The night was young, and the residents of my world were fast asleep in their homes.
The crimson field was shrouded in darkness, though the moon above cast its brilliance upon me.
I realised that my body felt no fatigue—likely a property of my new form. Perhaps it was because I had not exerted myself, but it made me wonder what it would take to truly tire a god.
Rising to my feet, I began walking through the fields, heading north towards where the men had reported the waterfall to be. My body felt stronger than it ever had, even before I first arrived in this world, and I realised I craved the sensation of pushing it further.
That was when I decided to sprint to the waterfall. On Earth, I had never been fast; sports were never my strength. But as I launched into a sprint, I felt the remnants of my past life fall away entirely.
My speed was astonishing, my strides immense. I maintained my top pace for the entire mile, barely out of breath by the time I stopped.
As I came to a halt at a small ledge, loose stones skidded off the edge and tumbled into the depths below.
Beneath me, water surged from a crack in the earth, crashing into a vast pool far below. The sound was soothing, and the sight mesmerising.
To my right, the land sloped gradually, spiralling downward to meet the water. Yet something deep within me urged me to jump from the cliff face instead.
I had never dived in my previous life, and this height far exceeded anything Olympic divers might brave.
Removing my white-and-gold robes, leaving myself clad only in undergarments, I stepped to the edge. Without looking down—lest my nerves betray me—I leapt.
I fell feet first, eyes shut tight, only opening them when I realised the descent was taking longer than I expected.
To my astonishment, I was not plummeting with speed but drifting downwards gracefully, as if cradled by invisible hands. Moments later, I slipped into the water with barely a splash, fully submerged and soaked from head to toe.
The sensation was euphoric, and though I didn't understand this strange property of godhood, I was delighted to discover it.
Setting the thought aside for now, I decided to swim. Unsurprisingly, I found myself far more adept than I remembered being.
---
After spending some time doing laps, I swam to the water's edge and climbed out. The moonlight reflected off the surface, casting my image back at me, allowing me to see my face for the first time.
I was handsome—far more than I had ever been, though still looking like myself—but what struck me most was my white hair.
It was unnaturally radiant, unlike anything I had seen on Earth, and gave me an otherworldly, majestic appearance.
Stepping back, I examined my lean, muscular physique, pleased with what I saw.
Surrounding the body of water was a dense forest, stretching endlessly into the distance.
I will need to name these locations eventually, I realised, as my thoughts turned to the responsibilities I now bore.
I wondered how the other gods fared, what the battle in seven days would entail, and what the survival event would bring. I considered the potential size of my population and the vastness of the world I now ruled.
Above all else, I wondered why I had been chosen to become a god.
After returning to the top of the waterfall and donning my robes, I made my way back to the settlement. This time, I walked at a leisurely pace, taking in the beauty of my surroundings.
---
I remained awake through the night, my body showing no signs of fatigue despite my time swimming.
As the sun rose, I watched my residents begin their tasks. The sight filled me with bliss, especially when it came time for them to eat. Watching the five men and women chat and laugh together brought me a sense of peace.
However, I could not join their conversations. They saw me as something greater than themselves. The opportunity for normal, human connection had vanished the moment I ascended to godhood—a thought that saddened me.
As if she could sense my feelings, Sera broke away from the group during their midday meal and approached me.
I stood with my arms folded within my robes, and now that I had seen my reflection, I recognised the worship in her eyes as she drew closer.
Once she reached me, she bowed her head in reverence.
"Blessed Vale, I thank you for watching over us," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.
I had hardly done anything—nothing, really—other than be thrust into this situation. Of course, I kept this thought to myself.
Placing a hand on her head, I smiled as she looked up at me, her eyes glowing with devotion.
"It is only my duty as a god." Removing my hand, I gestured for her to sit with me on the grass.
"Care to keep me company for a while? I would love to talk."
A smile blossomed on her face, but before she could reply, the ground began to rumble.