the gods. The gods would give us blessings. The blessings depend on which god has blessed us. If we got blessed by the fire god, then we could control fire and use fire magic.
There are gods of fire, water, wind, earth, light, war, life, and creation—a total of eight gods. But the rarest blessing was of the God of Creation.
I was excited because my elder brothers had received the blessings of fire and war. My sister had water. I was the youngest child in the Ravencrest family.
When the priest called my name, I stood up and knelt down, praying to them for a blessing. But nothing.
If one gives us a blessing, the statue of that god would shine. But no god gave a blessing. The entire temple fell silent.
After some time, I was abandoned by my family. They didn't want a child who was not blessed by the gods.
After I left my family, I traveled various lands. After becoming a mercenary, after 15 years, I had become somewhat famous as a mercenary.
Then I received a request from my family. It was from my brother. It was a request for help in finding an ancient temple of an unknown god.
After three years, we finally found the temple, where my brother backstabbed me.
"W-Why?
Why?" you ask.
Ah, let me tell you something fun. 18 years ago, the reason the gods didn't choose you was simply because of the Curse of Gods we had placed on you. It was a curse which we had found in this very temple. But we hadn't thought that curse would turn into a blessing for you. But before that happens, I will dispose of you.
He stabbed me again and left.
What did he mean by curse? And what blessing?
I was criticized by everyone near me because I had not received any blessing.
When the darkness was swallowing me, I knew my end was near. But I didn't want to die. I wanted to live, to take my revenge on my brother.
Then memories of my past life in a different world filled my mind.
How can this help me now? When I am dying?
Then I heard a voice.
"Do you wish to live?"
I didn't know what was going on, but I answered, "Y-Yes, I do."
But no response came after that, and darkness took over me...