Chapter 1

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* I pried open my eyes as I took a gander at the alarm clock blaring the chimes of the anti sleep regiments theme song into my ears. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock that was on the nightstand in my moms room. With the one bedroom apartment that only we could barely afford meant we didn't have enough money for extra accessories. I got to sleep in the bed when she left for work in the morning. "9:45, huh i wonder what day it is?" After a struggle to find employment in a new town I always managed to lose track of the days waiting for potential employer to call. I reached over and picked up my phone I swiped it open to see that the date was March 20 "huh why does that seem important? Wait shit I start my job today! ok I have 15 minutes to prepare not a lot of time but at least it only takes 5 minutes to get there." A Walmart had hired me on the spot and today was my first day as a 'Receivings Associate' which is a fancy name for shelf stocker. Rambling to myself I threw on my blue polo shirt and clipped on my badge "Welcome to the walmart team Associate Chris" I said with a faux british accent mimicking my boss, I hobbled to the bathroom like a kangaroo trying to put one leg through a pant leg. As I rounded the corner into the bathroom I glanced into the mirror to see a reflection of myself I was quite skinny and pale, "Hopefully I can gain some muscle while working here!" I said as I flexed my arm in the mirror I took a glance at my hair "Geez I look like I got hit with a tornado." Wetting a comb I slicked it through my Dark brown hair sweeping it back and down to my shoulders making sure it was wet enough to stay down. After unsuccessfully keeping my hair down I threw it into a tiny ponytail and shaved my non existent facial hair hoping it would grow in. When I finished I took a look at the watch on my arm "5 minutes left." running to the fridge I took out two slices of white bread and a bottle of water, I quickly reaching up in to the pantry and swatted around for something to put on my bread I came up empty handed. "Fuck, my luck is terrible today" Angrily I shoved the two pieces into my mouth and put the whole loaf into my lunch bag grabbing my wallet and jamming it into my pocket

"Okay keys, check. Wallet, check. Badge, check. Food... ugh" I let out a groan looking at my lunch box "check…" Walking out the door I turned to lock it and proceeded down the stairs, I glanced over and saw my neighbor Pete was sitting in front of his apartment door "Hey, Chris" he said with a smile and wave "Mmph" I grunted back with a quick wave. As I was walking I tripped and fell into a puddle soaking my right leg."AHHH" I screamed. The bread muffled the sound or else poor pete would have been startled by my yell. swallowing the last of my bread I flung my car door open and checked to see if my 3ds was still in the middle hidden with the cup holders. "Sweet I can play Awakening during lunch." If I got to lunch. when I put the keys into the ignition the car was failing to start "Come on you damn thing start" In anger I slammed a fist into the middle of the steering wheel setting of the horn which spooked me. The damn battery was dead. "Could my luck get any worse?" I checked the time and it was ten. Seeing how I was already late I called my boss.

"Hello this is Stuart Co manager of *Blank* walmart how can I assist you?"

"Hey Stuart it's Chris the new guy you just hired I'm gonna be 20 minutes late…"

"Be here in 20 or you'll just be terminated I'll let it slide this time if you can make it here. Make sure you have a ride tomorrow."

"I'll run as fast as I can I won't be tardy again I swear sir! see you in twenty." with that I hung up the phone and grabbed my 3ds I still wanted to do something during lunch.

As I ran my way to work I took some 'questionable' shortcuts that may or may not have gotten me lost in some of the 'bad' neighborhoods. "So much for the tour of the town, Thanks mom." I paused I was becoming aware of my surroundings I noticed the night life had slither out of their holes, Hookers roamed the street to make a quick buck, some homeless were gathered around a barrel fire and some were propped up against the walls with brown bags of booze. I spotted some gang member in front a 7/11 looking real sketchy two were watching me one was scoping out the store. "Just mind your own business they'll probably want rob the store." I said under my breath. "Just ignore them they don't want anything to do with you." I looked straight forward and locked eyes with a hooker

"Hey cutie wanna take me home tonight and stock me full of…"

"No time, No money, Have Nice day" I said with russian accent impersonating Gregor.

