Atop the highest hill, in a grand manor, a woman was in the throes of childbirth. Her anguished screams and gasps pierced the air, carrying on the wind to the citizens below. She writhed and twisted in the bed, her body contorting with each wave of pain, while a strong, blonde-haired man with short-cropped hair did his best to steady her.
"Keep pushing—you're almost there... I can see the head," the midwife encouraged, her voice steady and reassuring. A faint green glow emanated from her hand, casting a soft light as it seemed to ease the woman's suffering, a calming presence in the midst of the turmoil.
With one final, earth-shattering scream, the room fell into a profound silence. The midwife carefully lifted the newborn boy into the air. His golden eyes shone with an almost divine light, and his aura filled the room with a serene calm, as though the very atmosphere itself had been blessed.
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I blinked.
What... just happened?
One moment I was speaking to the very goddess of life, death, and reincarnation, and now... I am here. Wherever here is. This vintage room, the way they're dressed, this language they speak—it's all reminiscent of fantasy.
Could this really be?
"My child, my beautiful child... like a gift from the gods themselves, you glow," the woman—my mother, I assumed—said, her eyes wide with awe. "What shall we call such a gift?"
The man beside her stepped forward, his voice deep and powerful. "I can already sense his potential. To possess such mana at birth is unheard of. He deserves a name fitting of his destiny... How does 'Theodore' sound?"
"It's wonderful," she replied, tears in her eyes. "Theodore... Theodore von Ashfall."
Well, I don't even know why I was debating about it—obviously everything I've been experiencing is is real—me being here just proves that.
Okay, yeah. This is happening.
No more doubt. This is real. I'm really here.
My face twitched on its own, a big dopey smile stretching across it as my infant voice let out a series of delighted giggles. It was strange—like my body was acting on instinct, even as my mind remained fully conscious.
And then, suddenly, a message appeared before my eyes and a strange, unfamiliar mechanical voice followed behind it.
[Welcome Lord Theodore.]
A system? Heck yeah! This makes perfect sense. I did wish for the standard cheat abilities in isekai tropes after all—and this? This is the holy grail of cheat skills.
'System Menu,' I thought instinctively.
A video game-like panel opened before me.
[Name]: Theodore von Ashfall
[Title(s)]: Ultimate Cheater
[Race]: Human
[Status]: Infant
[Gender]: Male
[Curse(s)]:
None yet
[Blessing(s)]:
None yet
[Magical Affinity]:
Fire
Wind
Earth
Water
Lightning
Ice
Light
Shadow
[Skill(s)]:
(Basic):
Appraisal
Language Comprehension
Chant Nullification
Detection
(Advanced):
None yet
(Superior):
Pocket Storage
(God-Class):
Skill Duplication
Creation
(Unique):
None yet
Whoa!
This system is insane. It's pretty organized and detailed—and it even gives me a basic understanding of this world's skills system—I can't wait to explore more. Finally, I'll get to live out my life's dream.
'Close System'
Yeah, this is really happening.
(5 Years Later)
"Young master!"
The doors to my room burst open as a young maid rushed in, her voice sharp and urgent. "It's time to wake up!"
"Just five more minutes," I mumbled, still half-asleep.
"I'm sorry, but you don't have that luxury today—even if it is your birthday."
"Ugh... fine." I groaned and rolled out of bed.
After a bath and slipping into my formal attire, I stood before the mirror, staring at the reflection of the five-year-old version of myself.
Then I saw it.
A flicker in the reflection.
Behind me, for the briefest moment, stood a shadowy figure—tall, vaguely humanoid, its form hazy and indistinct, like smoke clinging to shape. My heart skipped a beat. I blinked, rubbed my eyes... and it was gone.
Just like that.
Gone.
I stared for a second longer, wondering if sleep was still messing with my head. I thought my drowsy state was just getting the better of me... or could something actually be watching me?
Either way, I pushed the thought aside. I had bigger things to focus on today.
Today's the day.
My fifth birthday—the day I'll be formally tested for mana and magical affinity. And if all goes well... I'll finally begin learning real magic.
Alysia and I made our way downstairs, where my parents were waiting in the parlor alongside my little sister, Alina—one year younger than me and always trailing behind with slopey, dark eyes.
But something was off.
Both my mother and father were wearing masks—elaborate, porcelain things that hid their faces entirely. They'd never worn anything like this before. Not around me, at least.
Curious, I activated [Appraisal].
Their names and titles flashed before me, along with something else—something I hadn't expected.
[Trait Detected: Curse Suppression (Passive)]
I froze.
Curse suppression?
The memory of the shadow in the mirror resurfaced with chilling clarity. Was it a coincidence? Or could the two be connected?
Was there something haunting this house?
Or worse… was our family cursed?
I wanted to ask about it... but decided to refrain.
It is my birthday after all. No need to ruin the moment—and besides, I can always ask later.
Once everyone was ready to go, we set off for the holy church.
The Holy Church—like others across the continent—serves as a sacred conduit between mortals and the divine. A place where the boundary between realms thins, allowing for communion with the gods themselves.
There, during the rite of divine attunement, I would step into an ancient magic circle—its runes etched deep into the stone floor—surrounded by towering statues of the gods. Once the ritual began, my consciousness would be pulled into the divine realm, a space beyond mortal understanding where all the gods dwell.
It's there they would judge me.
If deemed worthy, one or more of them would extend their blessing—offering a divine link, a sacred bond. And in the waking world, the statues of those gods would begin to glow, signifying a contract had been formed.
What kind of power I'd walk away with… depended entirely on who answered.
