Opening her eyes she found herself in darkness, chained and alone, a place that made her intensely scared as it out of instinct.

“W-where am I?” She stuttered, but she couldn’t hear herself, she noticed she couldn’t feel either, the chains around her the only thing visible.

Time went on as she sat in this darkness, with no sense of time making every second an eternity.

“W-when will I wake up…from this hellish dream.”

As she said those words the first sense she had felt in a long time formed, pain. A splitting headache conquered her thoughts as pictures appeared in her head, memories, but not of hers, but Thea’s.

Visions of her creating her domain, and the passing of time as her world formed. The blessing she gave her creation brings life to the world. Then Thea upset the balance, upsetting the natural order, intervening directly in the human world by spreading disease to those who tried to harm her children. Locking her into Pengram, the darkness she was once again in. Forced to abandon the children she had loved more than anything, as she was shown her church and children pillaged and killed unable to protect them.

As Thea regained these memories tears ran down her face, and her pain switched from physical to emotional. The pain in her heart was far beyond that of her head when regaining her memories.

Thea continued to sit there, her memories returned as she waited to be released unable to do anything.

Seconds to minutes, minutes to days, days to years, years to decades, Thea could only wish for escape.

“I can't sit around anymore, I have to find a way out, I couldn’t do it before, but I’m stronger now ever since I was reborn in this world, I can do this!”

Thea started releasing her power, no spells, just pure divinity, using her own existence to destroy Pengram, a rumble as cracks in the darkness began to show light, feeling returning to her as her senses are fully regain, her divinity still slamming into the cage that held her.

The chains tried to hold them back but they couldn’t contain her anymore, as Pengram fully shattered.

…

“Please, please wake up my lady!” Julia said sobbing overhead, holding Thea’s head on her lap waiting for what seemed like forever.

“Haaaaa!”

Thea opened her eyes with a gasp, seeing Julia above her.

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“J-Julia?” Thea said weakly.

“Y-yes my lady it's me! I've been waiting for your return!”

Thea slowly sat up looking around, she was back in her domain her feeling returned, but her power felt weak, and her entire being felt drained.

“H-how long has it been since I passed out?” Thea said in a worried tone.

“It’s been probably a month my lady, you wouldn’t wake up no matter what I tried, I was so worried!”

Thea smiled at Julia, her faith was so pure, like a child worried for a sick parent.

“It’s alright I'm back now, although I've grown weaker, right now I can barely use a fraction of my powers, but it’ll be enough to get us back to the church.”

“Alright my lady, I’m sure the priests and Templars have been very worried.”

Thea nodded and chanted sending them heading back to the Church

…

“T-The goddess’s light! The goddess has returned!”

Cheers erupted from every street and house in the church's capital, cheers for the goddess’s return.

...

A man stood in an alley with a cloak, watching as the goddess’s light towered in the sky.

“I came here not expecting much, but the goddess really has returned.”

Walking out of the alley he headed into a coffee shop, walking to a door in the corner that opens up to another larger room full of people.

“It seems the information wasn’t as false as I had started to believe.” He said to the group.

“What? Did the goddess actually appear?!” A woman yelled quickly standing from her seat.

“I just saw the goddess’s light tower into the sky, the entire capital is cheering right now at her return.” He said sitting down on a stool.

“Holy shit…” The woman said slumping back into her chair.

“What's our next plan then? We were preparing to leave since it seemed like it was just a rumor, but if she’s really back, that changes everything!” A man said.

“Your right, but did we even have any plans for if it was true?” Another man asked.

“Since the goddess has returned, I’ll go to the church and try to get a meeting with her, this could be our best chance yet.” The man in the cloak said.

Everyone nodded to his words.

“When will you be heading out then?” The woman asked.

“Right now, best to strike while the iron is hot.” He said walking to the door.

“What?! Shouldn’t we at least wait and see how it plays out for a few days?” The woman yelled out in surprise.

But the man was already out the door before she could finish.

“Haaaa, what are we gonna do about him…” The woman sighed

“Has he ever been wrong in his decision though? It's almost scary how many times he’s made the perfect decision.” A man chuckled.

“Haa, your right, he’s never led us wrong.” She said.

...

Thea sat in a room, staring at the ceiling, after getting back she was surrounded by questions that she couldn’t answer, she needed to think about what she could do next, she couldn’t fight herself, she couldn’t risk being sent back to Pengram in this weakened state, she wouldn’t be able to get out this time.

“M-My lady, a man has come to speak with you.” A priest said with a bow.

“Someone wants to speak with me?” Thea was confused, anyone who would want to talk to her would just come to her, only one reason they wouldn’t, they aren’t part of the church.

“Alright, send him in.” She said, her curiosity overwhelming her wariness.

The man walked in, a long black cloak, white hair, and red eyes.

“I don't think I've ever met you before for you to ask to meet me personally.” She said as she stared at him closely.

“Excuse my rudeness Goddess, let me introduce myself.” He said lowering himself into a bow.

“My name is Max Anworth, Granduke of the Atlas Empire."