Chapter 25: A Comfy place for rest
Back inside the temple, after months of silence and solitude, Elysia stood beneath the celestial lights of her domain. The conversation with the Primordial Chaos Lords was still fresh in her mind, their voices echoing of alliance . She looked calm and composed, but inwardly, a quiet storm brewed. She tried to brush away the strange feeling that had lingered since her encounter, but something else, something unexpected, surfaced.
Out of nowhere, a distant memory appeared—a memory from a world far removed from the realms, untouched by gods or magic. The visions confused her: city lights, towering buildings, streets teeming with people, all woven together with a strange technology-driven rhythm. There were no gods, only humans, rushing around in a fast-paced world.
"Where… what…?" She muttered, her hand pressing against her temple as fragments of another life flowed through her.
The memory was of her, but different—an ordinary human, just starting her adult life as an office worker in a place called Earth. And the memory that rose to the surface was an embarrassing one. She had slipped on spilled coffee on the stairs, tumbling in a ridiculous fall that had ended that life. Her head throbbed as she remembered the mortifying way she had died.
"Wait… I died like that? Slipping on spilled coffee? Are you serious?!" she cursed under her breath. "What kind of pathetic ending is that?"
The memory merged with her present self, leaving her dazed and filled with unfamiliar feelings. She remembered her early days of reincarnation and ascension into this world. She'd been like a blank slate back then, like a child. But now, it was as if she were seeing herself through a new lens.
On the surface, she remained serene and composed. But inside, she felt an odd mixture of confusion, amusement, and excitement bubbling up. She looked around, suddenly seeing her surroundings through a different perspective.
"What the heck?" she muttered, staring at her reflection in the floating pools of mana surrounding the temple. "This is real? I was actually… just some office worker? And… I… slipped on the stairs?"
She shook her head, almost laughing. The absurdity of it was almost too much. Her hands rose to her face, stifling the urge to laugh, something she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Great. I'm a powerful ascended being, allied with Primordial Chaos Lords, and I can still remember the sting of losing to a staircase." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "And now, I actually remember it… Earth, they called it, didn't they? It was so ordinary… and kind of comfortable, actually."
The rush of memories filled her with a strange nostalgia. She remembered the food stalls, the endless hours staring at screens, the comforting hum of city life. Suddenly, she felt a pang of longing for things she had once considered mundane.
"Wait, does this mean I can be lazy again? Like… actually do nothing for a while?" Her eyes lit up with a spark of excitement. "Oh, hell yes! I could totally just lie around all day and read some—"
She stopped herself mid-sentence, the reality sinking in. "Oh… right. No manga or manhwa here. No phone. No TV."
She crossed her arms, a pout forming on her face. "Come on! I've mastered ancient magics, communed with the gods, and I don't get even one decent piece of entertainment here?"
Realizing her pouting might look absurd, she straightened up and sighed, suddenly feeling the emptiness of her temple.
"Well… maybe there's something I can do. I mean, if I miss that world's stuff so much, why not just… bring some of it here? I could set up a cozy little reading area… or maybe a garden…" Her eyes drifted toward the vast, floating landscape of her domain. "Yeah… a garden. And maybe even a comfy house."
She raised a finger, making a grand gesture. "A grand villa! With comfy chairs and some… maybe even some snacks?" A smile crossed her lips as she imagined it. But then, she realized how much her attitude had shifted. She was embracing this human side of herself, letting herself feel a strange, whimsical joy.
"Who would've thought?" She laughed softly. "Elysia, The Primordial ascended being, dreaming of lazing around with some snacks."
She began pacing around the island, her mind still swirling with thoughts. "What if I actually went back to that world? Not permanently, just… a little visit. I could bring back some things. Maybe find someone skilled enough to help me build this house."
She stopped, placing her hand on her chin in thought. "But… what if they see me? What would they think?" She shook her head. "Nah, I can disguise myself. I could blend right in. I mean, I'd look like just another regular person…"
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. "I could just explore, try out all the things I didn't get to before. I mean, sure, I'm an all-powerful being here, but what's the point if I can't have a little fun?"
