Favored by Fate

1

Ilyana left her apartment early that day, wanting to get a bit of exercise before her morning classes. She’d been indulging herself with too much cake recently, and she felt the need to burn it off.

It was one of those days, she thought to herself. One of those days where she simply felt the need to move.

Ilyana had been restless recently. She hasn’t had anything to obsess over, and passion was something she always needed to find.

Today, she decided she’d find that thing by running. Whatever that thing may be.

When the elevator from her apartment reached the bottom floor to the main lobby, she didn’t expect that thing to find her instead.

Ilyana stepped out of the elevator when her phone suddenly rang. Who would call so early in the morning? Before she could answer it, the world… suddenly warped.

Ilyana shook her head, blinking, confused. When she looked around, she realized she was in the middle of a bright garden. There were plants, flowers, trees, and a waterfall nearby.

“Did I… am I still sleeping?” she said, scratching the back of her head.

“Ilyana Forrester,” a voice said from behind her.

Ilyana spun around to see a man sitting next to a lone table, sipping tea. He had short green hair and the oddest shade of gold in his eyes.

“At last, it is your time,” the man said.

Ilyana frowned. “Who are you?”

“I am an arbiter of fate. And you, my dear… are destined to save the universe.”