It was cold.

Cold and damp.

She lay on a wet, cold floor. Idika didn't feel anything other than that. She did not want to open her eyes, much less move. There was no reason to. She was likely dead anyway.

"Well, that's not how I expected this reunion to go." A voice that haunted my dreams almost every night echoed in the darkness behind Idika.

She came to snapping from her wallowing in the darkness. Though still unable to muster enough strength to get up, she rolled toward the voice.

Idika was greeted with a warm smile. One she had seen many times.... but the eyes, There were eyes, and hey a nose! There was a chuckle "Your pouting, hahaha, it has always been cute and adorable."

She couldn't help but giggle at this, bringing her hand to her mouth. she noticed a significant and crucial detail. Her hands were not green but tan.

She held her hand up, so startled she was sitting up if anything. Focusing on this discovery. She wasn't a goblin right now; she was... 'Oh, what was it again.'

"HUMAN!" She screamed in excitement. At this, she heard the man chuckle again. Her cheeks flushed a bright red from embarrassment at her actions.

At this point, Idika managed to stand up fully and regard the man. He was tall and familiar. He sat on a blue and green flowery lawn chair, sipping a margarita. He wore black sweatpants and a hot pink polo. He looked ridiculous!

"Oh! Right, I almost forgot!" The man snapped his fingers, and he suddenly had a straw hat much too large for him. Idika couldn't help but giggle again. With only one thought coming to mind.

'He's missing 2020 sunglasses.'

Her giggling halted. She felt dread rise from her core, and blood drained from her face. 'Wait, what was it? I just thought there?' A pool of memories came back to her.

She remembered her name, who she was, and why she was here. Anger boiled. She was not Idika. She was NARA!

"Countess! WHERE ARE YOU!" Idika couldn't help but scream. She may not have been happy all the time. It was her life and her choices. She had been robbed of the pain that brought her and her happiness as well.

Since she got to this new world, her newfound mother sacrificed for her constantly. She bonded and made a new family sharing what was lost. She then had two members of that family. She wanted to tear into this goddess, this monster who took her from one life into another without consent!

She turned to her husband. Tears began filling her eyes. That damn countess even had the audacity of taking my man! I will drain her and make her into a bloodwine, not even worthy of rats!

.....

She stumbled back, Bloodwine... What is happening to me? It hasn't even been that long. Is this what trauma does to people? Why has this happened to me? She did the only thing that came to mind.

"James? Please tell me you can hug me right now." She whimpered as her feet began to slide towards James slowly. She was halted by two mounds slowly rising from an oily black substance in the ground.

The oil parted, revealing her two cats—the black and calico- from her old home.

"I cannot. However, I can offer you three choices." He stated this with a somewhat sympathetic look. He motioned to each of the two cats. "Pick one."

Nara felt like screaming at him. Why can't he hug me? Doesn't he care about what is happening to me? Can't he see how scared I am? Wait... how is he here.

"What is the third option" Asking this question was mainly out of curiosity as it bugged her when he only gave her two options. Nara's mind began to race with a thousand possibilities. Landing only on one thing she couldn't move past. As though she didn't get to make her own choice.

Nara felt a cold breeze behind her. "The third option is to take this one and go home." a familiar and raspy voice was heard behind her. She didn't dare turn around. She felt as though if had she turned away from these options now. They would be gone forever.

"hehe, smart girl" Nara could hear the lack of moisture as the lips moved, opening and closing, leaving a cold and vile breath in her ears. "I have gotten what I wanted from borrowing your soul and as payment. You may leave now. Your karma will be good when you return, and many good fortunes await you."

Nara could feel long skinny and boney fingers caressing her face from behind as it continued whispering sweet things.

Nara felt compelled to take this offer. What was there to lose? She could return home and be with her husband and her cats again. Something was gnawing at her.

"What if I stayed?"

She said it out loud without thinking much of it at the time. This was a world of magic and wonders. this was something that both James and her dreamed of. Yeah life would be hard but it could get better, and imagine the things she could do.

"Well I did feel bad bringing you here alone." pausing but a moment for what Nara assumed was a dramatic effect. "So, I decided to have James implanted into a new body as well. Much like the second round some of your brothers were a part of." The countess added the last part gleefully.

