"So let me get this straight," Fin said, his ghostly approximation of a form pacing through the cosmic void. "You're offering to send me to another world where I can manipulate elemental energy directly, with enhanced capacity for power, in exchange for... what exactly? You said this is compensation, but there's usually a catch with these things."
Kailos's luminescent form pulsed slightly, an apparent indication of discomfort. "No catch. Cosmic law is quite clear on restitution for administrative errors resulting in premature termination of existence. You are owed compensation equal to or greater than what was lost."
Fin considered this. As a scientist, he'd always prided himself on skepticism, on questioning everything. Death hadn't changed that fundamental aspect of his personality.
"And my memories? You mentioned they'd be preserved, but accessing them would take time?"
Kailos nodded, or at least performed the ethereal equivalent. "Your adult consciousness will be transferred into an infant body. The physical brain must develop the neural pathways capable of processing your existing memories. Think of it as having the data but needing to wait for the hardware to catch up."
"How long?"
"Variable. Some memories may surface as early as age two or three, simple concepts, emotional imprints. Complex scientific knowledge might take until adolescence when the brain has developed more sophisticated reasoning capabilities."
Fin frowned, the expression strange on his spectral face. "So I'll essentially be trapped in an infant's body with an adult mind? That sounds... horrific."
"Not entirely," Kailos corrected. "Your consciousness will adapt to the limitations of your physical form. You'll retain your sense of self, your core personality, but your perception will align with your development stage. It's a protective mechanism to prevent madness."
Fin paused his pacing, focusing on the implications. "Will I still be me? Fin Wilson, the physics student? Or will I become someone else entirely?"
The deity's form shifted, creating what appeared to be a comfortable seat in the void, gesturing for Fin to do the same. Surprisingly, Fin found he could manifest a similar structure with just a thought. He sat, marveling at the strange physics of this in-between place.
"Identity is more resilient than you might think," Kailos explained. "Your core self will remain intact. You'll be Fin Wilson in essence, but also a new Fin in circumstance. Both experiences will shape who you become."
"And this world, Aetherys, tell me more about how its magic system works. You mentioned tiers and elements."
Kailos brightened, clearly more comfortable with technical explanations than emotional reassurances. The void around them transformed into a three-dimensional display of glowing symbols and flowing energy patterns.
"In Aetherys, power progression follows distinct stages called tiers," Kailos explained, manifesting a vertical ladder of glowing platforms. "Everyone begins at Tier Zero, ordinary humans with no active connection to elemental energies. Through cultivation techniques, meditation, and practice, individuals can sense and gather elemental mana."
A small human figure appeared at the bottom of the ladder, surrounded by swirling colored energies.
"Once sufficient mana is gathered and compressed, a core forms within the body," Kailos continued, as the figure on the display concentrated the energies into a glowing sphere within its chest. "This marks advancement to Tier One, allowing active manipulation of one's chosen element or elements."
"And the higher tiers?" Fin asked, fascinated despite himself. The physicist in him was already analyzing the system, looking for patterns and principles.
"Each subsequent tier represents exponential growth in power and control," Kailos explained. "Tier Two cultivators can maintain techniques longer, affect larger areas, and develop specialized applications. By Tier Three, practitioners are considered masters of their element, capable of complex techniques and sustained effects."
The figure in the display climbed higher, its core growing brighter and more complex with each tier.
"Few reach beyond Tier Five, where power becomes sufficient to affect entire regions. Tier Six practitioners can influence provincial weather patterns. Tier Seven is kingdom-scale power. And Tier Eight..." Kailos's form dimmed slightly. "Tier Eight approaches the realm of lesser deities, with reality-shaping capabilities within their elemental domain."
"And Tier Nine?" Fin asked, noticing the conspicuous absence.
Kailos hesitated. "Tier Nine is... theoretical for most. In all of Aetherys's recorded history, perhaps a dozen individuals have reached that pinnacle, and most only briefly before ascension or... catastrophic burnout."
Fin nodded, already formulating hypotheses about energy constraints and system limitations. "And the elements themselves? You mentioned primary, derived, and conceptual categories."