"Fine, other guys are better than you anyway, bet they'll pay more too"

"I am wishing you best of luck, in job!" again with the accent.

Seeing no other option of avoiding the gang I walked by the hooker into a nearby alleyway. The alleyway seemed like the safest bet. A shadowy figure was sitting down with his back pressed up the wall with his head down. As I passed by I noticed that he appeared to be in some state of withdraw from what drug who knows.

"Hey man, *cough* *cough* spare some change *cough*" Nearly hacking up a lung he held out his cup for a one time only donation to crazy mac's crack shack. I politely declined.

"Sorry man, I'm out of cash you want something to eat though I got some bread..." I said with shoulders shrugged.

"Fuck off kid. Don't pity me with your shitty bread, I eat just fine without your help."

"I don't know man, you probably can't eat much with a mouth in the shape of an asshole." I kept on walking down the alley way. Before I could reach the end a tall tweaked out black dude blocked my path. With a punch to the chest he knocked the wind out of me as I gasped for air He spun me around and put me into a choke hold.

"Hey Tony I heard what this little punk said about you wanna do something about it.?"

Tony stood up off the ground and brushed off the dirt that might of collected on him he slowly shuffled his way over to me scratching at the inside of his elbow where he probably stuck himself with needles.

"Yah see kid this is why friends are important. If Miguel wasn't here to stop you I would've shrugged of your outlandish remark about my mouth. So… Chris Recieving Associate, do you have any friends to help you?" he emphasized by poking me in the chest."

"No. I don't need friends, to help me. If this was fair I'd have you on the ground and your asshole of a mouth wouldn't be able to talk so much shit now would it fuck boy?"

"Now look here you smug little shit." Hitting me with an uppercut to my chin "Since nobody will know who you are after we take every form of id off of you. For every dollar I find in your wallet I'm going to stab you in the fucking chest, and hoe boy do I hope your fuckin loaded!" Reaching in his pocket he pulled out a 9 inch bowie knife, he approached and held the knife to my throat as he fished into my pocket. He found my wallet and pulled it out. When he opened it his face went through four different emotions, happiness, confusion, anger, and finally acceptance.

"Well shit, I guess you don't have any money after all oh well I guess you can go now, but just wait one second. Hey Miguel can I borrow ten dollars?"

"Yeah sure man what for oh… oh yeah its in my back pocket." I could feel his grin on the back of my head

"Thank you kindly sir!" Tony exclaimed with a new found vigor.

He then took the bill and turned around, he fumbled for about 5 seconds and stuck my wallet back in my pocket. I must have had a look of confusion on my face as he got all giddy.

"Lets try this again" taking my wallet back out of my pocket he opened it up and exclaimed "My oh my. A ten dollar bill. How did this get in here? it was just empty not 10 seconds ago. You must be a magician and it just so happens to be you last act. Todays not your lucky day is it kid? Now if I remember correctly you were going to pity me with some bread why that will act as the perfect gag won't it Miguel!"

Shit this is bad these guys are for real. Quick I gotta think of something. Wait my arm is free its a good thing I didn't struggle when he put me in the hold if I can get a good shot off maybe I can run. Ok take a deep breath ready… one… two… three... "sorry bro, cheap shot!" I clenched my fist and with the moment similar to a wrecking ball I hit the guy pinning me right in the sweet spot he yipped in pain but his grip on me didn't falter he took a knee but he dragged me back with him "Tony the fucker hit me in the nuts."Miguel stated with ragged breath "Well than Pin his arms so he doesn't do it again!" he quickly pinned my left arm to the side of my head much like my right arm "quickly shut him up" Tony hit me with a right hook to my left ribs it knocked the wind out of me I foolishly opened my mouth to suck in air and without a moment's hesitation he jammed most of the loaf of bread in my mouth preventing me from uttering a word.