As she continued to pace, she started to notice her reflection in the pools again. She didn't quite look like her old self anymore—she was poised and powerful. But now, with this flood of memories, she felt like she was reconnecting with something deeper, something simpler.
"I used to be so… human," she whispered. "I cared about so many things. Even small things. I had friends, I had… people. And yet, I…" Her voice trailed off as she remembered the friends she'd left behind, the adventures they'd shared, the battles she'd fought to protect them. And though they had been revived, their memories of her erased, the lingering bond of fate and karma still bound them together in ways unseen.
"It's okay," she murmured to herself, smiling faintly. "They're alive, and that's all that matters. Even if they don't remember me, I'm… I'm glad they're safe."
A gentle breeze stirred the ethereal landscape around her, and she closed her eyes, feeling the stillness settle into her heart.
"What am I even doing, getting sentimental over all this?" she muttered, shaking her head with a soft laugh. "I should be out there, exploring, building, making this place something amazing."
Suddenly, she raised her hand, as if declaring to the heavens, "Alright! I'm going to make this place my own little paradise. A garden, a house, maybe even a kitchen!"
The vision of her ideal sanctuary formed in her mind—a floating island covered with lush greenery, a small waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear pool, and at the center, a cozy home filled with books and a place for her to cook.
"Alright then, let's get started!"
Over the next few hours, Elysia began using her power to shape the landscape of her floating island. The bare rock and sand transformed under her command, blooming with vibrant flowers, towering trees, and lush greenery. She crafted winding paths, a sparkling waterfall, and a small stream that flowed through her garden.
She even made a modest house with a warm, welcoming glow—a place that felt like home. The interior was simple but cozy, with a stack of blank scrolls, a quill, and an ink bottle on a small desk. There was a comfortable chair by the fireplace, and shelves waiting to be filled with things from both this world and the memories of her past life.
As she stepped back to admire her handiwork, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. "There… That's more like it. My own little world."
She sank into the chair by the fireplace, letting herself relax for the first time in ages. She leaned back, closing her eyes with a sigh.
"Maybe this is what I needed all along… just a little piece of normalcy."
Elysia sank into the armchair, her gaze drifting over the cozy little space she had created. The house was simple, filled with the warmth of soft candlelight and the fragrance of fresh wood. It felt like a sanctuary, a slice of solitude, where she could step away from the burdens of the outside realms and let herself breathe.
She stretched her arms and let out a soft yawn, realizing how long it had been since she allowed herself to feel… relaxed. It was a luxury, even more so in her world where power and responsibility never let her rest.
"Alright, Elysia," she murmured, "time to enjoy this new life properly. No gods, no politics, no chaos… just me and my cozy little home."
A familiar longing for entertainment crept in as she looked around the bare shelves, imagining them lined with books, scrolls, and strange relics. But then she sighed, remembering that this world was a far cry from the one in her memories.
"Still no TV… no comics… no instant noodles…" she groaned. "I could even go for one of those microwaved lunch boxes. Gods, this world is missing out!"
She stood, wandering to the window and gazing out over the sprawling landscape she had created. Outside, the floating island stretched out like an endless green haven, the gardens alive with plants from all corners of her world. She had summoned each tree, flower, and shrub herself, mixing a bit of Midgardian flora with ethereal blooms from the Astral Realm. Tiny streams wound through the greenery, feeding a waterfall that cascaded into a pool below.
It was beautiful, yes, but a bit too… quiet.
She crossed her arms, pondering. "If I could find a way back to Earth… just for a little while… I could bring back some things. Nothing big, maybe just a few books, some snacks. Heck, maybe even a few cushions!"
As she mused, a thought struck her. She glanced down at her fingers, still tingling with power. "With all the realms I can visit, surely I could find a way to travel between worlds. It'd be just a quick trip… no one would even notice I'm gone."
Elysia began pacing, her mind racing with excitement. "All I'd need is a way to slip into that plane without upsetting the balance. Maybe I could use some subtle magic, weave it into my aura to stay hidden… yes, that might just work!"
She was growing more excited by the second. The idea of blending her old life with this new one was strangely thrilling. The chance to reclaim a piece of her former self, to feel grounded in some way, felt like a gift.
End of chapter 25