My entire body feels weak. My cheek is pressed against the cold floor. Slowly, my vision clears, revealing a gray ceiling.
"Huh? … Huh?!"
I panic, not recognizing this place. I quickly get up.
"Where am I? What is this place?"
I look around again and realize the room is quite spacious and square. In each corner, there are vases with beautiful red roses. In front of me, there is a desk similar to those used by office workers.
Like the ceiling, the walls are light gray, decorated with golden spiral patterns. Aside from those accents, the room is simple, but elegant.
Still, nothing makes sense. I try to make sense of it all.
This place looks like a corporate office room.
I look down at my body. My suit and dress pants are still perfectly in place.
I remember why I'm dressed like this. I had just turned fifteen. But it wasn't like I was at a party. Today is just like any other day.
As usual, I tried to find a better job, even wearing my late father's suit for the interview.
"Just a moment…"
My pockets are empty, no house key, no card… and worse!
"My phone is gone! Oh no… no one can see my gallery or my search history!"
The sound of footsteps echoes through the room, drawing my attention. I turn my head back, but I don't see anyone.
Something about this place feels wrong.
There are no doors here, so how did I even get in?
The footsteps grow louder. Someone is approaching. I turn to the sound. My caution increases, eyes fixed on the wall.
Suddenly, a golden flash forces me to cover my eyes with my hand. After a few seconds, the light fades, revealing a massive door, golden and shining.
The doors explode open. I see a figure of a man wrapped in light, around one meter and eighty centimeters tall, with pale skin, a beard and hair as white as cotton, golden eyes filled with wisdom, wearing a white robe and Chinese-style sandals.
Even after seeing him, I feel like I should be extremely careful.
As he approaches and the golden aura fades, I notice he is walking in a dragged, sluggish way, almost like a zombie. His face looks like someone who has never heard the word 'rest' in his entire life.
When I realize it, the door behind that man had already disappeared. And he continues advancing toward me.
But the man walks right past me, completely indifferent, not even looking at me. He sits down tiredly in the chair behind the desk and pulls out of the drawer a pile of papers, scrolls, and… a notebook?
The man simply starts doing his work.
Who is this man?
And where did this chair come from? It wasn't there before, was it?
Minutes pass without the man looking at me. Determined, I gather my courage and carefully walk toward him.
I stop in front of him, near the desk.
"Um… sir…"
Before I can continue speaking, the man interrupts me.
"Oh, yes! Just a moment!"
"Let me finish this paperwork first, then I'll answer your questions, alright, Nagaro?"
I watch him in silence, attentive to his tired, aged voice.
"Okay."
There are many papers on the desk. I know it will take a while for him to finish.
A golden glow appears right next to me and vanishes instantly, revealing a golden chair.
"This chair… is for me?"
I look at the man, but he doesn't answer me. He's focused on reading a large scroll.
"…"
The chair is eye-catching, but I decide to sit down anyway. Even though it looks like it's made of gold, it is strangely comfortable.
I watch the man working, and a question comes to mind.
Wait a moment… how does he know my name?
***
"Am I already here for who knows how long… is he still going to take much longer?"
Even without taking my eyes off the man, I keep waiting. Suddenly, he seems to have six arms moving at incredible speed.
I narrow my eyes, realizing they are afterimages.
No… he didn't grow four extra arms.
He's just too fast.
What kind of old man can do that?
Changing my thoughts, I realize I still don't know what happened for me to be here. Actually, I don't remember. The only thing I know is that I was on my way to the building where I would have my job interview. I was on the sidewalk, about to enter the building.
But when I try to remember what happened for me to get here… I simply can't. It feels like I lost my memories the moment I was entering the building. The only thing that comes to my mind is a flash and a lot of smoke.
The sound grows louder, the scratch of a pencil on parchment and fingers typing on a computer. I shift my attention back to the man, who is finishing his work.
The multiple 'arms' that seemed to have formed disappear. At the same moment, a gust of wind appears, making my hair sway.
Seconds later, I see the old man collapse back into the chair, exhausted. He slowly closes his eyes, as if he had fainted.
"Is he sleeping?"
A loud snore escapes his lips, answering my question. Patiently, I wait for him to wake up. But it seems his hibernation will not end anytime soon.
"Should I wake him up?"
The old man's mouth moves, releasing another snore that hurts my ears.
"…"
I stand up from the chair and walk toward him.
"Sir…"
Before I can even speak, the man suddenly jumps from the chair, which crosses the entire room in an instant.
"Yuuupi!!!"
"Finally finished that trash!"
He laughs loudly, head tilted back. Seconds later, I see him start dancing, as if he were in a nightclub.
