***The World***

***Angrod***

So it happened that on my fifth birthday I would be granted the doubtful honour of being officially introduced to this world's religion. Strangely enough, my parents weren't big believers. Up to the point that they didn't even share this world's lore on religion with me.

Yet, this particular ceremony apparently had to happen for one reason or the other. My father and my mother would ritually hand my soul over to some stranger they had never actually met. Or at least something similar would happen. It was the same game in every world.

People never ceased to baffle me. Who in his right mind would hack off an arm and hand it over to some stranger? There was no doubt in my mind that the whole ordeal would be humiliating from the beginning to the end.

The day had started with Rose shooing me out of my bed with the first rays of sunshine. Then she personally saw to me getting dressed, so that I would look prim and proper for this event.

She had acquired a blue miniature suit which fit me perfectly.

Internally, I bemoaned the waste of effort on such a fine piece of clothing. There was no doubt in my mind that she had gotten my measurements and ordered some poor tailor to make the suit. Given my current rate of growth, the thing would be obsolete within the year. It was highly doubtful that there would be a chance to put the suit on a second time.

Rose herself was already clad in her black maid-dress, which had certain similarities with a uniform. Apparently, the dress-code didn't apply to servants.

My parents also hadn't held back when they chose their religious regalia.

Nicol was in a black and white suit, stitched with golden patterns while the white parts dominated the outfit.

Though, I had a sneaking suspicion that the outfit was chosen for him by my mother, who was fussing over the correct alignment of Nicol's attire like some seamstress seeing to a proper fit. Unlike on other occasions, the king didn't wear the medals and pendants which showed the importance of his office.

The two of them had said something about showing up at the temple anonymously. Their idea of anonymous was clearly a farce of trying to look like the average young nobleman who wanted to introduce his child to the church.

Ireth herself was dressed in a matching white dress which covered her tail rather well. A fitting women's hat with a veil hid her face and her horns.

Personally, I had no experience with what a nobleman should look like. There was no other choice but to trust in the king's and the queen's judgement. I am sure that Rose would have spoken up if there was an obvious problem with the attire.

My parents chose a red vehicle with six tyres as transport. The strange abomination between a limousine and a carriage was slim and looked sturdy at the same time. The whole backside provided a compartment with enough room for eight passengers. The driver had his own compartment at the front.

The windows were mirrored so that nobody could take an easy look into the car... carriage? The others called the thing a car, so I decided to go with that.

We got inside and Rose took the position of the driver while several guards in casual clothes got into their own transports. Nicol's idea of staying incognito was clearly to have enough bodyguards with him to repel anyone who might come close enough to recognize our faces.

Then we were off and I got my first real look at the world which I had so far only seen from the palace's windows.

The capital city, Tirn, is a bustling metropolis with about five hundred thousand citizens, a respectable number for this world's economic development. There were many people on the streets, most of them using the public transportation service, a railroad system that was running in parallel with the normal street.

Cars like ours were a rarity, and I noticed us overtaking several old-fashioned carriages, which reassured me in my assumption that this world is right at the start of the modern age. While magic was used in daily life, techniques for mass-manufacturing of artefacts were still new and not widespread.

I also noticed that most houses are made out of red brick, probably to keep a unified theme for the whole city.

Over the course of the whole drive, I stayed glued to the window like some schoolkid. My parents probably thought that I was overwhelmed from getting to see the city from up close, but I was more interested in what kind of circumstances the common folk was living in.

From my vantage point, I didn't notice anyone who was obviously having a hard time surviving. There were people whose clothes made it clear that some were richer and others less wealthy. But even those who I spontaneously identified as common workers looked like they were doing well enough.

From searching my memories, I knew that there were worse societies to live in.

Our journey didn't take long, and soon enough we halted in front of a building that looked like a mixture between a cathedral and a Tibetan Temple.

The bodyguards didn't waste any time and quickly cleared a straight path to the temple, which was when Rose opened the door and we got out. I was quickly ushered into the temple, Ireth pulling me along all the way.

I judged that my parents were probably afraid of a sniper or another suicide run.

Once inside, we entered a large cathedral, and I was immediately impressed by the delicate artwork on the walls and windows, but only until I realized that the pictures were telling a story.

My story.

To our left, a large window made out of coloured glass showed a great Cataclysm and the clash between two mighty powers, tearing the old world asunder.

Some ingenious enchanter had enchanted the window with an illusion, making it look like the two opposing sides were moving towards each other as we walked past and changed our point of view. In the centre of the artwork were two faceless figures who stood opposing each other while the world around them was torn asunder by crackling lightning. Between those two supposed gods were dozens of falling warriors, struck down by the lightning between them.

