Year 2040
Mikael was lying in his deathbed surrounded by his children and grandchildren. His 3 sons stood by his side. He gestured towards his eldest to come closer whispering his last words.
"Keep your brothers safe, I'm proud of you all"
With his remaining strength he smiled and passed to nothingness, or so he thought. Surrounded by nothing, in a void of space he assumed he was in purgatory. Mikael thought it was funny that he was wrong about the afterlife, though he would probably live his life the same. Time passed, he was confused, unable tell if 2 minutes passed or 2 years.
In a void of self-reflection, a disturbance appeared, a naked woman with a goat’s head and 2 wings made of fire, her presence brought a great sense of peace to him. Looking around, he found others to be present, a snake with a lion’s head, an elephant with cat-like legs and all sorts of chimeras. There were too many to count. Surprisingly, one of them was a man in a black suit. He did not look particularly special, if he had to bet, he'd assume him to be of Scandinavian decent. Waiting for a reaction, Mikael finally spoke.
"Can I help you ladies and gentlemen, or whatever you are, I'm quite busy with my purgatory"
Laughter erupted from the chimeras, some stood emotionless, including the man in a suit. A chimera with 7 snake heads and a body of a cheetah spoke.
"Perhaps you were right Lacedonia, he won't lose in terms of composure at least"
"Of course, he won't lose in other aspects as well" The woman with the goats' head replied.
"Perhaps you would like to involve me in this conversation? who are you exactly?"
"I'm Lacedonia, the God of life"
Mikael looked at her with curiosity, such an emotion on his shriveled face looked cartoonish. He raised his eyebrow, a gesture noticeably excessive for a man with large eyebrows like him.
"I highly doubt that, oh so called God of Life" Mikael responded with a playful smile.
Lacedonia was taken aback. After a pause she/he/it spoke.
"Are you suggesting that me, a God, is lying to you?"
"No, perhaps you are simply delusional, I'm merely suggesting that a god is omnipotent and omnipresent by definition, and would not be speaking with me, a mere mortal".
Slight chuckle could be heard from the chimeras.
"Mikael how else would you explain a dead man speaking and thinking like you, if not for the action of a God?"
Mikael laughed and spoke quickly.
"Advanced civilization which transcended reality, last hallucinations before death, hell, I could be in a hospital looking at a wall".
This time he was met with silence, the man in a suit spoke.
"Does it matter? you are here at the end of the day"
"True, I was just making it clear, that I'm not willing to participate in the delusions of god, even in the afterlife"
The man in a suit seemed to be surprised.
"May I ask why?"
"A god that would allow my newborn daughter to die, does not deserve to be believed in" Mikael replied with slight anger in his voice.
"It seems your quarrel is with me Mikael, after all, I'm the god of death, Luciel".
Mikael smirked.
"Nothing but a murderer then, let alone a god"
"Enough!" proclaimed Lacedonia.
"I have deemed you worthy of representing the God of Life in the holy war, Mikael a world awaits a hero, this is a task I bestow upon you".
Mikael did not react to her words, he seemed to fall in thought for a few moments replying nonchalantly.
"…. I refuse"
Silence befall the void once again.
"This was not a choice Mikael; the word of Gods is law"
"You'll have to force me then"
Lacedonia’s wings shined brighter and her voice became deafening
"Perhaps I will!"
Suddenly a light broke out of the chimeras, a wolf with golden wings appeared. Its eyes were like suns burning brighter than Mikael should have been able to handle, but somehow it only made him thrilled.
"I will not stand for this; the free will of men cannot be spat upon by us gods, that is my law, my word, my proclamation, as the God of freedom"
Lacedonia seemed to be taken aback.
"I apologize Amakiel" Responded the flustered Lacedonia.
“Perhaps the human can tell us of his reasons, Lacedonia’s judgment cannot be wrong, I'm sure he has good reason for this" Amakiel spoke calmly.
Mikael smiled
"Perhaps I do, a more correct statement would be that I refuse to do it for free"
Only one chimera laughed this time. It spoke shortly.
"The greed of men is endless; it is a testament to my power!" proclaimed in laughter a pig with a bear’s body.
"What is it that you want, gold, women, eternal life?" continued the god of greed.
Mikael stood in silence for a few seconds and then spoke of his price.
"I want my brother, I want my daughter, they died too young". Silence seems to be a common occurrence in a void. Lacedonia seemed to be surprised, for a god, she did not know much of hiding emotions.
"I'm the god of life Mikael, but even I cannot force death to give up a soul without consequences, your very presence is already a favor granted once a millennium by Luciel"
All gazes turned to Luciel. Luciel spoke without emotion.
"I'll do it for payment as well, but I will only give you your brother"
“A strange thing to hear from you Luciel” spoke Amakiel.
"A bet perhaps with Mikael" -proclaimed the god of death.
Mikael smiled with hope. Perhaps it was better not to disturb his daughter who could be with her mother. However, his brother, he’d pay any price for him.
"Of course, whatever it takes, what is the bet you want to make"
The god of death smiled.
"I've been insulted by a mere human, I will give you your brother, but if you fail to save the world Lacedonia speaks of, you will serve as my envoy of death and do the very thing you hate so, for the rest of eternity, you will take the lives of newborn children. If you succeed, I will postpone the death of your children in your previous world"
Mikael frowned, then smiled and spoke.
"That is a deal if I've ever heard one. I agree to your bet Luciel. What is the threat I must overcome, what is this holy war”
“I’m glad this could be resolved. This world will meet a calamity, but it will be divided and fall, you must unite it, before it happens” Answered Lacedonia.
“Sounds like a headache, very well, I will do as you ask”
The world went blank and Mikael opened his eyes only to discover that his shriveled body had changed to that of a young child. Next to him was another child, around the age of 3, as they met eyes, they didn't need to speak, Mikael and his brother David would recognize each other anywhere. From this day on Mikael and his little brother David would embark on a journey to save this strange new world.
