[ ??? POV ]
Death. Some believe it's the end of consciousness, that we simply cease to exist. Others believe the dead are judged and sent to heaven or hell. And then there are those who say death is just the beginning of another life, that we're all trapped in the cycle of Samsara.
But if you ask me what appeals the most… it's the first one.
The end of consciousness. A never-ending sleep.
The idea of not having to listen to anyone dictate your life. Not having to wear a mask and pretend you care. No expectations. No pressure. Just… nothing.
Sounds peaceful.
Too bad it's just wishful thinking, because I'm dead, and from what I'm experiencing right now, none of those theories are true.
I'm Edward Blake. A lucky kid who got everything handed to him… except the freedom to make his own choices.
I was born into a pretty normal family. Loving parents, decent money, nothing extravagant but enough for a comfortable life. Weekend outings, basic stability… that kind of thing.
That didn't last.
When I was four, my mom divorced my dad for a richer guy. After that, it was just me and him.
They had married right after college, against their parents' wishes. Looking back, I guess those warnings weren't wrong. The marriage didn't last.
My grandparents helped raise me while my dad worked. And to be fair, life did get better in terms of money. I had my own allowance, enough to buy games, shoes, whatever I wanted.
But he was never really there.
As he climbed the corporate ladder, he started surrounding himself with people from well-established, polished families. Somewhere along the way, he decided that I needed to become like them.
That's when the tutors came in. Then sports. Then "passion projects" I never cared about.
I didn't want any of it.
But I was too afraid to disappoint him, so I played along. Kept up the act. Maintained the image.
When it was time for university, he made the decision again. Banking. Said he had connections. Said he'd set me up for success.
I was angry. Really angry.
I wanted to shout at him, argue, push back…
But I didn't.
I never did.
I got into an elite business school, and that's where reality hit me properly for the first time. People from all kinds of backgrounds, all kinds of struggles. Listening to their stories, seeing how they lived… it made me realize just how privileged I was.
So I shut up.
And I pushed through.
I graduated with first-class honors. By then, I could understand him. If I had a child, I'd probably want them to succeed too.
But understanding something doesn't mean accepting it.
I was still bitter.
Because he never listened. Not once. He just… decided my life for me.
After graduation, we went on a trip to Europe to celebrate. He had just retired, so it felt like a fresh start for both of us. We even had a proper conversation for once. A real one. Tried to be honest with each other.
And then some asshole decided to blow up a mall.
And that was it.
That's how we died.
Which brings me to this… place.
A void.
I've been drifting here for hours, maybe longer. There's nothing. No sound, no people, no sense of direction.
Just emptiness.
Might as well sleep, I thought. Looks like I'll be here for a while.
Snap
The sound hit out of nowhere, and my eyes shot open.
I wasn't in the void anymore.
Instead, I was in some kind of grey space. In front of me sat someone in blue robes, casually sitting on a sofa like this was a normal meeting.
A coffee table appeared between us. Another sofa formed behind me.
"Take a seat, Edward."
His voice was calm, almost bored.
I sat.
Snap
Two glasses appeared. He picked his up and drank without hesitation. The liquid inside had way too many colors to be considered normal.
I took a sip of mine.
Hot chocolate.
The best I've ever had.
"I'll get straight to the point," he said. "You're dead. You already know that. So I'll give you two choices."
Figures.
"First, I send you into the cycle of Samsara, like everyone else. Second, I reincarnate you into another reality, and you do me a favor."
"Do I actually have a choice?" I asked.
Didn't feel like I did.
"You do," he replied. "I've sent many like you to different realities under my domain. If you choose Samsara, I'll make sure you're born into a wealthy family, and live comfortable life."
"And the other option?"
"I send you to a different world. Your task will be to change its future."
I leaned back slightly. "What world?"
"The Harry Potter reality."
…Of course it is.
"I want you to rise. Gain power. Change the state of that world. Wizards have grown stagnant. I want that fixed."
Yeah, definitely not a small request.
Still…
"I'll go," I said. "I'll take the second option."
He nodded, like he already expected that answer.
"Good. Before you go, I'll give you something to help."
A small chip appeared in his hand.
"An AI chip. It won't gain sentience, and it can't evolve on its own. You'll have to feed it data. It will store, analyze, and assist you. Think of it as a tool to improve your understanding and visualization."
The chip floated toward me and slipped into my body.
I felt… nothing.
Right before everything ended, one thought crossed my mind.
"My dad… what happened to him?"
The being paused for a second.
"He has entered Samsara," he said. "Don't worry. He will be blessed."
A portal opened beneath me.
And just like that—
I fell.
- To Be Continued -