Gideon's eyes scanned the dense, shadowy forest that enveloped them. Tall trees loomed overhead, their gnarled branches shrouded in an eerie darkness. The air was thick with a foreboding silence, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves underfoot.
"What now?" Gideon inquired, his tone tinged with a hint of impatience. He turned his gaze to Mirina, the enigmatic figure who had brought him to this mysterious realm.
Mirina, a woman of captivating beauty with an air of casual confidence, merely raised an eyebrow in response. "Not the patient type, I see."
With a deft, almost nonchalant gesture, Mirina conjured a silver cube into her right hand. The cube gleamed brilliantly against the backdrop of the dark, otherworldly forest. It seemed utterly out of place, a foreign object in this eerie landscape, as if it didn't belong to this realm or even to Mirina herself. The cube was adorned with four ornate golden rings that floated gracefully around its surface.
Gideon, perplexed by the sudden appearance of this surreal object, tilted his head inquisitively, his eyes fixated on the enigmatic cube cradled in Mirina's palm. In return, Mirina regarded him with a sly smile, her gaze filled with anticipation.
"Now, my avatar," Mirina began, her voice laced with intrigue, "put your hand inside the cube and select one of the papers concealed within. Each of these papers contains the description of the reincarnation you will assume once you are transported to Eteria."
Gideon's lips curled into a wry smirk. "I expected a more elaborate procedure, especially considering that you're a goddess."
Mirina chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Sometimes, simplicity is the key. Besides, this was not my idea. The other gods devised this method to ensure fairness in the competition. It all boils down to your luck."
She continued, her tone carrying a hint of contempt, "If it were up to me, I would have transformed you into the most formidable being imaginable."
Gideon studied the cube, his gaze lingering on the shimmering rings that danced around it. "Ah, that explains the cube's incongruous presence here." He took a step closer to Mirina, his curiosity piqued.
Mirina, her patience dwindling, shook the cube gently in her hand, encouraging Gideon to make his selection. "Now, now, no need for contemplation. Just choose one. With a bit of luck, you could become a formidable dragon and gain a significant advantage. Alternatively, you might end up as an ant or, worst of all, be reborn as another mundane human." Her voice held a trace of disdain.
Gideon's brow furrowed as he pondered her words. "Do you harbor a particular aversion to humans?" His question hung in the air, though he didn't expect a direct response. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the mesmerizing, magical cube floating before him. "This entire process is heavily reliant on luck, and you're well aware that luck isn't exactly my strong suit."
Mirina's eyes softened as she met Gideon's gaze. "It matters not. I have faith in you. Regardless of the form you assume—be it orc, goblin, wyvern, or even a humble slime—you possess the capability to triumph in this competition. After all, I chose you."
A sigh escaped Gideon's lips as he wrestled with the weight of her unwavering faith. "You have an excess of confidence in me, and it's rather unsettling." He paused briefly, collecting his thoughts, before finally conceding to the inevitable. With a determined exhale, he extended his hand and plunged it into the ethereal cube.
The moment Gideon's hand penetrated the shimmering surface of the mysterious cube, an eruption of radiant light cascaded outward, casting an ethereal glow across the surrounding area. Four intricate golden rings, previously dormant, sprang to life, expanding and whirling around him. They seemed to form a protective barrier, an impenetrable ward to thwart any divine interference in the crucial task that lay ahead. Gideon's heart raced as he took in this surreal spectacle, fully aware of the gravity of the moment.
The transition was abrupt. In the blink of an eye, he found himself standing within a dome of boundless luminosity, a stark contrast to the inky abyss that had been Mirina's dark realm. Mirina, the enigmatic goddess who had recruited him for this enigmatic mission, was conspicuously absent.
Gideon cautiously extended his hand into the cube, fingers trembling with anticipation. Despite the cube's modest exterior, its interior appeared to defy the very laws of spatial dimensions. It was as if the boundaries of reality had been stretched beyond recognition. A myriad of parchment scrolls filled this bottomless chamber, each representing a unique destiny, each clamoring for his attention.
His hand hovered momentarily over the seemingly infinite choices, a kaleidoscope of fates waiting to be chosen. After a few seconds of silent contemplation, Gideon's voice rang out with determination. "Grant me a profound reincarnation," he murmured, fingers closing around one particular scroll before he extracted it from the cube's grasp.
The moment the scroll left the cube's confines, the blinding radiance began to recede, retreating like a tide, revealing once more the dark forest that was Mirina's domain. The goddess herself emerged from the shadows, her presence exuding an aura of profound anticipation.
"Well, let's see what you've uncovered," Mirina purred with an alluring smile, her obsidian eyes fixed on the parchment clutched in Gideon's hand.
Gideon unfolded the parchment, his eyes narrowing as he perused the elegant script etched in black ink. He paused, his brows furrowing in disbelief, and then his voice betrayed his astonishment, "Hedgehog." Confusion dripped from his words. "Hedgehog? Is this some kind of jest?" He fixed a bewildered gaze on Mirina. "Am I to be reborn as a hedgehog? This cannot be."
The absurdity of his predicament left him momentarily dumbfounded, and he shot a disbelieving gaze in Mirina's direction. She, on the other hand, appeared utterly unperturbed, her laughter melodious, like the soothing notes of a nocturnal symphony. But for Gideon, there was no solace in her amusement.
"What amusement do you find in this, woman?" Gideon inquired, his voice laden with irritation. "I am to engage in a life-and-death struggle as a hedgehog in your name!"
Mirina's laughter subsided, replaced by an unwavering look of anticipation. She gazed upon Gideon, her eyes devoid of remorse or doubt, her choice in him resolute. "Fear not, my chosen one," she intoned, her voice carrying an otherworldly weight. "Though you may assume the form of a hedgehog, I shall grant you the gift of speech."
Gideon's frustration found no solace in her reassurance. "That won't change anything," he retorted bitterly.
With a serene smile, Mirina continued, her words laden with whimsy. "Rest assured, my dear avatar, this is but your initial state. As you embark on your journey and grow in strength, you shall evolve into a far more formidable being. Yet, I hope that your physical appearance remains unchanged. I have a fondness for the idea of you as a perpetually adorable hedgehog."
Gideon shook his head in disbelief. "You truly are a capricious goddess," he muttered, resigned to his inexplicable fate.
Mirina's enigmatic smile persisted as she watched Gideon come to terms with his newfound destiny. The forest around them seemed to sigh in anticipation, the ancient trees bearing witness to the unfolding of an unprecedented tale, one that would leave its mark on the very fabric of existence.