Reincarnated into Ori And the Blind Forest

Prologue

Speech: "Hello"

thoughts: 'probably shouldn't speak here'

recalling what someone had said: he said "take a few steps to the left"

'Where...am I? My body feels so... weightless. I can move my eyes, my mouth...but nothing else. I can't move my arms, my legs. What happened? Maybe if I can just remember everything i know about myself. Maybe then, I'll figure out what's going on.'

'Alright, I know my name—Blake Sanders. I'm fifteen, live with both my parents and my annoying little brother in a decent neighborhood. I play video games, eat way too much junk food, do well enough in school. I keep to myself, haven't made any friends, really. Wonder if that'd make a difference, you know, if I actually...don't make it out of this. It's kind of ironic. I even talk to myself like I'm narrating my own story, and now here I am...wondering what kind of ending this might be.'

...

...

'Oh. Yeah, I remember. It was a stormy day, so foggy you could barely see a few feet ahead. I was on my way home from school when—yeah, that's it. Some guy came barreling down the street in his truck, and before I could react...bam. And now here I am. Dead. Probably dead, anyway. Man, my parents are gonna lose it. And my little brother... as much as I'd joke he wouldn't miss me, I know he would. Guess I wasn't much of a role model, was I? Or a great son. If this is what dying's like—just endless regrets—then...yeah, it sucks. Really sucks. And it's just...blank. White void. No sound. Nothing.'

'If this is how I spend the rest of my afterlife, I'm in for one hell of a ride. And I didn't talk to many people, so I probably won't go insane immediately. But still... I'll have to think of something to keep myself together...'

???: "There's no need to worry about that."

'Huh? Someone's here? Where? I can't see them, but I can hear...'

???: "I am nowhere, and everywhere. But I'll help you. This requires...interaction."

With a blink, I'm suddenly seated in a strange room. I'm in a black chair, across a gray table, with a tea set and a chessboard arranged like mid-game. The room is completely different from the void. White and gold checkered floors stretch beneath me, golden pillars rise toward a ceiling that isn't there, and the walls glow a warm, almost honeyed yellow.

"Where...where am I?" I ask aloud, realizing it's the first time I've heard my own voice since...who knows when. I feel a hand on my shoulder, gentle but firm.

I turn slowly to see the figure of a man, neither young nor old, with white hair and calm, green eyes. He wears a flowing white robe and smiles at me with a serene, almost otherworldly kindness.

"Are you...God?" I ask, awe slipping into my voice.

The man chuckles, walking around to the other side of the table. "Not exactly. You're seeing a form I conjured to suit your...expectations. Good taste for a mortal," he adds with a smile, raising his hand as a white chair appears out of nowhere beside him. He takes a seat across from me, folding his hands.

"Are you saying 'mortal' like...in a bad way?" I say, a little wary.

???: "No, not at all. In fact, I'm actually here to help you. Normally, I'd chat with you about your life—what you've done, how you lived it. But I'm being pushed by the gods above me to 'get to the point,' let's say. So, here it is, then. I'm here for one purpose..." He pauses, leaning forward, hands clasped in front of him. "...to make you an offer I think you'll consider."

I raise an eyebrow, half-curious, half-skeptical. 'An offer? From this guy, and he mentioned gods above him...so he's not the strongest here. But he does seem...pretty sincere, I guess?'

"Okay. I'm listening," I say, feeling my own breath catch.

???: "Good. Every being, god or mortal, has their story. They find their afterlife—some create their heaven, some remain in a void, and some seek reincarnation. And now, my friend, it's your turn to choose. The classic heaven, the white void you were just in...or reincarnation," he finishes, a hint of a smirk curling on his lips.

Reincarnation. I can hardly believe it. He doesn't look like he's joking, though.

"Alright...I think I'll go for that. Living sounds better than...well, this." I gesture around the room, already starting to imagine the possibilities. "Actually, I have a specific world in mind..."

???: "Of course, most reincarnate back on Earth, often with hopes of keeping their memories intact as a baby or waking up in a hospital bed. But you... you seem different. You want to go somewhere else, don't you?" He raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

I blink, surprised he caught on. "How could you tell?"

The Man chuckles again, leaning back. "I find imaginative minds the most interesting. Yours isn't content to stay put, even with the infinite options at your disposal. But know this—once you choose, there's no communication with the world you're leaving. So, tell me...where would you go, in the endless cosmos?"

I close my eyes, running through the games, stories, and worlds I've seen over the years. 'I could go to the Dragon Ball world and train to be the strongest human, or dive into Mass Effect and meet all those different aliens...' But one idea takes over, one world I keep coming back to. One I'd thought about a lot.

I open my eyes and say, "I know where I want to go."

???: "Oh? And where's that?" He watches me with a glint of curiosity.

I take a deep breath. "The world of Ori. And, uh, I have a few conditions."

The Man seems surprised. "Conditions? Interesting. Go on."

"First," I say, "I want my phone, with full internet access and an infinite battery. Not to talk to anyone, but to stay connected to my world. Plus, I want to show Ori all the cool movies. And I need my headphones too. Make them invincible; I'll need them. Second, I want a backpack with a pocket dimension for survival supplies—tents, pots, food, all the basics. Third, I need to be strong enough to keep up with Ori. Not a powerhouse, but just...enough. Maybe some powers too if you are okay with that. Fourth, I want to be imbues with Light so I can survive the blast that happens at the end of the first game. Fifth, send me to a time just before... Ori dies before coming back to life. And lastly—erase all memory I have of that world. I want to live in that world without fearing what's going to happen."

The Man listens carefully, nodding thoughtfully. "Erase your memory of the world you love? But...why?"

I pause, meeting his gaze steadily. "Because I couldn't stand being there, seeing Ori so full of life, knowing she gets turned into a tree, probably not being able to talk to her family. If I forget, I can just...do my best, without that fear."

The Man nods, surprised but understanding. "You are...remarkable for a mortal, Blake. Very well, I accept these terms. But before you go—tell me why you've prepared so much, what you hope to accomplish."

I look down, then back up, resolute. "Because I want to save everyone I can. Especially Ori and Kuro. Neither deserved the fates they got."

The Man smiles, as though genuinely moved. "You have a noble heart, Blake." He raises his hand, and a grand door appears on the wall to my right, white and black with beautiful designs. Light spills from the other side. "Go on, then, if this is truly what you want. I have a feeling you'll do well."

I stand, walking toward the door, then turning back one last time. "Thank you. I hope we meet again," I say, before stepping into the light, feeling myself drift away.

'Ori... I will save you from your fate. That's a promise.' And with that thought, I drift into darkness.