I regain my consciousness.


    My reincarnation methods seem to be working just fine. I sprout out the will of my soul around, taking in my surroundings.


    I find myself in the soul sea.


    The place where all mortal souls end up in, after their certain demise waiting for judgement. In natural circumstances I would never end up here, my soul would fly straight to the deepest hell.


    Once there, a manor of mine and my servants would be jubilant to greet me, and bow down  my feet. It would be a fine vacation; after so many mortal centuries.


    Still, I knew if someone where to be able to actually kill me. Returning there would not be the wisest move.


    I planned ahead.


    Now I am dead. And those who did it, are aware where I would end up.  Killing my mortal body wouldn’t finish me. If they did, I would be there yet again the next day. Nyraxis in hand its blade singing the name of the next neck’s owner.


    No. Nevauri knew it, she arranged a trap to capture me on my weakened state after revival, that much is sure.


    And there in the mansion I would be at my killer’s mercy.


    Only someone of that wit would be able to actually end me. Nev sure outdid herself.


    In truth? I am proud of her.


    My daughter; that indeed was a beautiful betrayal. I had a feeling she would try to take my place eventually.


    After all she is my flesh and blood.


    Still. I wasn’t expecting it to be so soon, and she would actually succeed.


    That spell that paralysed me… It was not something that shitty little hero could come up with. No…


    There is a thicker plot there. I could smell the stink.


    —


    I look around with my will. The gargantuan aura of my soul snuffing out the light out of the the weak around me.


    That should draw attention.


    Soon enough a scythe of energy drew me to another location, and an outside power gave my soul a mouth, ears and eyes.


    There in its chair it sat, hood up; face pure darkness. With a lofty attitude.


    Black wings and a huge schyte leaning at its side. Coszots the aspect of death.


    “We meet once again.” I greeted it casually.


    “Finally, thou decided to accept mine gift, is thy struggle finally over?” Death had no face, all that it showed was a huge figure, a black robe shrouding its hole body; clad in chains of rusted iron.


    In place of a face there was only pure darkness. Its voice was husky and asexual, loud enough to be heard far off. But it sounded like a whisper, a loud whisper one that would resound inside one’s head; something that one could not fail to hear.


    This was no joke. This was the embodiment of death,  the most powerful of the aspects embodying the wills of the universe; a primordial being. Its realm was no different; this place works  as sorting machine of sorts, the sky a dark purple where numerous souls floated around awaiting their judgement.


    And the ground I made of mountains upon mountains of bones and decaying flesh; all kinds of creatures from beasts to demons, it stretched on infinitely.


    “No. I will never know peace; you know that. There is much to be done, our deal remember? Do it.” I answered, with a somewhat sombre tone in my voice.


    “Thou  hast been an worthy champion, spreading mine word and mine gift upon thousands.  Prithee , forbear this folly.  Art  thou ne''r going to wot peace? shall thy red hand aye hast it”  Death leaned forward, almost sounding caring for me.


    Death and i… We go way back.


    “No.”


    It took a while but;—


    I finally answered. It owes me a favour, all the mighty deity that death is. It must keep its word. It is folly to put faith in others, especially in such a fickle thing like death. But I know, this thing has its uses for me; something mutual. It will keep its word.


    “Life is  not mine domain,  yet  for thou i shall compose an exception.  Hie then, live a few moe of thy mortal years long enough to regret it, then join back and pray me for mercy and mine gift.  Then i shall refuse thou once again, so that thou may wot thy place.”


    It waved its rotting hand hand sending me far off. A portal of some kind…


    “Creation shall be enchafed upon me, allow us get this ordeal over with” I heard its voice; far off in the distance. It clasped its hands, and then I was off somewhere else.


    —-


    I opened my eyes.


    Yes, I seem to have eyes now.


    A girl in her early  twenties stared at me with her greyish hazel eyes.


    “Fucker. You are awake.” She said.


    Suddenly three more youths got close to the bed I laid on. All similar, a greyish silver blonde hair and grey eyes. They were all pale as corpses, dressed in black robes it seemed they never had seen the sun.


