I Just Wanted to Nap, But They Built Me a Religion

Life has always been hard for Ezrel, and when he turned two, he was already known across the capital as "The Serene Heir."

Calm, wise child that was born under a crimson moon and never once cried since birth.

He was praised as a miracle child by the nobles, envied and hated by children, which caused his reputation to make those nobles put more pressure on their own children.

While the priests agreed that he was a divine miracle, Ezrel thought all of those were nonsense.

In his words.

What an exhausting pile of nonsense, Ezrel thought.

He had spent two years of in this second life trying to perfect the art of avoidance.

From faking deeper naps to rolling under tables mid sentence, he had mastered the subtle techniques required to dodge fate.

But no matter how much he slept, the world insisted on watching him.

Now, he was being dragged to the family chapel for his Blessing Ceremony.

You can see his blank face, which clearly shows annoyance.

But...

There's nothing he can do.

It was tradition for this world.

At age two, every child will be brought to the altar, where the one of the gods from this world would inscribe their fate into stone.

They would give a blessing that was sealed in golden script within their body.

There a many types of blessing that will be given bt gods.

Most commoners always got minor blessings like gardening, blacksmithing, or animal talking.

Powerfull blessings usually will given to nobles child.

Elemental mastery, future sight, resurrection, and element manipulation.

Maybe because gods want stability in this world, that is why they choose to give good blessings to the noble.

Huhhhhh. This life is hard.

Ezrel thought while being dragged. He continuously stretched his hand while yawning.

He just wanted a pillow. And maybe a second pillow to hug.

But the Dormir family had already prepared a grand stage. Invited half the nobility.

Summoned three different choirs.

He was dressed in velvet robes. Carried like a doll. Crowned with laurels far too large for his tiny head.

"Do I have a say in this?" he tried to murmur.

All that came out was a tired, toddler grunt.

His father smiled at him hearings those grunts.

The ceremony began.

Lights dimmed. The altar glowed.

Ezrel was placed at the center of a ritual circle, surrounded by chanting priests.

"Ohhh gods in this world.

This child fate has come..

I pray to you give him a blessing.

Blessings that can help his future.

The one that suitable for him.

Ohhh godd..

You know the best.

Grant him your blessing "..

The magic surged. The crowd held its breath.

And then...

Nothing.

There no other reaction.

Both his parents face look grim.

Like some bad news has struk them.

But...

Suddenly...

A crack formed in the air. Something seeped through.

Not light. Not sound. Something else. Something cold and old and deeply amused.

The room darkened.

People gasped.

A voice felt, not heard curled through Ezrel's mind.

"Ah..... Its you again."

Ezrel's toddler face did its best impression of a frown.

There a little bit vein popped at his face.

"Did you think your wish would be forgotten? That sleep would let you escape fate?"

Then, it marked him.

A symbol burned onto Ezrel's chest, just over his heart.

Golden, spiraling, impossible to decipher. It pulsed once and vanished beneath the skin.

A divine blessing.

The Eternal.

Says that entity.

There was silence.

And then a priest screamed and fainted.

Chaos followed. Mages scrambled. Nobles gawked. The maids shivered.

The light returned.

Ezrel remained sitting in the center, rubbing his baby eyes.

He had been Blessed.

Not by the gods of this world, but by something outside it.

Something that remembered his old name.

Something that found his suffering entertaining.

His mother rushed forward, tears in her eyes while holding him. "Such power! Such honor!"

Ezrel yawned.

He turned his head and saw his father kneel down and doing some kind of ritual.

Huhhh, this family is really troublesome. Ezrel though.

He wasn't sure what The Eternal meant yet. But he already hated it.

Because everyone was looking at him again. And no one would let him sleep.