POV: Matías Castleboard
What was the meaning of my death?
Now that I think about it… I'm no one.
The pain was no longer mine—I couldn't feel it. But there was no peace, either. Only thoughts... thoughts clinging to my failures.
I can't see anything. Where am I? Ah, right. I died.
Some say you see a light when you die.I don't see anything.It's as if my consciousness were floating alone in an endless void, without a body, without form. If this can even be called consciousness…
The only thing I could do was think—and that's exactly what I did: think about how everything ended like this.
First, the warning from the Pillar Nations about an impending world war. Then, my decision to join the army to earn recognition and gain a status that could protect my family.
From that point on, everything went downhill… Because that's how humans are: so intelligent, yet so naïve.
The Prophet… that bastard. He didn't have a transmitter that made him immortal or one that could alter reality. In truth, he didn't have any transmitter at all. All he did was manipulate us.
Manipulate.That word weighs heavily. Because I… I'm no better than him. I did the same. I did it for my own gain… to protect those I loved, just as I promised my father.
How many lives did I have to take before realizing the damage I was causing?
Why… why do humans only learn through pain?
I still remember that family. They begged for mercy.The children's eyes shone with tears, the mother looked at me with resignation… and even then, she forgave me.I… was just following orders.
Shit.
I don't know when it happened. I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice I had started crying.
That's when I saw my own tears… and for the first time, I also saw my body.
A faint glow, soft, almost ethereal, began to form around me.
Well… I guess there really is light at the end of the tunnel.
My hands were the first to appear. No longer stained with blood, but clean, as if the weight of all the souls I carried had vanished.
Then my legs, steady and strong, ready to walk again.
And then I knew. I was returning.Not to life… but to something.
When I became aware of the place around me, my mind exploded with questions.
Everything was white.Butterflies danced in the air, a bright sun shone without burning, and a calmness wrapped around me like a warm blanket.
No noise. No war. Just… silence.
Is this heaven?Or limbo?Where am I?
"This isn't heaven, Matías. Nor is it limbo. And honestly… I doubt you deserve either."
The voice came from behind me—deep, powerful, commanding. I turned around immediately, instinctively on guard, though I didn't know why.
Standing there was a humanoid figure. Dressed like an ancient warrior, but what struck me most was that his body, his clothes, even his aura… everything about him was white. Not the white of light, but the white of emptiness—of silence.
And yet, I felt no fear.
On the contrary.
I felt peace.
A sense of familiarity so intense that my arms lowered on their own, as if my body recognized someone… who had always been there.
My soul was broken, my voice barely a whisper:"Who are you?"
The figure watched me for a few seconds, with a gaze so deep it felt like he was seeing my entire life. Then he spoke—calmly, but with immense authority.
"My name is Kraidir. Welcome to the Void: the beginning and the end of all creation."
The Void.
My mind twisted, struggling to understand.None of this made sense. Where was I? What was this place, really?
If my deduction was right, I was facing something… beyond human.
A deity?
And if it was… what did it want from me?
I cleared my throat and spoke carefully, choosing each word as if it might cost me eternity:"Judging by your appearance… and your words," I said slowly, "I'd say you're not human. And if our old beliefs hold any truth… I'd dare say you're a deity."
He smiled.
But it wasn't a divine, distant smile.It was human.Warm. Almost fatherly.
"In part, you're right," he replied calmly. "I am what mortals call a deity. And I know you have many questions… about where you are, why you're here, and what comes next."
"As I said before… you're in the Void," he continued as he slowly stepped closer."Think of it as a transition toward something greater."
I didn't understand why, but I began to tremble.It wasn't fear. It wasn't cold.
It was… something deeper.A visceral reaction I couldn't explain.
I tried to speak—to say something… anything.But the words got stuck in my throat.
When he finally stood in front of me, his expression changed.He no longer looked like an impassive god.It was a gaze… filled with compassion.As if he understood all the pain I carried within.
