When I woke up, I found myself in a dimly lit room. More like a prison. Sunlight was bearing down on me through the holes within the thatched roof, even the walls looked worn down with the many tears in its lumber. I found myself on a thin stretch of nothing more than straw, What a pitiful situation, I’m living no better than a human slave.

As I sat up from my straw bed, I became intrigued by the feeling of weakness my body was exhibiting. Taking a closer look at my limbs, I could see the bony structure of my arms and fingers, as well as the veins that protrude from beneath the sickly exterior. Is this how it felt to be human? I wondered briefly. The thought never really dawned on me, a godling, that humans felt so powerless. No, I seem to be an exception. My thoughts began to refer back to the human slaves that existed back in Gaia’s world.

There was no reason to continue sitting here, so I decided it was best to leave the enclosure and explore my surroundings. As soon as I pushed open the worn down door, an explosion of sunlight graced my eyes, temporarily blinding them. When my eyes finally adjusted, the sound of afternoon Jays greeted my ears. A plethora of greenery displayed its wondrous glory before my dim eyes. There was a wildness that existed in this environment, something that could be felt but not seen.

“Haha.” I couldn’t help but let out a relieved cry. Tears began to flow down the side of my sunken cheeks. This is it. This was what I yearned for. I fell down onto my knees, bent over and cried. These were tears of happiness and relief. I could cry for longer, but I soon found out that I didn’t have any more tears.

My current self was malnourished, judging by my current condition, for months, maybe even years. The excitement from before had already dissipated, replaced by a strange gloom, the gloom of reality and doom. To give an example of just how bad my current situation was, I could wrap my hand around my bicep and touch my thumb and index together.

What I need was food. What I don’t have was food. I thought back to the empty room; there were no furniture, no food, no water, only a thin straw bed. Tea, was this the gift you gave me? I felt bitter, I just became mortal, but already I’m about to go meet Hades. Oh wait, forgot, I’m not in my previous world anymore. Who were the gods in Tea’s world? It won’t take long until I meet them.

However, fate had a different path for me. Right at that moment…

“Hm?”

A gentle voice tickled my ears from beyond the thicket. Soon, a face that matched that beautiful voice appeared from the brush.

A Goddess! A Goddess has appeared! Were my initial thoughts. However, soon rationale replaced these absurdities and I calmed down to some extent.

“I knew I heard something!” The woman began to display an elegant smile, one that would cause wars to be fought over. Soon, she exited from her verdant cover and approached my thatched hut. “Are you alright?”

I could only continue to stare. I was shocked. Not because of her beauty, but because of something else. What she had just said wasn’t the language used back in Gaia, it had no resemblance to any of the languages that existed in Gaia. No, what I just heard was alien, something that leaves me shivering with delight. This is truly a different world. However, even this wasn’t the strangest thing of all. What was strange was the fact that I understood her.

“Oh, that’s right. You might not understand me. Hm…” She crossed her arms and rested her chin on her knuckles. After a brief moment, she began to speak in an entirely different way, “[Are you okay? Need help?]”

“Pfft…” I couldn’t help myself. The look of constipation on her face caused a bout of laughter to escape my dry cracked lips. Hearing my laughter, the woman before me began to blush and shrank back slightly. “I’m sorry Miss. I can understand you just fine.” I used the prior language.

This must be the gift that Tea was referring to. It wasn’t a bad gift, after all, if this world also had many languages then being able to understand all would help tremendously.

“So you can speak the Fae language?” A look of interest appeared upon her brow. “Even though this is Animae territory?”

“Fae? Animae?” I expressed my puzzlement. These words were foreign to me, even though I have the gift of language. Before I could go on, a loud gurgle erupted from my pea-sized stomach, making the woman before my eyes emit a bell-like noise of laughter.

“Before that, let me prepare something for us.” She dropped her pack beside me and jumped back into the thicket. After a couple minutes, she returned with a freshly plucked ground bird and a small pouch of ripened berries. My mouth unconsciously began to water when I watched the fat on the bird caramelized.

