This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living, dead or fictional, is entirely coincidental
This series is very graphic in nature and is intended for mature audiences as it portrays mental illness, violence, gore, and some sexual content, and may be disturbing or triggering to some. Viewer/Reader discretion is advised.
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My name from back then doesn't matter. Nobody ever called me that anyway. Except for the doctors who always looked at me with a mild pity that would pass as soon as they left my room. I'm sure of it. When I was small, there was an accident. A drunk driver went through a red light hitting the car me and my parents were in. It killed both of my parents on impact and left me paralyzed from the neck down.
Tomorrow would mark my 19th birthday. I wouldn't be celebrating it alone though. I had Nina, my caretaker. She was 24 years old, 170cm tall, smart, beautiful, and had long silver hair.
She braided her hair halfway down so her bangs would frame her face, but kept a headband over the top. She bathed me, gave me my medicines, and took care of any need that I may have. She was wonderful.
Most of my days were spent watching NuuYub, a video platform on the internet. Nina would let me watch all day if I wanted. My favorite videos were of the Survivalist Dyne Gills. He'd go out and survive anywhere, from lost in the jungle, to trapped in an urban environment. He was amazing!
That wasn't the only show I'd watch habitually, I also really liked a show called "How to make that!" Where I got to see things like how medicine was made from raw ingredients. My interests varied pretty widely too, from Agriculture, to parkour videos. I even loved watching medical procedures. Nina would sit with me when I'd watch them and either explain things to me, or critique the operations.
I loved spending time with Nina.. If I had a regular working body… I bet I could have gotten her to marry me.. I adored her so much.. My favorite was when she'd read to me. I'd close my eyes and be whisked away on a fantastical adventure, gilded by the sound of her voice.
I knew that I wasn't Nina's only patient, and that she was my caretaker for a living. She had a life outside of the hospital. I also knew that I was just a small part of her world, but she would still smile a warm smile and sit with me every day. Even on days she didn't work, I'd still see her.
"Don't you have friends? Family? Maybe a boyfriend? You should spend more time with them" I offered a bright smile. She never answered. I asked her that same question every day she came in to sit with me on her days off. All she would do is reach over, pet my cheek, and smile.
"What are you feeling today Champ?" She said as the search bar on NuuYub appeared.
I thought for a moment with an audible "Hmmm"
"Do you want to watch more Dyne Gills?"
"As tantalizing as that sounds, I saw a new video yesterday about real sword fighting. Apparently some guys in Canada do it. I'd really like to watch that for a while!"
"Oh! I've seen some of those, they're really cool!" She typed it up and clicked on the first video. It was a first person view of two men fighting with Sabers.
Only a minute or two into the video, my eyes began to droop. Giving a mighty yawn, laid my head back and clunkily slumped a turn of my head, looking at Nina,
"Actually… I really think I'd like a nap.." I caught Nina's eyes. They widened,
"Nina.. what's…wrong?" I gave a soft exhale watching Nina turn and put the bottom of her fist against a blue button on the wall.
"Crash cart!" I heard her yell, and the last thing I saw was Nina rushing to me.
The darkness I found myself surrounded by was warm, relaxing, and… peaceful. I tried to speak, but there was no sound here, only the joy of pure silence. Did I...just die..? I thought to myself. And as if that thought were a switch, a bright light shown above, shining down onto me. I was sitting in a chair in the center of this light. Before I could really comprehend what was going on, a woman appeared before me. She was at least as tall as Nina, wearing a white flowing dress that made her look like a Greek goddess. Her hair was golden, with braids that poured over the front of her shoulders. She wore many golden precious things about her body. Her eyes looked softly on me,
"Unfortunately yes, young soul.."
She opened a book, and began to read through the pages,
"Almost nineteen pages long, the book of your life. Far too short for anyone to enjoy, let alone you. You suffered much in your short life, with a broken body, and no family.."
My mind caught the last part, and instantly thought of Nina,
"Will.. Nina be okay..?" I asked in a quiet tone
The woman's hand swiped, a sort of screen appearing. Nina holding my lifeless body, while her tears poured over my head,
"She is not at the present. But with time, she will be.. such is the lot she chose in life.."
In my living time, I would have welled with emotion, perhaps even wept for Nina. But I couldn't help but feel relieved. Relieved that she wouldn't have to watch and take care of me anymore. So she could live her own life.