I stand there stunned, unable to process his sudden change in the old man's behavior. Not only that, but I also saw him jump from the chair to the other side of the room, which, by the way, seems to be about twenty meters away. It's not every day you see an elderly man make a jump like that.
***
In the middle of his dancing, the old man suddenly remembers he has an extremely important guest. He immediately straightens his posture.
A dry cough is muffled by his hand. As he turns his face toward Nagaro, his golden eyes emit a mystical sensation.
The smile on his face grows wider and wider, until he begins talking to himself.
"What incredible luck… to be on my shift."
"I can't believe I'll be the one to guide someone to the 'Other World.'"
So many good things are coming.
"Rú, rú, rú, rú!"
***
I try to understand his murmurs, but all I hear is a laugh that sounds like… someone who sees a business opportunity?
I don't like this.
The man looks at me, and it seems he remembers something. He starts approaching.
"My young man."
He gives me a slight bow.
"I must apologize in advance."
"But first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Eladreo. I am one of the Regents of the Cosmos and the Void."
With an even bigger smile, I see him getting closer and closer. He doesn't even look like the same man who was collapsed in exhaustion moments ago.
He keeps telling me to stay calm, but my expression clearly shows caution and distrust.
This so-called Eladreo notices me stepping back and shows a hint of sadness. But soon after, he smiles lightly again, returns to his desk, pulls the chair closer to me, and sits down.
Eladreo looks at me with a serious expression, and I loosen my tie a little.
"Well… I know you must be scared and confused, so I'll be direct…"
He points his finger at me.
"You are dead, and you are going to the other world."
Silence fills the room for a moment, and only now do I process the information.
"W-what did you say?!"
My eyes widen.
"So… so I died?!"
The man lightly nods in agreement in response to my question.
"No way…"
And now? My mother! Who is going to take care of my mother?
No, I can't believe it. I imagine how sad she must be…
"Wait! Breathe!"
In front of me, the man just keeps watching me.
Put your thoughts in place… breathe in… calm your mind in the face of what happened… yes… breathe deeply.
After a few minutes, I sit back in the chair and look at Eladreo with a more controlled expression.
"Alright… I accept that I died, but can you tell me how? Why am I here? What place is this? And above all, how do you know my name? And most importantly, how is my mother?"
With a clap of his hands, he responds.
"Yes, I can tell you how you died."
"You died in an explosion caused by terrorists, two months ago, according to the calendar of your old Earth."
"When the news of your death arrived, your relatives were saddened, especially your mother, who was in mourning for several days. She would cry for hours, during meals or in her room, holding your photo and your father's."
I go still, imagining the scene. Wondering why the world has to be like this. So I really died like that? Right on the day I wore the suit my mother had kept for me, believing I would need it in the future.
The thought knocks the breath out of me. But the man's voice pulls me back.
"Although it is something… tragic, I learned that she is doing much better now. The first days were the hardest, but nowadays she is better, even going outside and continuing her life."
I calm down, my expression softening.
"Feeling better now?"
"Well then, since you died, by either luck of fate or higher forces, you were chosen to go to the Other World."
"'What place is this?' This is my workspace, where I have access to all information about people on Earth. Before you appeared here, my room was notified that someone, you was coming."
After hearing everything, I understand and think deeply. I ask him if I could return to Earth, but he tells me it's not possible, since in this situation he can only guide me to a world already predetermined by the universe.
I feel sad for my mother, since I will never see her again, but at the same time, I feel a bit excited for a new chance.
"I have one more question. Why was I chosen?"
Eladreo straightens his posture as he answers me.
"Look, this matter is still a mystery to us, the Regents. We don't know how people are chosen or what the criteria are."
"Well… at least, I don't know. It's something random."
"But know that it is a unique and arbitrary occurrence."
"What I do know is that, in total, the people chosen to go to other worlds must be five beings, including you now. Who the other four are? I have no idea. They happened even before I existed."
After hearing his answers, I try to assess the situation, as everything is extremely surreal, but Eladreo catches my attention.
"Now you can go… but of course! How could I forget!"
"Before you leave, you must hear some rules and a speech congratulating you for being a chosen one."
"Plus, you are entitled to one wish."
Now my eyes emit a golden light like stars.
"A wish?"
Eladreo nods.
"Yes, a wish. But first, you must listen to the rules and the speech."
From within his robes, I see Eladreo pull out a scroll. He opens it hastily. The scroll rolls across the floor all the way to where the golden door had been before. Astonishingly, it stretches across the entire room, its end stopping right near me.
"…"
"Wait! Is it not going to…"
I notice that Eladreo is picking up a magnifying glass to read the tiny letters.
"He's going to?!?!"
He clears his throat. Eladreo turns his attention back to me and then to the scroll.
"So, pay close attention, so that the universe does not catch you off guard."