“Here.” She poured the berries into a small bowl, “Have these while you wait.” I gently picked up a deep red berry, though she offered them, a person can never be too careful. I could only continue to eye the berry. Seeing my act of suspicion, she let out another laugh and sneakily snatched the berry out of my fingers and popped it into her mouth. “It’s safe! Haha!”

With my worries relieved, I also picked up another one and gently placed it into my mouth. As soon as I bit down, a burst of sweet and tart enveloped my tongue. Me, a person who had a foot in the grave already began to salivate even more. As the sweet nectar gently dripped down the back of my throat, unknown energy coursed throughout my limbs. All manners and etiquette escaped my mind as I ravenously wolfed down the bowl of berries.

To my dismay, the bowl soon was cleansed of its contents. I looked back at her and the empty bowl in my hands. Feelings of guilt and embarrassment was easily discernable on my face.

“Don’t worry, I have more.” She poured out another handful of berries into the bowl, which I promptly began to consume with ravenous fervor. After my third bowl and the bird, my appetite seemed somewhat sated, so I began to slow down my eating. Now that I had more energy, I began to examine the woman that had taken a seat next to me.

She was a natural beauty, unlike Aphrodite who was prideful and jealous, this woman doesn’t emit a trace of superiority. Her large green almond shaped eyes shows great wisdom and knowledge, yet her face was as pure as new-fallen snow; not a hint of wear and age. Though her hair looked unkempt, it was still relatively groomed and tied in a long braid that was placed at the side of her bosom. However, the thing that drew the most attention of all was perhaps her smile. Every time her lips stretched out, the dimples at the side of her cheeks would cause me to blush. She was truly a Goddess, a Goddess of Beauty!

Now that my hunger was sated, I need to satisfy another desire that I have.

“Miss, can you explain to me where I am?”

“Hm?” I watched as she frowned slightly. It would be strange to anybody if a person you’ve found living in a place asked where he was.

In order to clarify, I answered, “I meant to say, I’ve gotten lost in this large forest and found this little shelter out here. Soon after finding this shelter, I came down with a sickness and couldn’t move, thus resulting in my miserable appearance.”

“So that’s why!” She attacked with her smile once more. “No wonder you’re out here! No one would be stupid enough to live out here when they are so weak.”

She correct, my current body is quite below my standard, even if I was mortal. Just standing up and moving caused me to become light-headed. I’m just curious as to why Tea would send me down onto the overworld with such a weak and sickly body. Have I been tricked? A drop of fear tinged my thoughts before I shook it away.

“What you’ve said is correct young lady, I’ve become quite malnourished. If you would so perhaps do me a favor and lead me back inside.” I struggled to stand up, now that I was fed, drowsiness accentuated my consciousness, beckoning me to enter into its soft embrace.

Hearing my request, the young miss hesitated. Do I look that untrustworthy? I could only grin apologetically. Not even a full day has passed by and I’m reduced to begging a stranger for a favor. O how far the mighty hath fallen! I guess she took pity on my weak figure and helped me up to my feet and lead me inside.

“Cough Cough Cough!” So pitiful. I began to cough violently after I sat down on the straw bed. Seeing such a sight, I guess regret filled the young ladies mind and she nervously bit her lower lip.

“Are you alright?” She expressed her worry as she touched my forehead.

“I’m be alright, I just need to rest.” I reassured her. She looked like she was in a hurry, my frail and weak body couldn’t possibly hold on any longer, so I didn’t want burden her with worry.

“Are you sure? I can stay here longer and nurse you back to health.” She scooted over closer to me, it seemed as though she was projecting someone else onto me. I see, this young lady has a heavy past.

“No need young one. Continue on your journey and leave this one be. I don’t have much longer.” I sighed. Ever since waking up, I could feel my life draining away rapidly. I guess this was why Tea said we’ll meet again soon enough.

