A Myth Before Being a Myth

My body gets weaker by the minute. It's strange because while I know I'm gonna die soon, I don't really feel horrible. Maybe it's because I already lost my will to live. The moment I got this disease I knew what was gonna happen to me.

And it's all their fault. Egotistical humans. I always had health problems since birth, so getting sick now was the last thing I wanted. It'd be hard to survive. But oh well, nothing to do with them it seems.

Alone in this hospital room everyday, without strength to even speak, my mind gets really hyperactive. I think it has been a few week since I last saw myself on a mirror, I'm afraid of how I look right now. And I feel like I have been having a lot of really dark thoughs as of late. About society, about human nature. I wonder if this is reshaping my personality... Not that it'd matter now.

I felt a touch in my hand.

"Aika, my dear... Everything will be alright..."

It's mom. As I shift my eyes in her direction, I see her face as tired as always. She knows what will happen to me, but she must keep her hopes up. She's my mother, after all. She loves me more than anything in this unfair world. But this must be exhaustive to her, and it's painful to me to know she'll only feel peace after my death. Now that I think about it, it's frustrating. Thankfully it'll end soon.

If only I had the power to change society, less lives would be lost... And maybe those who are irresponsible... would have the punishment they deserve... But as I said, this world is unfair... and the rules are upside down... Seems like no one wants to do an extra effort... for something they aren't involved... And thanks to that...

I feel my body growing heavier. My vision slowly going black. And my mother's touch---

...

.....

........

As my consciouness returned, I felt my body floating. I opened my eyes.

Where am I? Did I die?

Feels like being inside the ocean or something. But this empty space glows in a orange and purpleish colors, similar to a sunset. I see several blue particles the size of my hand floating around me. I can barely control my body, even moving a finger seems to demand a lot of energy. 

"It's time to wake up, my child."

Huh? Who...

"You have a mission to fulfill---A history to write."

What...

Suddenly, this empty space started to shine. Everything went white.

When I realized, my eyes could see a new, strange place in front of me. My first thought was: Am I standing?

In fact, I could see my feet on the ground. Both covered by violet greaves nonetheless. That was also true for the rest of my body. Except my head, belly and body joints, I was clad in armor. My body feels light and I feel as healthy as I never been before...

"What's happening...?"

"You must be confused, child."

It's the same voice from before, but this time I can clearly hear where it comes from. I looked behind me.

"Who are you?"

I asked, looking at the woman that spoke to me. Her hair is really long, like longer than her own body. And it's color is the same as that empty space from before. Most of it looks like a glowing orange, but ends like a impressive purple. Not something a hair dye could do, that's for sure. She wears a dark blue mantle, with some golden adornments on the edges.

"I am Tyargu, Goddess of the Cycle. You may call me Tyar. I brought you here."

"A goddess? What? Also... Why? Why me? Where is here? What is this armor??"

This woman just overloaded my mind with a greeting. She smiled softly at my confusion.

"You, my child, are now in Havell, the land where myth and reality work together. Your soul was chosen by me to fulfill your mission and you came to this world ready to act, hence the armor."

Holy crap, I shouldn't have asked.

The woman--Tyar, was it?--walked past me with her hands behind her back and stopped just a few steps ahead. 

"I can't even process what you are talking about, to be honest. I was in a hospital bed moments ago..."

"And now you have the chance to live a new life. Writing history in this pitiful world, serving this condoned society and crossing a myriad of mirrors---That's your role."

These words made me silent. Somehow I felt sad. Just now I realized I don't feel like myself anymore, I feel like I'm inhabiting a body that's not mine.

"Who... What am I?"

"I named you Kiarathyto."

"You... named me?"

"You're my creation, Kiarathyto. For in your veins runs the blood of the Goddess of the Cycle, but so do the chains of humanity. You're what they call a demigod. Hence why it's your responsabilty to exist in the world below us. To be a myth, and reshape the road humans walk in."

"What if I refuse?"

"You may as well do whatever you seem to be fit, child. Remember this: You are free. I'm talking about freedom, you know? You have power, you have status. You may destroy the world, or you may just cease to exist, your choice. No one but you can stop yourself."

Yes. If I am really a demigod, neither disease nor negligence can stop me. All that matters is what I want to be. But getting drowned in power is not something I'd want to happen to me. 

"I understand. I'll listen to what you have to say."

"Very well. You may follow me, Kiarathyto."

She resumed her walk and I started to follow her. For one moment I looked back. Or course, there was nothing but an imaginary way back I just decided to abandon there.

Taking a better look at this place, it looks old. Like some ruins or something. There's even some collapsed building and big pillars all around. I was sure the sky was blue, but it's actually green. It's not a strong color, it's more like mint green. I wonder if it's like this everywhere?