"Ready to die Chris?" he hissed the s like a snake

Drawing back the knife his first spot to bury it was in my stomach with an audible pop the skin ripped and blood gushed from my wound like a water balloon being squeezed through a small pipe. I let out a stifled scream into my gag but it was no use. The pain of shock and fire embedded into me like a human pin cushion. the pain only got worse as he pulled it out of its human sheath and replayed every time the knife sunk into me "9…" the second spot the knife hit was in the lower portion of my left lung. Blood began to pool and my breathing became more and more shallow "8... " he stabbed my body countless times after the fourth stab my legs gave out strength and I sat on the ground I was helpless no one to cry out to, no one who would want to intervene in case it happens to them I was going to be left here to die. I went through all the bad decisions I made to land in this situation I never should have taken a short cut. Instead I imagined I was at walmart putting up product on the shelf but I was going to be late "Sorry to disappoint you Stuart *cough* I guess you could say you're gonna cut me from the team heh, heh. any of you got the time?" that vision slowly faded as the knife punctured me in the lung again. "Yeah its time for you 2... die." with one more stab to go I was clinging to life Tony grabbed hold of my ponytail and jerked my head back "1…" lining the knife vertically to my right eye he slashed up the vision in my right eye faded to black as a burning pain shot through my face Andy let me drop to the ground and my head bounced of the concrete.

"Grab his wallet and badge. Lets get the fuck out of here!"

"You said it man!"

[Line Break]

I look up at the stars passing with my good eye, buying my time till I succumbed to my wounds. I felt warm against the cold hard ground it was comforting my brain was trying to make my last moment's peaceful I remember reading about how the brain does that it's strange brains are weird, i'm kinda getting tired I think i'll take a nape. Almost before I shut my eyes for good a bright glow illuminated from my right knee pocket. Weakly I moved my arm and pulled out my 3ds I must have for got to turn it off I'm gonna do that I don't want anything else dieing with me. I weakly flipped open the cover and the DS shook uncontrollably no longer able to support it I dropped it on the ground A flash of light appeared and a figure stood before me with little break I asked "who are you?" the white figure responded by holding out its hand above my chest and pulling out a glowing Sky blue sphere of light with hints of gold strewn about in swirls I felt revived and whole again got up off the ground but something didn't seem right I couldn't feel my legs I turned to look down and with horror I saw my corpse in a puddle of crimson blood. "what's going on I asked the figure?"

"You, child your life was taken from you far two early I wish to give you a second chance in a whole new world one completely different than yours in every possible aspect." the entity spoke in a soothing female voice. "If you accept then you will be my champion your task will be shown to you when the time comes. But be warned with this new life comes also many hardships worse than you could have possibly faced in this world if you wish to decline my offer. Then I shall send your spirit on to be judged by the god of this world. you may decide now.

"Will I have memory of this life?"

"No."

"You say I will be your champion what does that entitle me to?"

"You will be given a blessing that is a one time use for any weapon that you see fit for your self. and you will be marked so that all will know that you are of utmost importance to the world"

"What will my Identity be"

"That is for your parents to decide."

Hmm... I don't know. I don't think I want to be judged by this world's god. We have so many, I don't know which one is the true god. Deep down inside though, I have a feeling it's Morgan Freeman. He seems like a cool dude. I wouldn't mind him judging me. But I might be wrong and it might be Zeus or Buddha they're pretty serious. Plus it's not everyday you get to experience a new world and be born again I wonder who I'll meet who my parents are all my travels.

"What is the name of the continent I'll be born on"

"Ylisse."

"Deal"

"Very well. Prepare your Self"

"Ahhh" I screamed as I shot up in my bed I was covered in sweat. What was that nightmare? It felt as though I died I don't quite know who I am... but before I could finish that thought two adults burst through the door

"Caris" the male approached me and put a hand on my shoulder "Are you alright son" The giant man must have towered over at 6'5 he was wearing an apron that was covered in soot and metal shavings he had long black hair and a beard that would rival a lumberjacks. Standing in the doorway was a woman who had a concerned look on her face she was short around 5'7 with long brown hair and worn a white indian style dance dress she held a staff in her hand and was determined to use it. I haven't had a chance to examine myself what with all the shock It appeared I was in a small child's body maybe around the age of eight.

"Who is Caris? Who are you two? That question must have hit a nerve in the man his face went white with fear.

"Lana do you know what this might be? said the man

"I fear he has amnesia but that's not the biggest of our concerns. We both know this is the first time we heard him speak ever.