“No!” She clung onto me as I gently closed my eyes. It wasn’t sleep that was beckoning, it was Charon coming to guide me to the afterlife. I came to a realization. “Grandmother! Uwaa~!”

I was correct, I reminded this young lady of someone important to her. Otherwise, why would this young lady take the time to stop and feed this one? Her clothes were travel worn, caked with dust. Her usually well-groomed hair was slightly tussled and her eyes were slightly bloodshot. It doesn’t require close observation to notice that she was in a hurry and yet she had spent this time tending to me. Even if the one she loved wasn't me, I could still feel her deep love that she harbored.

Just like this, my soul separated from the body of the aged woman that I had shortly become.

“Hey! We meet again!” Tea suddenly sprang up beside me as I peered down at the grieving young miss below.

“I never asked for her name.”

“It doesn’t matter does it? You’re dead already.” Tea only just tilted her head in a questioning manner.

“I guess you are right. Though it was short-lived, I must thank Tea for giving me a chance to become a mortal.” I was glad, even if it wasn’t for a full day, I already experienced what it felt like to be a mortal.

“Huh? You’re satisfied with just that? Are all of Gaia’s children like this?”

“I don’t understand.”

“You don’t want to go back down there?” She pointed down at the young lady who seemed to have begun to dig a grave.

“I do…” It was selfish of me, my half-day life as a mortal wasn’t enough to satisfy me. I want to spend a full life, living as a mortal. It was hard to convey my thoughts to Tea, I feel like I’m intruding too much into her world.

“Nice answer!” She suddenly snapped her fingers and I felt myself dozing off again. “We’ll meet again soon!”

That line again. I awoke once more, but this time I kept my eyes closed. I contemplated her words. From experience, I guess this life will also be a short one right? I was still in the midst of deciphering the meaning of Tea’s words when suddenly…

“Wake up you lazy asshole!”

*Splash!*

A large content of water splashed onto my, the freezing water jolted me fully awake. After clearing my eyes, I finally saw the perpetrator. How dare this lowly mortal! To defile a god like me! I stretched out my hand and willed his existence to burn in the flames of Phlegethon!

“What are you doing, you shit stain?!” The large figure at the door way slammed the bucket down violently on my temple, stunning me for a good few seconds before a large slap placed itself on my left cheek. “Get your ass out there and work!”

It hurt.

No, not the slap. No, not the blow to my temple. No, not the crude language. What hurt the most was the sudden realization of weakness and hopelessness. I had become a mute young man. My tongue was removed; now that I looked closer, I was covered in bruises and cuts. Such humiliation, the only thing I could do was endure.

Obeying the dominating and wrathful person’s orders, I scuttled helplessly out of the dark cold room that I was locked in. I noticed that it was quite difficult to rotate my head, the problem stemmed from the choker around my neck. It restricted my breathing and neck to some extent. It wasn’t until later that I found out the owner of the collar had set it that way.

I had become a slave.

One of the lowest caste in society, with the dead being the only thing below me. Actually… I rescind my earlier statement, even the dead were treated better than me. The dead were groomed and washed before finally seeking peace in the confines of their stone coffins. I was coated in bruises and cuts and fecal matter. There was a throbbing pain coming from my lower left leg, from what Apollo taught me, this was an infection. The infection was most likely caused by the open wound’s exposure to the fecal matter.

Over the next week, I became more and more exposed to this cruel treatment. I was beaten if I don’t follow orders. I was beaten if I was too slow. I was beaten if I was too quick. I was beaten as a reward for following orders. I was beaten for the sake of being beaten. My spirit became numbed, though I used to be a godling, such a treatment could only be endured. I’ve tried many times to escape, but that only ever resulted in me getting beaten. Master truly enjoyed the thrill of hunting for a runaway slave. I won’t end my life. No, that would be too selfish of me. I don’t even deserve to be in this world, it was a gift from Tea, I would treat this gift in earnest and do my best to live as a mortal.

