Living A New Life Without Regrets In A New World

Once Johannes opened his eyes, he saw several lightning bolts speeding towards him; about to hit him. He felt death drawing near, yet he didn't even know what was happening. As he accepted his fate, he felt his feet move- he, again, opened his eyes and realized that he was able to dodge the lightning storm that rained on where he previously stood. Then, out of nowhere, a bunch of flaming balls with different colors- blue, red, yellow, orange, and others in between- came out behind him. Those flames went towards the man who kept shooting the lightning blades at him. The man easily dodged the flames Johannes hurled. The man then started chanting, and while he was chanting, a number of eye-like magic circles appeared behind him. It was uncountable. Johannes thought that it numbered into the thousands.

Johannes felt dread as if his guts were being wrenched. His brain kept telling him to run. He could feel his heart beating fast. He could only stare at the figure of the man in front of the thousand magic circles. Johannes heard himself shout, "Why are you doing this!?"

The man smiled like a maniac and answered, "Because it's fun!"

All Johannes saw was the disgusting face of a maniac who enjoys inflicting pain unto others.

"Hehehe. If that's how it is, then there's no need for me to hold back too." Johannes knew he was smiling. He felt exhilarated. He finished his chanting in his mind and shouted, one word, "VOID!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Johannes woke up with a start. He looked at his surroundings and realized that he was in a familiar place.

"Did I die again?"Johannes said. He was back in the 4-cornered room without corners. He saw the man-in-white again, still sipping his tea.

"No. What you saw was an oracle. You're here right now because you have to be." The man-in-white said.

"What do you mean? Who are you really?" Johannes asked.

The man-in-white put down his tea. He looked at Johannes in a disappointed way. Johannes noticed that the man in white's eyes are red and was close to tears. Johannes knew that this guy is going to mess with him today.

"Is this all you're gonna do whenever you come here? Ask questions that only matter to you? Why not ask me if how I was? How my day went? I have a life too! The world does not revolve around you dear Johannes, Jean, Jan, Eoin, Ioannis or whatever variant of John you are! I am a person too! Huhuhuhu!" The man-in-white exaggeratedly said while crying. He knelt on the floor and kept asking "WHY!? HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME JOHANNES." He acted as if he was hurt and brokenhearted. However, Johannes tried reading the man's thoughts. He wasn't able to read it but he can feel that what he was doing was an act.

Johannes was annoyed. He thought, "Ah, this guy is really ticking me off."

"You do know that I can hear your thoughts, right?" The man-in-white stood up brushed his pants, and smiled.

"I know," Johannes answered in a disinterested manner. "So why am I here again?"

"Woah, I like you John. You're really disrespectful but really interesting. I've only been watching you for a year. But you really crack me up."

"Blah, blah, blah. Why am I here? What was the dream I just had?" Johannes asked impatiently.

"Well, for once, I'll do my job as a guide, or an Area Manager if you may. I only oversee your world sooooo, you asked me who I am? Call me The Exposition Bro. You're here because you've been baptized, or being baptized rather. The ritual is not over yet so you've been sent here. Don't worry, I'll send you back once I was able to explain some stuff about your new world.

"Don't you think its too late to explain everything? It's been, 1-year exposition bro."Johannes said.

"Well, that's just how it is." the man answered with a blank face. "So, the last time you were here, I told you that there would be magic and that I would give you a gift. In this world, the magic's base will always be the 4 classical elements. Fire, Air, Water, and Earth." The man said. "Now the level of magic you can do will depend on the talent that you have. As a reincarnate, you won't have to worry about it because you are reborn with a high level of talent." The man explained. "Now, as the Exposition Bro, it's not my job to teach you. It's up to you to learn how to use magic." The man said.

"What about that gift you mentioned? You said that I'd be given talent and a gift before you threw me out of this room." Johannes asked expectantly. He was not disappointed with the things the Exposition Bro said.

"Well, you kinda already know. You've been using it. Do you think you can hear thoughts? Basically that's it, but it's really not." The man said. He continued, "Your gift is called 'insight'. With insight, you can understand anything you think about. You will be able to understand everything you wanted to. Like what you do with the people around you. You were able to understand their thoughts based on their body language, expressions, tone of voice, etc. However, the accuracy of your understanding will depend on how much you know. You can strengthen this gift by learning. As they say, knowledge is power." The exposition guy lazily said.

"Thank you for doing your job," Johannes said in a joking manner.

"John, I told you I like you right? Since you're joking with me, I'll do you one better." The man said while smiling suspiciously. He acted as if he was offended by Johannes' little jab.

"What are you gonna do?!" Johannes asked nervously. After he saw Exposition Bro's smile, he already knew that the Exposition Bro will do something unnecessary.

"By the way, call me Terminus so you won't refer to me as 'the man'. Even if I like the nickname Exposition Bro, it has too many syllables and letters" he said knowingly.

"Wait, what?" Johannes said before he was kicked out of the room by Terminus.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the third time, Johannes woke up. He looked up and saw a tongue of fire, a floating rock, swirling water, and a ball of wind over him. He already knew that this was Terminus' doing. He looked around and he was back again in the church. In this world, 1-year-old children would be dedicated to the church. It is at this time that the child's talent would be measured. To measure the talent, the child is placed in the middle of a talent-measurement circle. The talent will be measured depending on the number of the magic circles that appear. Normally, the average magic circles to appear will be 5. However, an aberrant such as Johannes' dad, (whose name he still does not know since he was either called Master, Lord Escrima, or Honey Bunch), had 9 magic circles appear; the highest number ever recorded in the kingdom's history.

Aside from the Talent, the compatible element will also be revealed. An element will suddenly appear over the head of the child. However, in Johannes case, there were 4 elements to appear, which had never happened before (his dad only had fire and earth appear over his head which is also abnormal). He looked at where his parents were; his mother's face was pale and even though her mouth was covered with a fan, he knew it was wide open because of shock. He looked at his dad, and saw a worried look on his face. Because of his father's influence, there were only four people in the area, including the minister who administered the ritual.

He didn't even try counting the magic circles. Knowing Terminus, he would've done something exaggerated.

"M-my Lord." The Minister called Johannes' dad. "Thi-This is unheard of. 12 Magic Circles? This will cause an uproar!" His face was pale. He looked close to death and his face, c.h.e.s.t, and back were soaked with sweat.

"I know, your excellency." Johannes' father said. "Tell the world that my son summoned 8 magic circles. Even if we tried to lower it, his talent will show and we won't be able to hide it. Also, the fact that he is my son would mean that 8 magic circles is within expectations. As for his elements, just tell the world that he summoned Fire and Wind. Your Excellency, He is my son, people won't be surprised with it. Trust me." Lord Escrima said in a calm manner.

"What about the King. The King will surely ask me. I cannot lie to the King." The Minister asked nervously.

"I will deal with the King. He is my friend, he would understand why I did this." The Lord assured the minister.

He helped his wife to stand, and together they walked towards Johannes. "I will protect you, my son. No one will ever be able to lay their hands on you."

Johannes felt the sincerity and worry in his father's voice. He knew that what happened would make his life really, really, really, unnecessarily difficult.

"Damn you Exposition Dude!!! I'll get back at you for this!"