"Ugh… what just happened to me?" a young man muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief. He had just been violently hit by a drunk driver, his ears still ringing with the echo of screeching tires and shattering metal. As he steadied himself, a chilling sight met his eyes. "Wait, is… is that my body?! Why can I see my body!"
Below him lay his own lifeless form, crumpled and twisted on the asphalt. Around his body, strangers crowded, their faces etched with panic. Their shouts rang out.
"Someone call an ambulance!"
"Is there a doctor nearby?"
"He's not breathing anymore!"
The chaos unfolded in the span of a few seconds, yet each moment felt stretched and surreal under the disbelieving gaze of Ren, the young man who had just died. He hovered over them, looking down on his lifeless body.
"Wait, if my body is there… what's happening to me?" he murmured, glancing down at himself.
He looked at his body, half-expecting to see injuries or signs of trauma. But to his surprise, he appeared unscathed, no trace of blood or bruising. It was as if he hadn't been hit at all. Yet something was horribly wrong: his form shimmered, translucent as if he was in the process of disappearing for good.
"Is this what happens when someone dies?" Ren whispered to himself. "They live a few minutes as a ghost and then die just like that?" He sighed, feeling a weight of despair settling over him. "If that's really what happens, then it surely sucks."
But before he could dwell on the matter any further, an invisible force yanked him backward with such strength that he couldn't go against it. The street, the crowd, and his own still body—all of it grew smaller and smaller, fading into the distance as he drifted upward, higher and higher. Soon enough, even the Earth seemed distant.
He found himself floating in the vast expanse of space. The Earth glowed below him, surrounded by the distant planets he had only seen in textbooks. A shiver ran through him as he took in the raw beauty of the universe, the kind of beauty he had never thought he'd see this close.
Am I headed for Paradise? he thought, a flicker of hope igniting in his chest.
After all, Ren had lived a quiet, decent life. He hadn't broken any laws, hadn't hurt anyone. He'd been a straight-A student, always polite, and people knew him as an animal lover. He spent hours at the pet shop, bonding with animals, feeling at peace in their company. He even had a knack for understanding them.
At least, give me a good afterlife if I can't continue living, he thought.
"Ren, Ren Allen."
A beautiful, feminine voice suddenly echoed in his mind, soft yet commanding. It was a voice that seemed to carry with it the warmth of a summer breeze and the chill of winter's dawn, all at once.
"Come to me, Ren," the voice beckoned, calm and soothing yet undeniably powerful.
In an instant, Ren's ethereal form jerked in a new direction, as if an unseen hand had plucked him from his trajectory. He hurtled through space faster than before, stars and galaxies blurring around him. The vast expanse swept past him, cosmic wonders appearing and vanishing in a heartbeat. He tried to stop himself, but his body was weightless, beyond his control.
What the hell is happening?! he thought, alarm flaring within him as he sped faster and faster.
Planets and constellations he had never heard before went past him. But his attention was fixed on what lay ahead: a white light, brilliant and rectangular, standing out against the darkness. It seemed to call for him.
Slow down! SLOW DOWN! Ren screamed internally, fearing the impact. But just as he was about to collide, he came to an abrupt halt, floating before the blinding light. His breath caught as a small passageway opened within it, inviting him in.
As he was pulled through the passage, only one word escaped his lips as he took in the sight before him. "Wow."
At the end of a small, ornate table for two sat a woman of impossible beauty. She had an air of grace and timelessness, her gaze piercing yet gentle. Silver eyes locked onto his, luminous and deep, as if holding the secrets of the universe. Her long white dress flowed like liquid starlight around her flawless, porcelain skin. Everything about her was ethereal, perfect—she was like something from a myth, a dream.
"Come, sit, Ren," she invited, her voice now ringing in the room, calm and clear. As she gestured, a chair materialized before him.
Ren stared, still trying to comprehend. How did she… just create that? he thought, the notion of such power beyond his understanding.
"Simple. I just created it," she replied, a serene smile gracing her lips.
Ren's eyes widened as he realized she could read his mind. A rush of embarrassment flared as he remembered his awestruck thoughts about her beauty.
