“This…is my home? But wasn't I…?”

Looking around, I am unmistakably in the home Marcius and I bought several years ago. Yet, for some reason its…dull in color.

After a moment of shock, memories from earlier flashed into front view and before I knew it, my hands were at my throat, stroking the area that once burned hot

"Am I not-?"

"Oh no, dear, you're still very much dead."

I jerk my head towards the unfamiliar voice. There, in Lilith’s room, was a woman rocking a bassinet. She reached out her hand and singled me forward with a pointer finger. Her full, rosy lips shaped a cheeky grin and stopped me cold, bewitching me like a spell.

Her black, silky hair was held up into a bun by a golden hairpin that was endowed with several emerald jewels. Her body was only barely covered by what appeared to be a single, long strip of green translucent fabric wrapped around her abundant curves. From her neck to her toes, several golden rings were lightly clambering together as she lightly swayed her body. Her face was also noteworthy due to how undeniably smooth and proportionate everything was to each other, but the most significant element to me were her eyes. I just somehow knew that deep, oceanic blue gaze could see into the darkest corners of my very being; areas where I cannot and will not dare to event adventure into.

Before I knew I was only but an armlength away from this mysterious woman, who of which stroked my right cheek with the back of her hand, "For you to be damaged to this extent, you poor child."

"M-Miss?"

Dropping her hand back to her side, her lips still stretched into a similar grin, "I have been watching you for a while, dear."

"M-Me? Watching me? Why?'

"Are those questions truly important here and now?" she sighed, shaking her head seemingly in disbelief.

I wanted to respond with 'Of course it does!', but my mouth refused to break open when I met again with that gaze. Realizing the unnatural pull it had on me, I snapped my eyes to the floor to avoid facing her. "F-Forgive me, but I do not know you!"

"Oh my. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable… "This time, she lightly led my head towards her with a finger. I couldn't resist, but I still clenched my eyes shut in a form of a defiance. "Dear, is that really necessary? I only mean well when I said that. Of all people, you should trust when I say that there is only one path left for you."

After she said that, I felt her finger no longer pressing against my skin. I then took a couple steps back, head turned to the side before slowly opening my eyes once again. Instinctively I knew this woman was a being not to mess with, and because of that, I felt compelled to run.

But just before I attempted to make my mistake, my eyes fell into the bassinet I saw the woman rocking not that long ago. In it, a baby that cooed and stretched out towards me.

"It's Lilith." I whispered.

It was unmistakably her. She had that same, vivid innocence of her that I saw when she was born. Those beautiful rosy cheeks that blossomed even more vividly as she giggled, to her small, soft hands that could only wrap around on finger. I want to hold her - protect her! Like a candle, if just the slightest breeze came and snuffed it out of existence then I…

"Yes, your precious baby gir-"

"No, no, no…this cannot be right. She's…gone, is she not?" my voice began to shake, audibly conveying the emotions that were swelling up from my chest out into the world, "Are you the one I was told judges sins of man?! Is this why you show me such a haunting sight; to punish me for failing such a promising soul?"

The memories suddenly flashed like a hurricane in my mind as I remembered all the times I would be judged on. Realizing that, I began to feel uncontrollably sick with thoughts spinning out of control. Even if I choose to ignore it for so long, my ill-thought out choices in pursuit of such a selfish ideal...this was an inevitability.

"What if I left earlier?" I speech quickened, "No, perhaps if I begged Marcus more he would have stayed? Oh, why would he listen when all I brought him was grief? All this time I tried to protect them in my own way, but what do I have to show for it? Nothing!"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

My mind then flashed to Lilith. Oh, how pitiful I am. Only while facing my judgement am I able to see that my actions did nothing but depraved of a mother a child so desperately. Oh, but why curse her with such a lowly mother? Even when I could finally be the person she needed most, I failed! Is my existence simply a sin; was I given this sick mind as sentence for a crime in my past life? Oh lord, what horrendous things did I do, and why must it bleed into the lives of others?

I staggered back, arms shielding my head as my hand dug into my sculp. I was losing control of myself again.

"Please, I am not such a lowly being." she sighed, "Now, calm down."

Suddenly, I felt something piece through the cloudiness of my thoughts. It was as though it wrapped itself around me and pulled me out of the dark sea. I gasped to catch my breath.

The lady was still there, standing there completely composed despite witnessing an episode. The newfound clarity caused me to instantly fall embarrassed.

"I-I'm sorry. That is…"

"Yes, I'm aware of your condition; I pay it no mind." she said bluntly, "That should hold you for the rest of our conversation."

"T-Thank you…" I have a habit of apologizing, but this time was different. It was like she commanded me to, but she did not. Ah, my head…I shouldn't fuss over the details now.

"It's far alright, but…" she leaned into the bassinet and pulled out Lilith, cradling her in her arms. "You have not failed this small child yet, dear."

"I saw it with my own eyes, though. She was taken." I said, still feeling a hint of guilt creeping up.

