When Anophynos fully left my vision, I started to truly realize what I had truly signed myself up for. After dying, I hadn't expected anything to happen, but seeing the goddess appear and talk with me about my issues was... a bit healing. But now that she's gone, I'm once again completely alone, with no one to talk with.
I looked ahead, a pathway of stars showing where I was heading next. Daraksis. My new home. One step at a time, I went towards my new future.
With each step, an old memory flashed before my eyes. My first day of school. The first time I found a friend. Eating meals with my family. Each one familiar, yet they felt so far away. After taking a few more steps, new memories flooded in, ones i wished i could forget. The car crash that took away my best friend. The arguments that caused a rift between my sister and I. Sitting at the bar alone, drinking my sorrows. The last time I saw my family.
I dropped to my knees, tears welling up in my eyes. Why did i go through with this bet? How am I supposed to get past all this pain?
After what felt like hours, I finally looked up, streaks covering my face. I had made a promise to the goddess, and I need to fulfill it. There's no other option here anymore. Slowly, I stood back up, and started to walk forward once again.
New images started appearing before me, things I know didn't happen to me, and that aren't my memories. I saw a cloaked figure sitting upon a black throne, surrounded by beasts kneeling to him. A bright figure with 3 sets of wings emphatically talking over a cacophony. Anophynos facing a shadow, crying and trying to talk to it.
Seeing Anophynos, I paused. She was the only one I recognized out of all these strange visions. Why would she appear here?
As quickly as they appeared, the visions left, and all that stayed was the light from the stars of the pathway. I looked around, trying to see if anything was left, but there was nothing.
I put it to the back of my mind, and continued on my path.
After days of walking along the path, something new appeared. a bright light shrouded over the pathway in front of me. I had reached it. One I walked through it, I would enter Daraksis. Starting a new life. Bracing myself for the future, I entered, and that was when I heard the first words of my new family.
"We have a son, Divala. You can rest now."
. . .
My name is Aerusyn Thalron. Born in year 399 of the Darak Era, on the 13th of Vilar. Born to Divala Mayero, a tiger magician, and Michaelis Thalron, a white tiger swordsman. My birth was the result of a union between 2 of the 13 elders of Dhaar. When born, the doctor told my parents I was a stillborn, but my mother used her magic on my body till it showed life, and thats how i came to be here.
We live in a relatively small cottage, with 3 bedrooms, a study, and a kitchen. My parents shared a bedroom, and had me staying with them in the same room for now.
It's been a few months since I became a tiger beastman, but I'm starting to understand why Anophynos suggested it for me. Nothing about my new life remind me of what I had gone through in my previous life. The memories do come back often, but with my new parents around me at all times, its been a lot less painful.
They both enjoy trying to teach me to speak and read. Whenever they notice I'm awake, they're going over words like "momma" and "papa" trying to get me to say it, or reading stories to me.
"Michaelis, we need to decide what to do with Aeru. We can't both keep staying with him at all times of the day. We have work to do as elders."
Looking at my mother, i could tell she had been thinking about this for a while. Stress from the birth had made both of my parents very worried about my body, so they had stayed with me at all times to make sure that I'd be ok.
"I understand, Divala, but are you sure you'll be fine with him alone? I'll take a message and teleport scroll so if you need anything, just make sure to message me and i'll return immediately, alright?"
My father was extremely understanding of what my mother had gone through, and so he volunteered to be the one to go back and take care of everything till they decided I was ready to be left alone.
After they decided, they both went back to putting all their attention on me, trying to get me to talk again. I made some noises for them, before falling back to sleep.
. . .
Michaelis left for the capitol not long after that. For the next few months, it was just Divala and I at home. She continued taking care of me, and making sure nothing even had a chance of going wrong. As for me, I just continued what I could. Making random noises so she'd be happy. moving my limbs however i could, and sleeping whenever I got tired.
When my father returned, he pulled my mom away and whispered something into her ear. It must have been good news, I could see them both beaming and excited. They both immediately came over to me and starting playing around.
"Good news Aeru," my father said. "We're both going to be staying here for the near future. The council provided a meeting stone for us so we can do all our work from here, and we won't have to worry about taking you to the capitol till you're ready."
Seeing them both excited, I was glad. I made some happy noises, and moved around, giggling with them till i fell asleep again.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my original body. Confused, I looked around till I laid my eyes on her.
"Anophynos!"
"Hello again Aeru. Welcome back to my soul world."
It was relieving to see her again. Less so to be back in my original body.
"Why are you here goddess?" I ask. "I thought i wouldn't see you for a long time. And why am I back in my original body?"
Anophynos paused for a bit, thinking, before giving her answer.
"I apologize Aeru, but I made a small mistake. When sending you into your new body, I thought choosing a stillborn would fit your soul perfectly, but if I don't make some quick changes, your soul will leave within a few years, and the body will die again."
I was in shock. Such a big mistake could ruin any chance at a new life, and would completely destroy my parents.
Anophynos noticed my shock and concern.
"Don't worry Aeru, I already found a solution, that's why i brought you here."
Hearing that, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good to hear, goddess. What do we need to do?"
"I'll have to seal your memories of your previous life for now, so that your soul can fully settle into your new body. After a few years, the memories will return, and you'll be able to remember everything. But until then, you'll know nothing of what happened before, for your previous life and what you've experienced in these past few months."
Anophynos slowly walked forward, stopping a few steps in front of me.
"I know this will be rough for you, but when you reawaken your memories, you'll still be the same person, and you'll have all the memories of what will happen after we begin the seal. Don't worry, Aeru. I only want what's best for you."
She raised her finger, and pressed it against my temple.
"I don't know when we'll meet again, but remember. If you ever need me, just pray and I'll come to give any advice I can."
She began the process of the seal, and all I could do was close my eyes.
"Thank you goddess. I'll make sure to pray if something ever does come up."
I felt darkness calling, and I accepted it in, falling asleep until the moment the seal would be removed.