    Another girl hugged me.


    A older boy shook his head and another older one spoke.


    “Seems he will live after all.” He turned around and left. The other lad followed him out of the room.


    “Adam. Speak to me.” The girl who spoke before addressed me.


    “What’s up.” I greeted her casually.


    She frowned and lifted her hand to slap me.


    I caught her hand in the air.


    “Unhand me!” She shrieked.


    “That depends. Will you  push your luck again?” I tightened my grip making her bend to the side in pain.


    “No… Stop it! You are hurting me. Fool.” She answered.


    I let her go and she stumbled back falling in her butt.


    I got up from bed and stretched my new body. Experimenting with the voice. Placed an hand in my crotch.


    “Everything seems to be in order.” *Haaaa* I yawned “How good it is to be alive.” I said as I stretched.


    This body… is weak as fuck. I noticed. Well mortals are like this after all.


    Compared to my old body that was three meters tall, now I stood with one and a half maybe a little more. This new body hadn’t even started to develop it’s muscles. I lifted my right arm that looked like a wet noodle and squeezed it with my left hand.


    The strength that my grip produced could hardly crush my arm, yet I still managed to hurt the hand by squeezing my own arm. Very weak was my first thought.


    To be honest this body is really uncomfortable, like wearing a sock crusted in mud. But still better than nothing.


    “Pig.” The girl commented as she got up.


    “Look. I don’t know what spell you used, but you should be a mindless zombie right now. I just cast a necromancy spell on you. If this is a prank and you happened to somehow not be dead. I am going to be very irritated.” She said, her voice full of arrogance and annoyance.


    I lunged forward and grasped for her throat shoving her against the wall. She resisted, and to my surprise a little girl like her, turned out to be actually stronger than me. But a gentle squeeze at the apple of her throat that was now in my grasp reminded her of her place.


    “I don’t like your tone. Child.” I said as I strangled her.


    Good enough to bully girls at least.


    “So…rr….*cough*Sorry.” She apologized in tears.


    I let her go and she fell on her knees. I turned around giving my back to her and looking towards the window. An haggard looking little town, It seems I find myself inside a church.


    “What is your name?” I asked her.


    “You don’t recall?. I am Maria, and that is Ruth. We are your sisters, right?” She spoke between coughs and looked at the bed where I was laid when I woke up.


    Another girl was sitting there. Just smiling at me.


    Strange, I saw her. But I’m used to detecting presences, this girl didn’t have one. If this Maria did not point her out I wouldn''t have noticed her at all.


    “Why don’t you speak?” I asked her.


    “She is mute.” The other girl answered. “She is also your twin.”


    “I see.” I looked into a nearby mirror.


    Grey eyes with shades of purple and long greyish silver blond hair, almost grey too. This boy’s physique was indeed pathetic, a miracle he could stand at all. Aged about sixteen, or seventeen given the details. Given the state of the body he could be younger. Who knows. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    He also had deep dark circles under in his eyes.


    …Its my current body now. And such a fucking headache, it will be to make this thing productive.


    “Come on Maria and Ruth. I seem to be suffering from amnesia, tour me the grounds.” I walked out of the room, hands folded behind my back. Gesturing them to follow.


    This was not my first round around.


    As I walked out of the room I found myself in a corridor made of stone, many doors here it seems this is the dormitory. Behind me I could hear hurried footsteps, both girls seem to be obedient. Good.


    “Adam! Wait, you say you are experiencing amnesia? Were are you going? We need to go and see father.” Maria reached me by my side and spoke.


    “Somewhere high and quiet were I can question you. Who is this father?” I asked as I opened the double door in the end of the hallway.


    Dim sunlight lit up the corridor which was previously lit only by candles and oil lanterns.


    I immediately went blind. Damn… This body is really sensitive. Who was this Adam? A basement dweller?


    I was now in the garden. Only dead shrubs and grey flora. Some dead trees too. This place indeed is a church. Quite a big one too. Maybe a monastery.


    Not far in the garden I spotted a bell tower. There I would have a good view of the place and I could also talk with this girl more comfortably.


    “Our father. The high priest?” She asked confused.


