I awoke in a realm bathed in a blinding, ethereal light. It felt like an eternity since I had perished in the chamber, but the torment, the pain, all of it had vanished. Instead, I found myself suspended in a sea of pristine white.
Confusion gripped me as I looked around, searching for any familiar landmarks. White smoke swirled gently around me, caressing my form like a tender embrace.
Was this heaven, or perhaps a distant corner of the afterlife? The absence of pain and fear hinted at a place beyond mortal understanding.
I tentatively took a step forward, the ground beneath me feeling solid yet impossibly smooth. The smoke cleared slightly, revealing what appeared to be an endless expanse of pristine white, stretching as far as my eye could see.
A serene calmness washed over me, replacing the memories of the brutal battle with Asparagus. My senses were sharpened, and a profound sense of peace filled my soul.
As I continued to explore this otherworldly landscape, I noticed a figure in the distance. A silhouette bathed in radiant light, its features obscured by a gentle aureole of white mist.
I approached the figure, my steps light and effortless. When I finally stood before it, the mist dissipated, revealing a serene, androgynous being, neither male nor female. Their eyes held the wisdom of aeons, and their presence exuded a soothing warmth.
"Welcome, Alex," the being spoke, their voice a melodic whisper. "You have arrived in the realm between realms, a place of rest and reflection."
"Who are you?" (Alex)
"Nothing" (Being)
I blinked, absorbing the words. "Is this... heaven?" I asked, still uncertain of my surroundings.
The being smiled, a gesture that felt like a gentle breeze against my soul. "This is not heaven in the way mortals might conceive it. It is a place where the exhausted find consolation, where souls are free to shed the burdens of their past lives."
I gazed around, feeling the tranquillity of this place seep into me. It was a stark contrast to the horrors of the chamber, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for this unexpected respite.
"Am I... at peace here?" I inquired.
The being nodded. "Yes, you are. Here, you may find the answers to the questions that wavered in your heart, and the closure you seek."
As I contemplated the meaning of those words, a sense of fulfilment began to wash over me. The lasting torment and suffering of the chamber now felt like a distant nightmare.
I had arrived in a realm of tranquillity, a place of reflection and renewal, where I could explore the mysteries of existence and perhaps, finally, find the peace I had longed for.
The being's serene eyes locked onto mine as they spoke. "There is someone here who wishes to have a conversation with you, Alex. Follow this path straight ahead."
Before I could inquire further, the being slowly dissolved into the surrounding white mist, leaving me standing alone in the surreal expanse. Their vanishing was like a dream slipping through my fingers.
With a sense of anticipation, I took a deep breath and followed their words. I walked straight, and the path before me seemed to unfold like an endless corridor of white, surrounded by the gentle embrace of the ethereal mist.
As I continued to walk, the environment around me remained unchanged. The endless white expanse, the tranquillity, and the absence of pain gave me a sense of comfort I had never felt in my previous life.
After approximately ten minutes of walking, I began to wonder if I had misunderstood the being's instructions.
The landscape showed no signs of a change, and I started to doubt whether there was anyone to meet at all.
Just as my doubt began to solidify, the path ahead started to shift. The featureless white surroundings transformed, revealing a vivid, surreal scene.
As I continued to walk, the surroundings gradually transformed, and I was met with a breathtaking sight.
A massive throne, adorned with glistening jewels and radiating an aura of authority, sat in the midst of this surreal landscape. My eyes widened in amazement.
Seated upon the majestic throne was a figure whose presence I recognized all too well. It was a being I had known from the tales of my past life, a deity among deities.
My astonishment was palpable, and I couldn't help but utter, "You..."
The figure on the throne regarded me with a knowing smile, a benevolent yet all-encompassing expression. "Welcome, Alex," they said with a voice that resonated like a chorus of celestial harmonies. "I did not fully introduce myself at our first meeting. I am the King of gods."
A mixture of emotions surged within me. I was amazed and bewildered, but there was also a twinge of frustration. Why did I always have to see the face of this guy?
In my thoughts, I couldn't help but think, "Just why, god?"
The deity's eyes held a profound wisdom as they regarded me. "How can you think such a thing of your creator, who granted you a second life, Alex?" they asked.
I found myself momentarily at a loss for words. Damn it! For a brief moment, I had forgotten the awe-inspiring nature of the entity sitting before me. It was a humbling realization, and I was acutely aware of the presence of a being that transcended mortal comprehension.
I couldn't contain my emotions as I faced the deity before me. With a surge of anger and frustration, I shouted at the deity with a mixture of hatred and desperation.
"You call that life?" I cried out, my voice trembling with intensity. "Living in a world destined for doom, fighting monsters that were never mentioned in the book, uncertain whether I'd live to see the next day or not, the fear of death – you call that life!"
The deity regarded me with an unshaken calmness, their gaze unwavering. "Calm down, Alex," they said with an air of serenity. "Beware of whom you are talking to."
The deity's eyes held a knowing gleam. "Mortal, don't you find it exciting to live in a world that every reader dreamt of?" they said with a tranquil wisdom. "You could have stolen all the opportunities of the main characters, altered the fate of the world, or even become the strongest in this world. Why fear death when you hold such power?"
I gritted my teeth, the frustration and anger still coursing through me. "I don't find it exciting," I retorted, "to live in a world whose future I already know. I had to save the world from the impending doom. I had a purpose."
With a deep breath, I calmed myself. The deity's presence was a stark reminder of the complexities of existence in this otherworldly realm, and I realized that my journey was far from over.