New Opportunity

“Aaah… what happened? I’m confused, am I in pain… or is it like a numb sensation? Where am I? I was stabbed… it doesn’t look like I have any injuries… but I have marks… I’m breathing… It looks like I’m in a big white place… I don’t see an end in front of me. I’m feeling agitated, I don’t understand.”

Suddenly, I hear indistinguishable sounds from behind me. But I can understand the voice. It is saying, “Don’t be afraid.” My heart almost stopped at the sound of the voice. I stumbled and fell on my knees. I immediately look back to find a group of people sitting on their knees, faces down, surrounded by a short sofa, a small table, and a cup of black tea.

The people are wearing old white robes. Some of them have wings on their backs, while others have horns on their heads or tails coming out of their lower backs.

Again, I hear undistinguishable sounds whispering out loud, but I understand the voice saying, “Take a seat and drink.” I obeyed the voice and crawled to the sofa, where I sat. All anxiety disappeared, and I felt warm and relaxed in their presence while drinking black tea. However, who is speaking with me? Is it someone who is on their knees, and I can't see their face?

For some reason, I feel embarrassed in their presence.

I hear the undistinguishable sounds again saying, “Sofia, I’m an old God. You are in my dwelling place, and these are some friends. I have an offer for you. You can take it or not, you decide.”

Oh, he is God, it makes sense… “EEEEEHHHHHH!” What is this!? This seems fishy to me… What’s going on! I can’t hear someone laughing, but I feel someone smiling at me.

“There is nothing to be afraid… I’m here to give you another chance in life.”

“What happened to my family? What happened to Minoru, my cat?” I screamed awkwardly, pointing and staring at everyone and everywhere.

“Your family will continue to live in their world. The police will contact your family to give them the news. Your family will regret this whole accident and understand how precious you are to them. They will find your diary and wish for things to be different. Your sister will take care of Minoru. They all will live a long life.”

“Thank you,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes, holding my cry. Even though I had the family that I had, I still loved them. I wish things could have been different.

“Sorry, so what am I doing here? What do you want from me?” Who are these people around us… I can see at a distance the figure of four sturdy creatures. They seem to be paying close attention to my movements.

“Let’s say there are other ‘gods’ causing trouble in a particular world. I want you to go to that world and help their people while I send someone who you will help to destroy this ‘god’. I cannot intervene directly, that would break my own rules, but I can equip you and send you help when needed. I want you to live your life to the fullest and train for the moment when the ‘hero’ will be born. Help the hero in his journey and together kill the ‘demon lord.”

“Uhm… of course… Wait! What! Will I be able to come back home? Or am I completely dead?” I don’t know who this voice is. Is he truly a god? Is he the good side, and the ‘demon lord’ is the bad side? What is this about the gods he is fighting against? Can I trust this god? Why is he sending me? Can he just send someone better for the job? Why can’t he go himself? Do I have any other option? For now, I need to be careful.

“Please! Our people need you.” Said someone. I couldn't see his face; he was looking down at his knees, pleading for me to do as God said. “Please! We will forever be thankful,” another voice from the people kneeling. “Please,” “please,” “please.” All of them with their faces to the ground, pleading with me to accept this mission.

“suuuure, I will do it.” That was awkward.

The first person who spoke looked me directly in the eyes and thanked me. He has horns on his head, navy blue hair, and eyes. The others in the crowd also had different animal-humanoid characteristics.

“Beautiful, thank you. Don’t worry, you will get to know me better. Also, if you died in your world, you would not be here.”

“Okay, wait, what? sooo wwwhhaat dddoo IIII Hhhhavveee” I felt like I was falling asleep and I couldn’t see anything anymore. It felt just like when I was dying, but without the pain. What is this God doing to me! I heard him say thank you from a faraway voice. I could no longer hear anything, and everything was pitch black. I felt like I was floating in the air. But then I started to feel warmer, as if I were immersed in water. But somehow I was breathing. It felt like I was in a full-body massage. I have never felt my body better. Then I started to hear many different sounds, including the voices of people talking in languages I couldn’t understand. But there were a couple of voices that I started to get familiar with.

Eventually, I felt like I was getting out of the water. And I felt pain. My body felt heavy. I was cold. I could not see; everything was blurry. I could hear noises of joy everywhere. I felt irritated. I was crying and breathing heavily.

It hurts. I feel alive. I finally understood. I was born!

I heard indistinguishable voices, but one word was mentioned multiple times, “Cato.”