"Yo! Francis!" A rather jolly young man called out, a bundle of slicked back, buoyant hair lopping atop his head as he waved. The group he was with collectively gasped, anticipation lathering their eyes.
The person in question was a whole street over, slight traffic blurring his vision as he squinted, looking for the voice calling his name. Short-cropped hair that mimicked a voidful sky, the stars blotted out.
It was slicked back, styled lavishly, allowing his hazel-brown eyes to pop more easily in the sun. His dark skin glistened in the midday sun, eyes widening with recognition as he spotted his good friend, Sam.
"Ah!" He waved back, a smile automatically taking over his face. He looked both ways, making sure the coast was clear before he crossed... Illegally. Heh, clear road, no police, and plenty of civilian coverage. Perfect!
He took a step, and!
VROOOOM!
MEEP! MEEEP!!
A loud, blaring horn cycled through the atmosphere, grabbing everyone's attention. Francis, however, seemed too enraptured in his own angst to see his friends that he didn't see, nor hear the giant 18-wheeler that barreled through the streets--Breaks locked and the driver failing to get them to respond.
"Hey! Kid! Get the hell out of the way!!" HONK! HONK!
Even the driver stuck his head out of the window, face distraught and full of anxiety as he tried to get Francis' attention. But it was way too late.
His head turned at the last second, his eyes widening with shock and surprise, fear never registering as he was splattered against the grill of the truck. Creating a nastily brutal scene for all that stood nearby.
But for dear old Francis Von Marquis? He was immediately greeted with pitch darkness, his consciousness shifting only with a feeling of debilitating nausea.
"Gah!" He shouted, looking around into the endless void. He squinted, his heart pounding in his chest, while his head quickly replayed his last moments on Earth within his head.
"No way.... No fucking way!" He gritted his teeth, jaw clenching as rage overfilled his vessel. Rage towards the misfortune of the driver's lack of control--It was simply a stroke of terrible luck!
He sighed, shaking his head. Hope left his body for just a brief moment before something mysterious happened.
The void he was in literally rumbled--Atmosphere and all, since it lacked any solid groundings. Francis was a spirit now, after all.
His eyes widened, his heart shrinking back in his chest while he awkwardly stood there, nervous that any sudden movements would be the next cause of this great rumbling.
"Oh shit... Oh shit..." He muttered, looking around, head like a wild flag as he searched all directions for maybe even a hint as to what was next. Nothing could've prepared him for the giant spatial rift that tore straight through the very heart of reality right in front of him.
Starstruck, he was like a petrified mannequin--Forced to be a prisoner in his own mind as the world around him literally unfolded into chaos right before him. O-Oh my god!? W-what the hell is going on!?
Come on! Move! He urged himself, but nothing came of it. By the time he had managed to regain control, the spatial rift had contorted, and in its place was another being of legendary proportions.
A middle-aged man looked down upon Francis with soft eyes. The boy in question felt his eyes shake with awe. "H-Holy shit!" He roared, stuttering backwards in a flustered mess.
The man was a giant by all means. Standing at a whopping 2.5 meters, adorning silver-sterling gunmetal silky hair that flowed like a lake down his back-- The golden orbs in his eyes contrasted perfectly with his hair, and they shimmered as he gazed upon Francis.
A look of familiarity and longing rushed to the forefront of the deity's mind. His black robes hugging his physique wafted in the celestial winds. "Francis, we meet again," The being was the first to speak up.
His words hung in the air like an unrequited love letter. Francis, still too stunned to speak, had to forcefully pull himself out of his stupor to even begin to mutter a phrase in response.
"I-Uh, I-I..." He went silent, nothing but a heavy breath escaping his mouth. He shook his head, his eyes closing while his jaws clenched--A more exacerbated sigh following close behind.
"...I don't know what you're talking about, man... I-I just want to get back home--" Francis' words fell short. The deity before him raised a hand, cutting him off as he closed the distance between them with slow, sturdy steps upon the metaphysical plane they resided in currently
"There is no such place for you, you've died, I'm sure you know that," The being nodded reassuringly, an eyebrow raised inquisitively. Francis' face darkened, his gaze lowering as he retreated back into his mind.
It was like a movie reel--His last moments on earth. His good college buddies had called him over... And then bam! "...I'm dead." Francis felt his lips quiver, the words stumbling out of his mouth like a nasty piece of food.
His mouth had turned down, whether it was subconsciously a reflection of his inner turmoil, or it was genuinely how he felt. But one thing was for sure, Francis was dealing with some difficult feelings--And the deity before him could feel it too.
"Don't fret. It's okay," The being began. Reaching one knee to close the difference between Francis' shallow 1.91 meters, and his own 2.5 meters. The two contrasted each other like night and day--
One's skin was reminiscent of a star's surface, while the other was bathed in a soft, buttery darkness that reminded the old god of a powerful set of bronze. With jet black hair that sat aloof atop Francis's head--And auburn eyes that shimmered with a hidden intelligence and pride that seemed to be overshadowed by his own self-confidence.
"You may not remember me, boy. But I, Francis Von Marquis, am in your debt," The being began. Cupping the side of Francis' face, the man smiled before retreating a good distance.
