Chapter 5: Darkness

William felt as if he were falling in an endless space shrouded in darkness. He couldn't even see his hands and was anxiously waiting for it all to be over. However, doubts tormented him, and he didn't know what awaited him ahead.

"And why did he come to me?"

William was confused that someone was turning to him with such requests. Reflecting on everything that had happened to him, he caught a glimpse of something unusual out of the corner of his eye. It was a point of light that was initially far away but gradually approached him.

As it grew, a silhouette appeared before him... "A butterfly?"

William thought, unable to believe his eyes. It was a real butterfly, bright blue, looking like a snowflake. Following it into the abyss of darkness, it seemed to be the only source of warmth and light in this grim world.

'You chose not to believe in God?'

A gentle female voice echoed in his head, making William flinch. He couldn't understand who was speaking to him, but realizing that it was just a butterfly before him, he understood that it was talking to him.

- Yes, I still chose not to believe in this "God."

He replied, pausing for a moment to examine the butterfly. It was more beautiful than any butterfly he had ever seen, emanating something akin to tenderness and warmth in this black space, which he had not felt for a long time.

- Was it you? That letter in the envelope?

he asked, while the butterfly silently gazed into William's eyes.

Looking at it, he was sure it was her.

'Yes, I wanted you not to make the worst decision.'

"Worst?" - he thought, trying to understand the meaning of those words. He wanted to ask what could possibly be worse, but he was interrupted.

'Please, save the life of this prince and give him power.'

- What? How can I give him power? - he exclaimed, hovering in the dark space and looking at the butterfly, waiting for an answer. However, his wait was not long.

'I can't say' - she replied.

- Why? - he asked, not understanding her response. But the butterfly began to drift away from him.

At last, she said:

"The most important thing is to take care of your health and help those around you."

- Hey, wait, answer the question! - he shouted, craving at least some explanation. But, not receiving one, he watched the butterfly disappear into the darkness, leaving him in anticipation.

Left alone with himself, William closed his eyes, waiting for this darkness to end.

***

Awakening, William felt his body ache from weakness and hunger. Struggling to open his eyes, he saw a dark, dry room with no light source. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he felt something on his cheek and, raising his hand, realized it was tears.

"What is happening? Why do I have tears?"

he asked himself, not understanding why his eyes were filling with moisture. He tried to calm down, but it seemed that with each passing minute he sank deeper into himself. Suddenly grasping his head and closing his eyes, he felt the memories of the previous owner of this body wash over him. Will, that was the name of the former owner, lived in solitude and experienced hunger. Going through the memories, he realized he was in the kingdom of Levith, but he couldn't remember where exactly. He had lived here almost all the time, except for his earliest years when he was with an elderly woman. She probably died of old age, and since then Will had lived alone away from people. Darkness reigned in his body, as if consuming him from within, filling him with longing and sorrow.

William finally realized why he had tears. Calming down and regaining clarity of thought, he looked around the room and saw that there was nothing in it except a bed, a nightstand, and a cracked mirror.

Looking into the mirror, he saw a slender young man of twenty with snow-white hair and ruby-like eyes. He wore a beige shirt with a cloak and dark trousers.

"With this build, I don't think I can lift even 50 kilograms," he thought with a slight smile, realizing how much weaker his body was compared to his predecessor, who was ready for any trials. With a faint sadness, he looked at himself.

As he gazed at his reflection, a sharp pain surged in his shoulder, which quickly passed. Hissing in pain, William took off his shirt and inspected his shoulder. There he saw a drawing of black wood, dry and leafless, provoking no positive emotions. Probably, this drawing was made by that "God" whom William had encountered in his office before arriving here.

Putting his shirt back on, William slipped his hand into his pocket, hoping to find something, and was not mistaken. There lay the very key that had been in the envelope. Although he did not understand how it had appeared here, he was glad about it. Assessing his surroundings, he pondered his first task.

"What should I do here?" he asked himself. At that moment, his stomach growled loudly, as if providing a clue.

"And here's the answer," William thought, realizing that he needed to eat now. Gathering the necessary things in this hovel, he stood before the door, ready to accept his new self and take his first step in this world.

Opening the door, he found himself in the thick forest that surrounded his hut.

-Hmm and where do I keep

Looking around, William saw the path that Will often walked along. It led to the nearest village.

"We must find food as soon as possible, so that we do not starve to death," said William to himself and went to the nearest village.

***

After walking about two kilometers, William noticed the far edge of the village and, with a sigh of relief, hurried home. He remembered that there was an old woman in the village who always helped him with food, without asking for anything in return.

Walking down the main street of the village, William noticed that the houses on the far right were abandoned or destroyed. The people of the village greeted him with greetings.

- Will, how are you? -Long time.

William turned to the voice and saw a man in an old shirt and a blacksmith's apron. He was about fifty years old, and he was forging weapons and tools for the farm. This man often talked to Will, noticing that he was not like any other guy.

Remembering Will's memories, William looked the man in the eye.

- Yeah, Harvey, it's okay, I came to you for supplies.

When he heard William's reply, Harvey nodded and, smiling, asked:

- Are you going to see old Effie?

When the man asked him, William wanted to continue his way, but he asked him another question:

- Do you need a sword?

The man asked with a serious look in his eyes, looking into William's. He thought it would be appropriate and replied:

- I would be very grateful for the sword.

Upon hearing the reply, the man went to the gun rack and started looking for swords that would fit Will. When he looked at them, he chose the one with a regular handle and shorter. Coming to the boy, he held out this sword.

- Here's a sword, short, well-balanced for your body and sharp. Take it as a gift from me.

Taking in his hands a sword forged by a skilled blacksmith, William felt how comfortably he lay in his hand. This sword seemed to be made for him. He had never held a weapon before, neither in this world nor in his own. But now, it seems, he has to learn how to fight and defend himself with his help.

- Go to Effie, she's worried about you because you haven't been to her in a while, said his blacksmith.

Nodding in agreement, William walked to the house, which did not stand out among the others, but was attended with care. He was about to knock, but before he could touch the door, it opened with a creak.

- Oh, how you scared me! said the old woman, frightened and gripping her heart. But, relieved, she looked at William with joy. And she gave her hands to the young man, and he gladly gave her the same.

Old Effy became the closest thing to Will. She took care of him, expecting nothing in return, and he was like a son to her. Ephesus had no relatives, and she lived alone in the house.

When she let go of her arms, Effy noticed the sword hanging from the young man's waist. She looked at the gun carefully and looked into William's eyes.

- Are you going to leave? she asked.

When he heard the question, which implied a departure from these places, William nodded slowly in agreement.

- Oh, let me give you some coins and food for the road, said the old woman. - Come inside, I'll feed you before we go.

Watching as Ephesus hastily set the table, William sat down at the table and, having waited for her to finish, began to eat. Effy, in turn, went to another room to find the things that William needed on his way.

When he had finished eating, he got up from behind the table and saw Effie coming towards him with a small bag of coins and a bag containing a map and food. When he took them out of the hand of the old woman, he felt her joy, mixed with a slight sadness from the breakup.

- May everything be all right for you on the way,' said Effie as she walked him out of the house.

When he went outside, William turned around and saw an old lady waving at him. Calling her back, he went to the northern road that led towards the main city of Pax - the capital of the Kingdom of Levites.