Moments before the Tear of Poseidon shattered.
Alaric watched intently at the scene transpiring, intrigued by everything he saw.
To him, it was a high-budget movie, but he knew that was not so, as for some reason he was part of that setting.
Crack!
A distinct sound tore his gaze from his parents. His head turned towards the tear-shaped artefact, though to him it looked like a lady's accessory.
He believed it was a gift from one of the nobles to his mother, as he didn't understand a word they had spoken till date.
Their language completely foreign to him.
He was a baby after all, not to mention in a new world.
It would be strange if he understood their language from the get-go.
His bright red eyes reflected the cracks rapidly spreading across the artefact, and with a louder, more distinct crack, it shattered.
A blinding blue light invaded his vision, like a flash grenade. Unlike a flash grenade, the light remained.
He couldn't see anything but the blinding blue light, which for some reason wasn't hurting his eyes.
"What's going on?" He tried to rub his eyes but found out he couldn't move his little arms, not because the body was foreign, but because he felt paralyzed, all sensation in his body lost.
"Is the devil finally revealing himself?" he could only conclude, as even though he had his doubts, he still believed the devil was playing with him before his true torment came.
"This isn't hell," a voice all too familiar yet long unheard reverberated in his ears.
"Maria," he thought, as this was the voice of the same girl who he had bawled his eyes out to several years ago.
He tried to move his body in search of her, yet couldn't, as he was still paralyzed.
"How have you been, Mr. Alaric?" Maria's voice sounded again, this time clearer, much closer.
"Maria..." He looked around frantically, but the only thing he could see was the blindng blue light.
Is this how he wants to torment me…" Alaric thought, believing the devil was using Maria's voice to torment him.
Though they had met only once, she was the only one he could be completely frank with.
Her brief existence held more weight than many long-term relations he had in his previous life.
"Hey, didn't I say this isn't hell?" Maria's voice sounded again, and from the sound of it, one could tell she was pouting.
"Huh..." Alaric was taken aback.
He hadn't said it aloud yet. Maria responded.
This meant she could hear his thoughts.
He calmed himself. It was best to assess the situation, and who best to ask than Maria, though he still doubted she was the one.
"If this isn't hell, then where am I?" he inquired.
"You have been reborn in a new world," Maria answered with delight.
"Reborn?!" Alaric echoed with skepticism.
He wasn't a religious guy in his world, though he knew of rebirth and reincarnation from some religions, novels and anime.
He never really paid them any heed, but for some reason was sure hell did exist.
To him, it needed to be there for all the evil he had seen in his life.
If those people were just to die, to enter eternal slumber after death,
Then where was the justice in the world? And even he, who had killed most of these evils, needed to face the consequences as well.
But now, he was told he was reborn.
That did cross his mind, but he never concluded, having been in this world for a few hours now.
But wait, if he was truly reborn, then what was Maria doing here?
"I am a divine spirit of water..."
Maria's voice came again, once again answering his thoughts.
"Well, some of the people of this world call me the Goddess of Water, though me and my siblings don't like that title. The Primordial One is the only one who should be called a god, not us... But they don't listen, so we... Oh, sorry for veering off topic." Maria cleared her throat as she noticed she was talking too much, though Alaric didn't mind.
He listened attentively, his thoughts calm.
"What was I saying anyway..."
"You said I was reborn and you are the divine spirit of water..." Alaric reminded her.
"Yeah, yes... So as I was saying, I am the divine Spirit of Water... When I saw how you died, I decided to help your soul reincarnate in my world..."
"Hmm," Alaric mused.
Though it sounded far-fetched, from the little he had seen, it did seem true.
For him who believed in hell, maybe another world could exist after all.
"Then what about my sins, about the blood of the many I carry..." he inquired.
No matter how good he was at his job.
He was a killer no matter who he killed.
Not that he ever once thought he would be punished for killing those who deserved it, but those who had no choice but to be part of it.
The many children he had to cut down because they held guns, the women, some even pregnant, that he had to snuff out their lives.
Why?
Because they were loyal to the opposing party, and leaving them will spell doom to his people.
Now that he knew there was never an opponent, his sins felt all the more heavier.
Though he never had a choice, he believed he would receive his due punishment.
"Oh, that... Well your many acts of selflessness, and especially your last actions, have redeemed you. The Primordial One approved of your reincarnation."
"Oh really?" Alaric smiled slightly, remembering the kids he was able to save.
"It seems you believe me now," Maria noticed the change in his demeanor.
"Yes, you being a spirit explains why I couldn't find you after our last encounter."
"Oh well... I was on an errand for the Primordial..." She explained, Alaric sure he could hear hesitation in her voice.
"So will I be able to see you again?" he inquired.
"Yes, I will be in Poseidon Castle... Ah yes, I forgot to tell you, this is not like your usual world. It's a world of magic and demons. Humans can use elemental magic and their variants, and... yeah, there are also elves..."
"I figured," Alaric chuckled at her way of speaking, the same way he remembered her.
"Poseidon Castle, eh? When I grow up, I will look for you..." Alaric vowed.
"About your life, I am sorry. I didn't know what happened, but it seemed you have been caught in some kind of ploy... Your life going forward wouldn't be easy," Maria spoke, her tone apologetic.
"Hahaha, don't worry. My life hasn't been easy anyway. At least I have a fresh start here. I won't fall easily..." Alaric laughed.
"I know you won't, You are that kind of person after all... Well, it seems our time is up..." Mariah's voice seemed to fade.
Alaric confused at her words but then he noticed.
The bright blue light diminishing, fading to reveal the outside world.
" Huh "
His gaze meeting that of the tear filled eyes Aiden.
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A/N
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