Into the Unknown

He lived in our world, but one night, after working overtime, he stopped by a convenience store. There, he saw two girls in trouble. Without hesitation, he rushed to help them, only to be stabbed in the process.

“It’s cold... and warm at the same time,” he thought. “Suddenly, I realized... I’m dying.”

“Do I have any regrets?” he wondered. After a long moment of silence, he answered himself: "No, I don’t have any regrets. Everything is better than working at that terrible company."

Suddenly, he heard a bell. Then again. And again. The ringing kept echoing in his mind. In the distance, a light appeared.

“That must be the afterlife,” he thought. “I wonder... is it anything like we imagined it to be on Earth?”

But it wasn’t. The moment he stepped into the light, he found himself in a vast, galaxy-like space—his own self-proclaimed "universe." In the center of this infinite dome, a light in the form of a person appeared before him.

"Who is that? What is that? Is it dangerous? Is it here to take my soul?"

"Don’t be scared, child," the being said. Its voice echoed inside his mind, even though its mouth didn’t move. "I am what you humans would call a god."

"How?" he asked, stunned. "How can I hear you without you speaking?"

"I speak in your mind, child," the god replied.

"Okay... what are you going to do to me?"

The god smiled. "I will give you another chance in another world if you wish."

"Why?" he asked, still confused.

"Your heroic act saved the two girls who were supposed to die that night," the god explained.

"Sorry," the man said, feeling strange.

The god smiled again, reassuring him. "Don’t worry about it. Now, would you like to live again, but this time in a magical world?"

He thought for a moment. A new chance, a new life… "I do," he said.

"Very well, but child, do you remember your name?"

He tried to recall it, but the only things that surfaced were the painful memories of his childhood—his aunt and uncle who had abused him after his parents died in a tragic accident. They had never loved him, taking out their bitterness and anger on him every day. He had been called nothing but insults: scum, dog, trash, unwanted. At some point, he sealed away all the memories of his youth, erasing them completely.

The god’s voice echoed in his mind, full of compassion. "My child, I will grant you a rebirth into a new family—one that will love you unconditionally. You will live a life full of magic and adventure. I will erase these memories, so you won’t carry the weight of regrets and trauma."

"Alright," he replied, accepting the offer. "But... what will my name be?"

"Your new parents will name you," the god said.

"Will I ever see you again?" the man asked, a final question lingering in his mind.

The god smiled warmly. "I will always watch over you."

"Can I still hug you in this life?" he asked, his voice soft and full of kindness. The god was taken aback, never having been asked such a thing before. It was an innocent, pure request that warmed the divine being’s heart.

"Of course, my child," the god replied. "Come here."

The god was neither warm nor cold, but rather, the perfect temperature—an embrace beyond words.

"Now, go, my child," the god said. "Walk into the light."

A new light appeared behind the god. The man slowly walked toward it, but before stepping through, he turned around one last time. He waved goodbye, hearing the god’s final words: "Enjoy this life to the fullest."

Though the last part of the god's message was unclear, he had already stepped into the light.

"Look, honey, our son. He looks just like you," a voice echoed from the distant past.

"I know," the other voice replied. "We will name him Velanova. What a beautiful name for such a beautiful child. I wonder what he will become."