This bitch of a countess got put at the top of my shit list. What the fuck does she mean by he was already in this world? Who was it in front of me then?

James spoke on cue, "Nara, I am your subconscious working with the system alongside the countess to bring you of age. Your situation is unique. The thirteenth month is only a few days away. Any choice you make here is permanent."

This made Nara's head spin. 'I could go home, but if I choose James, wait.." The countess's words echoed in her words. 'The third option is to take this one and go home'

"What would I be taking home?" Nara asked the goddess.

"You will be taking home a pseudo soul. It will be as if it was really him but not truly him." Pausing in realization, the countess asked. "Are you sure? You can live a life of luxury, and it would still technically be like him."

Without a shred of hesitation, Nara walked over and picked up both cats. She then stood next to James. "For better or for worse." She repeated the phrase that was ever so common to hear. She turned around to face the countess adding their edit to the depressing lines they spoke to each other. "Even in death, our souls entwined! Never shall we be parted!"

Nara heard a meow and looked down. She could swear her calico was smiling. petting the cats, she hugged it tightly. "Goodbye, my furry babies!" The world faded around her, as the countess left one last word.

"huh"

She slowly opened her eyes. She was instantly greeted by the blaring high noon sun. A notification accosted her view. With a single tear trying to force its way out. She denied herself relief. Steeling herself, she opened the notification.

Congratulations!

You have completed 10/10 Milestones

Player Milestone: Kill a creature

Milestone has been modified by Zhao, Rank IV Conductor. Due to the feat accomplished

Player Milestone: Kill a entity of higher essence standard.

Congratulations!

You received Rapid Growth Boon.

By completing all of your milestones before you come of age naturally. You are required to complete only half of the milestones required to reach tier one.

New Soul Tip: Each Milestone completed awards a percentage of growth to the next tier. Every ten percent is a level. Only ten milestones are needed for tier one.

Congratulations!

You are now Growth Stage adult.

You have fifteen years until you become an elder. Every level will extend your lifespan by one year.

New Soul tips are now disabled. GOOD LUCK!

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

You are now of Age!

You are now level one!

You have earned Saber Mastery

You have 0.....

ERROR!

ERROR!

ERROR!

You have 1 active skill slot remaining.

Saber Mastery Obtained

Please select starting Novice power; discipline detected.

Ability powers only available:

[Crescent Slash]

[Pummel Strike]

[Piercing Strike]

Congratulations!

Your birth Stigmata has been applied

You have leveled up to level 3.

Your Attributes, Stats, And Resistances have been updated!

You have 3

error

You have 8 attribute points to spend

You have new Milestones

Please View!

The notifications just kept coming. Many errors were posted, and the errors were changing my information. This was concerning, so I inquired.

Inquiry intercepted by Zhao

Hail be the countess!

You are a player; your soul can contain and maintain more power. The system is adjusting to this addition of a Trifecta soul. So long as you remain in this region, I will answer you.

Well, that answered that question. There was alot of things that I didn't understand. First thing first. I need to figure out where I am. Find a safe spot to make these choices and review my new attributes.

I looked around me and saw nothing but Savanah grass, some acacia trees, and hiding behind them were sand dunes. Behind me was a contingent of Hoblins armed to the teeth feeding what appeared to be smaller versions of the wargs.

To Idika's side were about 30-50 goblins dressed in nothing but a few linens and a dagger each. She then looked down to notice I was in the same situation. My dagger though was curved slightly with a bone handle.

A new notification was prompted, and Idika opened it in excitement. Hoping what she thought would be true. Boy, was she right!

 Crescent Dagger Obtained

This dagger though small in stature, counts as a saber-type weapon. This weapon is capable of both dagger and saber powers.

This Dagger was crafted with love by Urana BloodStorm

I hugged the blade to my chest. I felt a heavy weight around my neck. Looking down, a sheath hung by a sinew string. It was dark leather. Neither the dagger nor the sheath was impressive at first glance. When you looked closely, beautiful carvings were hidden in every inch of it, only visible when the light hit the blade just right.

A well-practiced voice boomed near the Hoblin guards. "Gather round vermin! It is time for you to hear a verdict and to know how you will spend your days henceforth!"