Bella’s vision distorted as space seemed to both expand and contract around her.

Her mind was feeling incomparable pain as her body went through multiple changes in a few seconds, or maybe a few hours. Time had lost all meaning in that space.

She appeared to be sliding down a tunnel, or maybe sliding up, perhaps moving forwards or perhaps backwards, maybe even sideways.

And then, out of nowhere, everything stopped and she was left standing in the middle of a vast throne room.

A red carpet extended forwards, almost as far as the eye could see, until it reached a staircase. Flanking the red carpet on both sides were rows of marble pillars that rose like mountains to support a ceiling that depicted the starry sky, though not in the way a picture normally would. The fake night sky was filled with motion, stars were slowly moving and streaks of light cut through the heavens above.

Along the corridor, multiple statues made of jade depicted warriors, priests, farmers and a myriad other vocations, seeming to represent every single path a person could walk down in life.

Atop the staircase loomed a humongous throne, it too crafted from jade. Birds flew and snakes coiled around its armrests, while ornate patterns adorned its surface that, just like the ceiling above, flowed seamlessly.

It all was like nothing Bella had ever seen.

And on this most magnificent throne sat a being of incandescent light, exuding a presence so pure that Bella couldn't help but fall to her knees out of primordial and divine fear.

At that moment, as she rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating, she felt herself suddenly transported and found herself resting her knees on the very first step of the staircase.

Looking upwards at the throne and the incandescent figure who sat there, her lips parted in an expression of shock and awe.

A woman of unparalleled beauty, golden hair that shimmered and glinted like metal, pale white skin, beautiful emerald eyes and a dress of matching color that dropped past her feet and onto the upper steps of the staircase.

[This is a true unrivaled beauty.] Bella thought, still too shocked to process anything further.

The figure on the throne snorted with derision.

“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”

Before Bella could process the fact her mind had just been read, the seemingly divine woman continued.

“But let’s skip the small talk, I can’t keep you here for long.”

Adjusting herself on her throne and leaning forwards towards Bella, who kneeled at the very bottom of the staircase, she asked with a playful smile.

“You want to be strong, don’t you?”

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“You want to prove your family wrong and lead them by yourself, without having to marry, don’t you?”

Bella shuddered at the accuracy of the questions, she thought about denying it but the woman in front of her seemed capable of peering into her thoughts, so she chose to simply nod affirmatively.

“I thought so. I can help you with that.”

“I can guarantee you will be strong enough to prove your family wrong and lead them by yourself.” She paused, perhaps finding it too simple. “No, I can make you strong enough to lead all of humanity by yourself.”

Standing up from her throne, she climbed down the stairs at a leisurely pace and stopped right in front of Bella, overlooking the kneeling woman with the same playful smile.

“And all I want in return is some information… and your unconditional loyalty.”

Lifting Bella’s chin and raising the poor girl from her knees she asked with a brilliant smile.

“Are these terms not reasonable?”

A swell of thoughts and emotions flooded Bella’s mind.

[Is this real? Can she really give me all that?... Unconditional loyalty doesn't sit well with me… and what information could I give her?]

Sorting through the myriad of questions that assaulted her mind she settled on asking the last one.

“I'm sorry your …highness? What information could I have that interests you?”

The woman’s face showed some amusement before answering.

“I realize now I didn't introduce myself… you can call me Elia, no need for honorifics. As for the information I want, right now you really know nothing of value but that’s why I need you to become stronger. In the future your power will grant you authority and information will naturally come along with it… but, I guess I can give you a general idea of who I'm looking for.”

Looking towards the fake skies above and focusing on the changing stars, Elia sighed and her ever present smile vanished from her face as the image of an average looking man with unkempt, overgrown black beard and hair looked at her with his piercing red eyes, even now she could feel the ridicule hidden in that stare.

“I am looking for a God, the God of Chaos…well, your God of Chaos.”

Without waiting for the inevitable question that was already forming on Bella’s mind, she followed.

“It's not worth explaining too much, yes, Gods are real beings, in a way they are just stronger cultivators but still mostly human. The only differences being obviously their power and the effect they have on the universe….”

She averted her eyes from the heavens and refocused on the shocked girl.

“There’s no point in telling you more now, you will learn about this in the future. Now, onto the main matter at hand.”

Elia stretched her slim finger and very gently touched Bella’s forehead, just like Bella had touched the drop of green liquid in the cave.

With her eyes now closed Elia spoke again in a much more serious and somewhat somber way.

“Are you, Bella, willing to pledge your undying loyalty to Elia, the Representative of Corruption, and in so doing receive their favor?”

The word Corruption weighed on Bella’s mind for a few seconds, it was so ominous, so evil sounding and yet, deeming her own thoughts as childish and thinking of her ambition, she made up her mind.

“I am willing!”

Elia faintly nodded but kept her eyes closed and her finger on Bella’s forehead.

“Then you will now receive my blessing, it will make you stronger but it will also create a bond through which we can communicate, among other things.”

Retracting her finger from Bella’s forehead, the blonde haired girl's mind rippled just like the droplet of green liquid she had touched back in the cave, making her lose consciousness and fall to the ground, disappearing from Elia's throne room shortly thereafter.

The Goddess turned and walked back to her throne, her mind plagued with memories of a monumental battle which shook the foundations of the universe and the black wolf who caused it. Sitting on her throne, a quiet whisper left her lips as the throne’s armrests began to fracture from her grip.

“I will find you.”