As Zina walked away from the raid area she had just resolved, the soft clinking of her sandals echoed with each step against the pavement. The once chaotic scene of burning carriages and cries for help was now behind her, but the weight of what had happened still lingered in her thoughts.
Her eyes followed the road ahead, yet her mind kept drifting back to the people she had just saved. She had done something miraculous—brought people back to life, mended broken bodies, and restored what had been lost. It was a power that both awed and unsettled her.
"What am I supposed to do in this world now?" she asked herself quietly, her voice barely audible over the sound of her sandals tapping on the ground.
The system, ever present in her mind, responded with a calm and reassuring tone. "Well, you could do whatever you want or whatever you need, Master. The world is your canvas, after all."
Zina continued to walk, the rhythmic clack of her sandals a soothing backdrop to her thoughts. The sun was high in the sky, but instead of feeling its heat, she felt a gentle warmth that seemed to come from within her. It was strange, almost surreal, how she could be so connected to everything around her, yet feel so detached at the same time.
She glanced up at the sky, squinting slightly at the brightness. "Huh," she mused, "I don't feel any heat. It's almost like the sun is a part of me."
The system chuckled softly in her mind, its tone light and teasing. "You're a funny one, Master. It's clear you're a god, yet you still marvel at these things."
Zina blushed, the realization that she was indeed a goddess still sinking in. "I still haven't gotten used to this," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of embarrassment and disbelief. She looked down at her feet, where the sandals she had created shimmered with a subtle, almost magical glow.
"And especially…" she hesitated, her blush deepening, "especially since I'm a girl now." The words felt strange on her tongue, as if saying them made everything more real. Her cheeks grew warmer, the color rising to her ears as she blushed, feeling awkward and vulnerable.
The system remained quiet for a moment, letting her thoughts settle. As she walked on, the sound of her sandals against the pavement provided a steady rhythm, grounding her in the present moment.
In this new form, everything felt different—her emotions were sharper, more intense, and her senses seemed heightened. The memories of her previous life still lingered, but they felt distant, like echoes from another time. She was Zina now, but she couldn't quite shake the feeling of who she had been before.
The sun continued to cast long shadows on the road as it began its slow descent, but Zina paid it little mind. She was lost in thought, contemplating her new reality. She was a goddess, with the power to create and change the world around her, yet she felt like she was still figuring out who she was supposed to be.
The blush on her cheeks slowly faded, replaced by a quiet determination. She didn't have all the answers yet, but she knew she would find them in time. For now, she would keep walking, one step at a time, and see where this road would take her.
With a soft sigh, Zina looked ahead, her sandals clicking softly as she walked away from the raid area she had resolved. She had a long journey ahead of her, and she was ready to face whatever came next, even if it meant learning to embrace her new life as the goddess of creation.
As Zina walked along the road, the sun high above, her thoughts were interrupted by a distant commotion. She could hear the unmistakable clash of steel, desperate shouts, and the eerie hiss of something large and dangerous. Her pace quickened, curiosity and concern pulling her toward the source of the noise.
Peering ahead, Zina's breath caught in her throat. Before her, two women were locked in a desperate struggle with a giant snake, its massive coils undulating across the ground with terrifying speed. The creature's scales shimmered ominously in the light, each one a dark, glistening shield that deflected their attacks with ease.
One of the women, brandishing a sword, stood her ground bravely, her voice firm as she commanded, "Back off!" Her sister, slightly younger and visibly shaken, echoed her plea with frantic determination, "Stay away from my sister!"
But the snake was relentless, its crimson eyes locked onto them, hunger and malice in its gaze. It slithered closer, its fangs glinting dangerously as it prepared to strike.
Zina's heart raced as she took in the scene. The sheer size of the snake was terrifying, its every movement a threat to the lives of the two women. She froze, her mind reeling. "S-S-Snake… giant snake," she whispered, barely able to comprehend the sight before her. The ground seemed to pulse beneath her feet as the serpent closed in on its prey.
Fear gripped her, paralyzing her thoughts. This was unlike anything she'd encountered before. The raw, primal terror of the snake's looming presence overwhelmed her, making her hesitate. She had the power to intervene, to change the outcome—but could she?
The younger woman's sword glanced off the snake's scales with a desperate swing, leaving no mark. The serpent hissed, rearing back for a lethal strike, its venomous fangs ready to end the fight. Zina's pulse quickened, but this time, it was the urgency of the situation that spurred her into action.
In that instant, Zina knew she couldn't stand by. She was the goddess of creation, with the power to shape reality itself. The fear that had held her back melted away, replaced by a sense of purpose.
With a deep breath, Zina raised her hand, summoning her divine energy. The air around her shimmered with a golden light as she prepared to intervene. There was no time for hesitation; the women needed her help, and she was ready to give it.
The giant snake lunged, its deadly jaws aimed at the older sister. But just as it struck, Zina's power surged forth, her presence radiating with the might of a goddess.
Zina, her heart pounding with newfound resolve, raised her hand and whispered, "Be gone." She never expected what came next. The sky above her darkened instantly, swirling with ominous clouds. A bolt of lightning, brilliant and terrifying, shot down from the heavens. The crack of thunder that followed shook the earth beneath her feet.