"Welcome, Lord Ashfall," the pope said, greeting us with a gentle smile in the hallway leading to the ritual room. "And this must be your son. Strange how time flies... I remember when he was just a newborn. This young lady here—she's the one?"
"Yes," my father replied, giving a nod.
"Very well," the pope said, turning to the two nuns that tailed closely behind him. "Take her."
"What? Where are you taking me?" Alina asked timidly, stepping back as the nuns approached.
Our mother knelt beside her, brushing a hand gently through her hair. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll come with you. Nothing's going to hurt you—I promise."
With that the three of them—Alina, our mother, and the two nuns—disappeared down a hallway to the side.
Where is she being taken?
I pondered for a sec. I didn't remember anything like that when I was four.
What could be so important that my little sister had to be taken away?
And why does it feel like no one wants to explain? Could it be related to the curse?
Before my sister could completely disappear from my sight, I instinctively activated [Appraisal] on her.
[Name]: Alina von Ashfall
[Title(s)]: Forsaken One, Shadowy Monarch, Bringer of Misfortune, Child Abandoned by Light
[Race]: Human (Incarnation)
[Status]: Alive
[Gender]: Female
[Curse(s)]:
Blocked
[Blessing(s)]:
Blessing of the Goddess of Shadows and Misfortune
[Magical Affinity]:
Primordial Shadow
[Skill(s)]:
(Basic):
「Locked」
(Advanced):
「Locked」
(Superior):
「Locked」
(God-Class):
「Locked」
(Unique):
「Locked」
My breath caught in my throat.
What the hell...?
What did those titles mean? Forsaken One? Bringer of Misfortune? Incarnation of what?
Why was everything locked?
What is she? I couldn't stop shaking at the thought.
Should I be more distant from her now? Keep my distance from this Bringer of Misfortune?
But then another voice pushed through.
No. That's exactly the kind of person I hated in my last life. The bullies. The ones who cast others aside just for being different.
I don't want to see her lonely. She might end up on the wrong path that way.
I'm her big brother.
I should keep her safe from whatever darkness is trying to incarnate inside of her.
I wonder if that's what they're trying to do now.
Protect her from it.
"Now then," the pope said, turning back to me with a serene smile. "Shall we continue? It would be hubris to keep gods waiting, after all."
He walked forward, leading us down a long corridor enriched with holy engravings.
At the end stood a set of two tall and imposing double doors.
Beyond them?
The altar of the gods.
"Theodore," the pope said, turning his head towards me. "Take a seat in that circle. From there the magic shall do its work."
I followed as he told me and took a seat in the magic circle centered in the room.
A golden light engulfed my vision. When it began to clear, the world around me changed.
I was no longer in the altar of the gods.
But instead face-to-face with the lot of them.
"Welcome, Theodore," the goddess who seemed to command the most power spoke, her demanding and powerful voice crushing me under the weight of her words.
"You're a reincarnate, right? I wonder, would you like to be called by your original name, Sato?"
I smiled calmly.
"I appreciate your offer. Though Theo would be fine."
I raised my head to meet the gaze of the divine beings before me.
"Might I ask... the names of the deities that have graced me with their presence?"
"I am Arcane, the god of magic and sorcery," said a robed figure cloaked in raw magical energy.
Could that mean the gods don't all use magic? Does there power source from someplace else?
Next, a decrepit old man in battered armor spoke, a gleaming sword at his hip. "You may call me Thalos, god of war and wisdom."
Then came a white-haired goddess, eyes of black and silver. "My name is Theia," she said, smiling. "We've already met… or have you forgotten my voice so soon?"
I gave a light chuckle. "There's no way I could forget such a beautiful voice. The goddess of life, death, and reincarnation right?"
"They say flattery gets you nowhere..." she said with a smirk. "But with it you've earned my blessing already."
"And for that I thank you," I replied returning a gentle smirk.
A muscular man with rough hands and a warm grin waved, "Hello there kid, I'm Ferros, the god of forgery."
He claimed with pride embedded in his voice.
"And I," said a luminos woman seated next to her, her presence overwhelming with divinity, "am the goddess of creation, Cecelia nice to meet your acquaintance."
No wonder she looked so important—even standing next to the other deities.
The goddess of creation herself.
I would love to be blessed by creation. Just wonder of all the opportunities it'd grant.
"All-powerful deities," I said, lowering my head, "I ask humbly for your blessings—so I may prosper, and bring prosperity to my people."
I watched as one by one the gods raised their hands in my faver.
The god of magic, arcane.
"You possess all of the elements a rare talent among mages. Even if your a reincarnate."
The god of war and wisdom, Thalos.
"I sense that you have a strong urge to become stronger. And a will to protect something close. I feel that you'll become a skilled warrior."
The goddess of life, death, and reincarnation, Theia.
"I have a feeling things with you are going to become interesting."
And the god of forgery, Ferros.
"I hope that I'm able to aid you on your journey."
Cecelia glared at me for a moment longer, unreadable.
"I'll hold off… for now," she said. "Prove yourself first. Show me you are worthy of creation itself. Then… and only then… will I bless you."
"Very well then," I said bowing my head, "I shall earn it."
The divine realm around began to fade away.
I was back in the mortal realm.
The room was filled with silence.
Even the pope had an expression of shock.
"Blessings from four of the twelve greater deities," he exclaimed, eyes widening. "I can see it now you're destined to be great young Theodore."
And so, my journey begins.
A second life to achieve what I've always wanted.
And I'm going to make it a legendary experience.