Shattered Destiny : Fate

By the time Ajax turned one, he had already surpassed the typical milestones of a child his age. Walking felt as natural as breathing, though his speech had yet to catch up. Still, his understanding of the world was far beyond what anyone could have expected.

His family often praised his intelligence and agility, unaware of the depth of his awareness. To them, he was a prodigious child. But Ajax knew the truth—he was simply a man reborn.

Yet, despite adapting well to this new life, he couldn't shake the longing for the family he had left behind. Every day, thoughts of his mother, father, and sister haunted him. Were they coping without him? Did they still grieve his loss?

In quiet moments, he prayed. He didn't know if God would answer, but he had to try.

But no answer came.

Until the night before his second birthday.

As he sat in his room, idly playing with wooden toys, a strange sensation washed over him. His vision blurred, his body grew weightless, and he felt himself being pulled into nothingness.

When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in his room. He was in the void—standing before God.

"Finally," Ajax thought, relief washing over him.

God stood before him, bathed in an otherworldly glow. Though Ajax still had the body of a child, he found that he could speak clearly. Without hesitation, he asked the question that had plagued him since his reincarnation.

"How is my family? My mother, my father… my sister?"

God's gaze was calm, understanding. "They still hold onto you," He said. "Your passing left a deep wound, but they have not forgotten you."

Ajax's chest tightened. It was comforting to know they remembered him. But painful to think they were still grieving.

"I have a request," Ajax said. "I know it wasn't part of our deal, but… can you give them a child? A boy who looks like me? Someone who can do what I couldn't—who can bring them comfort."

God was silent for a moment. Then, He nodded.

"It is not part of our agreement," He admitted, "but I will grant your request."

Relief flooded Ajax's body. "Thank you," he whispered.

But something felt off.

"Is that why you called me here?" Ajax asked.

God's expression shifted. "No. You are here because it is time for you to understand the path ahead. You are growing, Ajax, and soon you will need to awaken your magic."

Ajax had already suspected that magic would be an essential part of this world. But the weight in God's voice made him uneasy.

His eyes narrowed. "Why did you grant my request so easily?" he asked. "I doubt I'm the only one who has ever asked something like this. There's something more, isn't there?"

God's expression softened, but His answer remained cryptic. "Yes, there is something at play. But I cannot tell you—not yet. What I can say is that the magic you choose will be crucial for the challenges ahead."

Ajax's mind raced. His magic… would determine everything.

"What magic am I supposed to choose?"

"I will grant you three elemental abilities," God explained. "The same ones your family possesses—water, earth, and fire. But beyond that, you must choose three ultimate skills on your own. These will shape your destiny. Choose wisely, for the wrong choice could make your path impossible."

"Ultimate skills?" Ajax echoed.

God nodded. "They are abilities born from within—beyond the traditional elements. Most people develop them through intense training, deep understanding of their mana core, or in moments of life and death. But for you, the choice is yours."

Ajax hesitated. The weight of this decision pressed down on him. He wanted to ask God to choose for him, but he already knew the answer.

"This is your life," God said firmly. "The decisions must be yours."

Ajax took a deep breath and thought carefully. His first choice came naturally.

"I want the ability to create. To craft anything I desire."

God's lips curved slightly. "Creation is a wise choice. But remember—you can only create what you fully understand. If you do not know how something is made, you cannot bring it into existence. The same applies to magic—you can create your own spells, but only if you grasp how they work."

Ajax nodded, accepting the challenge. His mind turned to his second ability. Since creation required knowledge, he needed something to help him process and analyze information quickly.

"For my second skill, I want a second version of myself. A personality that lives within me—one that is all-knowing."

God considered this for a moment before nodding. "I will grant it, but understand—this second self will not be omnipotent. He will possess great intellect and insight, able to detect the smallest details, but he cannot predict the future. And he will be forged from your own soul."

Ajax accepted the terms. His second self would be a guide, someone to help him navigate the complexities of this world. Now, for his final ability…

"For my third skill," he said carefully, "I want the power to learn anything just by seeing it. The ability to copy."

God's approval was immediate. "Copying is a powerful skill, but it has limits. You will only be able to replicate what your body and mind can comprehend. If something is beyond your capacity, you cannot use it."

Ajax took a deep breath. "That's fine."

His choices were made.

God gave a final nod of approval. The familiar sensation of nothingness began to fade.

"Remember, Ajax," He said as His form started to blur, "your decisions will shape the path ahead. Be vigilant."

And just like that, Ajax awoke in his bed, the weight of his choices settling over him.

His journey had only just begun, but with the powers of creation, intellect, and copying at his disposal, one thing was certain—his future would be anything but ordinary.