Thane Astris: The Starborn Wizard

Thane Astris. That was his name. It had been two days since he found himself in England. It wasn't as though he'd forgotten anything—on the contrary, he remembered every detail of both his lives: the one he lived now and the one that came before.

His previous life had been an ordinary story of struggle. Born in a poor village in India, he was blessed with loving parents and siblings. However, his extended family made it nearly impossible for him to enjoy a normal, happy childhood.

Being the "good boy" had done little to improve his life. Years of misery and unresolved pain from his past left him with a temper he couldn't control, pushing people away and ensuring he was seldom liked.

Yet, there was one thing that set him apart—he never wavered from the ideals his mother had instilled in him during his childhood. A soft-hearted yet perpetually grumpy man, he clung to those teachings as his guiding light through the darkness of his life.

He died, and before moving on to his next life, he stood in judgment. It was then that he met God—not just any god, but the real One Above All.

"You spent your entire life being misunderstood. Why didn't you ever try to change that?" God asked, his voice calm yet piercing.

"It was never meant to be," the young man who died young replied, his voice laced with quiet resignation. "My idea of the world was too utopian for them. Even if I had tried, it would have only led to disappointment. By that time, nothing mattered more to them than money and selfishness." His words carried the weight of everything he had felt and understood in his short, difficult life.

"You could have tried," God said gently. "Maybe it would have worked."

"It doesn't matter," the young man replied with a faint smile—a smile so hollow, so bitter, that even God felt a pang of sympathy. "I'd rather not dwell on the past. I gave up on those fantasies a long time ago."

"You are too sensitive a soul, my child," God sighed, his voice tinged with both understanding and sorrow. "Anyway, you're right. Let's not dwell on this. Now, do you know why you are here?" He asked, a kind smile softening his features.

"I honestly have no idea," the man replied, his tone sharp with concealed bitterness. "Maybe to be judged and then reborn as some insect or something." Each word he spoke carried the weight of his disillusionment with the world he had left behind.

"Life is like that, child—" God began, but the man interrupted him.

"I understand. I understand it very well," he said, his voice firm yet weary. "But just because I understand doesn't mean I can accept it."

Without giving God a chance to respond, he quickly changed the subject. "So, why am I here?"

"You are here because I have a few gifts for you," God said, his tone shifting to one of seriousness. "While I am not entirely pleased with the way you lived, it wasn't entirely your fault. What's remarkable, though, is that even until the last moment of your life, you held compassion for the world. You tried teaching others about it, but sadly, it didn't work out for you."

"So here we are," God said with a smile, his eyes reflecting a hint of understanding. "I know those fanfictions have been your only companions."

"They didn't cost money," the man shrugged, his voice tinged with a dry humor. "The one thing I always lacked."

"So here's my proposal," God said, his eyes twinkling with a mix of mischief and kindness. "I will send you to the world of your choice, in the way you desire. I'll also grant you three wishes, whatever they may be. However, your wishes must not make you omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent instantly. I will judge if your wishes are worthy and if they can be granted. In this new world, you'll also have to complete some random quests I'll assign you." He paused, his gaze steady. "So, would you want that?"

"Sure... Why not?" the man said awkwardly, trying to mask his introverted nature. "I'm getting way more than I could ever ask for. I can't thank you enough for that..."

"Good," God replied, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Now, start. Tell me what you want." He leaned back in his seat, ready to hear the man's wishes.

"I want to be born in the Harry Potter world," the man said, his voice steady. "Same year as Harry Potter. I want a loving family, one that doesn't have to die of heart attacks because of poverty. Just parents and siblings—I'm fed up with dealing with extended family."

"As for the wishes," the man continued, his voice thoughtful, "First—I want Superman's powers, but without any of his weaknesses." He paused for a moment, as if considering his next words carefully. "I have wishes, but I'm not sure if what I'm saying is really conveying what I want."

"You don't have to worry," God replied, his voice reassuring. "You're dealing with a god, not a devil. Every wish you make will be granted exactly as you want it." He gestured for the man to continue, his expression calm and expectant.

"Second wish—" the man began, his voice steady, "I want the essence of an Archmage."

{A/N: Essence of Archmage — by consuming this essence, you gain several boons:

1. Perfect memory with infinite storage.

2. Beyond genius-level intellect.

3. The ability to learn any 'magic,' even unique ones, upon seeing it once or understanding enough about it. This includes things like Ki, Chakra, Soul power, etc.

4. A supernatural reactor inside your body that can adapt to any supernatural energy, fueling spells, enchantments, powers, etc. This reactor provides a steady supply of power that will grow over time. Even at the beginning, you could use high-consumption abilities with wild abandon and still not exhaust your energy after a few hours.

5. The ability to teach others systems even if they previously lacked the capacity.

6. The power to manipulate entire systems or combine them with experimentation.

7. The ability to cast any spell as long as you have the energy, without needing extra focus or materials (like a wand). The time required to cast, if any, remains however.}

God listened patiently before responding. "Forgive me, my child, but I can't grant you this power. Having both Superman's powers and the essence of an Archmage would make you omnipotent far too quickly." He smiled, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "You have the option to choose one of the two—Superman's powers or the essence of an Archmage."

The man thought for a few seconds, weighing his options, before he answered confidently, "Superman's powers!"

God raised an eyebrow, a playful smile crossing his face. "Oh? Why not the essence of an Archmage? It's more powerful than Superman's powers."

"In the Harry Potter world, I can make myself reach the same level as the essence of Archmage," the man explained honestly. "But I don't know if I could do the same with Superman's powers."

"I'm glad you didn't become shortsighted," God said with a smile, clearly impressed. "So, tell me, what's your second wish?"

"Second wish—A complete prodigy," the man said, his voice steady. "You know what I mean... it includes perfect memory, perfect comprehension, creativity, and everything that makes a person excel in every field."

God nodded in understanding, his expression thoughtful.

"Though this wish is even more powerful than the essence of Archmage," God said, "I can grant it, as it won't be instantaneous." He gave a small smile. "This will allow you to grow into your full potential over time, without making you too powerful too quickly."

"Third—" the man continued, his voice steady, "I want a system that will be my teacher, guide, or mentor in my life and studies. I don't want to regret not knowing the right people to teach me."

He paused, his gaze firm as he concluded his wish. "A system that will ensure I have all the knowledge and guidance I need, whenever I need it."

"Now that's very clever of you..." God mused, his smile widening. "The combination of abilities... If we look at the wishes individually, they're powerful but not overly so—mainly your Superman's powers..." He paused for a moment, then nodded, his gaze softening. "Hmm... But alright, treat it as a gift from me."

With a final smile, God gestured toward the man, signaling that his wishes were granted.

"Now, do you want to decide how you would look?" God asked, his tone casual but curious.

"No," the man replied firmly. "I trust your judgment. I know you would make a better selection for me." He paused, a slight humility in his voice. "Make me a boy, a girl, good-looking, ugly, or anything... I won't blame you." He added, feeling a deep sense of gratitude, "What I'm getting is already way above anything I could ask for."

"Haha. Even if you don't say it, I know very well what you want," God laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "But since you've already asked me for it, let me do it for you."

The man chuckled awkwardly, feeling slightly embarrassed but grateful all the same. He couldn't help but appreciate the kindness in God's words, despite the strange circumstances.

"It's yet another farewell, child," God said, his voice softening with a hint of warmth. "You will get your memories back when you turn 7. Take care... and live well."

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Word Count - 1608