Francis sputtered, "W-Wait, what? I-In my debt?" He dove back into his mind, trying to make sense of when he could've possibly had the time to help a giant deity.
"In all my life, I've encountered various things--People, events, even some cases of possible supernatural occurrences," Francis started, his tone refilling with his renowned confidence with every word.
"I'm sure I would've remembered helping some... God, with his issues. You got the wrong guy, just send me home--" And once again, Francis fell a bit short. The deity smiled and took over Francis's momentum.
"My name is Kidevel de Acrates. An ancient Omnipotent being governing the area of rebirth." Silence ensued, moments before Kidevel continued.
"We met on the night of your eleventh birthday--You and your family had visited the small town of Duncan, Oklahoma, in search of old family ties and good times." As the god spoke, Francis began to paint a picture in his mind--A very familiar one.
"You had separated from your group upon one of your hiking trails deep within the WichitaMountains. Leading to you stumbling upon a bit of faulty earth and discovering my slumbering tomb." Kidevel had shaken his head, smiling fondly as he spun around and reconnected with his guest.
"Does it ring any bells?"
Francis hummed, his gaze distant and brows furrowed. Clearly in deep thought. "I-I faintly remember something along those lines... I had fallen in some sort of cave--It was too dark for me to even see anything." He murmured, "I recall crying and screaming for help, wildly touching things, trying to understand where I was."
Kidevel smiled, "Good, and that's practically all I expected you to remember. After all, the human mind tends to block all the trauma." Francis simply stared. Kidevel paced in front of the young man, a patient smile on his face the whole time.
Francis didn't know exactly how to feel, but he was well aware where his situation was heading. He owes me a great debt, I just died... Oh~ Shit, is this the fabled reincarnation sequence?! His heart jumped in his chest but he kept his thoughts silent.
"I see you're quiet. I take it that means you're up to speed?" Kidevel glanced towards his guest. Francis nodded and met him with a bright smile. "Yeah, pretty much! What does this mean from here, though? How do you expect to repay me for my grand debt of reactivating your shrine or whatever?" Francis waved off his possibly inaccurate detailing of their early encounter.
Kidevel paid it no mind. He ceased his pacing and grinned wider than before, "A new life with whatever you wish for at your disposal! The grandest of gifts I could ever impose upon a mortal soul." The domain shook with his proclamation.
Francis felt his jaw drop; he couldn't seem to close his mouth. That's how shocked he was. World ownership!? Whoa, I'm really moving up in the leagues. He grinned, "Great, when do we start!?"
. . .
Kidevel and Francis were seen standing face to face. Kidevel, with his arms crossed while Francis stood as still as a rock. His arms crossed while one supported the other, using a hand to stroke a bit of chin hair he had growing in, lost in thought.
"Okay, I think I have an idea for my wishes... But just to be clear... If I manage to die for real in this world, do I die for good? Or will you be here to cast me from the depths of hell?" Francis had an idea as to what world he wanted to be in. Circumstances be damned, everywhere in existence held danger; there was no point in making a fearful decision in that department.
Kidevel shook his head, "No. You were engraved with my insignia, you will forever return to my domain within the wells of reincarnation--Never ceasing to exist, but your memories next life won't remain intact." That made sense. In a weird, supernatural, fanatical sense. Francis could understand the logic behind that, too. Local kid aids ancient god, same god disperses his kindness amongst his fated savior and will forever be indebted...
Or something like that. Francis hummed, nodding silently to himself. "Okay, and how many wishes do I have to my name?" He glanced at the giant deity. Only being answered with a smile.
Francis felt a surge of chills course through his body. A feeling of unshakable excitement was overflowing his every vein. That means I essentially have infinite wishes, right?
"Alright, well. I believe I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this." Francis began, a strong smile gracing his lips. Kidevel nodded reassuringly, his brows raising in anticipation.
"For my world choice, I choose My Hero Academia. I don't want to be reincarnated, I'd prefer being transmigrated with the same appearance and name too," He took a breath. Gathering his thoughts momentarily as he carefully continued.
"I wish to be a vampire, but not just any normal vampire. I want to carry the purest, most potent ancient vampiric blood through my veins. The primordial." He grinned viciously. Kidevel simply nodded; by this point, his eyes were closed. He only needed his ears for this exercise after all.
"Another, being knowledge and principals behind the sorcery vampires hold. I'm all for hard work and practice, but I'm not up for grasping at straws trying to understand a supernatural concept that was quite literally not a thing in my world." He sighed resolutely. He shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Kidevel chuckled slightly, "So be it. Anything else?" Francis thought for some, tapping his chin. But when he found that nothing immediately popped into his head, he shrugged. "Uh, absolute immortality and absolute combat knowledge? Heh…" Francis rubbed the back of his head, awkwardly scratching.
"Okay. Done, are you satisfied with your preparations?" Kidevel asked kindly, not a single bat of his eyelids at Francis's lack of a solid mind. Francis smiled in turn and nodded, "Sure am." And with that, Kidevel snapped his fingers, sending Francis down towards his world of choice alongside his wishes…