The lightning struck the giant snake with such force that the creature was flung into the air, its massive body reduced to a smoldering skeleton as the crackling energy consumed it. The serpent's remains fell to the ground, darkened and brittle, the once fearsome creature now nothing more than a lifeless relic of Zina's power.
But the force of the lightning strike was so great that it sent the two women flying into the air as well. Their screams pierced the tense silence, and Zina's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no! They're going to hit the ground!" she gasped, realizing the unintended consequences of her power.
Without a moment to lose, she stretched out her hand again, this time focusing on something gentler, something that could save them. "Levitation," she whispered, her voice filled with urgency. The wind shifted around the two women as they fell, their descent suddenly slowing.
Their screams, once frantic, faded into gasps of disbelief as they felt themselves floating, suspended in the air like feathers caught in a breeze. Slowly, gracefully, they began to drift downward, as if the very air was cradling them with care.
Zina watched, her breath held, as the two women gently touched down on the ground. They landed softly, like cotton resting on a bed of grass, their expressions a mixture of awe and confusion. The terror that had gripped them moments before was replaced by shock, their wide eyes reflecting the miracle that had just unfolded.
One of the women, still trembling from the ordeal, glanced up at the sky where the storm had already begun to clear. "What... what just happened?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her sister, equally stunned, looked at her hands as if trying to comprehend the fact that she was still alive.
Zina, still hidden, let out a sigh of relief. Her heart was still racing, but a small smile tugged at her lips as she watched them, unharmed, standing amidst the remains of the battle. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, though mixed with a twinge of guilt for the near disaster. "I really need to get a handle on this power," she muttered under her breath.
The system chimed in her mind, its tone almost teasing. "A bit overkill, don't you think, Master?"
Zina blushed, still feeling the weight of what she'd just done. "I didn't mean to summon a lightning bolt that strong," she whispered back, her embarrassment clear. "But... I'm glad they're safe."
And as the two women stood there, looking around in disbelief at the aftermath of the battle, Zina took a deep breath, her thoughts swirling with a mixture of relief and realization. This power she had—it was more than she ever imagined, and now, she knew she had to be more careful, more aware of the impact she could have on this world.
Zina ran, her footsteps quick and uneven as she darted through the trees, away from the two women and the scene she had unintentionally caused. Her breath came in short, anxious gasps, and her heart pounded in her chest. The fear of her own power gnawed at her, the weight of what she had just done too overwhelming to fully process. She could still feel the surge of energy that had raced through her fingertips, the crackling of lightning in the sky, the raw, untamed force that had been unleashed.
The system's voice echoed in her mind, soft yet concerned. "Master, are you just going to keep running like this?" The gentle question brought her focus back, reminding her that she couldn't simply flee from the power inside her, from what she had become.
Zina, still running, her breath ragged, felt a pang of doubt. She didn't know how to control this—didn't know if she could. But then, the system's voice softened even more, becoming almost nurturing. "How about suppressing your godly power, Master? That way, you won't have to worry anymore." The words were encouraging, offering a solution she hadn't considered.
Slowly, Zina's frantic pace began to slow. She felt her heartbeat start to steady as the system's suggestion began to sink in. She halted her steps, her chest still heaving from the exertion, and stood in the quiet of the forest. The wind blew gently through the trees, brushing against her flushed cheeks as she closed her eyes, taking in the calm around her.
She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the rapid thumping of her heart beneath her palm. She clenched her hand into a tight fist, feeling the warmth of her power pulsing through her, and then exhaled slowly, allowing herself to calm down. With a deep breath, she lifted her head, determination sparking in her eyes.
"Alright," she whispered, a small smile forming on her lips, her face now filled with an uplifting sense of hope.
Zina stood there, her newfound determination flickering in her eyes as she looked up at the sky, the weight of her power still buzzing beneath her skin. She clenched her fists tighter, her mind focused on the task ahead. "How do I suppress my power?" she asked the system with a serious expression, her voice firm and resolute.
The system, however, didn't respond immediately. Instead, a soft chuckle echoed in Zina's mind. "How cute you are, my goddess Zina," the system teased, its tone light and playful, completely ignoring the seriousness in Zina's voice.
Zina blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. A blush crept up her cheeks, warming her face. "W-What? Cute? No, I'm not!" she stammered, her serious expression faltering as she instinctively touched her face, feeling the heat rising. Her mind raced, trying to reconcile her serious intent with the system's unexpected comment.
She glanced around, half expecting someone to be watching, even though she knew it was just her and the system. "I'm not cute," she muttered again, more to herself than to the system, as if repeating it would somehow make it true. Her voice, however, lacked the conviction she wanted, making her sound more like an embarrassed child than the powerful goddess she was supposed to be.
The system's laughter continued to echo in her mind, light and teasing. "You really are adorable when you get flustered, Master," it said, its tone filled with a gentle warmth.
Zina groaned inwardly, burying her face in her hands. "This isn't the time for teasing," she mumbled through her fingers, feeling both exasperated and embarrassed. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the embarrassment, but the system's playful tone lingered in her thoughts, making it hard to focus.
Finally, she peeked out from behind her hands, her face still flushed. "Alright, alright," she sighed. "Let's focus on the power thing, okay?" But even as she said it, she couldn't help but smile a little, the system's playful words having eased some of her tension.