Years had passed since the incident, and Joshua Destiny's time had come.
He had lived a righteous life—one of balance, sacrifice, and integrity. Guided by honor, humility, and justice, he walked the quiet road of a man who had seen both chaos and peace, yet chose peace every time. The house he'd built stood firm against time. It was not large, but it was filled with warmth. Every wall held memories, laughter, and the quiet echoes of love.
Tonight, silence rested over that home.
Jennifer, his wife of more than three decades, stood at his side. Her hand lay gently on his arm, as if afraid to hold on too tightly—afraid he might slip away if she gripped too hard. Her eyes were red, not from recent tears, but from the weight of holding them back.
Their children, William and Rachel, no longer young, sat close by. They were adults now—grown, strong, and wise in their own ways—but still tethered to their father's presence like children holding onto a story that shaped their lives.
The air itself seemed to understand. It was quiet but charged. Every breath taken in that room carried weight.
"This is it," Rachel said softly, barely louder than a whisper.
Jennifer's voice trembled. "Joshua… I've always known this day would come. From the very beginning, I knew. But knowing doesn't make it easier." Her fingers tightened slightly on his arm. "I'm not ready to let go."
Joshua turned to her and smiled—a gentle, knowing smile. "I know, my love," he said. "But I've lived. Truly. Deeply. I have no regrets. This path… it was always ours. And it doesn't end here. We'll be together again, in time."
Rachel reached for his hand. "You've been a great father, Dad. Everything I am, everything I believe in… it came from you."
William, who stood a little farther off, swallowed hard. His usual strength faltered. "Dad," he said, voice cracking, "I don't know what life is without you. I know… I know it's your time. But that doesn't make it easier."
Joshua stepped forward and pulled his son into a strong embrace. "You're ready," he said. "I've watched you. You'll protect them. Lead them well. You have what I gave you—and more."
Jennifer embraced them both, finally letting her tears fall. "We will always love you, Joshua. Always. Nothing can change that."
He stepped back, looked at them—really looked—and smiled once more.
Then it happened.
A shimmer rolled across the room, faint at first. It looked like a thread of silver light stretching from the floor to the sky. It pulsed softly, as if breathing. The Thin Line had appeared.
Gasps rose from the family. Outside, a soft hum vibrated through the air.
Joshua exhaled slowly. Calm settled over him like a familiar coat.
"It's been thirty-four years," he thought. "Since that day. Since the incident. And still… no word from David. No trace of Saponu. What happened to them?"
The thought drifted. The shimmer thickened. The world tilted.
---
Elsewhere…
A stone-walled chamber lay buried beneath a forest few had ever seen. The air was thick with dampness. Shadows danced without source. In the center of the room, a large black slab stood surrounded by carved symbols and faint whispers.
David knelt before it, head bowed. His hands were steady, but each breath trembled.
Behind him stood Saponu—cloaked in shadows, wrapped in violet smoke. His eyes burned faintly, not with flame, but with something ancient.
"It has begun," Saponu said, his voice like wind through a graveyard. "Joshua's ascension. I told you I would help you become an ancestor, and now… your moment has come. Our agreement must be honored."
David looked up. His eyes, once filled with doubt, now glinted with calm. "I've waited for this moment. I've prepared. I trust you'll keep your word."
Saponu's mouth curled into something between a smile and a warning. "The Thin Line has opened. The gates to the Ancestral Realm are forming—but both gates must be accessed. The Unknown World gate… and the ancestral one."
David nodded without hesitation.
He rose and climbed onto the slab. His movements were deliberate. His mind, however, raced. What comes next? What will I become? He did not know.
Saponu approached, revealing a dagger. Its blade held no reflection. It seemed to absorb all light.
"This is the price," he said softly.
And without waiting, he plunged the dagger into David's chest.
David gasped once—then stilled.
A pale glow rose from his chest. Slowly, his soul lifted, standing beside the slab. He looked down at his own body, then turned to Saponu.
"Is it done?"
"Yes," Saponu said. "Now… come. We have work to do."
They disappeared into shadow.
---
Back in the village…
The Thin Line shimmered across the sky now, tall and bright. Villagers began to gather. Some had seen it only in stories. Others fell to their knees in reverence. It was rare for the Line to appear this clearly. Rarer still for someone to be chosen.
Jennifer stood among them, her heart breaking. Rachel stood with her, trembling. William's hand rested on her shoulder, grounding them both.
Joshua stepped forward.
Each step changed him.
Step one—he felt lighter. The weight of pain, regret, the war within… lifted like morning fog.
Step two—his memories rose behind him like soft light. His love, his courage, his mistakes—all part of him, but no longer burdens.
Step three—his feet barely touched the earth. A humming sound filled his ears.
Step four—his body, once tired and old, took on a youthful shape. Strong. Vibrant. Purposeful.
Step five—he stopped before the Line. The gates above pulsed with golden light, cracked open like eyelids on a new day.
He turned to his family.
"I'm ready," he said.
Jennifer nodded, her tears like jewels in moonlight. "You'll be with the ancestors soon. But we'll carry you, every day."
He smiled. "Then I go in peace."
He stepped into the Thin Line.
Light embraced him.
Others followed—souls long prepared. The gates grew wider, welcoming.
But beyond the light… something stirred.
From the eastern horizon, behind the trees and mist, the gates of the Unknown World opened—faster than they should. Their dark light leaked like oil across the sky.
Saponu moved through the forest, swift and focused.
David, now reborn in spirit, walked beside him—silent, steady.
The worlds were shifting.
And Joshua's journey…
…was only just beginning.