I found myself submerged in an ocean of darkness. My eyes were wide open staring up. Or maybe it was down. A chill cooler than anything I've felt in my life was instilled in my bones.
(''-Wakey wakey-'')
A soft, smooth voice resonated within me, echoing throughout this empty void formed of darkness. It was like the voice of a mother, no, a goddess. I want to follow it, to hear more. But what direction did it come from?
(''-Come on~ Wake up-'')
It reverberated again, this time more powerfully. My body ached and trembled from its call, beckoning me to wake up. Wait! Wake up?
(''Come on wake up!-'') (''Ghh'') My head flung forward hitting her directly in the forehead. She squealed while holding onto her forehead. I wasn't doing anything much different than her. Rolling around and hitting every side of the cart trying to calm down the pain.
(''Pfft'') Her giggle and laugh snapped me out of my episode. (''You really are a funny one!'') I am…funny? Wait why does it sound like she knows me?
(''Uhm lady… who are you?'') It's a fair question to ask considering the situation I am in. My memory of before is still a bit hazy. Every time I try to remember anything my body aches from the hundreds of cuts scattered around my body.
(''Who am I? Would you believe me if I told you I was a goddess?'') Great, I've been kidnapped by a crazy woman! What next? Is Rosedreamer going to come back?
(''Serisouly stop kidding around. Who are you really?'') I can't believe people still go around disgracing the names of gods. If the church found out about her I'm sure they wouldn't be very peaceful towards her.
(''Oh boy. How can I convince you that I really am the goddess of light… Oh! I know!'') With a smile on her face, she outstretched her hand in a distance far from here. Pillars of light descended into the ground before exploding into millions of shards. Each piece glistened brighter than the very sun above us.
(''You believe me now?'') Uh…that is one hell of a way to prove something. No point arguing with her about it, she could wipe us out with her pinky finger if she wanted to.
Actually where even are we? I can feel the rocking of the wood below me. Its squeaks mixed with the trampling of the horses flooded my ears. At the front of the cart was a boy, much shorter than the goddess. They looked very much alike, terrifyingly so.
(''His name is Alia. He and I have descended from our palace in the clouds to scout for a specific person.'') That seems like a reasonable enough explanation. But who would warrant the goddess to search herself? Must be someone important.
(''Could I ask who this person might be? I am curious who a goddess would take interest in.'') Hopefully, she can treat me to that much information. It must be somebody monstrously powerful or even someone who could destroy the world.
She hesitated for a second, almost as if she was in deep thought. In a split second her head snapped back at me, eyes glistening like stars in the night sky. (''Very well! But first, you must address me by my name from now on! All this goddess talk makes me feel a little too tensed up.'')
That's an easy enough request, I can do that. I can call her by her name. Yes, it's very simple.
…
(''Well what are you waiting for?'')
Huh (''What do you mean? You haven't told me your name, how can I call you by a name you haven't told me.'')
(''Ohh! You are right!'') She planted the bottom of her fist on her palm. I'm starting to think that this goddess might not be the brightest.
(''Uhm well…my name is…uh…-'')
(''Shit what is my name? Alia what's my name?'') She called out to the boy handling horses. He didn't even turn around while responding to her.
(''It has been too long since you had a need for a name. Unfortunately, I have forgotten also. My deepest of apologies.'') Gosh, what a well-mannered boy. Well, what could you expect from someone who hangs around a goddess? Not that the goddess seems very formal herself.
She paused for a few moments, longer than before. Her face was clear, devoid of any imperfections. Three beautiful girls in the same carriage as me, this must be heaven.
(''How about this! You give me a name!'')
…
Huh
…
HUH
(''ME? To give a name to a GODDESS?'') She is ill. That much is certain. How can a commoner give a name to a deity??
(''You really are cute. Come on. You are the only one who has earned this right. So give me one. Nothing over the top.'') Her eyes stared deeply into mine, almost as if she glared at her own reflection in them.
I really have no choice then. What would be an appropriate name for a goddess? This feels surreal, wasn't I just in Shiwick a few days ago? Alright, a name…I got it!
(''Right so you can't complain if it isn't up to your standards.'')
(''Huh, of course I will complain if you pick a bad one. I might even kill you and your friends.'')
(''HUHH?!?!'')
(''Pfft. I'm just joking kid. Just say it already.'')
I don't like her sense of humour. Her face and body might be a ten but her personality is… still a ten…
I could feel the blood rising to my face, my cheeks burned, and my lips struggled to part. (''L-Lucet.'')
(''Speak up dear, I couldn't hear you.'')
(''Lucet!'') I heaved heavily. It felt so hot. So hot I could pass out.
(''Oh my oh my. How adorable you are dear. I accept the name of Lucet. And what is yours?'')
(''My name is Abaddon. Friends call me Abby though. Feel free to address me however you like.'') At least the introductions are over. Now I can ask my numerous questions.
Just as I was about to open my mouth she spoke once more. (''What about your two friends?'') Shit. How could I forget to introduce them?
(''The werewolf girl is Zeraf. She and I have grown up together for as long as I remember. We set out on our journey toward the Kings Game. On the way, we stopped at an inn where we met Ghost. We were going in the same direction so we decided to create a party.'') A huge information dump on her, but it highlighted the most important points.
She paused again, for the third time. This time her face crinckled into a frown. Shit. Did I upset her?? I don't want to die…
(''Alright young Abaddon. Now tell me one more thing…'')
I gulped from the fright.
(''Which one..'')
(''Which one are you dating?'')
Her face was not one of glee or love but one of cruelty and violence. A knot built up in my throat. My mouth was wide open but no more than a silent groan came out.
(''Out with it Abby!'')
Shit (''Uh'') (''Uh?'')
(''Zeraf!'')
The sky crumbled as the weight of the atmosphere crushed down on me. Her eyes were fiery, hotter than any heat of any desert. (''So she is my competition huh.'') What? I couldn't hear her very well. She mumbled under her breath.
(''Lucet, it's time you answer my question! Who is it that you are looking for?'')
Her glare dissipated and she just looked at me with a smile on her face. Even her cheeks redened slightly. She covered her lips with a finger. (''Oh gosh, I wonder who it could be Abby.'') She proceeded to wink at me and slide closer in the cart.
What does she mean? There are millions of people in this world, does she expect me to guess who it is? Uhm…Zeraf maybe? She is really strong in terms of physicality and her magic is on par with a medium-tier adventurer.
Or maybe it could be someone at the Kings Game. It would make sense since that is where all of the most powerful fighters will be located.
(''I have no idea Lucet. Just tell me please.'') She sighed disappointedly as if the answer was obvious.
(''Do you remember what happened before you woke up?'') Now that she mentions it she is right. I remember nothing. Just the hundreds of cuts and scars.
(''You were attacked by a voidling that goes by the name of Void. I've been tracking her for a few months now. She and her brother escaped from the King's Community.'')
(''You ran into her and she practically had you on death's door. You are lucky I found you when I did. A few seconds more and you would've been food for a fiend like her.'') She was not smug about saving us, she simply stated the facts as they happened. Something clicked in my mind and everything came back to me.
(''And how could you let yourself be eaten by a woman like that? Are you by chance into the dominant type? Would I be of interest to you~?'') She teased me, revealing a little more of her shoulder and hiding behind a piece of her clothing. I blushed, but that's not the answer I wanted to hear.
(''Who is it that you are looking for?'')
(''You dense kid. It's you, Abby!'')