Slowly opening my eyes what I saw was deep, heavy darkness, followed by a lack of sensation.
I couldn't feel the ground beneath me, the air on my skin, or even my own body. It was as if I'd been erased, leaving only my consciousness behind.
'Did I die'
Checking my surroundings I could see three faint points of light shimmering in the distance.
I couldn't tell if they were near or far, or even what direction they were in. Instinctively, I tried to move towards one, but my body wouldn't obey.
Then, came a voice. I couldn't tell whether it belonged to a man or a woman or where it came from.
"Clark Benz."
'My name'. The voice continued.
"You have died."
'Oh, so I really did die. But …strange I can't remember how I died.'
"Save Threcia from the Demon King and you can get another chance to live in your own world."
'Just like those Isekai novels I used to read. The classic save the world from the demon king and go back home trope.'
A faint, almost absurd smile touched my lips, even though I had no lips to smile with.
"My blessing will help you in your journey"
I felt a strange warmth over my body, even when I didn't have a body.
"Heroes, please save this world."
A blinding flash of light erupted from all around me, and the world or whatever this place was disappeared in a white-hot glare.
—★—★—★—
Slowly opening my eyes what I saw was darkness, not a deep heavy darkness like before but still darkness. Unlike last time I did have sensation, I could tell that I was lying on the floor.
It took my eyes a while to get accustomed to the darkness. What I first saw was a glass painting on the ceiling.
In the center of it was a single white sphere surrounded by two hands. One was soft and gentle, it's fingers made of lush, green tendrils and blooming flowers. It seemed to be reaching inward. The other was jagged and dark, its fingers sharp and menacing, reaching out and away. All this was enclosed in a majestic ring of green and brown, a perfect circle. Upon this ring stood two figures. On one side, a serene figure in flowing purple robe extended a hand, and from his fingers, streams of pure silver light descended. Below them, smaller, shadowy shapes seemed to reach up, desperate to catch the light. On the opposite side, another figure,equipped with a golden armour, held out his hand. From his fingertips, bolts of crimson energy shot down.
Majestic– the word came to my mind.
I tried moving my body but it refused to do so. A couple of seconds later I gained tidbit control of my body, I moved my palm towards my eyes.
It wasn't mine, it had no scars which I had the hand felt more muscular and elegant.
Using my arms I sat up. I was naked and after seeing my whole body I could tell that it wasn't actually mine.
'Looks like I am possessing someone.'
I looked at my groin.
'Arrgh, Stupid god atleast give me some clothes'
I looked up and saw several cresstes in a circle around me, behind it were several shadowy figures.
"Humans"
A word left my mouth, I didn't recognise the voice nor the language.
I felt a cold sensation in my butt and remembered that I was naked. Embarrassment flew through my body and i covered my groin using my hands.
'Creeps, watching a naked young man lying on the floor.'
-Tak-Tak
I heard foots approaching me from my left.
It was a middle aged man in a purple robe, he had a while cloth in his right arm.
'Looks like a priest, ..so I was summoned in a church.'
The priest slowly approached me, he bowed slightly as if paying me his respect and handed me the white cloth.
I hesitantly took the cloth and wrapped it around me.
'Atleast give a pair of clothes what am I gonna do with this scrap of fabric.'
"Dear Hero, please follow me."
His voice was monotonous and hoarse from years of repeated preaching, but it carried a deep, comforting conviction.
I gathered strength in my legs and stood up.
Without a word, he told me to follow with a quick glance of his eyes.
I walked behind him, my steps were a bit wobbly at first but each passing second I grew more and more accustomed to my body and could walk naturally.
When we reached those cresstes I was walking naturally. I could see several priests around as we approached, they made way for us and bowed their heads.
Looking forward I could see a old man wearing purple chasuble with gold engravings, a papal taira with several shiny stones engraved on it. In his left hand was a papal ferula fully made of gold with silver engravings. Just by looking at him anybody could tell that he was the highest authority here - Pope.
'Talk about fancy, a stick made of gold, cloth with gold engravings, cap with jewels how much would that have cost. And they just gave a crappy piece of cloth which doesn't even fully cover my body talk about cheap or are they a bunch of creeps who gets excited watching a naked man walking.'
At that thought a shiver went down my spine.
"Welcome the choosen of Solomon, I 'Thedore Mcgrivenn'— Pope of Church of Knowledge welcomes you to Threcia"
'Hmm, I really don't know what language he is speaking but I can understand it without any problem.'
I looked around, everyone was staring including the pope.
'What am I even supposed to say here. I don't know your customs or anything I dare say something which triggers you and you just kill me here and I kiss my second chance goodbye. Well I should atleast introduce myself.'
"Clark Benz"
My voice elegant yet full of authority resonates through the hall. Everyone gets shocked as they just got a revelation from the God.
"A man of few words I see." Theodore says with a slight chuckle.
"Hero, Clark Benz" he continues "you have been summoned here with the sole objective of killing the demon king and releasing this world from its evils, by doing so you can return to your world to continue living your life."