"Yes, I can read your mind, and yes, I heard everything you thought about my appearance," she said, her tone amused. "But don't worry; even among Gods, such thoughts are common when it comes to my beauty. In fact, you resisted quite well, especially for a mortal." Her smile softened, and she inclined her head. "My name is Diana, and I was the one who guided you here. If I hadn't intervened, you would have been lost to death in mere minutes."
"I… wasn't going to Paradise?" Ren asked, his voice barely a whisper, uncertainty clouding his thoughts.
Diana's gentle laughter filled the room, a sound as soft as falling leaves. "Paradise and Hell are human inventions, stories crafted to soothe and inspire hope. They are not real. The only certainty after life is death; it simply takes a few moments to fully unfold. But I sensed something unusual in you, something… rare. And so, I decided to bring you here."
Ren paused, her words sinking in. After a few moments, he managed, "So… you brought me here because you saw something special in me? But… what exactly is that special thing?"
Ren had no idea who, or what, she was. Yet he could feel her power. If she had the ability to alter his fate so easily, her strength was beyond imagining.
"Are you… a Goddess?" he asked, trying to steady his voice, his eyes averted from her piercing gaze.
"Yes, you guessed right. I am Diana, the Goddess of Life."
The Goddess of Life… Ren thought, a sense of awe rippling through him. Then, that must mean there are multiple Goddesses and Gods…
Diana nodded, picking up on his thoughts with ease. "You're right. There are many of us, but that is a conversation for another time. I cannot keep you here forever, or certain… annoying geezers might come looking."
Ren's heart pounded as he sensed her words weren't entirely playful. Whatever the reason she'd brought him here, it seemed urgent. Summoning his courage, he met her gaze and asked, "Then… can you tell me why I'm here?"
Diana's expression softened, her tone turning more earnest. "I am the Goddess of Life, and I'm here to offer you another chance at life. But I don't want to make that choice for you, so I will let you decide between two options."
Ren remained silent, his eyes locked on her, waiting.
"The first option is to reincarnate on Earth, where you can begin a completely new life. Take revenge on those who wronged you, take a different path—there are many paths open to you. However, I find it rather dull." She leaned back, a wry smile playing at her lips. "The other option is far more interesting."
Ren shrugged as he thought it over. The first option didn't sound terrible, but imagining the monotony of school and the repetition of his old life was… uninspiring.
"The second option is for you to be reborn into a world of fantasy," Diana said, her voice carrying a spark of excitement.
Ren's eyes widened, his pulse quickening.
"Yes, this world you lived in isn't the only one that exists. There are realms where magic flows freely, where legendary mages, swordmasters, and creatures of myth live and breathe. It's a place of boundless adventure, a world where you would no longer be… ordinary."
Ren's heart pounded with excitement. Living in a world filled with magic, adventure, and new creatures to discover sounded like a dream come true.
"There is, however, one small condition," Diana added with a smirk. "By choosing the second option, you'll forget this conversation entirely. But you will retain the rest of your memories."
Ren barely hesitated. He had already made up his mind. The thought of exploring a fantastical world, of experiencing something beyond his wildest dreams, was more thrilling than anything his life on Earth could offer.
I'll get to see new creatures, maybe even bond with them, in ways I never could have on Earth! he thought, his heart soaring.
"I'll take the second option," he said firmly.
Diana's smile widened. "A mortal unafraid of the unknown. I knew I made the right choice." She began weaving her hands in complex, mesmerizing patterns, symbols glowing in the air as if alive.
As Ren watched, Diana's hands paused, her expression softening as a thought crossed her mind. Should I help him a little? After all, the body he's taking over isn't exactly ideal. He also needs all the help he can get for what he's about to get into…
She made a final gesture, infusing the spell with one last flourish. "That should be enough."
Turning to Ren, she smiled warmly, her gaze lingering on him. "Everything is ready. I wish you a life filled with adventure and hope to see you again someday."
Ren's vision blurred as his body began to dissolve into particles of light. His last thought was a surge of wonder and gratitude: This is going to be incredible.
When he finally awoke, he was in a new environment, his head throbbing with a dull, insistent ache.
"Argh!" He grabbed the sides of his head, groaning. "My head!"
Despite the pain, realization struck him like a jolt.
Wait… I'm alive! But I was just hit by a truck!