Chapter 2: A Simple Request

Albel, the Diviner.

A moniker I went by, one associated with the title I earned thanks to all the effort I put into my unique way of fighting in Myleflora Online, or MO, for short. It helps that Divination magic, in general, was severely underrated and underused in the game due to the difficulty of understanding the complex mechanics that came with using its spells. It seemed as if a lot of magic users had a tendency to just want to click somewhere and see big numbers. Where was the fun in that?
Out of all the magic-related Classes, Divination Wizard provided the most excitement in its play-style. Though, I was originally under the classification of “Wizard” back in MO, the Class system here allowed for flexibility. Given whichever perks and spells you decided on while leveling—passed a certain point—it would branch and split into different variants for your choosing. More specialized classes to be exact.
In my case, that was Divination magic, thus allowing me to become a Divination Wizard.

Have to hand it to the hivemind mentality. Dozens upon dozens of specialized Classes, and yet, it was rare to see something unique. MO players really loved going along with similar builds that were just overpowered. Hell, I even remember people often assumed that my choice in going a Divination Wizard was due to possibly being on an alternative account instead. Hahaha.

Even with the underestimations associated with the rarely used role, I stuck with it during my time playing MO. And thanks to barely having a social life—if at all—as well, I had spent a copious amount of time learning the intricate skill sets and different potential tactics that came with using them.

That reminds me... I remember there was some leaks on a discussion board that the developers were planning on implementing a sub-Class system in the near future. Man, just imagine what I could have come up with! Well, not like that matters all too much anymore... Hm?

Amid a deep contemplative session, I hadn’t even realized my current predicament until that second. I was now staring upward at a blue ceiling, or potentially the sky itself. Not only that, I was lying on a grassy field too—yet—both felt eerily unnatural for some reason. I sat up, and took a quick glance toward both of my sides in attempt at figuring out what was going on. Despite the patch-like field of grass and a now noticeable partial blue sky—the horizon was seemingly a stretch of bright white.

“And now here I am, staring into a white, empty...void? Well, at least it has a mix of greenery with it. Is this a dream or something...?”

As I rested my hand on my chin, I began to try and think about what I was doing earlier.

That’s right. I remember having some sort of massive headache? Did I end up falling asleep then? That’s pretty amazing if I did.

With how painful that experience had been, sleeping through any of that felt like an impossibility. This couldn’t be anything other than a dream though. There were some praises to be given in such a case.

Seriously, who in the hell would have been able to sleep with all that pain in the first place?! Nice going, mind and body!

“Sorry to say this—but you are not sleeping or anything of that nature, Child of Man. Nor are you hallucinating. You are indubitably—without an if, and or but—dead. It’s that simple.”

A soothing voice came from behind me, and as I turned toward it, it allowed for me to place eyes on something that truly only furthered my belief that I was dreaming. In the emptiness that seemed to stretch beyond the infinite horizon, sat a single throne that was isolated from everything besides the field of grass, myself and one other who sat on that said throne. The entity appeared to be female, based on their voice and appearance, and wore a long white dress. In a similar fashion, their long white hair seemingly draped over the throne—while the tips further rested on the floor beneath their feet. Their golden eyes emulated pricey crystal spheres that I had seen in MO. Ones used for Divination spells, and they emanated an air of sovereignty with their shine and gaze.

A God...? No, a Goddess?! What...?

That being said, it still didn’t make me any less confused on the matter presented to me. They remained unspoken after their previous comment—as if to allow me to quietly register what was going on. At the very least, to make an attempt in doing so. As I gave thought to their words, one stood out above all else.

Dead...? That’s what they said? There’s no way that could actually be true, right? Yeah, this has to be some sort of dream or something! Maybe even a fever dream. With that headache and all, I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case. I just need to force myself awake. Right. I’m just sleeping right now. That makes way more sense.

“You may shut your eyes, close off your mind, and even make an attempt at completely nullifying that now surging fear—the end result won’t change. Refrain from feigning a daft spirit, Child of Man.”

A verbal response to a quiet, self-contained thought.

“Huh?”
“I told you already, did I not? You are dead. Spare me your inept struggle of trying to negate or amend that stated fact. It’s futile. This realm is the in between of your old world—the eternal afterlife and then some. Thus, I welcome you to my domain of Limbo, Arata Okubo. You may refer to me as the Goddess, Eve.”

The curve of her lips held a stark contrast from her stoic delivery of her words and expression from earlier. That condescending smile now held frame on the one who called themselves a Goddess. As beautiful as it was, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of terror that outweighed any chance of admiration. It didn’t help that the Goddess before me was insisting that I was, in fact, not alive currently.

What is this person even saying right now...?!

“I’m stating the truth, is all.”

Once again, I hadn’t said a single thing out loud—and yet a response came anyways.

“Wait a second, are you able to read my mind?!”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be able to? But enough of this. Let’s move on, shall we? You can spend all the time you want thinking about why or how you’ve died, but it won’t change that as an indisputable truth. One in whom shares the blood of those of blip life spans—yet choose to linger on the mundane for far too long. Let’s discuss what happens from here on out instead, hm?”
“Here on out...?”

Her voice was seemingly like a palpable trance being carried by the wind as she continued.

“Precisely. You see, I’m actually in a rather peculiar situation myself. I’ll refrain from boring you with the details, but it’s a simple request. From me to you—one that would definitely be worth your while.”

The clutch of her golden eyes didn’t leave my person as she waited for my reply.

