“…Not again,” Sam muttered, his shoulders tensing.
He’d been here before.
The celestial void stretched infinitely in all directions, its shimmering mist pulsating with an unseen force. In the center of it all stood Melissa—the goddess of reincarnation—watching him with an amused smile.
“Hello again, Sam,” she greeted, her voice light yet carrying a weight that pressed down on him.
Sam’s fingers twitched, his heart hammering in his chest. The last time he’d been here, she’d shattered his illusions of strength with a single sentence.
‘You’re barely above normal human strength.’
That moment still haunted him.
He exhaled sharply. “Great. So, is this another session of ‘let’s remind Sam how weak he actually is,’ or do you have a different reason for dragging me here?”
Melissa chuckled, the sound like distant chimes in the wind. “You wound me, Sam. I only wish to talk.”
“Yeah? Forgive me if I don’t believe that,” he shot back, crossing his arms. “People don’t usually pull others into weird god-space just to chat.”
She tilted her head. “And yet, here we are.”
Sam bit the inside of his cheek. He hated how she could make every word feel like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
Melissa stepped forward, the fabric of her celestial robe flowing unnaturally as if time itself bent around her. “I’ve been watching you.”
“Creepy,” Sam muttered under his breath.
She ignored him. “You’re progressing… but you’re still afraid.”
Sam stiffened. “Of course, I’m afraid. Who wouldn’t be? I got thrown into this world with no real explanation, everyone expects me to become some kind of warrior, and every time I think I’m getting stronger, I find out I’m barely keeping up.” His voice rose, frustration spilling out. “Do you have any idea how exhausting that is?”
Melissa regarded him with unreadable eyes. “Yes.”
Sam blinked. “Wait—what?”
She smiled softly. “You are not the first to stand where you do. Nor will you be the last. But your path, Sam, is far from ordinary.”
Something in her tone sent a chill down his spine.
“What does that mean?” he asked, wary.
Melissa hesitated—a rare thing. Then, she spoke, her voice lower now, almost distant.
“You are tied to this world in ways you don’t yet understand. Your existence here is not a coincidence. Every choice you make ripples through the fate of this realm.”
A lump formed in Sam’s throat. “Then tell me why I’m here,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Why me?”
Melissa’s gaze softened, but she didn’t answer.
Instead, she simply said, “Some answers must be earned, not given.”
Sam clenched his fists. “That’s not fair.”
Melissa’s expression didn’t change. “It rarely is.”
She raised her hand, and a soft golden light surrounded Sam. He felt warmth seep into his skin, like the first rays of dawn breaking over a frozen night.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“The path ahead will not be easy, but you will need every advantage you can get,” she said. “Consider this a gift.”
Skill Unlocked: Divine Insight (Passive)
- Enhances the ability to analyze opponents’ weaknesses during battle.
The glow faded, and Sam exhaled sharply. He could already feel something different—a subtle shift in his perception, a heightened awareness of the world around him.
Melissa clasped her hands together. “That is all for now.”
“Wait,” Sam said quickly. “The system—”
But before he could finish, the space around him fractured like glass, and the celestial void collapsed into darkness.
Sam’s eyes snapped open.
He was back in the training grounds, standing exactly where he had been before. The cool night air rushed against his skin, grounding him.
Isonorai and Lareth were a few steps away, talking amongst themselves. Neither of them seemed to have noticed anything.
Sam’s fingers twitched. The remnants of Melissa’s words still echoed in his mind.
‘You are tied to this world in ways you don’t yet understand…’
A pit formed in his stomach. He had more questions than ever, but one thing was clear.
He wasn’t just some random reincarnate.
He was something more.
And he needed to find out why.
Sam took slow, measured steps through the village, his mind still tangled in the cryptic words Melissa had left him with. The night air was crisp, carrying the distant sounds of conversation and laughter as the villagers settled in after a long day. But even as life continued around him, he couldn’t shake the unease crawling up his spine.
"You are tied to this world in ways you don’t yet understand…"
Melissa’s voice still echoed in his head, but something was different now. It wasn’t just a memory—she was still speaking to him.
"Listen carefully, Sam. There isn’t much time."
Sam’s breath hitched. He stopped walking, heart hammering in his chest.
"The Demon Goddesses stir. The balance of this world is shifting, and you stand at the center of it."
His hands curled into fists. "The Demon Goddesses…? What does that have to do with me?" he whispered, trying not to draw attention.
Melissa’s response came softer this time, almost hesitant.
"Drazara."
Sam’s stomach dropped.
"You’ve met her before."
His eyes widened as the pieces fell into place.
The battle with Varak.
The village burning. The scent of blood thick in the air.
And then—her.
The woman who had appeared out of nowhere, stopping his fight with Varak in an instant. She had loomed above them like an untouchable force, her presence alone making the battlefield go still.
Back then, Sam had been too overwhelmed to process it. But now—
"She didn’t just stop the fight, Sam. She was watching you."
His breathing turned uneven.
"The connection between you and Drazara runs deeper than you know. But that is all I can say for now."
Sam gritted his teeth. "No, you don’t get to just drop something like that and leave me in the dark!" he hissed under his breath.
"I’ve already told you too much."
Melissa’s voice was fading.
"Be careful, Sam. The pieces are moving faster than you realize."
And then—silence.
It was over.
Sam stood there, unmoving, as the noise of the village seemed to return all at once. Conversations. Footsteps. The crackling of torches. The distant sound of children laughing.
But his mind was nowhere near the present.
Drazara.
The name alone sent a cold weight settling in his stomach.
What did Melissa mean by ‘a deeper connection’? And why had Drazara been watching him?
His fingers twitched at his sides. He hated this—this feeling of being a puppet in someone else’s game. He thought he was starting to understand the world, but every time he got closer to the truth, another secret was thrown in his face.
He exhaled slowly, pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind.
Later. He’d figure this out later. Right now, he just needed to clear his head.
The village marketplace was still bustling, despite the late hour. Lanterns cast a golden glow over the stalls, illuminating vendors calling out last-minute deals to those still wandering the streets.
Sam walked through the marketplace absently, his thoughts still heavy. But as he passed by a narrow alley, something made him stop.
A voice—sharp, mocking.
Then another—quieter, almost pleading.
His head snapped toward the alley.
A group of older boys stood in a semi-circle, their backs turned to him. In front of them, small and trembling, was a girl.
Her green hair caught the dim light of the lanterns. Her ears, barely visible beneath her bangs, were slightly pointed.
An elf.
She looked no older than Sam, maybe even a bit younger. And she was cornered.
“Hey,” one of the boys sneered, stepping forward. “You think just ‘cause you’re an elf, you can walk around here like you belong?”
She didn’t respond. Her fingers clutched the fabric of her dress tightly, but she kept her head down.
Another boy snickered. “What, cat got your tongue? I bet your family’s just a bunch of thieves.”
The first boy shoved her lightly, making her stumble back against the wall. “Say something, freak.”
Sam felt his chest tighten.
His hands clenched into fists.
The night air suddenly felt colder.
He took a step forward.
Then another.
The voices of the bullies faded, drowned out by the rushing sound in his ears.
Sam didn’t know this girl. He had no idea who she was or where she came from.
But right now, none of that mattered.
Because the moment he saw her trembling in that alley, something deep inside him snapped.
And before he even realized it—
He was already moving.