In a dimly lit alleyway of Aurora Heights City, a young woman lay sprawled in a pool of her own blood. She was about 26 years old, with a knife wound to her stomach, her breaths shallow and her movements weak. Every attempt to shout for help ended in silence, her voice refusing to carry beyond her lips. As the cold seeped into her bones, she clung desperately to life, her thoughts drifting back to the choices and events that had brought her here.
This city, hailed as the "City of Dreams," was supposed to be her fresh start. She had left her small hometown behind to live with her aging uncle, a retired army officer. Her dream was simple yet bold: to build a new life, away from the suffocating expectations of her wretched aunts.
Back home, those women were like a coven of witches, always nagging and belittling her. "When will you get married?" they'd sneer, as if her worth depended on it. The thought of returning home a success, with a thriving career and an independent life, had filled her with determination. She imagined flaunting her achievements, silencing their cruel tongues, and proving she was more than their petty criticisms.
At first, things seemed promising. Aurora Heights had an allure of endless possibilities. She found an estate agent online, a charming man who promised to secure her the perfect spot for her dream business a small but stylish boutique offering fashion design and event planning services. She handed over her life savings without a second thought, only to discover later that she'd been scammed. The address she was given led to an empty lot, and the agent vanished, leaving her penniless.
Devastated but unwilling to give up, she moved forward. After weeks of fruitless job hunting, she finally landed a position at a prominent event planning agency. The job, however, was far from ideal. As an assistant manager, she was grossly underpaid and overworked. Her boss a tyrannical woman who only appeared to bark orders left her buried in endless tasks and impossible deadlines. Most nights, she worked overtime, dreaming of one day saving enough to start fresh.
Two years passed. Two long years of grinding away in a job that barely covered her bills. She lived in a cramped apartment downtown, a run-down area teeming with crime. Her uncle had offered to let her stay with him, but pride kept her from accepting his help after her earlier failures. Now, walking home alone at night had become a necessity, though she knew it was dangerous.
And tonight, that danger caught up with her.
She had worked late again, leaving the office after midnight. The streets were eerily silent as she made her way through the shadowy alleys she usually avoided. That was when they appeared a group of muggers, their faces hidden by scarves. They demanded her bag, and she handed it over without resistance, hoping they'd let her go. But one of them, angry at how little cash she had,"a beautiful lady like you, is this all you got?" and lunged at her with a knife. The blade sank into her stomach, and she crumpled to the ground as they fled into the night.
Now, as she lay dying, regret consumed her. She should have stayed at the office. She should have called her uncle. She should have done so many things differently. Tears blurred her vision as her thoughts turned to her family.
"Uncle," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry. Mom... Dad... I'm sorry I couldn't make it. And to you witches back home... You won. Are you happy now?, i don't even have a boyfriend yet!!!", she screeched.
Her body trembled, her strength fading with each passing second. Finally, her head fell back, and her world went dark.
For a moment, the alley was silent. Then, out of nowhere, a radiant light appeared above her lifeless body. The light coalesced into the form of a woman, her beauty otherworldly, her presence exuding authority. Dressed in robes that shimmered like starlight, she gazed down at the young woman with a mixture of pity and resolve.
"So, this is the one who will carry my legacy in this world," the otherworldly figure murmured. Her voice was soft yet commanding, resonating in the stillness. "Of all the possibilities, this is my choice? Hmph... I suppose it can't be helped. I'm the last one who hasn't selected a representative in this reality."
She stepped closer, kneeling beside the motionless body. Her expression softened as she studied the woman's pale face. "You've suffered much, haven't you?" she said quietly. "Let's hope you make better choices with the second chance I'm about to give you."
With a graceful motion, she extended her hand, reaching into her own chest. From within her radiant form, she drew out a glowing orb of light. It pulsated with power, casting the alley in a warm, golden glow. Holding it carefully, she pressed the orb against the young woman's chest. The light sank into her body, disappearing from view.
Almost immediately, the transformation began. The blood pooling around her began to recede, as though time itself was reversing. Her wounds closed, her pale skin regained its color, and her chest rose as she took a sudden, sharp breath. The ethereal woman watched with an unreadable expression, her own light dimming as she transferred her essence.
"Live a fruitful life this time," she said softly. "Do not squander this gift."
With those final words, the radiant figure began to fade, her form dissolving into the night. The alley grew dark once more, save for the faint glow lingering around the young woman's body.
Ding!
[Detected that host is unconscious]
Ding!
[Start Integration]
Ding!
[Integration with host: 1%..
. 25%... 50%... 75%... 80%... 90%... 95%... 98%... 99%... 100%]
[Integration Complete]
[Scanning Host...]
[Suppressed Trauma Found]
[Host's Physical Condition:]
[Host Mental Condition: Unstable]
[Host Suppressed Trauma: Healed]
[Host Mental Condition: Fixed]
[GODDESS ATHENA SYSTEM ONLINE!]