"I believe you did not take a look at yourself yet."

"Huh... I guess not..."

Tyar stopped again and turned to me. With a simple move of her right hand, a big mirror appeared in front of me. The girl I saw surely is something. A somewhat long golden hair with a ponytail---Wait, my eyes are of gold color too? It's astonishing. As expected of a demigod, I'd say. I was not that bad in my human form, mind you. But--

I can't really remember much of my old self... Not even my name...

Suddenly I felt insecure about my identity. Am I really myself here? What do I remember about the human me?

Right---I remember my disdain for the human race. I'm here now thanks to the great fall of morality society went through.

"Did you dislike what you see?"

"Huh?"

"You are frowning."

Oops.

"I was just apprehensive since I can't seem to remember much of my old self."

"It is regrettable but as I got only your soul and made you reborn as Kiarathyto, you may have lost most of your human memories."

So this may be another body, but what is inside it is my soul? Have I been reincarnated? I mean, I look like a 16-years old girl so it's unbelievable I have born a few minutes ago. Am I an Athena-like deity or something? I wonder if Tyar is feeling a headache right now...

"...Well, I can't really complain. I barely could consider myself as alive back then."

"I see. Shall we continue then?"

"Of course."

The mirror vanished in a instant and I walked until I was side by side with Tyar.

"Listen, child. Your mission is but a simple one."

Tyar never looked in my direction... She's also always with her eyes closed. I mean, I guess a god can do things like that.

"You must act as a public figure in Havell. People need to know about the meaning of you."

"The meaning of me?"

"That is right. Be careful about what you represent, you may be a symbol after all."

"..."

"You also need to retrieve three divine relics, buried in the milleniums once forgotten."

"Relics...?"

"You, my child, will have a challenge ahead. A rival you must defeat. And that is all you have to do."

"A rival? How these things are related?"

Also, I expected something a lot more complex than this. Feels more like a simple journey than a divine mission.

"These three relics seems to be active again and are hurting Havell and it's people. You will be sent as a shield to humanity, to protect them from divine chaos."

"I think I get it... What about this rival you talked about?"

"This person... May as well be the reason the relics activated. In Havell, this person is called Arumonakia, The Polluted Hero. The Polluted Hero's objective, of course, is to collect these three relics. And there is where your mission lies in."

"Is he a demigod too?"

"No. The Polluted Hero is a mere human, much like you once were."

A demigod needs to stop a treasure excavenger and that's it? Hard to believe.

"So what happens if the hero gets all the relics?"

"That I do not know."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I'm not omniscient."

"Oh."

Was that humor? Divine humor? Or was she for real? I can't say for sure.

We both stopped at the edge of this place. Looking below me I found out we were in the sky, probably in some sort of floating land mass or something like that. This world, Havell, seems to be really different from common sense. Warped mountains that looks like something someone made in a image editor program, big multicolored forests and even a mint green ocean... Oh wait, that's to be expected.

"I believe I said everything you need to know. As before was mentioned, you are free to do as you see fit."

"Wait. There's something I still want to know."

There's a lot of things I still want to know. But something inside me says it'd be useless to ask her.

"Yes?"

"Why your eyes are always closed? Are you blind?"

Tyar tilted her head for a moment. 

"I am not."

"Then...?"

"I do not need my vision. Humans do. But a vision is also the pitfall that creates a fragile mind. You neither desire nor hate that which you cannot see, that works even when your consciousness knows about it's existence. The eyes are those that make you want the package and neglect the content. It's the poison of the mind. But that's just a conjecture from a goddess, you need not to worry about it since I am far from what a human would consider essential."

"That's... quite profound... I think."

"Haha you think so? I for one disagree with your statement. I believe this worldview of mine is quite bland. It may be intelligent to follow the easiest road, but it is also factually obvious. It is far more complex to chase the arduous path while still believing it is where your meaning will thrive. Humans are a failure that worked out. I can not beat this level of complexity."

I can hardly follow what you are talking about, woman. 

"I assume you have nothing more to ask."

"Yeah..."

"Then, I will let you do as you wish. Us gods can not interact with humans, so you will be on your on. I am sure you will figure out everything eventually."

"Wait, how am I supposed to go down there?"

I asked, but obtained no response.

"Tyar? Where's she?!"

The goddess disappeared!

"What should I do...?"

This place doesn't seem to have anything useful at all. Should I jump? As a demigod, maybe I can survive the fall...

Time doesn't care for your worries, nor it gives any kind of answer. I need to figure out myself. After some time thinking about it, I decided there's nothing I can do about it.

"I guess there's no way out."

I took a deep breath to control my fear. You can say this jump also means me accepting my role in this new world, as a demigod. If so, then---

I jumped.