In the middle of my second week as a slave, the infection soon grew to a point that inhibited work. I was severely beaten because of this.

Master, please treat this one’s infection. I begged the overbearing large man who was busy whipping another fellow slave. I kept pointing to my swollen leg.

“You want some too?!” He roared as he cracked the whip over my dry skin, ripping open the flesh and exposing the open wound to the air. Fresh blood dripped down as my Master clicked his tongue and kicked me away as he resumed torturing the other slave.

Why did I ask him for such a thing while he had a whip in his hand some might wonder? Some may think it was short-sighted to ask at that moment in time, however that is incorrect. Master was only truly happy when we slaves were being beaten, especially when he pulled out his favorite tool. I figured it was best to ask when Master was at his peak during his “punishment” sessions.

After being denied help for my leg, I weakly crawled to my small corner and rested.

Over the coming week, the infection had left my leg paralyzed, I was severely beaten. My Master had stopped feeding me, “Those who don’t work, don’t eat!” He roared and shut the door, locking me in the windowless stone prison.

The infection had puss and blood leaking down my leg, there were also white specks near the edge of the large cut. By this point, the swelling had caused my leg to swell to double its normal girth.

Maggots. I bleakly thought, soon my leg would become a home to carrion bugs like flies and maggots. It was painful, but I somehow managed fall asleep after making that observation.

The very next day, I was awakened with the usual splash of cold water. This has become normal for me. A bundle was thrown at my feet.

“Put that on.” My Master ordered and left the dark room. What he had thrown at me was a black cloak, This person takes me for a fool, because I’m mute. Today I will find out what my fate from here on out will be. I will either be sold off or maybe even put down like a sick work mule. I steeled my resolve and donned the slightly worn cloak and limped after Master.

Seeing me hopelessly limping after himself, Master got angered and raised his fist up in the air, ready to give me another severe beating. However, as if realizing it would be a mistake, Master stopped himself and with one hand lifted me by the collar and threw me onto the back of a cart.

I was being sold.

Treated like a sack of the wheat I milled daily, I sat quietly at the back of the cart and watched Master negotiate furiously with a well-dressed man. The man’s attire was visibly more appealing than what I could only call the rag that Master wore. Before I knew it, it seemed as if the two had come to a compromise and shook hands. I could do nothing to prevent what was to come.

Master had returned back to the cart and as if handling a bowl of fine glass, picked me up, removed my collar, and handed me into the custody of a half-dressed muscular man who carried me into a building. The muscular man sprouted a scruffy bed of bristly hair with two strange protrusions at the top. As I continued to observe the man who was carrying me, he snorted and growled.

We finally entered a room that looked like an examination room. There was a small bed in the center of the room, which I was placed down upon. After securing me to the straps located on the bed, the person who bought me and the man who carried me left the room. Beside the bed, I saw tools, surgical tools. My face paled greatly, normally I would be ecstatic upon seeing the tools of a physician, but given my current circumstance, I knew what was bound to happen.

Amputation.

I tugged on the straps that secured me tightly to my fate. Weakened after not being fed for a couple days, I didn’t have much strength. Even if I was in a better condition, I doubt that I would be able to escape from these well-polished leather straps.

Soon, my fears came true. A person who I could only describe as psychotic entered the room. No attire befitting of a physician was worn, but of a butcher.

A deep guttural cry escaped my mouth. If I could curse and threaten the man, I would. I could only helplessly cry out as he rashly examined my infected leg. Not taking care as he squeezed the area around the infection, causing my scab to burst open and a large amount of puss and blood leaked out. Excited, the man began to rustle through the cabinets.

The pain from the infection jolted my mind awake. Adrenaline rushed through my body. I was still focused on the infection, when suddenly the man returned and within his hands was…

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“A saw. Hehehehe! Be grateful slave! That I didn’t decide to use an axe!”

