'Where…am I?'
That was her first thought.
She seemed to be lying on something…fluffy.
'A bed, perhaps.'
Ahh, so comfortable.
'Wait, a bed?'
What in the third world-
Ryuha stopped and sighed inwardly. 'Let's think.' She calmly retorted.
'Didn't I die? Right—I died.'
Ryuha frantically touched the part that the Abysmmal dragon's sword pierced. But there was nothing. Every wound in her body was fully healed.
'Wait—why is there nothing? Wait, wait, wait—why am I still alive?'
Ryuha could swear that she felt the sword moments before her death. Then, why was she still alive? There is no way she could have survived Venthora's sword. It was the ultimate sword and not something that she expected that genius granny of a dragon to pull out. I mean, who in the right mind would use their trump card at the beginning of the fight? That's cowardice at its finest.
But this situation didn't make sense either. If she did survive that sword—where was she now?
Ryuha tried opening her eyes slowly. Though blurry at first, she concentrated her vision and gradually everything came into view.
A ceiling greeted her first. Against a white wall, there was something rotating atop fastly and it seemed like some machine directing wind flow around her.
'What was it called again?'
Ryuha knows she has seen something similar in the past. But she can't seem to remember.
"A fan, my lady."
"Right! It's a fan! Thank you—"
Ryuha stopped thinking for a split second. Wait, who just spoke? She could feel a light bloodlust from her right direction. Right. This must be enemy territory. It could explain why she was still alive. If then, the person who spoke just now would be the leader. Is it some greater demon or perhaps the Primordial dragon's subordinates? What do they want? Information? But why? Are they planning to take her over to their side after saving her from Venthora?
"You are overthinking, my Lady."
'Overthinking? My Lady? Who, me?' Wait, that voice—Ryuha knew that voice. There was nobody else who could imitate it either. Her head snapped to her side.
"Greetings, my Lady."
Ryuha's eyes seemed to bulge. Beside her stood a little girl. She had silky white hair that flowed effortlessly down her waist and her eyes were a brilliant emerald. She locked eyes with Ryuha as her lips changed into a smile. There was no mistaking it.
"Venthora?"
The little girl shook her head, her smile intact. "I am not the Greater Mother, my Lady."
Greater Mother? Is that what they call Venthora? Makes sense. She ruled over Thelma; the Origin. She was the mother of all lesser dragons and monsters. Crazy, now that Ryuha thought about it. She fought the Greater Mother Venthora and even called her a granny. Well, not that it wasn't wrong. But then, who was the girl in front of her then?
"I am Pamela, my Lady. I am a fragment of the Greater Mother." Pamela bowed her head.
"Fragment?" Ryuha seemed to remember something. "Wait, weren't you the one I destroyed after fighting for two years? How come—"
Ryuha was stunned. How come the fragment that she destroyed is alive in front of her? She had made sure of it too.
"You are right, my Lady," Pamela answered, unfazed by the whole situation. "Our cores were destroyed the same day. And if I'm right, it's safe to say this is our second birth."
Second…birth? Something ridiculous that the tales of the merman of Kassion would speak about. The second birth was similar to your second life. Except, you are possessing a different body with non-similar characteristics to your past life.
Wait, rebirth? That means she was already dead. And that made even more sense.
Now that Ryuha thought about it, she felt pretty light. Something she would never feel in her past self. Her arms were skinny and there seemed to be no mass in her body. No—this wasn't her body.
Ryuha stood up with a start from the bed.
"A mirror—I need a mirror!" Ryuha said, her eyes searching for one. Pamela flicked her fingers and in a flash, one appeared in front of her.
"No effing way…" Ryuha breathed. In front of her stood a slender girl with clothes that were larger than her size. Her inky hair was a mess and her eyes were sunken with dark circles beneath them; almost like they haven't slept for years. Her arms and legs were wobbly and were bruised in blue and black. Her hollowed cheeks were dusted with pollen-like freckles. Her breathing was frantic too; she was sick.
Ryuha couldn't believe her eyes. Out of everything, she had been rebirthed as a human with a weak constitution—
Wait. A…human?
"My Lady—" Pamela started, but Ryuha raised her hand stopping her midway.
"What's my name?" Ryuha asked her turning around.
Pamela smiled "It's Valentina Esellina, my Lady."
"And…where am I?"
Pamela flicked her fingers once more and the room they stayed in vanished in a flash. Instead, now they stood atop several hundred meters up the sky.
Ryuha saw a sight she thought she never would. A blue sky with soaring birds. A beautiful array of green forests below. A city—one with cars and shops and…people. Right, people. People like her. Humans.
A single tear slid down her eyes.
"We are back in your world, my Lady," Pamela smiled and bowed once again. "The Kingdom of Earth."