My head. Oh god why… Why must my fragile health always be jeopardized by

  these random events?

  My vision is completely dark, and I’m lying down. I am sensing a familiarity

  between this situation and my last. Wait a second… my eyes are closed. All is not lost!

  I open my eyes and observe my surroundings for the second time in what feels like a

  short while.

  The moon lights up a night sky, along with tens of stars. All around me are trees,

  randomly placed and varying in species. I suppose this is a forest then. I stand up and

  stretch, taking a deep breath of the fresh night air. Wonderful.

  I didn’t realize it at the time, but that place where I woke up previously smelled

  awful. I suppose it was my tomb, but regardless. How could it smell so bad? I didn’t

  even rot! Stale air is one thing, but that stench was indescribable.

  Regardless of the scent of the air out here, I can see pretty darn well considering

  its nighttime. I mean, inhumanly well. I can pick out the texture of a tree that is about 20

  metres away from me, which is protected from the moonlight under the cover of its

  autumn coloured leaves. I can even see colours perfectly in this low light, how peculiar.

  A wind picks up, however I barely feel it press against my skin. There’s no feeling

  of a chill either, I feel just the same as how I did before it started blowing. That’s all fine

  and dandy. I start to appreciate my surroundings even more, until something appears in

  front of me and smacks me in the face.

  I scream in the most macho voice to ever to visit this world, and my hands grab

  towards my face. The thing that smacked me is a very long and wide piece of tanned

  hide, which has been bleached to an almost perfect white. I recuperate quickly, and

  take a look down at the length of white leather. It’s a letter, addressed to myself.

  Dear Brannon,

  I hope this letter finds you well. The fact that you are reading this means that

  the gods have shown true providence towards you. I can only be jealous of

  your grace in both leading our country as a king, as well as sorrowful as this

  is potentially the last message you will receive from me.

  That you have obtained this letter means you have opened the box, and

  activated the teleportation array inside your tomb’s subspace. I don’t know

  where you are now, but I know when you are. You are a millennia past the

  writing of this letter, which should be 2104 A.D. I know not the wonder’s this

  world will bring in the future, but I am glad that you remained undisturbed

  during your rest.

  ‘How do I still walk this Earth?’ may be a question that flows through your

  mind. ‘How do you know when I am?’ could be another. The answers are

  simpler than any you could imagine.

  I, along with the society of Galia, used the boon of a thousand years of faith

  to produce a set of nine tokens of unlimited rebirth. Galia being the goddess

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  of life, whom I imagine you are unfamiliar with considering your atheism.

  Regardless of the details, my dear husband, be glad. Hold your head high,

  for now you are an immortal who rivals the power of a demi-god. That’s right,

  we used one of the tokens of rebirth on you. Fear not of losing it, for it has

  become a part of you. It merged with your soul to ensure that even if your

  body is destroyed, you may continue to exist.

  Also inside the box which we bury you with are many tools I hope will provide

  you guidance on your path of life.

  Live eternally and smile, dear husband.

  Yours,

  Sharlane.

  I’m silent at the moment, having finished reading this letter my wife left me before

  continuing on the journey of life.

  I imagine someone is cutting onions nearby, because the tears won’t stop

  flowing. I feel a storm inside my mind, and the only way the rain is going to escape is

  through my eyes. It never just rains, it pours.

  I gently fold the letter. Out of pure habit, I rub it against my stomach and let go of

  it, a motion that’s supposed to put it into my pocket. I don’t succeed however, and I

  realize for the first time that I’m stark naked as the letter falls to the ground.

  I reach down quickly to pick it up, and also notice for the first time the black box

  which is sitting at my left foot, wide open. I pick up the letter, and the black box.

  Inside the box is a full set of simple clothing, without any of the fanciness that a

  king’s clothing would have. I don’t mind, as given the passage of time, I am more than

  likely to no longer be considered a king.

  I put the clothing on as quickly as I can, and my tears have already started to dry

  up. Also inside the black box, I find a pair of books. One is titled, “Galia’s guide to

  immortality”, the other has the title, “Instant Languages for a Millennial Mind”.

  I pick up the language book first, and open it up. Instantly, a light brighter than

  the sun flashes at my eyes, and I feel a huge amount of pain in my head, almost forcing

  me into the unconscious realm again. Closing my eyes makes no difference. I grit my

  teeth and bare the pain, and eventually it fades.

  I feel… smarter after having seen that light. Looking down at the book I had

  ‘read’, it is completely filled with blank pages now. Even the title is gone, I notice as I put

  it down. I look at the other book, not very eager to touch it at the moment.

  I stare at it. It seems to stare at me as well, with huge puppy eyes. “Read me.” It

  seems to say. Or perhaps that’s just my instinct telling me to read it, as it seems

  necessary for an ‘immortal’ such as myself.

  Relenting, I reach over and pick it up by the scruff of its spine. I brace myself

  before cracking it open, and all preparations made, do so. Once again, a light shines

  out, this one however is much more intense. As is the pain, as is the loss of

  consciousness. I’ve fainted so much today…

  Author's Note: Happy Easter! I hope this post formatted correctly.