I struggled violently, threatening to break free from my restraints. My heart was racing non-stop and my breathing became erratic. My eyes were dilating profusely as I stared as the rusty saw within the psychotic man’s hand. The next thing could only be described as purgatory.

The man began operating on my leg. My vision had explosions of blue and red lights as the teeth move back and forth across my knee. Every millimeter of movement caused electric shocks to my brain, signaling immense pain. I began to cry out from the depths of my entire body as my mouth began to foam. Meanwhile the insane monster laughed hysterically. I will kill you!

I wasn’t sure how long I was out for, maybe it was an hour or maybe it was a day? Two days? A week? When I awoke, I was resting on a straw bed in a dimly lit room. Beside me were what I could only assume were also slaves. I weakly looked as my left leg… or what was left of it. I began to tear up, If I was still a god, growing it back again wouldn’t be a challenge at all.

“Get up trash!” A large rough looking woman with no sense of delicacy yanked me up and stuffed a walking stick under my arm and forced me to follow her. Half dragging me, she led me into a well-furnished room and left. Soon a man, who I recognized as the person who bought me entered, behind him stood a proud looking gentlemen.

“Here it is your Nobleness. We just received this one a week ago. After treating its injuries, it has finally recovered to be adequate for your tastes.” The bootlicking man began to say to the man who was following him.

Approaching me, he stared into my defiant eyes. Memories of the amputation were still fresh in my mind. This trash is no better than my last master, if I could kill him I would. The merchant saw my eyes and angrily replied with a passionate strike to my left cheek.

“[Olson. Stay your hand, if you so much as touch it, I will have your business and your life annulled.]” The atmosphere heavily weighed down on me, the pressure that I felt contained a very weak amount of power similar to a god. However, what drew my attention was the language this proud looking gentlemen used. It wasn’t the language of the Animae that my last master used, it was different from the language of the Fae.

“Yes, your nobleness.” The merchant known as Olson weakly replied back in the language of the Animae.

“[Good.]” Without even giving a second glance, the prideful man tossed a small coin bag at the merchant and picked me up gently. Slinging me over his shoulder like a bag of wheat, the man turned around and left. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t break free from this man’s vice-like grip.

“Quit moving.” The man threatened, as if on command, my body froze up. No matter how hard I tried to force my limbs to move they now obey the gentleman. The gentleman got into a well adorned carriage and soon left. There was something odd I noticed, this wasn’t the same scenery I had seen when my last master sold me off. For one thing, it was a lot colder than I remembered it and there weren’t coniferous trees in the area. Just what happened while I was asleep?!

Being mute, I couldn’t really express myself and ask the gentleman these questions. He didn’t look like he paid any more attention to me; treating me like a package for delivery, he continued to stare out at the passing coniferous forestry. This long silence drawn itself for what seemed like half a day until the carriage approached a well-guarded estate.

A small squad of well-armored guards approached the coach and finally, after ascertaining who it was, let us through into the estate. Once more carried like a sack of wheat, I was given to what I could only assume was a servant girl. She looked well off, better than a slave like me.

“Let’s get you into the baths shall we?” She spoke in the strange language. Guiding me and also helping me, she led me up the stairs and into a large bathing area. Without regard for my privacy, the servant began to rip off the dirty clothes that I was dressed in with a look of disgust. After stripping me naked, she sat me down and worked on a strange mechanism along the wall. To my surprise, hot water gushed forth from the nozzle on the wall and doused me, greatly relaxing my stiff body.

Who knew taking a bath felt so good? Has my life decided to take a turn for the better? I contemplated as I washed myself. I can’t remember the last time I washed myself with warm water. The servant girl seemed unsatisfied with my washing, so she snorted and began to wash my body for me. Lathering up a sweet smelling soap, she began to massage my stiff body with it, greatly relaxing my tensed up muscles.

