Why does everything seem so boring now? No, boring isn’t the right word. It feels cyclical, like everything around me won’t change, only continuing in the same cycle.

  Everyone in my family keeps telling me to find something I love, sports, or education, but nothing really stimulates me. Well, one thing does, but you can only consume so many books before even they feel like repetitions.

  “Why is the world like this? No magic, no crazy system, just meh is the best way to put it”. I sigh, knowing speaking to myself definitely won’t help my increasing boredom.

  Maybe I could take up a martial art? It wouldn’t hurt to learn to fight, and it would probably interest me since I only read books with action. There's a chance it’s just what I need to break out of this never-ending cycle.

  I think it over some more, growing more excited by the second at the prospect of gaining some level of personal power, no matter how small it seems. Even the lazy part of me agrees that this will be a good idea as I decide to head over to the dojo down the street.

  Right before I reach the door it opens, revealing my mother staring at what I hope isn’t my report card.

  Unfortunately, from her stare, I can tell my dreams won’t come true. “Casius, do you need to tell me something about how school’s going before I ground you for these grades?” my mother says while giving me a stare that could kill me a thousand times over.

  “My teachers just haven’t put in the grades, yet I promise.” Noticing her stare not getting any friendlier, I relent. “Look, I’ll ask them about it tomorrow and see if I can get some extra credit or redo a couple assignments.”

  Finally, she can’t seem to hold that glaring look anymore and sighs. “Look Casius, I know school's hard, but you really need to try harder; you can’t just coast your way through life”.

  “I know mom, trust me, next week you’ll be seeing completely different grades, maybe even an A or two”.

  “Fine, now where were you heading just now?”

  “Well I finally decided to do something outside of going to school and reading. I plan to join the martial arts dojo down the street”

  “Really! Great I’m so happy for you, finally getting out of the house now”

  I roll my eyes at her enthusiasm as she brings me into a hug. “Alright let me go so I can sign up before they close for the day”.

  She gives me one more squeeze before letting me go out the door. Now that I think about it, what martial art do they even teach there? Whatever, I’ll find out eventually.

  I continue walking down the sidewalk and towards where I think the Dojo is located coming to a crosswalk and noticing I can’t cross yet I pull out my phone while the traffic flows ahead of me. The timer beeps signaling my turn to cross, I don’t bother to look up knowing that people will stop.

  Why am I in the air? Looking around everything is frozen, and that's when I notice it. The big truck with too much lift to even see the road with a, now, me shaped dent in the front of it. Did I get hit crossing the road? Looking around some more I see people looking at me in shock. Then time resumes and I hit the ground. Hard. Pain engulfs my body, my left side feels completely crushed and probably is.

  “Someone call 911!” A strong voice yells.

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  “Oh my God, I can’t look” A softer voice cries.

  I hear an ambulance in the distance growing closer knowing it could only be for me. Mom. I’m sorry I couldn’t have been a better son for you. I didn’t want to not care about anything. I just didn't know what to care about yet. Tears stream down my face as my vision fades away.

  – Unknown Time Passing…–

  Slowly I open my eyes but all I see is a silent black. No sounds, no colors, just a deep unsettling emptiness. As time passes my memories of earth fade like distant dreams. I try to remember something, something that I know I should be holding onto. I don’t know if it's the emotions from the memory or the memory itself gradually slipping but I feel an overwhelming sadness. Thankfully I still remember who I am and what I did but nothing else. What’s been anchoring me over this passage of time is my excitement for what I hope is currently happening. I wonder when my light at the end of the tunnel will appear? I think it’s been a long time but I can’t measure it in any way.

  More time passes and my memories fade with it. The only thing keeping me sane is my fantasy's of magic and reincarnation, along with my name, Casius.

  Finally I see it in the distance. Light, my saving grace from this endless darkness. It feels like an endless amount of time as the dot becomes. Bigger. Brighter. As I slowly drift towards it, swallowing me whole.

  Warm air glides against my skin, unfamiliar noises assault my ears, all feeling returns, and a million more things I can’t describe come back to me as I’m lifted up in soft hands.

  “It’s a boy!” shouts a comforting aged voice.

  Slowly I open my eyes as a calming light enters my vision. Looking around I notice an exhausted woman, a giant of a man with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen, and finally the old womanly face of the hands that hold me. My eyes drift around the room as I take in what seems to be a fancy room that smells of sweat. It seems to be more medieval in its structure with two windows and a giant bed.

  “HAHAHA! My son has been born!” The big man laughs so loud it hurts my ears.

  “Shush you big oaf, you’ll hurt him.” Scolds the old woman.

  “Ah, sorry sorry.”

  “Let me see my son Amelia.” A tired voice says

  Gently I’m lowered and brought to the tired woman. Even with the exhaustion written over her face one could tell she’s truly beautiful. White hair frames her face, two green eyes stare at me with love and a smile that would melt even the coldest of hearts. I look at the big man, a towering frame dominates my vision as the biggest smile I’ve ever seen stretches across his, what I can only call, handsome face. Dark hair and violet eyes carry his powerful presence even more

  “Hurry and pick a name dear” Amelia says with a hint of anticipation.

  “Really? Ok, how about Ares, that's a strong name.” The man, who I assume is my father, says.

  “Not you Curtis, I’m obviously talking to your wife,"

  “Yeah I was wondering why you called me dear.” He mumbles

  Laughing lightly my mother brings me closer and looks into my eyes, she thinks it over and finally smiles clearly having found her pick.

  “Casius”

  “Casius, Casius… I love it! Casius Rosh my son!” My new father yells in joy once again.

  Casius Rosh huh, I don’t know why but Casius feels right to me, like a piece of a puzzle that fits perfectly. Certainty fills in my soul as I appreciate the new place I’ve been born in. I let out a laugh, or the best I could as a newborn.

  “Guess he likes his name.” Amelia says chuckling but also looking at me with a bit of shock.

  “Is he supposed to be laughing? I thought babies cried?” My father asked, worry creaping through his voice.

  “It should be fine, not every baby cries.” Amelia responded