    “Priest? They are allowed to have kids here? Not unheard of, but this place looks very… catholic.” I responded.


    “Of course, why wouldn’t they? what is catholic? Have you also gone bollocks?”


    Bollocks? Is she for real… so this is some kind of british tea cult? No… My first world burned.


    A mirror perhaps? I wondered. Alternative dimensions and their rules are a headache.


    Not responding I kept walking.


    Soon I reached this tower. There was a wooden ladder, I climbed up and the girls followed.


    Up here there was a small big metal bell and a mechanism to ring it. I took a seat at the edge of this belfry.


    I looked down from up this tower, it seems to be about eighty meters high.


    I leaned my back in the wall and casually leaned a leg down the edge. Ruth quickly emulated me and sat in front of me sitting the exact same way in front of me.


    Maria crossed her arms. “That’s dangerous…” She said.


    I raised an hand to silence her.


    This place is indeed a monastery. Quite a big one too. Outside its walls a town stood, below the hill, where the monastery stood. In the horizon I could see a forest of dead trees and a landfill.


    Just next to the town. These people seem to be pigs.


    The town isn’t advanced. It seems we are in the early eighties.


    I spotted a few horse carriages and men dressed up in black suits. That gave it away enough.


    “So our father is the boss of this place. Tell me about him.” I turned to Maria.


    “What is there to tell… He is the leader of the priests here, on paper we worship Ahdon…”


    I cut her.


    “On paper.” I remarked.


    “You already know this. It’s a secret for those outside of the monastery, but for us inside we worship other deities. Ones that grants us… Powers.” She said nonchalantly.


    “I see.” I answered and looked around now with some greater understanding.


    “Blood sacrifices? Orgies? What gets this place going?” I asked.


    “Yes.” She answered. “All of those, and some more. Anything to reach the mysteries beyond. That’s the way our order operates.”


    Humans…


    “Tell me Maria. Have you ever participated in any of these?”


    “Blood sacrifices, only. I don’t have the need for any other stuff, father doesn’t allow us either; it would be… well unbecoming of our station like he likes to say. And I would never.” She said. Her tone serious.


    I got up and stood in front of her my hand in her chin. And I approached my face to hers.


    “You are a pretty girl Maria, have you never done it? Not even with a single person?” I got close to her, attempting a kiss.


    Ruth behind me muttered a sound. A gasp? Interesting.


    Maria went red and then pushed me to the side and turned around.


    “No.” She answered, obviously shaken.


    An introvert. I thought, as I crossed my arms.


    “We are siblings… Even in the band of Eryzirity there are lines that should not be crossed.” She said.


    “I see, cutting and fucking each others in blood orgies is fine. But sibling fucking is where you draw the line. Fucking hypocrites.” I commented with a smirk.


    “We do it by choice. For power, that’s what the deities want. That’s what we give them for their boons. But even power is not worth throwing away my dignity.” She spoke quite resolutely.


    I took a seat again by the edge.


    “Is it not? I wonder what would you do if you had no other away forward. A choice, Power or pride? Choices, choices.” I clicked my tongue.


    “The time to stop… comes for everyone.” She muttered.


    “Yes. I wonder what you will do in yours. Don’t say it, I don’t care. You my sweet girl, earned yourself the benefit of the doubt.”


    Moving to other matters.


    “One last question. Why did I woke up in a bed, and why did you thought I was dead?”


    “Our older brothers… They don’t take kindly to you for some stupid reason. Me and Ruth do our best to keep them away from you… But Ruth is a cripple and I don’t do miracles.” She sneered.


    “I see. And what was I like before I woke up?” Intriguing.


    “The opposite of what you show to be now. It seems they really did hit your head hard. You are a coward and a loser. Could not even learn the easiest spells even with me and father holding your hand. Always sick.” She said, hoping for a reaction.


    “And? Did they beat me? What did they say, what does this father think?”


    “Honestly, i have been looking out for you for as long as I remember. Ruth is very talented… As for you… well there is talk of a big sacrifice. I have done what I could, but I don’t think I can change his damned mind.”