After my bath, I was forced into a silk robe and led into a waiting room. I guess all the suffering is gone now. I gently smiled as I leaned back on the soft chair. While resting, the servant girl returned with a cup of green liquid on a platter.

“Drink it. It’s for the body.” She placed it down and left it in front of me and left the room. Gently bringing up the murky green liquid to my nose, I took a whiff; it smelled like honeydew melon with a splash of strawberries. This was probably something that Dionysus would’ve made, he always loved making these kinds of drinks. Without much thought, I downed the beverage in one gulp, only after did I noticed how parched I was.

Like this, the servant girl returned with platters of greens and spices. They were all lightly sautéed, being a slave who was hardly fed, I took to the dishes with fervor and nearly cleaned out everything. Strange, I’m being treated so well, yet aside from the servant girl and proud gentleman, I haven’t seen anyone else. Suspicion began to creep at the edges of my mind, which I tried to push back.

However, waiting in an empty room, dressed in nothing but a robe was daunting on the mentality. Just as I was about to get up and look around for the servant girl, she happened to walk right in.

“Oh you’re ready? Good, it’s about to start.” She helped me as we began to walk through an unknown number of hallways and corridors. This place was quite large, compared to my old master’s four roomed building. Suddenly, we arrived before a set of huge doors, easily three times the height of a fully grown man. The servant girl tapped lightly on the door and it swung open.

Creeeeeak…

My eyes widened at the sight that laid before my eyes. A large recession of what I could only assume as well-dressed nobles gathered within the room. On the opposite side, a small platform was erected and on the platform a woman of peerless beauty stood. Just like me, she was garbed in a silky white robe. From afar, she looked at me with dead eyes, they were eyes devoid of life. After being led up to the stage, I stood beside the beauty and examined her.

Delicate silk skin, well-endowed body, and dead blue eyes. It was as if she never even acknowledged my existence beside her. Her eyes continued to stare straight at the entrance whence I entered from, as if expecting something to appear. Soon the lights dimmed and a short, but a finely dressed man walked onto the platform.

“Fellow nobles! I’ve gathered you all here today to celebrate the coming of age of my daughter Liliri!” As soon as he announced her name, loud clapping erupted from the crowd and the huge doors swung open. A pubescent girl with red hair and a viciously proud gaze entered the room. “As per the ceremony, she shall finally gorge upon the flesh of these humans!”

What?! My mind began to fire off warnings. Did I hear correctly? They’re going to eat us? I looked over at the woman beside me and saw tears falling down the side of her cheeks. My thoughts began to race as I remembered Caucasus. I looked around for a means to escape, this was terrible, there was a veranda behind the platform, but the gentleman from earlier was silently resting outside.

As soon as I laid eyes upon his figure, I submitted myself to my cruel fate. With just one word, my body disobeyed my will, how was one able to fight that? If only I still had my powers as a god. I thought. Soon all thoughts of escape flew out of my mind and only wishes of a quick painless death remained.

I was wrong.

With knife in hand, as per the ceremony, the 14 year old looking girl walked up onto the stage. Her feverous eyes meticulously moved back and forth between the facial expressions of the woman and myself. I want to die first! Pick me! I tried to say. I don’t want to witness what they would do after ending her life.

As if understanding my pleas, the girl known as Liliri smiled innocently and plunged the knife straight into the wrist of the woman beside me.

“Ahhhh!!!” She screamed a glass-shattering screech and collapsed onto the platform. Fear surfaced in my eyes. Which the red haired girl feverishly studied.

“Stand up!” Liliri yelled and as if held by an invisible hand, the body of the woman levitated off the ground.

“N-no more! Please! I beg you!” She began to plea, tears streaming down the side of her cheeks as blood gush down her useless left arm.

“Cattle should just be quiet!” Liliri reached out and forced the woman’s mouth open. With a flick of her wrist, a wriggling mass exited the woman’s mouth.

