A warm glow illuminated a small room, causing a boy nestled on his bed to shuffle his feet underneath the covers.
"Arthur, hun," he heard from outside. "You're gonna be late if you don't hurry!"
This prompted him to slowly rise as he looked around before stretching his arms while yawning.
This was Arthur Bennett, a boy with a carefree attitude. He was home, and he felt safe under the protection of God.
His childhood was one of innocence and privilege. He was the solitary bloom in his parents' garden, nurtured with an abundance of love and care. Their home wasn't as big as mansions, but it was somewhere he grew up—a place that held meaning.
From the oak in the backyard that served as his personal kingdom to the winding paths that led him to the heart of the woods, his world was an expansive playground.
Summers were hot, and winters were cold. Yet, amidst the seasons, he was taught the goodness of this world. Books, particularly the holy bible, were his companions, which allowed him to garner a lot of knowledge.
His parents, recognizing this spark, cultivated it with care and tutored him personally as opposed to sending him to public schools. This, of course, relied heavily on biblical principles and true stories from time past.
However, Arthur's education extended beyond the confines of academia. Life itself became his greatest teacher. Through experience and growth, he came to understand the depths of the heavens above and the earth beneath. There was nothing that he didn't know after learning it.
A lie exposed and a trust broken all taught him the value of honesty.
Through these experiences, he was moulded and his character was refined like precious metal in the furnace. He was learning the art of resilience, the importance of perseverance, and the power of connection.
Be it evil or good, he understood it and embraced the spirit of wisdom.
Overall, his childhood was rich in colour and texture, a foundation upon which he would construct the rest of his life.
Somewhere in the distance of his room, laughter echoed, mingling with the sound of a wooden door creaking open. Muffled voices floated in. When he looked, he saw his mother and father. Their faces, however, were obscured like smudged white ink on a canvas.
"Come on, Arthur, it's time for church!" the woman said.
The tone—loving but firm—nudged him from the comfortable cocoon of his bed. It was time to attend their regular church service.
After preparing himself accordingly, he followed the echoes of laughter that led him to the door. Then there was a bright glow as he found himself outside, grasping his mother's hand firmly.
It wasn't long until he found himself at the church. It stood tall and proud, and the structure itself emanated warmth and grace, inviting souls from all walks of life to gather within its walls.
Arthur could almost hear the hymns filling his ears. He enjoyed attending church. It was one of the few places where the light shone the brightest.
The chatter of the congregation continued around him as families exchanged greetings.
"Is that little Arthur?!" a woman gleamed at him. He couldn't make out her features, but he remembered this to be the pastor's wife—a loving woman who knew how to make him smile. "Look how big you've gotten!"
He couldn't help but laugh and give a genuine smile as she embraced him.
Inside, the wooden pews were polished to a shine and filled with faces turned upward in reverence. All remained indistinct, blurred by a mysterious haze.
With arms lifted, Arthur praised our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And when he did, joy washed over him like sunshine on a spring day, and he closed his eyes, letting the music envelop him. It felt as if he were floating on a cloud.
The service eventually came to an end, and as the congregation stirred into joyous conversation, Arthur casually stepped outside. There, he took everything in, feeling a sense of happiness that nothing on earth could fill.
As his family and him prepared to depart, a figure emerged from the throng of the churchgoers. It was the pastor approaching him with an intensity that captured his attention.
Much like his parents, the man's face was obscured by a hazy light. "I have something important to share with you, Arthur."
"With me? What is it, pastor?"
"A prophecy," he smiled. The words struck Arthur like a bell's toll as the pastor continued. "You will face a trial, one that will test you far beyond what you see here before you. Strangers will be met in enemy territory that you will not be familiar with."
"What does that mean, pastor?" It's then something dawned on Arthur. "Umm, and why can't I see anyone's face?"
"The workings of fate are too complex for me to share with you now, Athur. What I can tell you is this: Never lose faith, for faith will be your ally. And when temptation calls and doubt pulls at your heart, let your faith in Jesus guide you."
"I… I'm scared, pastor. What's going to happen to me?"
"Be not afraid, for God did not give you the spirit of fear. Trust in no one you meet, save God only."
Before Arthur could respond, the world around him began to blur away as the brightness swallowed everything whole.
✟
When Arthur lifted his head, he saw the moon's light cascading on his face. The bark from a tree was pressed against his back.
He had been dreaming. But it hadn't felt like a dream. It was more like a distant memory that he had forgotten over the years when he was on earth.
It took a moment for his senses to acclimate to his environment as he leaned against the branch beneath him. The all-too-familiar sounds of the ninja world he dwelled in filled his ears.
Several months after his arrival at Elysium's headquarters, he was thrust into this strange world after being lied to. Although there were six others taken here with him, he was the main one who understood the severity of this experiment: dying here meant dying in real life.
But Arthur, being the Christian that he is, was not scared of death.
Be they real or not, he did whatever it took for him to gain an edge over anyone standing against him. They were nothing more than stepping stones. For to thrive in this world, he had to adapt, sucker their leaders, and face tumultuous battles.
But how could Arthur commit such acts after being raised in an evangelical household?
Simple: the ninja world was not entirely like earth. Here, he had chakra; here, he could say whatever he felt like; and here, he could kill without regret. All of his actions required him to do what he needed without breaking the laws of salvation.
"Trust no one you meet, save God only…"