"Precisely, taken! Dear, she is not dead. She and Marcus have my blessing, so Death will at least not visit them for quite some time, dear."

"Then is Marcus-"

"Ah! Not a relevant question, dear. Here, let me help you keep focus." with a snap of her fingers everything dissolved into white. First the walls, then the floor…when I realized what was happening, I went to grab Lilith, but she had already left. Scanning the area to find her again, I realized it was now only a white, empty room. But while doing so, I thought I caught a glimpse of what seemed to be the woman chuckling. Though, at a double take her expression was only a slight smile.

"A question you should ask is 'Why me?'" she said.

"…Why me?"

"Because you're everything I have been waiting for. Your Wish, my dear, I shall grant." Her voiced emphasized onto a single one, leaving me questioning before my eyes widened in surprise. I had a feeling from the moment she addressed watching over me, but it was now undoubtable who this woman was.

A Wish. The meaning she was implying was something only the High Lords among the Gods and Goddess bless onto the land's children, and even then, it's not something to give out lightly. As a child a priest explained by saying its God's best tool to assist mankind since it can directly affect the physical plane compared to other methods, such as oracles. But because of that, the legend goes onto to explain that since the Gods are limited to only one every couple of millennia, the deduction process is rigorous to even be summoned for a personal assessment.

But, how can I be of use? Even with what I can assume is this Goddess' help I can feel the past urges creeping up, proving I am too unstable. How can I, something so defected, be what this sacred being needs? There must be someone else…

"Are you proposing I made a mistake?" crossing her arms, she looked down on me displeased.

I shook hands quickly in response, "N-No, my Lady. It's just…I cannot help but feel your grace is wasted on me."

She sighed, relaxing her body before stepping forward to me, "Even for me, a being that has existed since the start of time, it feels like forever since a soul such as yours had made me feel overwhelming…well, such details are also unnecessary." Pressing her hand onto my chest, she looked at me with a smile, "Instead, I feel it's more appropriate to ask a simple question to them: Would you keep your bond, even after death?"

"A bond? With whom?"

"Your daughter, who else? Ah, it's so cute how your soul responds to that word." She said, pulling back from me.

"I'm sorry, but you said you were watching me for a while, r-right?" She nodded.

"Then you should know that I purposely isolated myself from her since she was born. I hardly even know who she is as a person." I began to choke up, "It is not my place to impose on her life again."

She is not pressing onto it anymore, and yet…why does it hurt? If she is blessed by this Goddess, she is bound to be safe…She doesn't need me.

"Dear, I know you loved her and that's why you stayed away. It may not have been right, but to you, it was your way of protecting her." She wiped my tears away, forcing me to look at her as she continued, "But now, you can protect her in a different way."

I clutched at my chest, "Even if what you say is true, is that what's best for her? It seems like I'll just be doomed to repeat the mistakes of my past, and I doubt she wants to see my face now."

"My child, she never hated you. Her soul always cried out whenever she felt you were suffering, which tells me everything I need to safely send you off on this journey. But, if you're still concerned about hurting her again, doesn't my proposition solve that?"

What does she mean 'solve'? If I couldn't protect her before as I am, who is to say it'll be any different now? Unless…

"You mean, I'll be someone new to her?"

"Yes." she explained, "Even though I expect you to follow your instincts as a mother, you can't be the same person as you were to her. In this new life, you'll be forced to grow into somebody you won't recognize, much less to her. But with the body I shall provide, that's the best way to protect her now."

I have so many questions involving what I would become and the things I'll face, but I doubt she would even answer. Be that as I am, I am not a fool. The way she played it all out from start to finish; just about anyone could see she was pushing me into a corner. Plus, her eyes; they were cold and unwavering throughout this whole period with her, meaning she had no intention to negotiate with me from the start.

But even with knowing all that, I oddly enough…want to agree. No doubt a bit of my insanity is influencing this conclusion, but perhaps this is the only way I can finally get peace.

I may very well be a tool for her, but that at least means she'll continue watching over me, right? That at least will give me some peace of mind. And the fact that it'll be a new life will be a welcome change, as nobody will know who I am to judge me. Maybe, just maybe for a change, I can be somebody that Marcus and Lilith can rely on. How would they look at me then?

"If I agree, can you promise I can see them again?"

"I may be able to give you the guidance, but this second chance at life is still depend on how you choose to lead it." she said, "But with that said, the chance is not low. The Gods do tend to reward diligence eventually, after all."

"…If there is even a chance I can make up for my wrongs, then..."

Visibly pleased at the outcome she aimed for, she ripped the hairpin from her head and squeezed it in her palm. Green light leaked out, and after just a few seconds, she handed it to me. It was a golden pendent, endowed with green emeralds like the hairpin before. But this time, there was a design of a scale lightly pressing out from its base.

"This shall symbolize my support and give occasional guidance when you most need it. Now, my dear, you have a lot ahead of you."

And with that, the white room became dark, and my continuousness drew blank.