Death came for him on a Tuesday morning.

  The air chilled to a freezing temperature as dense clouds of grey mist rolled in from nowhere and everywhere. The world darkened by several shades, colors became dull and muted, and an otherworldly presence seeped into the air. It defied description for it was a sensation that affected not the body but the soul itself; some primal part of his mind instinctively registering the fundamental wrongness and screaming at him to run, to hide, to cease, to die.

  From the darkness of the mist it emerged, a tall forbidding entity in a cloak of curling shadows. He could not see its face; the mortal eye was not created nor meant to perceive such things. Yet if he focused hard enough, channeled his magic to look beyond the surface veil of reality and peer into the deeper layers of existence, he could make out a glimpse of a hollow skull, its eyes two burning pinpricks of eldritch flames. It held a scythe at its side, the long menacing blade curved like the crescent moon and gleaming with an unearthly light.

  Death. The Grim Reaper, the Pale Rider, the Destroyer of Worlds.

  It was the inescapable truth, the end of all things – and it was standing right before him as he had his morning tea.

  Slowly, Levi lowered the cup from his lips and set it down with a soft clink on the porcelain saucer. He cast a glance around to see if anyone else at the teahouse had noticed Death, even though he knew what he would see. Everyone, from the bustling waitresses to the chattering customers, now stood still and unmoving. The hands of the clock on the wall were frozen in place and the water from the fountain in the corner hung suspended in the air.

  In the presence of Death, even Time held no dominion.

  Anyone else would’ve cowered. Would’ve been transfixed in place by a wave of fear and meekly awaited their fate. But Levi was not anyone else, and as he gazed upon Death, all he could feel was a surge of burning rage rush through him.

  “You promised,” he said, and though he tried to keep his voice measured and restrained, he could not fully stop his fury from leaking through. “Three years ago, you promised to clear my debt and leave me alone for duties rendered. Have I not served you well? Have I not been your faithful servant for ten long years? Have I not stained my soul and broken enough sacred laws to have half the heavens calling for my head?”

  He slammed his hands down on the table, the china clattering precariously. “I held up my end of the bargain, Death! I did what you asked for a reprieve, a chance to live out the rest of my cursed days in peace. So tell me, damn it all, tell me how dare you stand before me today as though our pact means nothing, you oathbreaking son of a–!”

  I did not come here to reap your soul.

  Levi froze. “You… You didn’t?”

  No. As you said, a pact we forged, and its promises Death honors.

  “Oh.”

  A long, awkward silence descended upon them.

  Levi coughed several times into his fist. “Ah. That’s my bad. I… I may have jumped to conclusions a little too quickly.”

  Perhaps. But please, go on, finish your sentence. Of what lineage exactly was I born?

  When Death spoke, it was with a low, sonorous bass that reverberated inside his mind. He had no need for sound, communicating directly through resonations with the soul, and Levi could feel his every word pressing down upon his very essence with a cosmic weight.

  Lesser men would have perished on the spot in his position, their hearts giving out, their souls unable to bear the primordial pressure.

  Levi, however, knew Death well enough to hear the amusement radiating from his voice. The bastard was enjoying this.

  “A truly fine lineage of metaphysical concepts, I’m sure,” Levi said. “I intended no offense, of course…”

  No, no, don’t hold back on my account. Please, continue. I’m positively dying to know what you think of my parentage.

  He winced at Death’s refusal to drop the topic and – wait, was that a pun?! No, it must’ve been a coincidence. “Alright, in my defense, you appeared out of nowhere in a clearly ominous way. What was I supposed to think? That you were just dropping by for a cup of tea?”

  Oh, I’d be delighted to have some.

  Levi paused, unsure. Death looked back at him expectantly. “Have a seat,” he finally said, deciding to take it in stride, and Death sat down across from him, balancing his scythe so that it leaned against his shoulder. Bemused, Levi poured out another cup of tea and handed it to him, which he accepted with a surprising grace to his bandaged skeletal limbs.

  As one, they raised their cups and sipped their tea. Even with the circumstances, Levi took a second to relish the delicious aroma of the unique blend. Malty, rich, with a tinge of honey. There was a reason why he frequented this teahouse.

  He steadfastly tried to ignore the absurdity of the situation. Weirder and stranger things had happened to him before, ever since he’d become Death’s servant at the mere age of fifteen. He was nearly thirty years old now. How the days had gone by.

  For a while they simply sat there, man and reaper. It could’ve been a few minutes and it could’ve been an eternity – Time rendered impotent, it was hard to tell.