    “Sacrificing his own flesh and blood… Father is… I don’t know what to say.” She said quite disheartened.


    What a joke.


    “Enough. Maria, you now work for me. I have uses for you. Come, there is much to do.”


    I gestured her to follow and went down the stairs.


    As soon as I stepped out of the belfry the girls behind me. Near a pound in this garden there were my new brothers. It seems they were both waiting for me.


    They hadn’t spotted me yet. Their intentions are obviously clear.


    *Haa…* I breathed in. Boys of this age always seeking attention and some sort of validation.


    They are due to a lesson.


    Clearly; they are older than this body. Not older than me.


    —


    Maria’s FOV


    Today has been quite a strange day, Adam my brother turned from a spineless donkey into a bloody maniac.


    This shameless away that he is acting today Is bringing me to the edge of my patience with him. Maybe this great sacrifice is a good idea after all.


    I love Ruth and she loves him, her twin. I have been protecting him all these years for her sake. But if he keeps acting this wild and crazy I am afraid I will be finally done with vouching for him.


    But I can’t help but just come with him. Do as he says? Its something about his voice, his attitude.


    This… Authority. Just like father.


    Right now I can’t say if I am afraid for him, that he might do something stupid. Or that I am actually afraid…— of him; but that’s silly he is a weakling… isn’t he?


    No. He is just a boy, I am a fully fledged master.


    He cannot hurt me, he is the one who should be afraid, I am his better after all.


    I am following him down the ladder of the belfry. Soon we get out of the building.


    Rob and Dough are here.


    Waiting for him. I will not protect him again, not after the unceasing disrespect that he keeps showing me.


    They haven’t noticed us coming down. Their backs are turned, he wants to sneak by them? I will get their attention. He is due to a lesson in manners.


    “Hoy, ladies! Taking a piss are we?” Adam called out for his older brothers.


    Such disrespect! They are actual acolytes, nearly masters too; eventually… while he isn’t even worthy of the title he owns, some apprentices are actually stronger than him; pathetic boy.


    There is still a year before his first ceremony, and that is if he makes it out alive. Which he won’t.


    Is he fucking stupid?


    “Adam, was the last beating not good enough of a lesso—” Our older brother Rob starts talking and immediately gets interrupted.


    Adam fucking sucker punched him in the teeth. I can see them flying out of his mouth as the older brother hits the ground.


    “Bastard!” Dough shouted in panic. Then he started chanting a spell.


    “Hurt!” A vacuum appeared in Adam shoulder. The bloody idiot is using the dismemberment curse on his brother.


    “Dough!” I shouted. Too late to help Adam.


    He just stood there. Watching as the slow spell was activating.


    “Move you idio…” I tried to help in panic.


    But he just lifted a finger and suddenly the spell disappeared.


    Spell cancellation? The Adam? He is just an acolyte, how is that possible, only some master’s are capable of that spell.


    I looked again. A circle was appearing in Dough’s thigh.


    THE FUCKING COUNTER-SPELL!???


    Dough had not even noticed it before a spring of blood busted out of his hip as his leg was separated an fell on the ground along with him.


    He panicked and screamed. Soaked in his own piss.


    “FUCKER” He screamed his voice a shrike of pain.


    I rushed over to try and help him. He is scum, but also my brother. I had to help.


    “Wath de fuuuk!?” Rob the elder brother got up by his knees stuttering between is broken teeth.


    I haven’t even noticed when he grabbed it. Dough’s dismembered leg was… Well in Adam’s hand being held by the ankle.


    He took the the  leg. It hadn’t stopped bleeding yet, blood covering him as he lifted it above his head.


    He used it like it was a some club on Rob’s face.


    Over and over again.


    “Haaaaa, Fuuck, Stooooep! ” Rob screamed between broken teeth.


    Smash.


    Smack.


    And bump.


    I could not help but cover my mouth with my hands at the bloody scene.


    Rob went unconscious.


    The bloody monster threw the leg back at Dough and clapped his hands.


    “Now that’s settled. Dear sister do show me the way to the nearest bath. I am positively covered in filth.” He looked at me and said as nothing just had happened.


