The impenetrable veil of darkness that had enveloped me for an unknowable duration gradually lifted. Rather than waking to the familiar confines of the doctor's tent, I found myself suspended within an expansive cosmic tapestry. Majestic planets of varied hues and sizes orbited nearby, their magnificence rendering me breathless. The scene before me was so surreal and vivid that, had I not felt the cool, ethereal touch of the cosmos, I might have dismissed it as merely a dream.
A voice, both ancient and comforting, resonated through the expanse, seeming to emanate from the very fabric of the universe itself. "You have finally awakened, my child," it intoned, though I could not discern its source. "Countless time has passed since the last time I saw you."
I felt a peculiar mix of awe and confusion, emotions that tangled within me like threads in a woven tapestry. The vastness around me, the pulsating energy of the cosmos it was all too overwhelming, yet familiar.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice echoing softly in the boundless space, as I continued to search for the source of the mysterious voice.
"I am everything, and nothing at all," Her voice answered, carrying with it a timeless serenity that both calmed and intrigued me. "I have no name, I am the mother of the universe, the origin of existence."
Dumbfounded, I gestured to the stars, the planets, and the galaxies that painted the backdrop of this enigmatic encounter. "So you crafted all of this?" I whispered, still trying to fathom the magnitude of her claim. "And you create me as well?"
"I shaped this universe, but you, my dear, you sprouted from a special essence within me," She explained, her words flowing like a soothing lullaby.
The weight of her revelations was dizzying. "H..how can that be?" I stammered, grappling with the revelations. "If I emerged from you, then why do I live as an ordinary human on Xithairene?"
Her laughter, gentle and melodic, filled the cosmos. "Ordinary? My child, you are far from ordinary. You are a celestial progeny, a Goddess born from the vast expanse of the universe."
I thought back to the treacherous life I've lived, the torment I was made to endure. "I lived a life filled with anguish and despair. Why did you abandon me in such a wold?"
The gentle laughter resonated once again, but this time I sensed the deep wisdom and understanding behind it. "It wasn't me who placed you on Xithairene; you chose that journey for yourself."
"Why would I have chosen such a path for myself? Especially if I am a Goddess?"
My frustration bubbled to the surface. "How can you say I chose it? I was but a child when I was thrust into that world!"
She responded with a calmness that contrasted sharply with my turmoil. "Your soul is ancient, far older than this one life you recall so vividly. Over eons, you've lived countless lives, each with its own purpose. In your most recent incarnation, you and your sisters chose to descend to Xithairene, seeking to avert the looming disaster and to be beacons of hope for the people."
Glimpses of my past memories started to trickle into my mind, vague and ethereal, like dreams just out of reach. Peeks at the faces I once knew, places I had visited, love I had felt, and pain I had endured. Each life had its own story, its own lessons, and its own end. It was overwhelming, trying to piece together lifetimes of experiences in mere moments.
Tears streamed down my face, a mixture of anger, confusion, and a deep-seated sorrow. "Why can't I remember? Why did I have to suffer so much? What was it for?"
She approached me, her form becoming more distinct, a silhouette of shimmering light. "Every life has its purpose, every pain is its lesson. On Xithairene, you chose to bear the weight of its challenges to bring hope and change. But the veil of mortality makes it hard to remember past lives and the choices made before birth."
"Xithairene stands on the brink of a catastrophic war, graver than you can currently comprehend. You must ready yourself." Her hands, bathed in a pure luminescent glow, cupped my face. Even though her visage was cloaked in brilliant light, the depth of affection she felt for me was tangible in her touch. "Once you locate your sisters, your path will become clearer."
"How many of us are there?" I inquire, curious.
"On Xithairene, five of you are dispersed across its vast expanse. However, now that you've tapped into a fragment of your innate power, an invisible pull will guide you towards one another." Releasing my face, she took a step back, her gaze directed towards the distant cosmos. "The abilities you possess have been with you since time's inception. But mastering them, especially without the clarity of your memories, will be a formidable task. It's imperative that you practice, and they should too."
Reflecting upon her words, memories of a dream I had experienced a few months ago swelled within my mind. The sheer terror it had evoked had been so palpable, I'd sought solace in Orryn's embrace, seeking refuge from the haunting images. "In that dream, there were nine figures. I recognised one. Was that you that caused it?"
She let out a soft chuckle, "No, my dear. Those were your aunts, the Fates." She shook her head with a fond smile. "They do have a penchant for theatrics, always have."
"No kidding," I responded, a hint of sarcasm lacing my words. After all the revelations, the idea of being connected to the Fates somehow felt like a mere addition to the list. "They could've opted for a subtler approach, perhaps without the whole nightmare scenario."
She smiled, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes that seemed almost human. "Dramatics aside, they always aim to make a lasting impression, ensuring you won't forget."
Hesitating slightly, I ventured, "And the men in the dream...who are they?"
She paused for a beat, reading the trepidation in my eyes. "Rest easy. You share no blood ties with that particular Lord," she said, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. "The men you saw are simply mortals chosen by me to accompany my daughters through their journeys. Life can be an isolated existence without someone beside you."
As she spoke, I perceived a melancholic undertone in her voice. Even though my memories of her were veiled in mystery, there was an innate sense of connection, a tether that pulled at my heartstrings, making me feel the sorrow she tried to hide.
"So his affection for me is simply because you willed it?" I question the weight of disillusionment heavy in my voice. "His feelings are not that of his own?"
The whirlwind of emotions I've felt for him crashes over me. The intimacy, the intensity, and the bond that I've been so wary of. If this connection was merely a fabrication by her design, I was grateful for my caution. True love cannot be manufactured or decreed.
She hummed gently, a motherly warmth emanating from her. "I simply placed souls in proximity whose energies vibrated on similar frequencies. Whatever happens after that, the emotions, the choices, the bonds, those are all your own. Free will is a gift I'd never take away from my children."
I exhaled, a mixture of relief and newfound clarity. "It's just... hard to believe that amidst the vastness of this universe, amidst countless lives and souls, we would find each other. It feels like such a rare, impossible miracle."
She smiled, "Sometimes the universe conspires in mysterious ways to bring two souls together. And while I might've set the stage, it's the choices you make and the love you cultivate that writes the story."