Dreams. So many, strange, dreams. Why does it feel like I am taking an endless exam back in school?

Suddenly, the white space surrounding this soul flashes blue, revealing a faceless grey hominoid wearing a loose fitting, long white toga, with one arm resting inside above the belt.

Oh, this is new, who are you?

“Young one,” begins the hominoid, “I must say, I have mostly bad news for you.”

Can’t be much worse than my life so far these last few days.

“Actually, it could be, depending on your view. You really are dead, and you shouldn’t be here at all. You have been existing like this for an unknown amount of time, and it is likely you would continue to do so if you didn’t become entrapped in the net.”

Net? So are you a soul fisher or eater or something? It would explain why I can’t feel my body but can see all around me. I think? Maybe? Or am I still dreaming?

“Sight is part of the array, but I digress. I come with two offers for you, who is filled with regrets. You can be incarnated into this world, wholly different from your own, or we can release you back into the void, where your regrets can fester for eternity.”

Sh*t choices I have there. What benefits do I get if I live? Can I pick my own body? Is there anything special I can get if I choose reincarnation?

“Make no mistake, this is not something to bargain, beyond being able to live. You start from scratch, the same opportunities as everyone else in this world. Due to certain constraints, your memories will effectively be sealed for quite some time. As far as your body goes, let me put it this way, babies are being made every day, and you will be whatever your parents make of you, though it’s not like they have much choice in the matter either.”

Can you at least guarantee me some happiness?

“Had you ever been able to guarantee happiness in your previous life? Was it something so easily purchased?”

The soul remains silent for a moment, before replying.

I could buy cookies, so yes, I think.

Chuckling, the golem Graham states as the room turns blue again, “Then perhaps your happiness will be what you make of it this time.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Outside of a village, approaching on a well kept path, a small troupe of people can be seen apparently carrying their barest of essentials. Perhaps it would be a strange scenario for any other village besides the one in question, but this is a story that could be repeated numerous times throughout its long history.

“Come along Ted,” says a moderately short, sly, young, blonde female, with a smirk. She holds out her hand to the child in the group, who appears to be 3 to 4 years old.

Ted, holding onto a white duck that seems content with its situation somehow, glares at the young woman. Seeing her smirk turn into a smile, he frees a hand from the duck and grabs her own. Hearing a chuckle, the child turns his glare to the slightly taller and more mature blonde in the group.

A short while later, they break free of the trees into a wide area of tiered farmland, worked entirely by hand. While not difficult to obtain equipment, this village seems more like a retirement project by those that want to stay busy, rather than make money. And indeed it is for the most part, for any that have the ability to find the village are looking for exactly that. The villages for fleeing your past are two mountains over, though there may be some ambiguity there.

“Welcome young friends!” waves a grungy looking old man, hat, gloves, and overalls included, from the field halfway between the forrest and village proper. “I see you’ve made it!”

“Hello!” shouts the pre-teen girl while waving her free hand. “Are you the mayor?!”

“Sia dear, no need to shout, the whole village probably heard you,” says the older blonde.

“Yes Mom,” Sia replies while looking back with a goofy grin.

The old man chuckles as he makes it to the path as the group arrives. “Yes I am, but time enough for introductions when we get to the gazebo for some shade. How was your trip? One of the woodsmen said you would be along in a few days.”

“Overall it wasn’t bad,” says the red-headed woman in the group before continuing with a smirk, “except the little one giving us trouble from time to time.”

Ted turns his seemingly perpetual glare towards the woman as she laughs and sticks out her tongue at him. “Lomri…” he says, his childish, serious voice making the old mayor chuckle.

Lomri grins and grabs for Ted, and the duck, being an intelligent water fowl, escapes into Sia’s arms as Ted is wrapped up in a hug and nuzzled by the foxkin. His tiny arms making a few feeble attempts at pushing her away before she hoists him up to her shoulders.

As the short walk is over, the group and the mayor sit at picnic tables under the shade. The various villagers had already began to gather around the gazebo for refreshments and introductions of their new neighbors as Lomri hands the grumpy child back over to the tall blonde.

As the mayor’s apparent wife brings over fruit infused water, he accepts a glass and turns to look at the group before settling his kindly gaze on Ted.

“Well, let’s start introductions with you,” the mayor says with a smile. “I’m Robert, though everyone calls me Bob. Who are you?”

Realizing he is being addressed, Ted stops looking into the glass with one eye and turns to the mayor.

“Ted,” he says, followed by a half-second pause that almost allows the mayor to speak before continuing, with gestures. “Mom. Sia.”

“Thun-der-ham-mer,” Ted emphasizes, pointing at the duck, who quacks once. Though in the back of everyone’s mind it almost seems as if the duck regally proclaimed ‘Greetings, one and all.’

‘What a strange name for a strange duck,’ thinks Mayor Bob before being hit with a sardonic smile then shock hidden behind a politician’s mask as the last three are introduced.

“Trouble,” Ted says pointing at the foxkin.

“Eunuchs,” he finishes, pointing at the men.

“Ah,” Mayor Bob says after a very short, but noticeable pause by all around. “Frankly was not expecting that word from a three-year old…”

“Three and a half,” Ted says emphatically.

“But it is your story to tell if you wish. And you, mother-of-Ted, how is the water?”

Taking the hint, she smiles and replies, “Oh wonderful, not often one is able to drink something with roots in an empire long past. I am Fleur, and these two are my children for what it is worth.”

She ruffles Ted and Sia’s hair affectionately as she finishes.

“I’m Sia!” proclaims the girl with a cheery voice.

“Lomri, the troublemaker,” says the foxkin with a grin. “The maid of the house, as it were.”

“Harris,” states the tall man with a tan.

“Hammond,” continues the average height, tank of a man with a tan.

“Child isn’t incorrect,” continues Harris, “and though I’m sure enough of you can make guesses to our circumstances based just on that, we are leaving that behind and would like to keep it that way.”

Murmurs and nods are seen from the older villagers. After all, nobody in the village is unaware of the fact an imperial princess just served their new neighbors.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Later that evening in a small house halfway around the village, lights can be seen peaking through the window shades as the remainder of the village begins to turn in. Atop the house, a duck can be seen sitting, staring off towards the last moments of the sunset.

Inside, Sia, Fleur, Lomri, and Ted are gathered around a simple meal.

“So,” Fleur says with a smile between bites, “How was exploring the village today?”

“Fun!” is Sia’s instant reply. “Real birds and animals and vegetables and houses! The circle is intact as well.”

Shaking her head at the juxtaposition of excitement and business, Fleur continues her questioning. “I take it there is a barrier set up already then?”

“Bill is the best,” replies Ted.

“So,” Lomri interjects, “Do we know who is the anomaly? Did we time it right, are there any problems?”

Sia and Fleur turn to look directly at Ted, awaiting his reply which he does not seem to be in a hurry to give as he is chewing slowly.

Finally swallowing, he says, “Son of hero and priestess. Born… about… now, over there.”

Gesturing and just about to take another bite, Ted pauses seeing that they are still staring at him. “Everything is fine. Fixed problems last time.”

Seeing a smile, a squee, and a sigh, Ted turns back to eating, but not before one last interruption.

“Hey,” says Lomri, “You never did tell us why you settled on an acronym for a name rather than a proper name.”

“Because of the beacon,” he says before turning his attention fully to the meal. “How about your name, vixen?”