"Just take solace in the knowledge, young soul, she will go on to do a many great things in your name."
She waved her hand again, the view of Nina disappeared. There was a slight pang in my heart that surfaced, then submerged within the same moment. The woman turned to me, putting her hands behind her back,
"Would you like to see?"
Waves of confusion crashed over me,
"How? Hasn't it not happened yet?"
The woman laughed a joy filled honest laugh. I feared at my expense,
"Young soul, the place we are, time does not ebb, nor flow. We are in a place beyond its reach. Her Flow of Chronos, un-interrupted, will cause the outcome, her ending, to happen as foreseen."
She waved a hand, bringing another screen to view. Nina looked older now, surrounded by plaques, awards, and even newspaper clippings. I peered closer at one,
"Doctor performs the first successful spinal augmentation, allowing a war veteran to walk again after being paralyzed for 15 years"
I saw Nina lean back in her chair, a happy and content smile on her lips, closing her eyes
"I hope you're proud Champ…"
I smiled, with tears that ran down over my cheeks. I am Nina. I am. With the relief knowing that no one would ever suffer the same fate as me, and that Nina used my death as a driving force, I let out a contented sigh. Everything was okay.
My eyes found the woman again, and for the first time since coming here, I was curious,
"Who are you…?" I asked, with a slight tilt of my head.
"My name is Frigga. Your people would use the word Goddess."
My mind ran with curiosity. Why me? What did she want? Were there others like her? The curiosity must have been written on my face because she gave a warm laughter,
"Young soul, you are in this place because your mortal coil ran out. I have chosen to pluck you from the void as the life you bore was unfair and short."
She turned and lifted her hand. Yet another screen appeared. This screen was of a wonderful lush green place. There was a flash over the screen. Everything turned to molten rock, red rivers and dead lay in all directions. I sat with mouth agape,
"The truth is. This world needs a hero. If someone does not interject, the future you see before you will come to pass bringing this fantasy type world to its knees."
"How am I involved…?"
"I have chosen you to be its hero."
"You're a goddess.. can't you just I don't know snap your finger and make it better?"
She gave another laugh,
"Unfortunately that is not the case. We gods are confined to another plane. This place is one of which we can interact due to your passing. We cannot interfere with the affairs of mankind directly."
She waved her hands, the screen disappearing from view. Her hands placed behind her once more as she approached me,
"So what do you say?"
"I don't know.. my last life left a bitter taste.."
She began to circle me as she spoke,
"To convince you, perhaps a boon? Ask me for any favor within my power and I will grant it unto you."
"I'd.. I'd like a new body. I'm not particularly attached to my old one."
"Easily done. Do you have any ideas for your new one?"
I began to crawl through my memories. I've seen lots of material from anime and manga, to live action films of superheroes, but none of the ones that came to mind fit. Until one.
"If I chose someone who's alive… I wouldn't hurt them would I?"
"Of course not. You would be their doppelganger in another world. They wouldn't even know you exist."
"Then I know what body I want."
"Very well. But I cannot send you to a fantasy world without any basic equipment."
She turned from me and approached a section of darkness and waved her hand. An entire wall appeared before her, but this wall had only one weapon. There were outlines of different types of weapons but nothing there inside them. Save for one.
This weapon seemed to be a large two handed sword, however the handle of the sword was short, as if it were a hand and as half hilt, too small for the size of blade it bore. The center of the hilt held a precious blue gem looking stone that could be seen from both sides of the handle. The large blade of the sword had an oddly placed handle that arched from the blade half way up.
Frigga reached for the weapon, but hesitated with her hand retracting for a single moment before she reached forward and gripped the weapon. Turning with it in hand she brought it to me,
"This weapon is known as The Aegis. It is the most powerful weapon at my disposal. Please take care though, it is the last one I possess"
She laid the weapon across my lap, while my eyes danced over its glittering features. Standing before me, I looked up at her. At first her look was hard, analytical and almost sharp. It softened as soon as our eyes met,
"Seek out my children. They are Demi-gods who rule over regions of the world. They will assist you in your journey, though with some you may need to resort to force. One such is Thor, he is strong and bullheaded. He will not assist you until you prove yourself."
I nodded with a determined look on my face, I wouldn't fail her! She lifted her hand, and snapped her fingers.