"Dear chosen one, it is with honor and pleasure that, through this small and simple speech…"
***
"…But I must warn you again, dear chosen one, you must remain attentive to the previously mentioned rules, otherwise you will suffer a cosmic calamity such as…"
The aged voice reaches my ears, but I barely understand it
"What?"
I almost drool as my head tilts forward. But I snap awake when I hear something like, 'The universe will turn against you,' and other threats like that.
In front of me, there's an old man holding a scroll, while using his other hand to read the tiny letters through a magnifying glass. It seems this old man didn't even notice that I dozed off just now.
Wait… what was going on again?
Ah… right… I died and I'm going to a new world.
I turn my attention back to the man, remembering his name and that he's reading a very important speech.
I need to pay attention.
I fully wake up. I wipe the drool away and sit properly in the chair, completely attentive to the speech.
"…Dear chosen one, should you possess power that does not belong to the earthly world, it is recommended that you discard it as soon as possible, otherwise…"
But the words Eladreo speaks gradually turn into noise in my ears. My eyelids begin to grow heavy, but I can't fall asleep again.
I repeat to myself:
I have to listen to the speech.
I have to listen to the speech.
Please tell me it's almost over.
Not subtly at all, I look down at the floor and see that the scroll isn't even halfway finished.
My sorrowful gaze silently begs for something to end this torment. The words go in one ear and out the other. This might actually be worse than dying.
***
"…And these are the rules that you, like all non-Regent creatures, have the duty to follow."
With the final words spoken, I watch Eladreo store the scroll away, finally ending my torment.
It wasn't just bothersome for me, even Eladreo himself seems relieved to have finished reading it.
"Phew!"
I'm tired of saying those unnecessary rules. Not even we Regents read it, but it's the standard.
He turns his attention back to me.
"Okay, that's it."
"These are the rules… understood?"
My expression says it all. I even give a salute.
"Understood, sir."
I didn't understand a single word. After the speech, came that pile of rules. Of course I don't remember anything.
With the speech and rules finished, we talked for quite a while. I'm already speaking to him like I would with a friend.
I relax further into the chair.
"But could you erase the existence of my phone? I don't want anyone seeing my gallery or search history."
Eladreo tells me there's no need for that, since my phone was destroyed in the explosion, easing part of my worries.
Eladreo also explains what he does and what exactly it means to be a Regent. From what I understood, a Regent's main role is to take care of planets. And currently, he is a 'Regent in training.' Because of that, Eladreo serves as support for other Regents responsible for different planets.
Right now, specifically, he told me he is helping the Regent who oversees planet Earth.
In short, Eladreo is a jack-of-all-trades.
I listen as he says he handles one planet here, another there, and when the official Regent isn't present, he's the one responsible for holding things together and taking care of the duties.
"I see… that must be pretty exhausting."
Eladreo answers me tiredly, reminding me that he still has many tasks to handle after sending me to the Other World. You could say my arrival is like an "unplanned break."
"Yes. It's quite a lot of work… and… ah!"
"Oh my, again!"
"I almost forgot. Remember? You're entitled to one wish."
A smile spreads across my face. I had almost forgotten that important detail. But Eladreo warns me.
"Listen carefully. I can't give you powers that would make you like a 'god' in the world I'm sending you to. Remember the rules and the speech?"
"The way the universe deals with these things is slow, but it never fails."
I understand and nod in agreement. Then he continues.
"Don't worry, I still have… let me check here."
Eladreo pulls back the sleeve of his robe slightly, revealing an arm covered in watches I've never seen before. They look like they're from another world, or beyond it.
"Hmm… You still have two Earth days to decide, so think carefully."
I don't waste any time, I already know what I want to wish for. But Eladreo looks at me seriously and stops me before I can speak.
"Nagaro, you cannot wish for something that affects others, nor change someone's feelings, nor even change your own destiny."
I grow sad immediately. I won't be able to wish for my mother to have a happy life or to stop suffering because of me and my father.
But I manage to force a smile, trying to cheer myself up.
We talk for a long time. It feels like we talked for an entire day. During that time, I decide what I intend to wish for.
"I know what I'm going to ask for."
Eladreo claps his hands, curious.
"Then go ahead, my friend."
I straighten my suit and look at him confidently.
"According to what you told me during our conversation, the place I'm going to will initially be very dangerous, right?"
"I want to be strong and invincible."
Eladreo evaluates me. His mouth moves as if to say, "Your wish is my command."
"Your wish is invalid."
I nearly fall off the chair.
"What? No?! Why?!"
He shakes his head in disapproval when he sees me ask that question.
"Too much power right from the start could make you greedy and lead you away from the path of good. Besides, it's in one of the rules I mentioned, don't you remember?"