  I apologize, Death suddenly said, breaking the silence.

  Levi glanced at Death in confusion. “What for?”

  Three winters past, I asked you to do something no mortal should’ve had to do, a task you did not have a choice to refuse—

  “Don’t,” Levi said, his voice suddenly hard. “My choice was mine and mine alone. I did what I had to do.”

  And you have suffered dearly for it. I can see it in the cracks of your soul, the way your spirit constantly bends into itself as if under an unbearable weight. Death sighed. I realize I have never said this before, but you have done the world a great deed. The sanctity of life and death remains in balance because of you, and though many may condemn you for your actions and call you a monster, know that you are responsible for saving countless souls, both alive and dead. For that, even if no one else will, I thank you.

  A cascade of emotions tumbled through Levi at Death’s words. Guilt and sorrow tinged with an iron resolve. Memories of an impossible task, of an abominable choice, of a decision he could never take back.

  It had been his final task as Death’s servant. Something ancient had begun to awaken. Not god nor demon, but something older. It had been dreaming itself into existence through innocent mortal souls, tens of thousands across the continent, all corrupted without their knowledge. Nobody had detected this happening; nobody had even wanted to admit the possibility of it happening. Only Death and Levi had been fully aware of the danger.

  Humans always feared Death coming to collect their souls. That was a fallacy. Death collected their souls to protect them from the worse dangers that lurked out there. This was one of them.

  Levi spent nearly a year desperately trying to find a solution. He didn’t eat, he didn’t sleep. But even with all the power of the youngest archmage in history, nothing had worked. When time finally ran out, Levi had no choice but to kill every corrupted soul in one single strike. Soul magick of the most forbidden that violated so many sacred laws that it had even the heavens calling for his head. Men, women, children, elderly – it didn’t matter.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  Kill one to save ten. Kill ten to save a hundred. Kill thousands to save millions.

  Mathematically, it had been the correct decision.

  Even so, their blood was still on his hands.

  “I did what I had to do,” he said again, this time in a whisper, and Death inclined his head in a manner that could only be in silent respect. But wasn’t that to be expected? For Death knew humans the best. Even as the gods abandoned them and the devils reviled them, Death alone remained by humanity’s side, ever-present and ever-caring – in his own special way. He of all beings would understand what it meant to cast aside one’s humanity to save the rest.

  Levi sighed. “It doesn’t matter. The past is the past and I’d like to keep it as such.”

  The past may be the past, yet the future it still does shape, Death countered. And the form yours has taken is one that knows no grace.

  “I’m sorry?”

  You’re forgiven.

  “No, I mean... What do you mean by that?” No grace? Was that a threat?

  Death regarded him silently for a moment. Levi ignored the sense of vertigo he felt as he met his gaze evenly; looking upon his face, if it could even be called that, felt like staring into an abyss that stretched out to eternity.

  Tell me, are you happy?

  Levi blinked. Whatever he had been expecting, it was most certainly not that.

  “What?”

  Are you happy? Death repeated with the infinite patience of one who awaited all.

  Levi stared at Death, not quite knowing how to respond.

  Ever since he had been released from Death’s service, Levi had spent the past three years in hiding, wandering from place to place. There existed no sanctuary for him. Everyone, from the gods to the demons to his fellow man, was after his head. After what he had done, he couldn’t exactly say he blamed them.

  Exiled, condemned, and hated.

  Eh. Could be better, could be worse. At least the tax collectors weren't after him. He'd faked his death in their ledgers long ago, and none of his enemies had been willing to go near the collectors long enough to inform them otherwise.

  But was he happy?

  …

  “My happiness was never part of the equation,” Levi said, his voice quiet. “All that mattered was fulfilling my contract and doing what needed to be done. The rest is meaningless.”

  I see, Death said. I thought that would be your answer.

  And perhaps it was just his imagination, but Levi could’ve sworn that beneath the immense weight of his voice, Death sounded a little... sad.

  But that was impossible. When Death had sent Levi on his final task, he had been cold, detached, and unfeeling. He had remained emotionless the entire time. It was as Death should be.

  Or, perhaps, it was as Death had to be…

  I come before you today to offer you a choice, Death said. There exist many worlds out there, alternative dimensions completely divorced from the one we stand in. Death is universal amongst all, so it will be a trivial matter for me to reincarnate you into a different world. One where nobody knows who you are. It will be a new life. A second chance. What do you say?

  Levi's eyes widened in shock. Several undecipherable emotions flickered across his face. Then, he shook his head.