    I looked around. The acolytes and apprentices were all around us watching the scene, there is no way that father was not going to find out about this.


    —


    Adam’s FOV


    Ah nothing like bloody dismemberment to set the mood for a fresh start.


    I cracked my shoulders. As I stretched.


    “Sure… This way.” Maria got up and motioned me to follow. Such a helpful lass.


    I followed her and soon we entered a big bathroom with a pool. The water wasn’t warm, but I have never been one for hot showers either. I immediately threw the silly robe away and stepped into the water.


    I could hear a gasp. “Could you…! Not go naked in front of me!” Maria shouted.


    “Never seen one before?” I asked. Amused.


    “You shameless little! Arhgh!” She stomped her foot and went away slamming the door.


    I took a seat in the bath and started washing my arms.


    Funnily enough that quiet, weird little girl was still standing there., Ruth was her name I think.


    “Want to join?” I asked.


    She immediately nodded and threw the robe away. Almost jumping in the water, butt-naked.


    “Woah!… You certainly ain’t shy. You know… I like your style.” I Laughed.


    She smiled and started imitating me. Washing herself.


    I looked at her. She is this body’s twin it seemed. The same silver blonde hair and grey eyes with shades of purple, she is indeed quite a pretty young lass.


    She reminded me of my daughters for some reason… “Abella, Dae, Nev…“


    “Nevauri.”


    Her eyes perked up.


    I notice I said their names aloud.


    “So… Your name is Ruth. I’m afraid my memory isn’t so fresh.” I changed the subject.  “Tell me… How old are you?”


    She seemed confused at first but then. She lifted both her open hands and then she only kept up seven fingers.


    “Seventeen, heh? The world is ours for the taking, am I right?” I laughed and she gave me a awkward smile.


    Laying back as I relaxed, I washed the blood off. The water turned red from my previous endeavour but I didn’t care. Ruth rushed out of the bath when she noticed it. Still I wasn’t in a hurry.


    And thought about my situation.


    Having gotten killed a few times in my whole existence, starts like this were nothing new.


    My first life was on earth. Born and raised, I loved music and started a band, I was… happy, at first all things concerned. I had a family for a while and a girl that I was planning to confess to. Money wasn’t good. But then again? When is it?


    Then the third world war started.


    I got drafted into the army and fought for my country, and in turn i got to watch as everyone that I ever loved dying and everything I cherished burning.


    I lost my mind back then. Turned into a rabid dog lost in hate and disgust. My masters pointed and I killed. I was good at it.


    That didn’t make me less of a dog.


    In the end, I lived long enough to watch the world burn in nuclear fire from a good high up view.


    From back then I remember smiling.


    I don’t know how or why, but I got a second chance. I started over in a world full of magic and wonderful things. Maybe this time I could finally be happy?


    Wrong.


    The place was cruel. Those with power murdered and took what they wanted, no remorse.


    Survival of the fittest.


    I realised that there is no such thing as peace and happiness, none that would last.


    I wanted to live. So I became strong, powerful enough that none would ever even think of hurting me or the ones I loved. I spat at death’s notion and told its aspect to go fuck itself when I finally got to meet with it; it gave me its boon for impressing it back then... As some form of wicked mockery.


    Power was my life, my dream and my goal. My everything. Its pursuit. But its never enough. In this road there is always an higher being. A threat.


    At some point i even ended up in a place akin to heaven. There I actually got to be happy for a while. Not that It lasted.


    I could not stop, that place reminded me of that in the end. Stopping would be accepting defeat. I don’t lose. Never again. For me, and for my daughters.


    My will, it had to be done.


    Now here I am again. A starting point, I need to find out about this world and a away to get back to where I was before. Go back to my daughters and wife. Take back my stuff, and move on to the next step in the road of power.


    That’s it.


    This is just a minor setback.


    Find Nev, find out who plotted against me. And have my revenge. But that’s the future, smart people think about the future.


    Geniuses about the present.


    Ruth was sitting in a table nearby reading something, when I heard the double doors open.


    It is time to meet this ‘Father’.