"Matías… I'm here for one reason. And that reason… is you.All these years of suffering, all your inner screams begging for it to stop…
They've come to an end."
Dextrina.
That name.
A flash of rage shot through my body.
My single eye narrowed with fury, and before I knew it, my hand flew straight to his neck.
"You know Dextrina?! Answer me!"
He didn't resist. He only sighed.Then, with a simple movement, he brushed my arm aside like it was nothing.
"Yes. I know her," he said calmly, placing a hand on my shoulder."She's the one who sent you here. And with that… your presence in this place is explained."
He snapped his fingers.
A chair appeared out of nowhere—carved in an old, elegant style.
He gestured for me to sit.
It was clear that what was coming next… would be a long story.
Dextrina.The goddess who granted me the transmitter.The goddess of time and history.The one who promised that, with that power, I could protect everyone.
But in the end…I only brought more pain.
I took a deep breath.I wanted to listen. I wanted to understand.So I let myself fall into the chair, exhausted.
"Speak. I won't interrupt you," I said, resting my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands.
Kraidir nodded solemnly."As I told you… Dextrina sent me, Matías.Your future is uncertain. Not even the gods fully understand what you are."
I looked up, frowning."What do you mean they don't know what I am?"
Kraidir stared straight into my eyes."Because you did something no one was ever meant to do.You altered your world's fate.You brought peace… when it wasn't written to exist."
"So what you're trying to say is that… somehow, my actions did something the gods didn't like, or worse—something they didn't find entertaining?" I clenched my fists, shaking with rage.
I knew how gods were.False gods.
Kraidir nodded, watching me like he expected me to explode."If that's how you want to take it… you're right."
And yes. I did explode.
I laughed.
But it wasn't a normal laugh.It was hollow, broken—a cruel echo of everything I had lost.I laughed like a madman… like a man with nothing left to lose.
Then I kicked the chair violently.
"So the gods think humanity is a game, huh?!""Damn it… Now they'll see what a real game looks like!"
Without thinking, my eye began to bleed, and the Calur—my transmitter—activated purely on instinct.
Kraidir didn't move. Not a single muscle."You'd better deactivate your relic, Matías.It's useless here.Especially… against me."
I clenched my teeth. The rage was eating me alive, but I knew there was nothing I could do.Nothing but talk. Shout. Curse.
"And what are the gods going to do? Kill me again?Like I care anymore!"
"If you know Dextrina… then you must already know:I've got nothing left!"
I pointed at him, as if he were the one to blame for everything.But deep down, I knew he wasn't.
I didn't even have tears left.No strength.Just emptiness.
Kraidir looked at me with a sadness that wasn't pity.It was as if he could see… my entire story, my whole life, all my pain… just by looking at me.
My legs couldn't hold me anymore.I collapsed onto the ground.
Lying on my back, lost in a place that wasn't a place.With no one. No dreams. No direction.
"The gods… have made a decision about you," he said gently.
I wanted to ignore him.I wanted to act like a child throwing a tantrum.But… something told me what he was about to say was important.
"And what… what did they decide?" I asked, drained.
Kraidir knelt beside me.He extended a hand toward me.
"You're going to be reborn, Matías.You'll be given a second chance."
I opened my eyes, stunned."Wait… what did you just say?A second chance?"
He nodded.But this time… I couldn't read his face.He no longer looked the same.It was as if a mask had covered his expression.
All I ever did in my past life was fight…Protect those I loved.Chase that freedom every human longs for…
And now, fate had placed this in front of me:A new chance.
I lifted my eyes to look for Kraidir.But he was gone.
Vanished… as if he had never been there.
Once again… I was alone.And without even realizing it, fatigue took over me.
A deep exhaustion, rising from the very core of my soul.
My eyes slowly closed.But this time…Not thinking about the end.
But about a beginning.
It was strange, but after so long, I felt something I thought I had lost:
Hope.
Everything went dark again.And my consciousness collapsed.
I fell asleep, drifting in a space beyond existence itself…As if I had never existed at all.