I was a champion in the most respected Mixed martial arts organization in the world.
I had Fans from one side of the world to the other and I always put on a show.
I was on the verge of cementing my legacy in my 10th title defense.
I was brutally Head-kick knocked out and killed in the octagon.
dazed, I orientated myself as the whole scene swam into focus, Medics rushing into the octagon, a vaguely familiar man with his head in his hands being consoled by someone in the corner. and the fans in the sold-out crowd watching in silence. I peered at the person on the stretcher as they exited the octagon I made out a tattoo on the man's chest as the Medics rushed by.
At last clarity hit and I realized that the man on the stretcher had been none other than myself.
I laughed, immediately thinking about the situation this would put the boss man in. Shortly thereafter, I thought about my family. My mother had always told me this was dangerous, but she didn't watch the sport, so I didn't listen. My brother had been a fighter and had gone 3-3 in his first 6 fights before retiring, he had warned me that that's how most people turned out in the sport.
I had a severe competitive drive, however, and decided to begin my career. And here we are. My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp pulling sensation. "No! I'm not ready!" I thought, but nevertheless, the scene rapidly disappeared as if I was being pulled into a tunnel, I looked back to see nothing but darkness on the other side of the tunnel. I eventually arrived on the other side, looking around I could see no trace of the tunnel, or anything really. I sat down on whatever was beneath me I couldn't even see my own hands in the darkness. "This is the afterlife? nothing? forever?"
After a long while of sitting, I heard a soft chiming sound coming from behind me, I turned and saw a ray of light narrower than a needle and thread descending from above. I scrambled over to it, and as I reached it I saw a figure emerge from the strand. it was a being of pure light that repelled the darkness, Humanoid at least in shape with strange ridges covering its body. The ridges unfurled into 9 distinct wings that protruded at odd angles from its body. I recoiled from the creature and its blinding light shielding my face with my hand. Eventually, once I felt my eyes adjust, I lowered my hand and saw that it had outstretched its own hand. Almost instinctually I seized the offered hand. All over the creature's body countless eyes opened staring into my soul, A familiar pulling motion overtook my body, and I blacked out once again.
Coming to I felt myself being pulled free, with a pop and a loud sigh, I was free and took in a breath. Once I realized what I had just done I did so again with great pleasure. Opening my eyes I saw a man looking down at me a woman in a white robe bowed at him and said something in an unknown language before walking out of a nearby door. Behind me a woman leaned over, she looked young in comparison to the man who had a bushy black beard and an old man's grin. I extended a hand and saw it was pitifully small.
I then realized I had just been born.
4 years later
It took me about a year and a half to get back on my feet. Faster than most infants, I'll grant but still would have liked to be able to shit in the toilet a little earlier. My parents fawned over me but it was taking me a long while to learn the language. eventually at about the 2-and-a-half-year mark, my mother started teaching me basic words through repetition and association with objects. and after 5 months I could talk basically. It would take me another year of trial and error to do what I was most interested in, however.
At the bottom of our Cellar staircase there lay a crate, inside which was a large metal encrusted, dustbound tome. I marched down the staircase with vim and vigor.
on the last step, I fell and hit my face. I got up with a groan and pulled the crate over, Heaving out the massive tome took my body's entire Might but with a final heave I fell back and the tome fell on top of me.
Opening it I was met with a shower of dust leading me to cough several times. I flipped through the pages being met with yet more dust as I was looking for Familiar words. Finally about halfway through I reached a passage containing "Fundamentals Of Magic" I had always been a fantasy reader in my old world and I was excited to see what the myths of this world had to offer. the text read.
'There are five types of magic, categorized by assault, boost, heal, illusion, and summoning. Spells can be divided up by elements for most of the categories except for healing and illusion and some have found ways to augment these spells with elements. an example for every type of magic: Assault: Cinder, a small superheated ball of mana which can be held or thrown. Boost: Relentless, allows basic boost to physical capabilities no added effects. Healing: Feathered hand, allows peace to be brought to a person, heals slightly Summoning: Conjure wildland being, Summons a very weak vine creature.'
I frowned and flipped to the next page "This seems less like fantasy and more like a guidebook..." Sure enough on the next page was an instructional.
'If you wish to cast complex magic, Your gate will need to be attuned, but for weaker magic, you can cast with only your body. all you have to do is imagine the magic and speak its name.
I frowned and readied my body 'For example, imagine yourself being filled with the wind itself, and then speak: thun" I imagined the storms, the crashing and earthshaking power being concentrated, the gusting wind coating my body. "Thun!" I shouted, With a crack a wind poured out of me and wind coated my right arm. Almost instinctually I swung my fist in a straight punch, and the wind flew off of it and slammed into my wall with a loud bang, the stone was dented and I gasped before looking down at my hand in amazement.
it seemed I was in a world of fantasy.