“AUUUGHHH!!!” She screamed in agony. My blood ran cold as I witnessed a large amount of blood spurting out.

“Oops!” She quickly dipped her fingers in a strange solution and plunged her finger into the woman’s mouth. “Can’t have you dying so quick.” After that, she picked the severed tongue and evilly showed it in front of the woman before placing it within her mouth and chewing it. The woman continued to cry out in pain while watching the red haired girl consume a part of her.

From beside the girl, my stomach lurched trying to forcefully remove its contents. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible, it was as if something were holding it back, That drink! When I tried to avert my gaze, an invisible force turned my head back to watch the scene. As the slow torture continued, the woman’s cries became weaker and weaker; the fear began to grow and grow as I helplessly watched the girl known only as Liliri.

I watched as Liliri slowly removed finger after finger, toe after toe. Proceeding from that, she moved onto limbs. When the limbs were removed, she got started on the most disturbing part, the organs.

I wanted to faint, but I couldn’t. She wanted to die, but couldn’t. As she weakly watched the girl meticulously cut the flesh away from her stomach region, the woman looked directly at me. By this point, I was screaming in fear. She could only stare, not even utter a word and turned back to face the girl. By the time it was over, the woman’s head was finally severed and the woman’s severed parts were collected by servants.

Snacking on what I could only assume was the woman’s upper arm, the red haired girl walked right in front of me. My mind was already at the point of breaking, thus all other thoughts aside from fear had escaped me. “Such a shame, no tongue.”

She began to work on me. With the handling of a refined chef carving a piece of prime steak off the slab of meat, the girl sliced me open. My deep guttural roar raged over the cheering of the crowd. The louder I cried, the more animated Liliri became.

I was the main dish.

I could feel every inch that the sharp knife cut into. Explosions of pain appeared in my eyes, but I couldn’t do anything. I wanted to die, but I couldn’t die. I wanted to faint, but couldn’t faint. As she continued to carve into me, her expression became more passionate. It was as if she were in lust, as if she was lusting after my expression of pain and agony. Just like the woman before, she began to sever my appendages. My mind began to feel hazy, the pain was clouding the fear, That’s good…

Soon, the night reached its pinnacle. As I weakly stared at her triumphant figure and the knife that was pointed at my naval, I was reminded of that shitty eagle of the sky god. My anger surged forth and I felt the bonds holding my body weaken. The fear was replaced by rage. Death. Revenge. Atonement. Survival!

Live!

These emotions circled endlessly within the short timespan that I felt the hold weaken. If I still have my limbs, I would’ve been able to snatch the knife out of her hands and possible taken her hostage. Maybe I could’ve saved myself. Tis a hopeless wish, I was doomed the second my previous master sold me to the merchant. I resigned myself to my fate. My eyes dimmed. Death.

Nothing.

“Are you okay?” A voice I seemed to recall hearing a long, long, long time ago called out to me.

“If I’m seeing you, that must mean I’m dead.”

“Bingo!” Tea laughed merrily, somehow bitterness was all I felt in that moment. “How was life this time little Prometheus?”

“Terrible.” I sighed. “I felt helpless from the moment that I entered the world. A series of uncontrollable events that soon snowballed into my death by torture.” After having my soul released from my body, only then did my mentality recovered to its original state. Though I still have memories of the experience, it felt like a dream, even though it just happened.

“Aye, you are correct. Do you know why I made you live these kinds of lives little Prometheus?” She grinned mischievously.

“I can only assume. Before coming here, Tartarus said that I was needed here. Shortly after arriving here, I was given the life of an old woman, about to pass on to the afterlife. After that episode, I assumed the life of a slave, bound to a violent master and sold off to become food to what I could only assume to be monsters. One life, a life of love. Another life, a life of pain and suffering. These are the cruelties and virtues of your world. However, it doesn’t seem to have any control, as if it were unmapped land.”

