Cindy found herself in a glorious pavilion in the skies. Beautiful marble floors laid beneath her feet leading into a grand circle lined with pillars reaching up to a mural of heroes and beasts fighting one another on a domed ceiling. She looked around in wonder as she drank in the view. Clouds ran around an endless landscape in all directions. Skies the perfect shade of blue she had only seen far into the woods that her father would bring her to for their camping trips away from the hustle of the city.

Several steps up led to a throne of crystal diamonds. The woman sat there high above her and was just as beautiful and glamorous. She looked so benevolent and kind as she stood up and walked down the steps with grace beyond measure. Cindy couldn’t help but fall to her knees as the woman approached.

Her voice came like the song from the most wondrous singers in the world, “Thank you child for coming to my call. I cannot thank you enough for being here. If you find my request unreasonable I will send you home without anything else coming of today. However I must warn you. If you take my offer you will be a lauded hero of all the realms I control.”

“Who are you?” Cindy asked in a whisper.

“I have no real name, most of my subjects call me ‘Goddess’. You can call me Gaia, that is the name of the world that needs your help.” Gaia kneeled down and sat in front of Cindy lowering herself to be close to one another.

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“What could I even do for this world? I’m just a girl,” Cindy looked at Gaia with eyes wide and hopeful.

“Your world has something that resembles my world and I looked through all the lands for someone that would fit in the best. You among all others showed enough wits and guile to surpass that which threatens this world” Gaia stroked Cindy’s face kindly.

“Me? I’m the best choice you have?” Cindy’s voice filled with hope. Finally something she would be perfect for. Something she could do that no one else could.

“Yes child, you are the chosen hero that will save that which I cherish most. I have two gifts for you, boons that will help you through this trial. Will you help me?”

“Of course I will!” Cindy yelled excitedly.

“Wonderful, you will have three wishes. With some stipulation. You may not wish for more wishes, you may not ask for me to hurt someone or something, and you man not ask for me to save a life, even your own.” Gaia looked concerned while she was talking to Cindy.

“I can wish for anything besides that? Even if I wanted someone here? Someone that could help me?” Cindy looked so hopeful as she clutched Gaia’s robes without thinking.

“Yes, if you desire someone to help you, then you can summon them with a wish. Anyone you desire.” Gaia stroked Cindy’s hair affectionately and the girl leaned into it, feeling safe. “You among all others will have another gift. You will be able to absorb skills and runes permanently where all others won’t.”

“Skills? Runes?” Cindy looked up into the Goddess’s eyes and smiled with hope in her eyes, “Is this an isekai? Is the world like a game?” Her voice was so energetic and bubbly at the thought of it all. Her heart raced away from tragedy. She had read so many books and watched so many anime like this. She had always wished for something like this to happen.

“Well, then you know it is time to make your character. Are you ready?”

“YES!” Cindy popped up to her feet and clapped excitedly. “LET'S DO THIS!”