A request? Does she really expect me to just simply move on from the fact that I’m DEAD like we’re talking about the weather?! I don’t think that’s really something to be brushed aside as just some casual conversation!

The Goddess then removed herself from her throne in an elegant and precise manner. That then suddenly changed as her walk toward me turned into a sluggish—yet playful—stride. Her long hair dragged across the similarly whitened floor and into the patch of grass that I remained in. With a series of slow steps, she skipped here and there. Given the short distance between us, initially, she found herself in front of me fairly quickly. I didn’t move from being seated on the floor as she now hovered over me.
She kept that smile from earlier, adorned on her face with a mixed invitation. Welcoming, but eerily so. Continuing even with my lack of reply once more.

“It involves you bypassing judgement and being placed in a different world. One that you know very, very well.”
“Different? Different worlds actually exist?!”

A sudden outburst escaped my mouth at the cusp of her words.

“Of course, they do. This one in particular—and your original world—are currently under my jurisdiction. Only those two. Thus, I’ll refrain from commenting on the others.”

A different world? Not only that, one that I know about? One that I know about. Huh? Could she possibly be referring to—

“Exactly, that one. The world from that game you practically dedicated your everything to—the world referred to as Aerith.”
“The world of Myleflora Online...”

But how is that even possible?

As she adjusted her posture from what was a slight, towering bend over me—she then turned around and walked back to her throne. Taking her seat, she rested her head on her hand and continued with an explanation.

“Worlds centered around the games you’ve played or heard about in your old world are more familiar than you think. That’s because the worlds themselves came first—for every single one of them.”
“Those worlds came first? Wait a moment... Are you implying that every in-game world is just a version of an alternate, real world out there?! We’re talking hundreds, no, thousands here, you know!?”
“That’s what I just said, you dolt. It’s an experiment of divine intervention. One that the God’s take a form of pleasure in conducting. Seeing their world’s race experiencing different worlds in such a form helps in gathering a variety of data. Myself included.”

It was definitely a loaded response to wrap my head around. I couldn’t help but feel as if my head was on the verge of being knocked unconscious again with how overloaded it had become.

None of this seems believable in the slightest. But if I were to trust her words, that would mean the world of Aerith is actually real, huh? A world exactly like that place. No, possibly even different and fresh!

A swelling of giddiness began to form at the thought of exploring the real world of Aerith. From bad days to good, from spending entire days and weekends immersed in that world—I found happiness and purpose in that place I couldn’t anywhere else. And now, I was seemingly being given the chance to possibly enter that exact world.

“Exactly, Child of Man. That same world, Aerith, is out there and under my supervision. Hence why I’ve allowed you to enter my domain. The one who was recognized as the Diviner. One in whom held unmatched knowledge of Aerith.”

I had yet to move from my original spot during this whole conversation, but my eyes remained on the Goddess’ figure on her throne. It wasn’t that hard to think about or even consider. If everything she was saying thus far was indeed the truth—then the fact remains that I was dead. My only other destination now would be toward whatever laid beyond in the afterlife.
I had never been the religious type either, and had always associated death with the blank embrace of nothingness. Everything that came before this moment—outside of Aerith—didn't seem any different than that anyways. Living amidst that cycle of my own personal life of nothingness—my choice didn’t need a second thought. There was one other thing that held my curiosity though.

Didn’t she say something about a request? Why would she need me to enter that world to begin with? Ah.

“Calm your vigilance. I said request, but don’t worry too much about it. It’s something that you’d surely be able to complete simply by interacting with the world of Aerith itself.”
“I see. Then I guess I really do have no other reason to deny this opportunity, huh—!?”

I could feel something shift in the air as those words left my mouth. That smile she held from earlier returned—and yet—felt far more menacing than the prior one somehow.

“Understood, Arata Okubo. I’ll be sending you on your way immediately then. That is, if there are no other question on your mind?”
“Well, if I’m being sent into a different world, would it be as who I am now or as someone else?”

A natural concern. I was by no means completely out of shape, but there wouldn’t be anything noteworthy I could do as I was now. I wasn’t really athletic, but nor was I overweight. If Aerith was a world similar to the one I knew—I could only see myself being a hindrance to even a non-combatant.

“Worry not, since you'll be going—not as the one who was barely alive to begin with in your old world—nor will you be reincarnated. Instead, you will arrive as the one who lived his every day in full vigor in the world of Aerith. You will be entering that world as Albel.”
“Huh!? Is...that so...”

To live as Albel, the Diviner. There wasn’t anything more I could ask for. I could feel my excitement glow in abundance. The radiance in my growing smile gave proof to that.

“I doubt you’ll have any other important questions, so if that is all, I will be sending you on your way then. Arata Okubo—no—Albel. I wish the best in your endeavors while in the world of Aerith, and may you live to the fullest under my blessing.”

After those words left her lips, a golden and white aura then began to embrace my entirety.

Well, I guess this is it then. A familiar and exciting world awaits me. Ah! Wait a second! Did she really just sweep aside my death like some pointless conversation?! I never even got an answer to that at all!

“Wait a moment—!”

And before I could finish, that same aura seemingly teleported me to the world of Aerith. Yet, in that slight moment our eyes had met again, I had noticed something about the Goddess, Eve. An expression that she wore that I would never forget about during my time in Aerith. That once eerie smile had shifted completely—without a single bit of it even slightly remaining in the end. The only thing left on her face was a complete look of abhorrence.