The display shifted again, showing a complex wheel of interconnected elemental symbols.
"The five primary elements form the foundation: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Lightning," Kailos explained, highlighting each in turn. "Most cultivators focus on mastering one primary element for purity and efficiency."
"Derived elements form from combinations: Ice from Water and Air, Metal from Earth and Fire, Wood from Earth and Water, and so on."
"And conceptual elements?" Fin pressed, particularly interested in these more abstract forms.
"These represent principles rather than physical substances: Time, Space, Transfer, Life, Death. They're rare and difficult to sense, let alone cultivate." Kailos studied Fin curiously. "Your scientific background might give you unique insights into conceptual elements. Few can grasp their abstract nature."
Fin was already connecting dots between physics principles and these mystical concepts. Conservation of energy, thermodynamics, quantum transfer, his Earth education might translate in unexpected ways.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
"So my enhanced mana capacity, what exactly does that mean in practical terms?"
"Most humans in Aetherys have a baseline capacity determined by bloodline, environmental factors, and natural affinity," Kailos explained. "I can ensure you begin with approximately triple that baseline capacity, giving you significant advantages in both gathering speed and maximum potential."
Fin raised what would have been an eyebrow if he'd had a physical form. "That sounds... substantial. Why not make it ten times? Or a hundred? If this is compensation for ending my life prematurely, why the specific limitation?"
Kailos's form flickered with what might have been discomfort. "Cosmic law has constraints. Too large an enhancement creates imbalances that the recipient's physical form cannot sustain. Triple capacity is the maximum that won't result in your spontaneous combustion before puberty."
"Ah," Fin replied drily. "Good to know there are some safety protocols in place."
"Indeed," Kailos agreed, missing the sarcasm entirely. "I've already caused one premature death. A second would be catastrophic for my service record."
Fin couldn't help but laugh, a strange, echoing sound in the cosmic void. Even in death, bureaucracy apparently found a way.
"Before I decide," Fin said, growing serious again, "I need to understand the full picture. The family I'd be born into, will they treat me well? What's their standing in society? What opportunities will I have?"
Kailos seemed to appreciate these practical questions. The void shifted again, displaying images of the Aodh family and their estate.
"The Aodhs are frontier nobility, respected but not among the highest echelons of power," Kailos explained. "Your father, Donovan, earned his title through military service rather than inherited bloodline. He's pragmatic, fair, and values competence over tradition."
Images showed a broad-shouldered man with close-cropped brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard, training with both sword and fire magic in what appeared to be a courtyard.
"Your mother, Cahira, comes from merchant stock. She's intelligent, resourceful, and has a good head for politics and commerce. Water affinity, Tier Two." The images shifted to show a slender woman with dark hair managing household affairs with quiet efficiency.
"Your older brother, Kilian, will be fourteen when you're born. Fire affinity like your father, straightforward personality, somewhat competitive but ultimately loyal to family."
Fin nodded, studying the images carefully. "And the Eastern Reaches you mentioned? What's the region like?"
"Considered provincial by the kingdom's standards," Kailos admitted. "But stable and prosperous enough. The nearby mountain ranges experience near-constant storms, making it an ideal environment for anyone with lightning affinity."
Fin raised a spectral hand. "About that, will I have any choice in my elemental affinities? Or is that predetermined?"
"Affinities are partially determined by bloodline, but your unique circumstances offer more flexibility," Kailos explained. "Your strong connection to lightning from your death creates a natural primary affinity. Beyond that, your personal inclinations and the scientific knowledge you retain will influence which energies resonate with you during affinity testing."
Fin fell silent, weighing all he'd learned. A second chance at life, enhanced capacity for power, and the opportunity to apply his scientific understanding to a completely different system of physical laws. Set against that, starting over as an infant, years of development before he could fully access his memories and knowledge, and the unknown challenges of a world where power determined standing.
"If I refuse?" he asked finally.
Kailos's form dimmed. "Then standard processing applies. Your soul energy would be recycled into the cosmic flow, memories and identity dissolved. Technically, your essence would continue, but not your consciousness as Fin Wilson."