“Ding Ding! You’re right!” She clapped her hands while smiling widely, reminiscent of a child. “This world has no gods. Unlike Gaia, I wanted my world to have more freedom. Thus, I created all the lives in my world with no overwhelming advantage over another. All the races in my world have the chance to attain the power to become a god.”

“A world without gods.” I repeated.

This is truly unprecedented. I’ve never had experienced this before, a world where no supreme being will guide you. No overwhelming power to pray and offer sacrifice to in return for blessings. This is truly a wild world.

“Yes, however, little Prometheus, didn’t you also notice anything else?” She gestured slyly.

“Do you mean the different races? If that’s what you’re talking about, then yes. In my first life, I was an old human woman. The girl that I first met also looked human, but she seemed more similar to the forest nymphs back on Gaia.”

“Forest nymphs?” She asked, suddenly as if realizing something, “That’s right! They looked adorable so I decided to borrow their concept when I created the Fae!”

“Fae?”

“A race of long-eared fair folk. I originally designed them around the concept of the nymphs, those who convene with nature. Soon they evolved and became like so. With the strength to wield the elements, the Fae became a major power.”

“I see, what about Animae?” I recalled the young Fae from the forest speaking of Animae Territory.

“Ah the Animae. They were the ones that treated you like a slave. This race or convergence of humanoid creatures were an evolution of beasts. Amazingly, these Animae (self-proclaimed) were the human’s attempts at gaining strength. Through various experimentations, beast and human became one. Originally used for war, these intellectual individuals soon broke free and found their own nation and race. These beasts have the ability to boost their physical abilities to certain extents.”

“I see. You mentioned humans. Are they the same ones in Gaia? The ones that I created? Tea?”

“Let’s skip that for now, the last major race are the Daemon. They were the race that tortured you while consuming your limbs before your eyes. Personally, these acts are frowned upon, but I have a policy of ‘no interference’ so I can’t do anything about them. These Daemon are composed of terrifying creations that evolved from the darkest reaches of my world. They love to prey on humans, using their superior abilities to control humans.”

“Is that the explanation for that strange power that held me up while I was being cut up?”

“That’s right. They are strong, if they could unite, they would easily be able to overpower the Fae and the Animae easily. Thankfully, the Daemon are a fickle race and keep their interests as a priority.”

“Now then, I would like to hear about Humanity.”

“…”

“You’ve said you created all races to have no overwhelming advantages right? Don’t tell me, just like Epimetheus, you forgot to leave gifts behind for Humanity.” I began to feel frustration build up.

“Oh no, I didn’t forget.” She quickly corrected, “It’s just each race has its own advantages and weaknesses. For the Fae, they are born initially weak, but gradually become stronger the older they become. The Animae are violent creatures that often solve disputes with blood, thus they could hardly gather up a large enough force to invade. The Daemon, as previously stated, can never agree on one agenda, they also have an inherent weakness to light, to varying degrees.”

“So then, what does Humanity have?” I impatiently tapped my toe on the nonexistent floor. “Last time, I gave Humanity fire and knowledge. I wonder if I would have to do something similar to that in this world.”

“Though Humanity is currently on the decline, as you can tell from your lives, Humanity has always managed to persevere. Even though Humanity is clearly the weakest of the four great races, it still manages to hold that title to this day, it shows perseverance. Its weakness is humanity has no affinity to the magic that permeates this world. Thus, leaving Humanity no way of protecting itself.”

“You still haven’t answered my question. What gift did you give Humanity?”

“Humanity, I’m giving them the most wondrous gift of all.”

“You still haven’t bestowed a gift upon Humanity?”

“Nay!”

“Why haven’t you done so?”

“It wasn’t time yet.”

“When will it be time to give Humanity their gift?”

“Soon.”

“Alright, I’ll believe you. However, what is the gift?”

“I’ve said it. I’m giving them the most wondrous gift of all.”

“And that is?”

“You.”