Two armies were in the process of clashing in the background, one side showing demons and zombies, with people and angels on the other.

Right ahead of us, a wall-painting showed the aftermath of the battle. Both sides had slain each other, leaving a wasteland of bodies on a sinking continent. An angel-like figure loomed above the battlefield, a judgemental expression on her face.

I knew that person.

Even if I hadn't recognized her on the picture, the large marble statue to our right was quite clearly a depiction of Seria, Roman-style. She was holding out a hand towards the room, like granting a blessing, and I felt strong magic from this artefact. It radiated power into the entire cathedral, likely a mind-alteration spell that had a calming effect, inducing a feeling of serenity in the onlooker.

Though, without a closer look, I can't be sure.

Seria's statue was clad in a toga and had four wings spread out behind her. One set of angel wings, and one set of a more demonic or draconic nature. This puzzled me a little since I had never seen Seria wearing anything other than a basic human shell.

Of course, that doesn't mean much. A god with access to the wonders of a whole multiverse has no problem with finding access to a myriad of ways to change his or her body as it pleases them.

I just stand there, rooted to the floor while I try my best to make sense of the situation. No matter how I look at this setup, the depictions of Seria spell nothing good. Should I turn around and bolt, screaming bloody murder?

“No need to be intimidated, Angrod.” Ireth pushes me forward. “The congregation is just a simple ceremony to introduce young people to society. A priest or priestess will speak a few words and you will get a simple prophecy from the goddess. You will also get a memorial tablet that shows your potential. Many people like to keep it as a memento. On rare occasions, Goddess Seria herself shows up to give her approval.”

“It's really no big issue, Son,” Nicol chortles. “Although, when I had my own congregation, I got the prophecy that my third child would have a great destiny.”

My danger-sense is tingling louder and louder. I want out of this place!

“You too?” Ireth stops. “Strange. I got told that something good would happen on the congregation of my third child.”

“And I am out of here.” Turning on my heel, I make a 180 and head for the exit.

“Not so fast, young man!” Ireth grabs me at my collar, yanking me back. She quickly bends down, pulling my clothes back in order. Smiling, she takes my hand and pulls me towards the line of people who are waiting for their turn with the priestess.

“I have to think about this. This could have a huge impact on my life you know?” I fumble for something to say, but nothing comes to mind that would extract me from this situation.

Should I throw myself onto the ground and start screaming? Children tend to do that when they are unhappy with something. I am quite sure that my parents wouldn't have the experience to deal with such a situation since I was always such a good little boy. Maybe they would turn back and leave, afraid of making a scene?

On the other hand, Ireth is quite the fury. By causing a scene, I might just earn my first educational slapping in this reincarnation.

We join the row of people which contains parents with their children. Assuming that they are here for the same reason as us, this introduction to society must be a public event.

In front of us, the children are made to touch clean metal plates after some ceremonial words by the priestess, while the parents kneel down to the statue.

Judging by the priestess' aura, I assume that she is using some form of divination magic, which I am no fan of. I was always of the opinion that knowing the future causes nothing but trouble. Depending on the form of divination, you would either have to be a masochist or a player who likes games of chance.

The line shortens until it's the turn of the pair in front of us and I get a first good look at the ceremony.

“Duke Garber Rosenquarz and Dutchess Hertia Rosenquarz. We bestow upon you the blessings of the Goddess Seria. May your child, Listfell Rosenquarz, be judged by the gods so that we can choose the best path for the future. May your lives be happy and prosperous.”

The priestess holds out a metal plate and the girl touches it. The process takes a few moments, but eventually, a soft, yellow light envelops the metal plate and the girl's hand.

Furrowing my forehead, I tilt sideways in an attempt to study the complicated spell which interacts with the girl's aura and then carves some runes into the plate. I can't read the result of the divination from my position, but the family in front of us seems happy enough because their faces light up.

My skeptic behaviour must've been improper because Ireth pulls me back into line.

The Rosenquarz family steps aside, allowing us to approach the priestess who takes a scroll which is handed to her by an assisting acolyte. She almost makes a double-take, her eyes widening upon reading the scroll. But she quickly catches herself, putting on a forced smile.

Ireth pushes me forward and my parents get to their knees next to me. Then the priestess holds out a fresh plate for me to touch. Pulling a face, I put my hand onto the item, hoping that nothing bad would happen. Seria might be a bitch, but I doubt that she would use nice mortals like my parents for a petty game of punishment. Ireth would likely be the one who would suffer the most if something happened to me.

“King Nicol of Tirna and Queen Ireth of Tirna. We bestow upon you the blessings of the Goddess Seria. May your child, Angrod of Tirna, be judged by the gods so that we can choose the best path for the future. May your lives be happy and prosperous.”