'Screw that, after working so hard as to kill the demon king you just send me back. I will risk my life for the sake of your world and you will just send me back to my shitty life. I have made my mind I am gonna work hard to kill that demon bastard and then laze around rest of my life.'
I bow slightly and speak "Evil shall be vanquished and good shall prevail."
As if delighted by my words Theodore chuckles "As expected as of one choosen by our god."
'Looks like that cheesy ass line did the trick'
"Hero Clark go and rest for now tommorow morning you have an audience with the king. Bishop Wilson will accompany you on your stay."
As if waiting a man wearing a purple robe with silver linings walks out of the group of priests and slightly bows.
"Hero Clark, I am Wilson Yamdez a bishop of Church of knowledge. Please follow me I will show the way to your quaters."
I nodded and then we both walked out of the hall.
—★—★—★—
"Wooh!! This room is so big and this bed is just as big as my apartment in my previous life, so comfy."
I look around the room, a window with curtains drawn, a fireplace, a small study a full body mirror and a pair of pajamas were neatly kept near my bed.
"Oh yeah I am still butt naked I should get dressed, but before that."
I stood up and walked towards the full body mirror. I saw my reflection which was totally different from what I knew.
"I really did possess someone else, short black hair, dark purple eyes, sharp jawline , tall height, muscular body, totally a body I would never have even dreamed of having in my previous life. This face no women will be able to remove there eyes from me and " I look down "hehe, no woman will escape my grasp."
After a little bit of more fueling my ego with this new body i possessed I got dressed.
-knock-knock
"It's Bishop wilson, I got your food."
'Strange why is a bishop bringing me my food.'
"Come in."
The door slowly opened there was not any creaking sound and Wilson walked in with a trolley.
With his robe down I could get a clear picture of his face. Around my age he had blond hair, pale skin almost anemic, frail body.
He walked towards me pushing the trolley, on it was a cloche, a pair of cutillary, a wine glass and a bottle of wine.
Standing near the bed he uncovered the plate by lifting the cloche. With the release of hot steam a tender piece of steak could be seen.
"Hero Clark if you would need anything else please say."
"I have a question."
"I would answer it with the best of my abilities."
"Whose body is this?" I asked with a stoic face.
"Worry not Hero none was sacrificed to give you the body you possess. It's a vessel provided by Lord Solomon himself for the time you are in Threcia."
"Hmm, I see."
"Anything else?"
I thought for a bit before answering.
"I don't really know about this world."
"The books about the general information of the world has been already kept in the study, you can read those."
I glanced towards the study and on the table three books were stacked.
'How very thoughtful.'
"Thank you"
"Then I will be leaving, get a good rest you have a audience with the king in the morning."
—★—★—★—
Yummy– the word came to my mind after taking the first bite of the steak and the wine tasted better than anything I have had till date.
After eating my fill I went to the study and picked one of the book.
As soon as I picked the book strange letters appeared in my vision flowing from the book towards me, in a mere second I had absorbed everything in it.
'Is this just how books work here or is it my blessing. Well if I was choosen by Solomon god of knowledge it is possible, what kind of God gives a blessing and doesn't even tell what it is.' I sighed.
As for what was written in the book it was about the creation myth. Something like this—
In beginning, there was nothing. From nothingn a thought was born, that was the 'Creator'. Alone in the darkness the creator wept, his tears became the stars. To stop creator's weeping the stars danced. Thus, the universe was born.
With the creator's joy a new being was born. 'Aegis— god of Life', he filled the cosmos with variety of life.
Wandering the cosmos, the mortals urged the creator for a place to reside. Hearing their plea the creator forged another being, 'Terra— god of Earth'. Using her hands she sculpted the cosmos making mountains, plains, rivers and oceans. Happy with a place to live the mortals rejoiced.
For a while life prospered in the cosmos, but with endless beings the cosmos started to collapse under its own weight.
Hardening his heart the creator made another being, 'Mortis— god of Death', with his first words the old one's withered away.
With Aegis and Mortis the cycle of life and death came into play.
With time, mortals started to wonder about their existence, they seeked knowledge but didn't have the way. Seeing their thirst for knowledge the creator drew forth another being, 'Solomon— god of knowledge'. He collected the secrets of the universe and became their unseen guide.
With knowledge, conflicts arose from which a new being took birth, 'Talon— god of War'. He teached mortals the weight of power.
Seeing the mortals fight the creator wept and his sadness consumed him. And he fell into an endless sleep.
-and that's how it goes.
As though why heroes are summoned. Looks like there's been a discord among gods, the god of death Mortis has gone evil and want the world for himself so he summoned someone from another world and gave him his blessing to wreck havoc and as a response each god summoned their respective hero to slay the demon king aka the one choosen by Mortis.
"Such a cliche story" I sighed.
As for the other two books. I picked each in one hand and the information flew to my mind.
It's about the empires, kings, money and basic stuff every citizen should know.