Darkness. Cold, endless, and absolute. A void where time had no dominion, where existence itself was a forgotten whisper.
Yet, in this place where all things faded, a soul endured.
It drifted, neither seeking nor resisting. It did not despair. It did not crave. It simply existed.
And something noticed.
A vast presence stirred within the abyss, an ancient will that had long ceased to care for the trivial. But this soul intrigued it.
"A stubborn ember in the endless dark," the voice mused, deep as the chasm of creation itself. "You amuse me, little one. Speak your desires, and I shall grant you three boons. Let us see what path you forge."
Suddenly, the soul could speak—not with words, but with the weight of thought.
"I wish for immunity from all forms of control—mental, physical, magical, divine, or otherwise."
A hum of approval echoed in the Void. "A free will unshackled by gods, mortals, or fate. A foundation befitting one who endured my domain. Granted."
Something shifted within the soul. It was no longer weightless, no longer a speck adrift. It was anchored—a being unto itself.
"I wish for a library of magic, one that reveals the truth of all things I see and touch—their origins, flaws, and potential. A repository of absolute knowledge."
The presence laughed, the sound sending tremors through the fabric of nothingness. "Ah… wisdom beyond the reach of mortal scholars. A true Mage's path. Granted. But beware, knowledge is both a tool and a burden."
The soul expanded. It felt something vast—an unseen citadel of tomes and scrolls, waiting to be read, waiting to be used. A library bound to its very existence.
"And lastly… I desire the Phoenix Force, the immortal fire of rebirth and destruction, without its burdens or chains."
For the first time, silence fell. Then, deep laughter, rich with amusement. "You reach for power that sings of creation and ruin alike. And yet, I find myself entertained. Very well… but tread carefully, little ember. Fire consumes as easily as it warms."
A spark ignited in the soul. Then a blaze. Heat, life, power—coursing through its very essence. It was no longer a drifting wisp. It burned.
The presence stirred one last time. *"Go forth, then. A world of magic awaits. And remember—I will be watching."
The Void shattered.
And the soul fell into the light.