Michael journeyed with his parents to Kingsbridge after five years of staying inside the Vanderbilt estate this entire time.
It was winter time this season so Michael had to cast a few ember spells along the way just to keep the carriage warm enough to enjoy. Of course, he didn't forget their trusty horse whose entire body was warmed through Michael's fire spells, making the journey easy for the animal.
They reached the walls of Kingsbridge and saw snow piled up on top of the walkways. Soldiers were rubbing their arms as they inspected the carriages entering the City.
As usual, their carriage was quickly let in without much trouble.
Michael peeked out of the windows and saw how business had been booming for the Reborn company.
Anywhere he looked, he saw men and women buying or carrying matchboxes to keep themselves warm. They used it to create a warm fireplace, they used it to light a camp outside to play, and their children used it to act like mages casting fire spells.
"Look, mom! I'm a fire wizard!" said an excited boy to his mother while lighting a match.
"Yes, yes. You are!" replied a happy mother. She was wearing a distinct type of eyeglasses that Reborn company sold for cheap that fixed near-sightedness.
"I'll play Reborn chess so that I can be smart enough to join the Magic Tower!" declared the little boy.
Numerous families were happy this winter, and it was all because of the inventions of the Reborn company.
That mother was able to get a good job as a clerk at a bank because she could finally read texts on paper using Reborn eyeglasses. Because of that, she no longer had to worry about purchasing food this winter. And she even had spare money to buy her kid a chessboard.
It also helped that they didn't have to pay an exorbitant amount of money to hire a fire mage to keep their house warm. A single 20 copper matchstick was enough.
Reborn made everyone's lives a lot more comfortable. And because of this, this small company had been marked in their hearts as their savior.
Michael smiled, feeling satisfied that even if it was just a little bit, he was able to help these people become as comfortable as he was.
But, it wasn't enough. Not yet.
ACHOO!
He heard the sounds of sneezing and coughing all around the streets. More often than not, Michael saw men and women walking through the roads with sunken eyes and dry skin, as if they were on the brink of death.
"What's going on with them?" Michael asked.
"Honey, put your head back in the carriage. There's disease spreading through the City. We're only here for your Talent Awakening. Can't have you getting sick on your most important day," his mother warned.
"Dad, why are they sick?"
Bart pulled Michael inside the carriage before answering. "It happens quite often during the winter. Mages are doing all they can to cure it, but there's only a limited number of them who can perform healing."
Just then, the familiar stink of the River Dames entered the carriage and assaulted Michael's nose. He still hasn't gotten used to it.
It's probably the river pollution that's spreading the disease. As long as they don't fix the problem, no wonder people still get sick.
Michael had the idea of building a sewer system for the City, but found it to be too big to undergo when he was five years old.
He started to reconsider the idea.
…
…
…
The carriage finally reached the Church, which was built like the cathedrals he had seen in his previous life.
The buildings were domed, with towering spires at each top. And when they walked inside, Michael saw the pews lined up on each side, with religious figures and paintings filling the space between the pillars.
The church was dead empty, with nothing but silence filling the space. He guessed that just like in his previous life, churches were only active during mass times.
The candles flickered as Michael walked through the red carpet.
"Ah…welcome, Vanderbilt family."
A bald man wearing a white robe came from the door from the side of the altar.
"Good morning, priest. We're here to have my son Michael awaken his talent," Bart said with respect.
The priest nodded, aware of why they visited. "I have heard of the young boy's talents. You need not worry about him, I think. A genius like him will surely awaken a good skill."
Lylia's face brightened once she heard that.
"You hear that, Michael?"
But Michael wasn't paying attention. He looked at the statue of a holy maiden in the middle of the church.
"Is that the God?" he asked.
The priest nodded. "Yes. She is the supreme goddess of this world, the one who created everything, and the one who decides all. This Talent Awakening will allow you to connect with her holiness for a brief moment, giving you a chance to awaken your true powers."
She's a woman? I didn't really notice when I talked to her when I reincarnated.
"Are you ready?" the priest asked.
Bart and Lylia both guided Michael to the altar and positioned him just in front of the Goddess' statue.
"You will feel yourself falling asleep. Do not fight it. That is part of the ritual," whispered his mother.
With everything ready, the priest raised his hand and muttered something under his breath as he channeled the divine power in his body.
Michael saw a light flash from the statue's head, slowly intensifying until all his senses were overwhelmed with blindness.
I can't see anything. Is something happening, ChatJK2?
[You died…pftttt. Just kidding!]
Michael heard an unfamiliar voice answer his head.
He slowly opened his eyes and saw himself in a completely different place. The ground he stood on wasn't marble or velvet carpet, but a very fluffy and surprisingly stable cloud!
He looked around and saw what looked to be a perfect depiction of heaven. There were clouds everywhere, floating in the air and creating platforms like stairs and ledges.
[How have you been liking your new life?]
Michael looked to the front and saw a giant feminine face staring down at him. Her red lips could swallow an entire five-story building!
Are you God? he asked.
[Why, yes I am. It's only been ten years, but you already forgot who I am? I'm sulking.]
Michael didn't remember God being this beautiful.