  “I don’t think I can,” he said with a quiet honesty. “That would be spitting on all the lives I’ve taken. Reincarnating into a new world, starting a new life… I don’t deserve that luxury. I don’t have the right. That you think I’d ever accept such an offer… You wound me, Death. Do you truly think so little of me?”

  Death was taken aback for a moment. Then, he let out a satisfied chuckle. I think the most of you, he said. That is precisely why I offer you this opportunity. That you would even question me is only further proof of that.

  Levi hesitated. “No. No, I can’t. I’ve done too much, and not in the good way. I’m not allowed to just – just leave. They weren’t allowed to leave. They weren’t even allowed to say goodbye.”

  He closed his eyes as memories that weren’t his own assaulted him from every side. The combined sorrow, anguish, and despair from every soul that had perished by his hand, enough to drive any normal man mad. Soul magick was one of the most forbidden magicks for a reason, so forbidden it was spelled with a ‘k’, and he’d etched his soul with its scars. He opened his eyes, and looked at Death with a tired, bone-weary gaze.

  “What does it matter to you, anyhow?” Levi asked. “I was only ever your servant.”

  It is because you were my servant that I am here, Death said. You served me faithfully, and you served me well. I feel some semblance of responsibility for your fate. I come before you today and offer you this choice because Death honors its promises, because Death settles its debts, and because Death... Death is kind.

  Once again, Levi was at a loss for words.

  That being said, I do confess an ulterior motive for coming here. Though I may be omniscient and omnipotent, I am still bound by laws and limitations. My duty is only to observe on the sidelines and reap the souls after all has been said and done. It is rare that I ever get the chance to directly affect the affairs of the physical realm. When I need some task accomplished, I am oft required to find a proxy to act in my stead. That is why I called upon you in the past, and that is why I call upon you now.

  Levi relaxed slightly. Now they were back in familiar territory. He could deal with this.

  “I see. There’s a problem in the world you intend to send me to, then?”

  Yes, though I know not the details – the specific threat remains clouded even to me.

  Levi tensed up, his eyes flickering with alarm. “You know nothing? Truly?”

  Death nodded. I can sense only the gradual, unnatural shortening of the lifespan of souls. The deterioration was slow, so imperceptible I discovered it only by happenstance, but once I knew what to search for, the signs of imminent cataclysm became clear. The world is in grave danger. As it is now, there is a good chance it will not survive. It needs a hero. Unfortunately, the best I can offer it is you.

  Levi let out a wry smile at that. For a long moment, he considered Death’s offer. “I once swore to myself that I’d never accept another task from you, you know.”

  Then don’t think of it as a task. Think of it as a... blessing. The only blessing a being like me can grant.

  “Heh. Can’t argue with that, I suppose.” Levi sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Are you certain of this?”

  Death does not regret.

  Levi’s hand hovered on the rim of his teacup, his thumb tracing slow circles into the porcelain. If the other world truly was facing a looming catastrophe, then it would only be right for him to go and help. But then again, he was only using that as a convenient excuse, wasn’t he?

  Duty warred with guilt. In the end, however, it was hope that won out.

  Because despite everything...

  Levi still wanted a chance to atone. A chance to wear the same happy smile, so pure and full of joy, he’d seen on that man’s face. The reason why he’d even entered Death’s service in the first place.

  “Very well, then,” Levi said. He drained the last of his tea before setting it down and standing up. “I accept your offer.”

  From within the shadows of his hood, Death smiled. It lasted only a moment, but it startled Levi all the same. Never before had he seen Death smile – he hadn’t even been aware it was possible, but the faint curve to the jaw couldn’t be mistaken.

  I am pleased to hear that. Oh, and one more thing – a small favor, if you will.

  “What is it?”

  Take your time with this, will you? There is no need for haste. I do not know when the threat would come – one month, one year, perhaps even a decade. It’s a new beginning in a new world, and I pray you will explore and discover many new things. Do try to let it be an adventure.

  Levi frowned. “That’s silly.”

  Life is silly, Death said. Isn’t that the point?

  Levi stared blankly at Death. What was he talking about? “Right… That aside, is there anything you can tell me about the world at all?” he asked. “Its customs, cultures, idiosyncrasies? Just so I have an idea of what to prepare for.”

  Of course not, Death said. That would ruin the novelty of the experience. Go forth and find out for yourself. In one smooth, eerie motion, he stood and raised his scythe. Any last words?

  Levi snorted at the theatrics. “Oh, just get it over with.”

  As you wish.

  With that, Death swung his scythe. Levi stood there unflinching as the gleaming blade of eternity rushed toward him. Then, his world went dark.