The wind howled through the dense city streets, carrying a chill breeze that cut through Cecil's jacket as he trudged along the sidewalk. The sounds of the bustling city blurred into a distant hum, just like the dull monotony that had become his life. From work to home, then to the park to sit on the swings in solitude—that was his routine. Day after day, year after year.
"Sigh," he exhaled, shoulders slumping under the weight of exhaustion as he left his office, his thoughts already drifting toward his predictable evening: reheating instant food, watching TV, scrolling through manga, and finally falling asleep on the sofa.
Yawning as he rose from said sofa that morning, Cecil muttered to himself, "What do I do with my life? I wish something interesting would happen today." His voice carried a weary sarcasm, but perhaps the universe had been listening—because something interesting was about to happen.
Later that Evening
The air was crisp and quiet as Cecil strolled along the sidewalk. The rhythm of his feet against the pavement was accompanied only by the occasional buzz of his phone in his pocket. Another notification popped up, and he stopped to check what it was. Bills. Nothing exciting, of course.
"Yeah, as if someone or something would contact me. Not like I was expecting it or anything," he muttered to himself with an audible scoff. His tone was heavy with sarcasm, a mockery of his own hopes.
Just as Cecil prepared to cross the intersection, the world changed. Everything stopped.
The wind froze mid-air, cars ceased their motion, and people stood still like lifeless statues. The silence was deafening, yet Cecil found himself still moving—still thinking. His pulse quickened as he looked around, confusion wrapping around his thoughts like a fog.
"What is going on?" he whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief. He raised a hand and watched it tremble in front of his face. He was moving, but no one else was. Just as he was about to take his first step into the surreal scene, a voice behind him shattered the quiet.
"W-w-why can you move in this situation? You are a mortal—how can you move in this higher dimension?"
Cecil whipped around to face the source of the voice. A figure cloaked in a shimmering glow stood behind him, radiating an air of worry and authority. Their face was unreadable, their presence overwhelming.
"I—I don't know, actually," Cecil stammered, his voice steady despite the panic bubbling within him. He hesitated before adding, "B-but you know what? I don't care. I'll just... think about it later." His tone shifted to something that was calm yet laced with a quiet panic, a desperate attempt to keep his composure.
The figure narrowed their gaze. "This is unprecedented. You shouldn't be here, yet you are. And now... something must be done."
"What do you mean?" Cecil's voice grew steadier as his mind raced. "What happens to me now?"
The shimmering figure shifted awkwardly, their presence no longer as imposing as before. They hesitated, their glowing form flickering ever so slightly, as if they were… nervous?
"Well," the figure began, their once confident voice now carrying a hint of uncertainty, "I suppose I should introduce myself. I am the, uh, newly-appointed God of… uh, this quadrant of dimensions. My name is…" They paused, fumbling for their words. "Ah, yes! My name is Lucidus. Yes, that's it!"
Cecil blinked at them, unimpressed. "You forgot your own name? Aren't gods supposed to have that whole 'all-knowing' thing down?"
Lucidus coughed, avoiding eye contact. "In training," they mumbled. "I just got assigned here. And you, mortal, are already making my first day a logistical nightmare! You're not supposed to be able to move in a dimensional freeze! Mortals… don't do that."
"Well, congratulations," Cecil said dryly. "I'm breaking your gods-only rules, I guess. Do I get a prize or something?"
Lucidus glared at him—or at least it felt like a glare, though their glowing eyes lacked proper pupils to confirm it. "This is serious!" they exclaimed, throwing their hands into the air. "You're an anomaly, and now I have to figure out what to do with you before, uh, upper management notices I've already lost control of my first task!"
Cecil took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rising panic. "Okay. So, what happens now? Are you going to 'fix' me or something? Because, uh, I'd rather not be erased, thanks."
Lucidus sighed, a dramatic and oddly human sound for a divine being. "Fixing this would involve far more paperwork than I'm prepared for, and I hate paperwork. So... we're going to take a shortcut. How about this: I'll send you to another world as a fresh start. Reincarnation, a clean slate! You like fantasy worlds, right? This'll be fun!"
"Wait, wait, wait—" Cecil's protests were cut short as Lucidus clapped their hands together, a booming sound reverberating through the air. A shimmering portal began to open behind them, its swirling colors hinting at the unknown.
"Oh, by the way, minor detail," Lucidus added with a sheepish grin. "Your, uh, physical form might be… a bit different after the transfer. Think of it as part of the adventure! You mortals like adventures, don't you?" Before Cecil could respond, Lucidus cheerfully shoved them toward the portal. "Have fun! Let me know how the cheat skill thing works out for you!"
Cecil barely had time to scream as the portal swallowed him whole. The next thing he knew, the world spun wildly around him, and his body felt… off. When the swirling colors finally settled, Cecil groaned and struggled to open his eyes.
"Wait," he muttered, his voice unfamiliar. Higher. Softer. His gaze dropped to his hands—delicate, slim, and definitely not the hands he remembered.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
And that was how Cecil—or rather, Cecilia—started her second chance at life, courtesy of a bumbling new god just trying to keep their job.