"The kinds of wishes you cannot make, like 'I want great power,' 'I want to be the strongest in the world,' or 'I want to be able to do anything,' are examples of wishes I cannot grant."
"The scroll of rules I read to you was created because of the chosen ones who came before you, who abused their wishes and nearly destroyed the planets they were sent to."
I fall silent, already thinking of another wish.
"Then…"
Eladreo raises his hand again, stopping me before I can continue.
"And even less, asking for more wishes."
I stand up from the chair.
"Then…"
Eladreo immediately denies me.
"No, no, you can't wish to have the power of a Regent."
I open my mouth.
He denies me once again.
I watch him in silence.
"Do you have telepathy?"
Crossing his arms, Eladreo smiles at me.
"No, but I already imagined you would make those wishes."
I narrow my eyes at him.
"Then I want a powerful weapon and armor."
He responds in a sing-song voice.
"Composite wishes are not allowed, nor are objects or artifacts."
I point my finger at him.
"Then a necromancer."
I see him rest his elbows on the desk, placing his head over his hands as he speaks to me.
"That violates the laws of life. Try again."
I walk from side to side.
"…"
"Hmm…"
An idea comes to mind. I look at Eladreo, with a wish he won't be able to refuse.
"Then I want extremely high regeneration, very efficient."
Under these conditions, this should be the best wish.
I see Eladreo scratching his chin.
"Hmm."
"Ah, clever one."
"Immortality?"
I force a fake smile.
"No! Never!"
Don't make this complicated, you old geezer.
Seeing Eladreo's expression, I try to explain better, but it doesn't seem to convince him. He even grabs that scroll with the rules and speech to check again.
Eladreo looks at me with a playful gaze.
"I think I should congratulate you."
"Even with all the rules, you managed to find a narrow loophole."
There is still hope for my wish. Eladreo's words sound favorable.
"Alright, I'll grant you that wish, now that I've reread some rules. But there are a few conditions: it won't be regeneration at a molecular level, and you may suffer certain limitations and rules governed by the world you will reside in."
The wish has been granted, I'm still coming out ahead.
"Yes, that's fine for me."
We continue talking, losing track of time completely.
"So that's it. It was good talking with you, Nagaro, but unfortunately my time is running out."
I feel sad when I hear that I'll have to leave, but I understand that Eladreo has hard and exhausting work ahead. I stand up from the chair, looking around, noticing the room has no exit.
"Where can I go?"
Eladreo points his finger behind me.
"You just need to go through that door."
I turn my head in that direction, but I don't see any door.
Before I can react, fireworks explode, and a red carpet rolls out right near my feet. By the time the carpet finishes unrolling, the golden gates are already there.
The fireworks cease, but the imposing gate remains behind me.
"They look extremely expensive."
With a surprised expression, I turn to Eladreo, who, for some reason, is standing in a heroic pose, smiling proudly, as if pleased with what he just did.
I move forward, stepping onto the red carpet, but turn my attention back to Eladreo.
"Can I ask you for something?"
Eladreo shakes his head as he looks at me, before sitting back down in the chair.
"I can't give you another wish. That would break the rules."
I speak excitedly.
"That's not it."
"I just want to change my appearance. I wanted to know if that's possible."
Hearing my request, Eladreo decides to help.
"Nothing prevents me from doing that."
"Of course. I may still be in training, but I am a Regent of Reality. This is well within my reach."
I see him stand up and walk behind the desk, opening a white door I hadn't noticed before.
"Come."
I obey and follow him through the door.
***
Eladreo opens the white door, leading the way, with me right behind him.
"So? What do you think?"
Stepping out of the door, I emerge completely different from my former self.
I changed almost everything about my body. Now I wear a black cloak, my skin remains tan, my hair, once brown and curly, becomes black and straight, my former gray eyes take on a deep blue tone, and my physique becomes that of a boy around sixteen or seventeen years old.
"Wow!"
"Thank you. Now that's much better."
Eladreo speaks to me, full of pride.
"Look, since I liked you, I'm giving you a few extra attributes, along with this outfit as a gift."
I ask him what they are, but he only shows me a smile, carrying an air of mystery.
I look at myself for a while and thank him again for the things he gave me, and for granting my wish.
We talk a little more. Then I walk along the red carpet. When I reach it, I open the golden gate and see that the other side is completely white, making it impossible to see what awaits me once I cross it.
I see Eladreo sit down in the chair that is now behind the desk. Just as I am about to cross the door, I hear his voice.
"Kid, be careful."
"I don't know exactly what awaits you in that Other World."
"It may sound generic, but… don't let the world change you."
That isn't his usual playful smile. I can feel a deep weight in those words.
I look at him and nod, showing a small smile.
"Yes, Eladreo."
"I won't change… that's a promise."
I step through the door, closing it behind me.