The already familiar yellow glow envelops my hand and I can feel my skin prickle. The light traces runes into the plate, carving out words.

Name: Angrod of Tirna Titles bestowed by the gods: First Prince of Tirna, Fallen God, Little One, Saviour, Doomsbringer, Great Soul, Blessed by Seria Potentials:

-Divine rank Soulmage

-Saviour of the world

-Destroyer of the world

-God

My eyes bug out as my parents and the priestess stare at the plate in grave silence. Great! The thrice damned thing spilled the beans! Seria must have set this up! I knew that this wasn't a good idea! In the worst case, I will be treated as some kind of monster now.

And if there is enough time to think, they will surely find out about my past. What if they piece together that I was involved in the religious story on the walls? Will I be burned on the stake?

Sorry, Nicol, Ireth, you are nice people and great parents. Seria fucked this one up big time and you don't deserve me as a child. There must be a way out of this. How could I fix the situation? I don't know how my peaceful life could get any worse.

A sudden rumble and a loud 'CRACK' from above startle me. A flash of light blinds everyone and I throw myself onto the ground, following a gut instinct.

What the fuck is going on!? Blinking tears out of my eyes, I look up. There is a heavy presence in the room, pushing down on my very soul. The feeling is so very familiar, indicating that someone powerful is here.

“Hiiii!”

I can't help but let out a terrified squeal at whom I see! If I were an adult, I would be embarrassed over my behaviour, but as I am now I have no qualms making a scene.

A shining and sparkling Seria is hovering above us, the Goddess of Life and Death, clad in a toga of the finest silk with wings and an angelic aura on top!

GOOD ENTRANCE!

But... but... please choose a better fabric next time! With her radiating like a lightbulb, people can see everything through that piece of nothingness. Figure, nipples and all! Seria... you should also shave if you dress like that!

Everyone stares at the Goddess, agape. It's not entirely clear whether the silence is thanks to their awe of being in the presence of a superior being, or because a weirdo teleported into their church.

The present clergymen throw themselves to the floor, grovelling as if they were training that exact move their entire lives.

Wow, that goes too far. I never expected Seria to create a cult with such devoted followers. Guys, have at least some self-respect! Being a god is nothing that you couldn't achieve for yourselves if you would just work hard.

Seria smiles a most charming smile as if she was an angel who couldn't hurt a fly.

The display immediately offends me. That deceitful snake! She is perfectly fine with kicking dying people who are on the ground.

Don't smile like that!

I fight the urge to wave a defiant fist at her, but the pressure of her aura puts me in my place. In my current state, I am no challenge for her.

Waving a hand, she lets go of a sheet of paper which slowly flutters towards us while she fades away.

Now, THAT can't be good! I have to get rid of that!

Reaching out, I cast Fireball!

Nothing happens.

Huh? Fireball! Damn! Trying again, I futily attempt to destroy whatever message of doom was delivered by the wicked witch!

Zap! Hocus Pocus! AARGH!

My mana is gone and there isn't anything in the vicinity either! Is it a side-effect of her aura, or did she do that on purpose?

The message flutters towards us and I make up my resolve. If need be, I will jump and grab it, then eat it!

Almost! Almost! Come closer!

I hop up and down, exercising my body with every ounce of strength at my disposal. My fingers almost reach the paper when my mother's hand shoots out and snatches the prize away from me.

I want to cry!

Ireth holds the paper out in front of her so that Dad and Rose who came up from behind can read it too.

Hi, your most beloved and worshipped Goddess here!

I have watched this world for some time and I am unhappy with its current state! To help you, I have blessed your child with a great soul.

Don't dare not to be grateful!

But I don't think it's good to intervene too much by my holy self, so I give you this prophecy for the two paths this child can take:

-Leave the stupid guy to himself and he will conquer the world, most likely destroying it in the process.

-Get him to marry the first princess of Stricc and the both of them will lead the world to a better future.

I am sure you both will be able to educate him properly. ♥

Sincerely yours,

Goddess of Life and Death!

“But there is no first princess of Stricc,” Rose breaks the silence.

I break out in a cold sweat while Mom, Dad, Rose, and the priestess stare at me. There is still a heavy silence throughout the whole cathedral.

After a minute of silent staring with me as the focus, I can't take it anymore, so I decide to break the silence.

“I choose option one then!”

Ireth reflexively reaches out, smacking me over the back of my head with enough force to rattle my brain.

Eyes wide, I reach up, feeling the growing bump. Eh?! Mother hit me?! That was the first time! I am seriously mentally injured here. Are we now in the territory of violent education!?

“Well, I guess I can count this as the worst day of my life,” I state my earnest opinion.