The woman left Kardo in her room so he could continue to rest, promising him to bring something to eat when she came back. Kardo decided to lie down again on the strange bed, thinking of his present situation, until sleep claimed him.
Kardo was suddenly enveloped in darkness. He couldn't see anything, but he could feel the ground beneath his feet. It was cold and hard, like he was standing on solid rock. He turned around and around, searching for a source of light, but there was none. Suddenly, a soft voice spoke to him from the darkness.
"Hello, Kardo," said the voice.
"Who's there?" Kardo asked, looking around frantically.
"I am the goddess Selene," the voice replied. "And I am responsible for bringing you here to Faerindor."
Kardo looked up, trying to see where the voice was coming from. Suddenly, the darkness lifted, and he found himself standing in a beautiful garden, surrounded by flowers of every color. And there, standing before him, was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She was tall and slender, with long silver hair that shimmered in the sunlight. Her skin was the color of moonlight, and her eyes were a bright blue that seemed to glow with an inner light. She wore a simple white dress that flowed around her like a cloud.
"You're a goddess?" Kardo stammered, his eyes wide with amazement.
"Yes," Selene replied with a gentle smile. "And I brought you here for a reason. You have been chosen to help us in a great battle that is coming."
"A battle?" Kardo repeated, confused. "What battle?"
Selene's smile faded, and her expression grew serious. "There is a great evil that is threatening the magical realm of Faerindor," she said. "And we need your help to defeat it. You have skills and abilities that will be invaluable in this fight."
Kardo looked down at his hands, still amazed by the fact that he was in a dream, talking to a goddess. "But... why me?" he asked.
"Because you are a fighter, Kardo," Selene said. "You have survived on the streets of Manila by your wits and your strength. And now, we need that strength and cunning to defeat our enemy."
Kardo looked up at her, still unable to believe what was happening. "But what if I don't want to fight?" he asked.
Selene's expression grew sad. "If you do not fight, Kardo, then Faerindor will fall," she said. "And you along with it."
Kardo looked around at the beautiful garden, at the flowers, the trees, and the blue sky above. He had never seen anything like it in his life. And now he was being asked to help save it. "Can you tell me more about this place, Faerindor, and how far it is from earth?" he asked.
The goddess smiled softly and replied, "Faerindor is a magical realm that exists in a parallel universe, separate from your Earth. The distance between the two worlds is immeasurable, for they exist on different planes of existence."
Kardo's eyes widened in astonishment. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So, you mean to say that I can never go back to my world?" he asked with a hint of desperation in his voice.
The goddess looked at him sympathetically and said, "I'm afraid not, Kardo. Once you've transmigrated to a different world, there's no way to return to your old life. But don't worry, you'll find your place here in Faerindor soon enough."
Kardo sighed, feeling a sense of loss and longing for his old life. But he knew he had to accept the reality of his situation and adapt to his new world. He looked up at the goddess and asked, "Why did you choose me to come here? What purpose do I serve?"
The goddess smiled again, her eyes sparkling with an otherworldly light. "I chose you, Kardo, because you have a destiny to fulfill. A great task awaits you in Faerindor, and I believe you have the strength and courage to see it through."
Kardo took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the ethereal landscape around him. He turned to face the goddess, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "So tell me," he said, "who is the owner of this body that I've been transmigrated into? And what abilities does he have?"
The goddess smiled at him, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "The body you now inhabit belonged to a young man named Darian," she said. "He was a skilled warrior and mage, respected by many in Faerindor for his prowess in battle and his magical abilities."
Kardo raised an eyebrow in surprise. "A warrior and mage? So that's why I feel so strong and powerful." He flexed his muscles, feeling the surge of energy coursing through his veins. "What kind of magical abilities does he possess?"
The goddess's expression turned serious. "Darian was a master of fire magic," she said. "He could conjure flames at will and control them with ease. But he was also adept at other forms of magic, such as illusion and enchantments."
Kardo was impressed. "He sounds like a formidable opponent," he said. "But why was I chosen to inhabit his body? And why was I brought to Faerindor?"
The goddess's expression grew solemn. "You were chosen because of your strength and resilience," she said. "And because of the sacrifices you made in your past life, you have the potential to become a great hero in Faerindor."
Kardo felt a surge of pride at her words. "I'll do my best to live up to that potential," he said. "But tell me, how can I use Darian's abilities to their fullest potential?
"I'm sorry to tell you that you cannot use his magical ability because you have no energy like a mage," the goddess replied.
Kardo looked at the goddess with confusion. "What do you mean I can't be a mage? What about the body I'm in? Doesn't it have magical abilities?"
The goddess sighed, "Your physical body does possess magical abilities, but it is the soul that controls it. Your soul does not have the innate magical abilities that the body's original owner possessed. However, that does not mean you are completely powerless in this world."
Kardo looked down at his hands and asked, "What can I do then?"
The goddess smiled gently and said, "You can use magical items and cast spells using magic scrolls. These can enhance your physical abilities and grant you temporary magical powers. You can also learn how to use magical weapons and learn combat skills."
Kardo's eyes narrowed as he asked the goddess, "What happened to the original owner of this body? Did he... die?"
The goddess looked at him with a sad expression. "Yes, his body perished. His soul, however, has moved on to the afterlife. When a soul leaves a body, it creates a vacancy that can be filled by another soul. That's where you came in, Kardo."
"And the woman you woke up with—she is not who She say she is," the goddess revealed to him.
Kardo listened in shock as the goddess explained that the original owner of the body had been poisoned by a sorcerer who was hired to assassinate him. The woman with whom Kardo had woken up was not a healer at all, but the very same sorcerer who had taken the life of the body's original inhabitant.
"Why would she do that?" Kardo asked, struggling to understand the situation.
"It is not for me to say," the goddess replied with a somber tone. "But you must be careful, Kardo. You are in great danger now, and you must watch your back at all times. The sorcerer who killed the original owner of this body will not stop until she has finished her task, and you must be ready to defend yourself."
Kardo felt a cold sweat break out across his forehead as he processed the gravity of the situation. He had been thrust into a world of magic and danger, where he was constantly at risk of being killed by powerful sorcerers and other magical beings. He knew that he would have to tread carefully if he was to survive in this strange new world.
"You may not have magical abilities, but you have other strengths," the goddess said, her voice gentle but firm. "You are a survivor, Kardo. You have lived through many trials and hardships, and you have emerged stronger each time. Use that strength to your advantage. And remember, not all battles are won with magic. Sometimes, the greatest weapon you have is your own wit and resourcefulness."