A/N: the next few chapter will be boring, mainly character development but it'll mostly consist of time skips. So bear with for the time being I'll pick up the pace in due time. Thanks and enjoy my Fanfic.

[Chapter 1]

Darkness. That was all I could see.

One moment, I was walking home, exhausted from a long day at work. The next, there was the blare of a truck horn, blinding lights—then… nothing.

My mind swam in the void, grasping for some sense of reality. Was I unconscious? No, this felt different. Too empty. Too still.

A cold realization crept up my spine.

"…Am I dead?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You got that right!"

I flinched. A voice—cheerful, almost musical—rang out from the darkness, startling me.

Before I could react, a warm, golden light bloomed in the void, growing brighter and brighter until a figure stepped through. My eyes widened.

She was… not what I expected. No flowing robes, no booming voice, no overwhelming divine presence. Instead, she wore a simple sundress, her long hair shining like liquid sunlight, and her beaming smile could have powered a small city.

"Hi there! I'm a Goddess! Nice to meet you! Feel free to call me Joy!" she chirped, waving enthusiastically.

I blinked. Then blinked again.

"…A Goddess?"

"Yep!" She clasped her hands behind her back, rocking on her heels like we were having a casual chat over coffee instead of—well, whatever this was. "I'm your guide for today! Aren't you lucky?"

My mouth opened, then closed. My brain struggled to keep up. "You're… way more cheerful than I imagined."

She giggled, covering her mouth. "Oh, you humans always expect gods to be all serious and dramatic. Thunder, deep voices, glowing robes. Pfft! That's way too much effort. I like to keep things light!"

I ran a hand down my face—or at least, I thought I did. It was hard to tell in this void.

"Right. So… what happens now?"

"Well…" She drew the word out, tapping a finger to her chin. "You got hit by a truck, which—ouch, by the way—but lucky for you, I've got a special offer! How'd you like a second chance?"

My breath hitched. "A second chance? At life?"

"Exactly!" she said, clapping her hands together. Little motes of golden light danced around her like fireflies.

"But this time, things will be different! New world, new opportunities, and… well, let's just say it'll be a bit more exciting than your last go-around. You will actually know this world to some extent, but I'll let you figure that part out as you grow up."

I stared at her, my mind racing. A second life? In another world? I wasn't sure if I should be shocked, confused, or maybe even terrified. Instead, I let out a slow breath, my voice strangely calm despite the chaos in my head.

"Do I get a say in this?"

Joy grinned, tilting her head. "Not really! But don't worry, I'm sure you'll have tons of fun!"

Her expression softened, and for the first time since she appeared, she looked almost… serious. She placed a hand over her heart.

"First and foremost, your new mother—she's a good woman. Kind, loving. She's a devout follower of her faith. But…"

She sounded like a wonderful woman to have as my new mother, especially since I had been an orphan before. But something about that pause made my stomach twist.

"…But?" I prompted, hoping to get her to continue.

Joy sighed, her usual brightness dimming slightly. "Well, as a devout follower of her faith, she swore off men and vowed to remain pure for the rest of her days. Unfortunately… she was attacked by someone who took that from her by force. The church, rather than supporting her, expelled her, believing she had broken her vows."

I felt a spark of anger flare in my chest. "And you let that happen?" I snapped without thinking.

Joy's smile vanished, her golden eyes narrowing. "I—or any god—do not have the power to stop the free will of man."

Her sudden sharpness made me falter, but I wasn't ready to drop it. "I see… but why didn't you send a message to the church? A sign? Something?"

She sighed again, rubbing her temple.

"Because the world I'm sending you to isn't under my jurisdiction. I have no authority there. And… some of the beings in that world are far stronger than me."

That sent a chill down my spine. "Stronger than a goddess?"

She nodded. "Yep."

I swallowed hard. "That's… kind of worrying. How am I supposed to protect myself? Or my new mother?"

Joy perked up a little. "Ah, about that! I can't grant you powers or gifts like in those reincarnation stories you're familiar with. But I can do some enhancing to you bloodline so you grow faster and aren't held back by his genes, in short your power will be more potent, as long as you work hard you can fight with the best of them."

I tensed. "Wait. His genes? What am I gonna be other than human?"

She gave me a small, knowing smile. "You'll find out soon enough, though you won't know much about the world except for some obvious stuff, I'm sure you'll do just fine."

That didn't sit well with me, like at all.

"…Alright. Will this be a world where people know about the supernatural? Will my mother know? And most importantly, will that man come back?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "The world is largely in the dark about the supernatural—your mother included. She wasn't highly ranked in her church before they cast her out, and she has no knowledge of what lurks beneath the surface. As for that man, he was killed not long after the assault by an enemy faction, so you won't have to worry about him."

I exhaled slowly. So, I might be able to live normally while I build my strength. Maybe even stay out of reach altogether and live peacefully with my mother. This faction business doesn't sound all that great either, though good on them for killing that trash. 

Joy suddenly clapped her hands together. "Welp! That's enough heavy talk! Time to send you on your way! Good luck, kiddo! And do try to make your mother happy, alright? I'll see you again when you die! Toodles!"

Before I could respond, the golden light around her flared—blinding, overwhelming—until the void disappeared entirely.

The next second I found myself surrounded by a warm light, growing brighter until it was all I could see.

Then—a sensation.

I was being held, cradled in something firm yet gentle. The warmth was comforting, soothing in a way I couldn't quite understand. Slowly, I forced my eyes open. My vision was blurry, unfocused, but shapes and colors began to take form.

The first thing I saw was her.

A woman.

She was breathtaking. Long, golden-blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face that was both delicate and strong—like a marble statue given life. But it was her eyes that stood out the most. Stormy gray, shifting between the soft hues of a quiet sky and the sharp edge of an oncoming tempest. Piercing. Intelligent. Filled with an emotion I couldn't yet name.

She was massive.

No—wait. That wasn't right. I was small.

A creeping realization settled over me like a heavy weight. My limbs felt weak and uncoordinated. My vision, though clearer by the second, was still somewhat limited. My body was delicate, fragile—helpless.

I was a baby.

The woman's arms trembled slightly as she adjusted her hold on me, her fingers brushing gently against my cheek. "Hello, Sosuke, my little star," she whispered, her voice carrying a warmth that resonated deep within me.

Sosuke. So that was my new name. I like it.

I reached my small little hands out to her and made audible little baby noises. Just wanting to give a little assurance as giving birth to me looks like it really wiped her out.

My mother smiled brightly as she looked at me. In that moment, I just knew—I would do my best to keep her safe from this dangerous new world the goddess had warned me about.