Dexter ran through the house, kissing his mother on the cheek, before playfully rubbing his younger brother and sister hair as they waited in their high chairs for breakfast before grabbing a piece of toast from the plate on the island, shoving it into his mouth while making a face at the twins. The twins in turn giggled at his antics. Glancing past the head of the dining table, his father's seat was empty. Having already gone to work long before everyone woke up for the day. He felt gnawing resentment just thinking about his father. Having gotten into an argument with him over his curfew, he was already eighteen and still had a curfew, only weeks away from graduating and going out of state for college, but the stupid curfew remained. His father's last words kept repeating "My house, my roof," played on a loop in his head. "Dexter, sit and eat," his mom said from the kitchen, who was still preparing breakfast for the twins. Still chewing, he grabbed a fresh bright red apple from the bowl on the island across from her. "Going to meet up with Amelia before school, gotta run." "Fine, fine. See you for dinner, love you." "bye-bye," "bye-bye," He heard the twins say, heading for the door and grabbing up his bag. Smiling and waving at the twins at the table. "Bye kiddos, see you later. Love you too." Stepping outside, the smell of fresh-cut grass was the first thing to greet him. Looking at the car in the driveway, clenching his fist. His graduation present. Something he found that was easily taken away when you broke a stupid curfew by a messily twenty minutes. Shaking his head, he began to walk towards school. Sliding his hand over the car as he passed by. Ten minutes later, he met Amelia, his high school sweetheart. After kissing, they began to walk towards the school only a few short blocks away. Sliding his hand into hers and kissing it gently. "I got tickets for the fair tonight. Want to go?" "Already got the tickets. How did you know I would agree?" She asked. Her bright green eyes always made his heart skip a beat. Breaking eye contact, "I didn't, but hoped." "It sounds fun. What about your curfew?" "I'm not grounded, just got the car taken away," "Yeah, how are you going to pick me up tonight?" Stopping, "Have you ever ridden on pegs before?" he asked with a smile. She stopped and laughed. "Yeah, how about I pick you up?" "That works too," saying with a smile. Grabbing back her hand for the rest of the walk. The school day was over quick, college prep was easy, and being a senior had benefits, like leaving early. Leaving before Amelia was done, and going home early. Dinner was fine but was held mainly in silence besides the twins, who seemed to be in high spirits. He was about to head out the door when his father stopped him. "Going out? Be back at ten," he said instructed. "It's the weekend. Can't it be a little later?" We stared at each other for a second. "Fine, eleven, no later," he said before looking back at his tablet. Dex looked at his mom, who simply shook her head apologetically. She said she would talk to him, but I guess not yet. Having my anger slowly beginning to boil. Nodding and heading out the door before saying anything he would regret later. The fair was actually a small carnival with games and rides. Dex won first place at rings, getting a large stuffed unicorn. Giving it too Amelia. She carried it around all night. It was almost curfew, and we were on the fairs-wheel. We shared a long kiss when it stopped with us at the top. We had talked about many things that day, including going to college, where we planned to move in together off-campus. At the top of the Ferris wheel after the kiss, Dex reaching into his pocket, and pulled out a red velvet box and passed it over to her. Sitting the stuffed animal to the side, she opened it. Inside was a small golden ring with a small diamond. Inside the lid had, "would you marry me? " With a check mark with "yes" or "no" on the inside. Just like when she asked him out in sixth grade. Making the choice back then was the best decision he has ever made. "I choose yes," she said, with tears streaming down her beautiful face. A lock of her golden hair sticking to her now wet cheeks. Taking the ring, I slid it onto her finger, a perfect fit. "I love you." "I love you." Kissing again, more deeply this time. Wiping her tears away. The fairs-wheel continued its descent, but the couple couldn't help but kiss the entire way down instead of staring at the scenery or hearing the laughter and cries of children's joy around them. Leaving the fairgrounds, he looked over at Amelia, who was focused on the road. He thought of how nervous he was to propose, but it was immediately squashed by the returning resentment towards the strict curfew by his father. This was a night to celebrate, but he had to be home in ten minutes. Amelia, knowing him better than anyone else, reached over and held his now clenched fist. "It will be okay. Soon we will be out of this town and in Boston. Far away and under no one's rule besides our own." She stopped at the stop sign before going. "Yeah," he said. Smiling and coming back to himself. Feeling the love in her touch. Bright lights enveloped him, and then he immediately found himself in a world of darkness devoid of everything. Not knowing how long he spent there, floating through nothingness before something changed, feeling like he was being pulled as if by gravity for the first time