Soul recycling. Oblivion by any other name.
"And if I accept this offer, what guarantees do I have that you'll keep your end of the bargain? That my memories will remain intact, that I'll have this enhanced capacity you've promised?"
"Cosmic law binds me more strictly than any verbal promise could," Kailos replied, producing the glowing contract again. "These terms are registered in the Universal Archive. Once accepted, they become immutable reality, even I couldn't alter them if I wanted to."
Fin studied the contract, the symbols still shifting between recognizable language and incomprehensible runes. The core terms remained consistent: reincarnation with memory retention, tripled mana capacity, and placement in the Aodh family. No hidden clauses or unexpected obligations jumped out at him.
What did he have to lose? His Earth life was already gone, his body destroyed by that lightning strike. His research, his future plans, his potential discoveries, all erased in an instant of cosmic clerical error. This was his only chance to continue existing as himself, to carry forward any part of who he had been.
And beyond that pragmatic consideration, there was the undeniable allure of this new world. A reality where the forces he'd studied theoretically could be directly manipulated, where power could be cultivated through understanding and practice. The scientist in him couldn't resist such an opportunity.
"I have one last request," Fin said.
Kailos's form pulsed questioningly. "Yes?"
"I want a sign, something to help me remember when the time comes. Something to trigger my memories when my brain is developed enough to process them."
Kailos considered this for a moment. "That can be arranged. What did you have in mind?"
"Lightning," Fin said without hesitation. "When I see lightning storms, I want them to resonate with me on a deeper level than just elemental affinity. I want them to help unlock my memories of who I was, of everything."
"A memory trigger linked to lightning phenomena," Kailos mused. "Yes, that's within parameters. I can encode that connection into your soul essence before transfer."
Fin nodded, decision made. "Then I accept your offer, Kailos. A new life in Aetherys, with my memories intact and enhanced mana capacity, in exchange for considering your cosmic error fully compensated."
"You're making a wise choice," Kailos said, the contract floating closer. "Many souls would give anything for such an opportunity."
Fin smiled thinly. "Well, I already gave everything, my life. Now I'm just negotiating the refund policy."
Kailos's form brightened in apparent amusement. "Your perspective is... unique. I believe you'll do well in Aetherys, Fin Wilson."
"Fin Aodh," Fin corrected, reaching toward the contract. "I suppose I should get used to the new name."
"Indeed. Though remember, names are merely labels. Your essence remains your own, regardless of what others call you."
Fin focused his attention on the glowing document, projecting his acceptance as Kailos had instructed. The contract flared brilliantly, then dissolved into countless motes of light that swirled around him, sinking into his spectral form.
A strange sensation washed over him, not quite warm, not quite cold, but transformative. He felt himself changing, his very essence being prepared for transfer.
"The process will begin momentarily," Kailos said, already beginning to fade into the starry void. "I wish you good fortune in your new life, Fin Aodh. Use your second chance wisely."
"Wait," Fin called out. "Will I ever see you again? If I have questions about..."
"Administrative protocols prohibit further direct contact once compensation has been delivered," Kailos interrupted, continuing to fade. "But know that I will observe your progress with great interest. It's not every day one of my errors leads to such a unique arrangement."
The deity's form grew dimmer, more distant. "One final gift, Fin Wilson. When you reach the age of understanding in your new life, just remember who you were and are. Do not let power consume you."
And then Fin was falling, diving through layers of reality, consciousness contracting to a pinpoint. There was warmth, darkness, the distant sound of a heartbeat not his own. Around him, the faint whisper of elemental energies, already he could sense them, particularly the crackling potential of lightning, calling to him.
His last coherent thought before infant consciousness claimed him was a simple determination:
In this world of magic and cultivation, he would not be merely a victim of forces beyond his control. He would master them. He would understand the true nature of power in ways no one else could. And he would rise through the tiers until no random act, divine or otherwise, could ever threaten his existence again.
Then came darkness, and the long, slow process of growing began.