"Get yourself a proper fate!" by Natalie Touretsky (Gerie Aren)

Fate Seller came to Greystone in the end of autumn. Tall man, with voice of bard and movements of skilled warrior, he neither hid his main trade, nor advertised it. Not many people want to get a new fate, and it's also almost forbidden by the Gods, who prefer to weave the tapestry of world's fate their way.  So Fate Seller mostly gained his money by storytelling or by fortune telling. Since he had some power over the fates, his tellings were pretty accurate.

Kenta came to Fate Seller without any heretic intentions to change his fate. He just wanted to know if he will spend his life here, in Greystone or will get a chance to see the world. Choice between two opportunities was driving him crazy. On one side traveling is dangerous business, on the other - life in Greystone looked to him so un-challenging. When you are fifteen years old, and your mind filled with what you read in story-books, you want to do great things, not to stay at home and tend to farm animals.

"I want to know my future!" – He said to Fate Seller. He spoke bravely, but inside was a bit afraid, both of the Seller and of his own bravery.

"Indeed?" - Fate Seller answered lazily – "You will grow up, and then grow old, and in the end you will die."

"But still, I'd like to know my own future!" – Kenta was polite boy, but the need to know was stronger than his manners.

"Well," - Fate Seller took out his cards this time – "You want to know if you'll stay here, or get a chance to see, of even to change the world?"

Kenta nodded. For a short moment he thought that Fate Seller read his mind, but then realized, that the question, he was asking was pretty unoriginal.

Fate Seller pulled a card from his deck, returned it back, then pulled another.

"You will live your life here, in Greystone!" – He declared finally. - "But it will be good long life, one of peace and wealth. Unless you want to change your fate..."

Kenta went home feeling both relieved and unhappy. Long quiet life, promised by Fate Seller is nice and sure way, but he wanted to do something great, something important! Somewhere deep inside he knew his dreams were, just, well, dreams, but giving them up so openly was unbearable.

Ten steps from home Kenta turned and walked back to the tavern. Fate Seller was there, alone at his table. Kenta took it for a sign from Gods (if They wanted him to keep his fate, They would have send someone to disturb the Fate Seller).

Kenta marched bravely to the table and sat in front of the Seller.

"Oh, you want to change your fate? Quiet life doesn't suit you?  - There was unmistakable irony in Fate Seller's voice - "I have something that will fit better!  Some years ago a young city guard, named Rinaldo Moon, discovered he was destinied to become a great Paladin, Champion of Light. He didn't feel himself a hero, so he traded this fate for a quieter one. Do you want to get his fate?"

Kenta was really scared now. To give his promised life of peace and wealth for one full of dangers and possibly short? But it's a "now or never" moment. He will not get second chance.

"Well, I'll take it!" – He whispered.  

Fate Seller pulled two tiny bottles of blue glass out of his bag. He gave one, filled with clear liquid, to Kenta. Then he whispered something into the other, empty one and passed it over Kenta's head, before sealing it.

"I sealed your fate. Now, if you drink the bottle before sunrise, your fate will be replaced by one from the bottle, but if not, the spell will fade and new fate will return back to me, leaving you with the old one. Remember, you have time till the sunrise! "

Kenta paid him in sliver and went outside. Somehow it seemed proper to change one's fate outside, under the eyes of the Gods. If the Gods have something to say about it, he'll give Them a chance! Before drinking he looked around, half-hoping to see some sign from the Gods, but everything was quiet, only stars looked down on him. He drank the bottle. Fate had taste of cold water.

Kenta went home still staring into the dark for godly signs and carefully examining his own mind and feelings – is the new fate already changing him?

Next day Fate Seller left Greystone.

Three days later Kenta, too tired of waiting for changes in his life, took some of his belongings and left, too. In ten days he reached Shelden, a big trading city, and came to the doors of Phoenix Heart Citadel, the headquarters of the White Paladin Order.

Since he didn't feel like Kenta of Greystone any more, he gave to the guard another name – Rinaldo Moon.

Paladin Rinaldo Moon and the Fate Seller met again many years later. They met in a line of people, waiting to enter the gates of Shelden. Rinaldo was lost in throughts, when voice, oddly familiar, called to him. He looked around, and saw Fate Seller, waving from his wagon. He looked just like Rinaldo remembered him; as if passing years didn't leave any mark him.

"Ho, that's Kenta!"-  Seller called merrily –"I sold you a fine fate, did I?"

Rinaldo Moon stared at him for a few moments before he remembered that once he had other name and it was, indeed, "Kenta".

"Yes, it is!"  -  He answered in the same tone - "I won't complain!"

"I have fooled you that day, Kenta!" -  The Fate Seller continued just as merrily – "You know, it's rather funny, the fate I sold you, it was your own from the beginning, there was no "Rinaldo Moon of the town guard", I made him up! You just needed a push to begin moving!"

Fate Seller laughed and then the oddest thing happened: he and his wagon just disappeared on the spot.

Rinaldo Moon thought a moment and then began to laugh too.

"You see," - he told to his horse, - "I was looking for godly sign that day, and the only godly sign around sat in the tavern, and, if I know something about the Father of Tricks*, had a good laugh. I bought my own fate for a handful of silver! Twice the master of my fate, am I?"

In some other place, where only gods can walk, Father of Tricks spoke to himself aloud: "Rinaldo Moon! Wow! I just invented him to explain the origins of the new fate and look, now he walks the world! I like the way it turned out!"

Father of Tricks – the trickster God, which was banished from heaven because his tricks annoyed other Gods. He had to live in the world of man, which did him a lot of good, giving him some chance to deal with consequences of his tricks and teaching him to think a little more before acting.