in a long time. Dex found himself in a circular room with polished columns. The walls looked to be made of swirling darkness like smoke. The darkness moved and made a tapestry of events he didn't recognize all around him. Looking up towards the ceiling, it seemed to be nothing but a galaxy of stars. A purple nebula in the distance with thousands upon thousands of stars blanketed the ceiling above the columns. Looking down and now noticing a man sitting lazily on a tall throne of black smoke that seemed to hold him like it was solid, creatures of deep black slept at its feet. "Welcome," the figure said, his voice sounding rich and noble with an unfamiliar accent. "Where, where am I?" The man on the throne wearing robes that had stars flowing over them also seemed to shift across its fabric. He wore a mask that reminded him of a jester in a play. "You're in my palace. I have some questions for you, Dexter." "Who are you?" I asked. "I'm known by many names, too many, in fact. But you may call me Ulin, god of games, gambling, and shadows." "You're a god?" Dexter asked, stunned. "I am, but I called you here for a purpose. If you had another chance at life, would you take it?" Dexter thought of the question then. It felt like a fog was weighing on him, remembering Amelia and his last moments on Earth. "Where is Amelia? What happened to her?" A long second passed. "She is on Earth," he said, sounding bored. "Thank god, if it means I could get back to her and my family, yes, yes I would," Dex said confidently. The god didn't see any waver in his heart. Nodding, "Good, I cannot send you directly back to Earth, but I can send you somewhere that has the ability for you to return there. If you're powerful enough to reach the heavens. If you agree, I'll send you there. If not, I'll return you to the void." A shudder went through him thinking about the void. "Why, why me, why are you doing this?" doubts began to surface. "Simple. I see potential in you, great potential. Many others would like to see your progress and see you return home. I have much riding on this, so don't disappoint me, mortal." His gaze was locked on him. Felling the god's gaze to see into his very soul chilled him. "I'll do whatever I need to do to get home." "Good, now as a chosen, you have one request before you're sent to the new world. What would you like? A powerful weapon, a unique power, knowledge? Remember, you can only ask for one thing, and it must be within my power... so don't play stupid and ask for me to join you. If I deem the request to stupid, you'll get nothing." Dexter pondered for a whole minute, thinking. Knowing nothing about the place he was about to go. So this decision was a major one. So asking for anything could lead to a critical decision. "May I ask a question before I make my decision?" Waving his hand lazily, "Go ahead, but the time is running short." he said, looking bored upon the throne, now looking at his nails. His golden mask reflected them perfectly on its polished surface. "Do you carry power in that world?" For the first time since they began talking, the god actually looked excited. Sitting up in his throne and looking down on Dexter, his eyes that matched the ceiling above shone with excitement. "Why yes, I do hold power there." Dexter thought of what exactly to say. An idea had come to him, looking to the god before deciding. He took a second and removed his mask, revealing his face, a wide smile with predatory teeth shown upon his handsome features. Snapping his fingers, Dexter fell into the darkness once again, falling directly through the floor. Minutes after, Ulin and Dexter conversed. Within the palace of Ulin. "You sure like to take risks." A deep voice said, his voice echoing off the walls of the palace of shadow and marble. "What is the risk? I broke no rules of our little game," Ulin said. "No, but what he asked for could prove to have him targeted by the other gods and their champions and followers." "He asked for something within my power, so I gave it, and so I rewarded him with it. It's not my fault the others chosen are not as brilliant as this one." "Still Ulin, It will be..." "You worry too much. How is your chosen one doing?" Ulin said, cutting off his friend. Approaching the wall of shadow nearest them, "She is becoming quite powerful, already at the 4th rank." waving his hand, the shadow shifted and showed an image of a beautiful woman in red armor, holding a long flaming whip. "Impressive," Ulin said, approaching the image. "She's only been there for a few years now, right?" "Yes, she is doing very well." "Have you chosen her as your champion?" "I have. Next time she visits a shrine and prays. I will bestow my mark on her." "Good. I hope she does well and ascends quickly. she's reached ascended faster than any others with your guidance. Something we all could learn from." "I do too. I must go. I have other stops to make," he stopped and turned towards Ulin, who was walking away. "Keep an eye on that one. His potential is worrisome." Returning to the throne of swirling smoke, Ulin watched as the closest companion and friend vanish from his palace. I hope I didn't make a terrible decision with this one. He has massive potential, but if he does get targeted by the others, there is nothing I can do. He thought. Wait a little longer for another chosen, I suppose. Still feeling weak from the fragment of his power, he closed his eyes and meditated.