The priests dart around the room with vigor, each one seemingly with a clear purpose. How complicated can it be to find clothes for the "great hero"? I stand in the center of a large room, dressed in medieval underwear and slippers. They insist that the requirements for the ceremony are very strict, but I doubt the Goddess will care if my eyebrows aren’t plucked.

Still, they’ve prepared for this moment for decades, so I’ll let them play dress-up. Not like I have a say in any of this anyway.

I take a good look at myself in the mirror. Freshly shaven and combed, my hair has never looked better. Hard to believe that mere hours ago, I was stuffing myself with pizza in my underwear.

The strange powder they’re brushing onto my face tickles. I’ve never cared much about appearances, as evident by my weight and the scruffy stubble that occupied my face just moments ago.

“All done. Now, please stand up.” I do as told. I’m a big guy, but these people are tiny. At 6'9", I tower over them.

The robe presented to me is surprisingly simple—a pure, blinding white garment, almost like a hospital gown with long sleeves. A black sash around the waist provides some contrast.

The cold fabric gently clings to my freshly scrubbed skin as the priests help me put it on. At least they had something in my size. With decades to prepare, they really thought of everything. Though, they probably expected someone less... chubby.

“All done,” the makeup guy announces, and Laura enters through the door with a candle in hand.

The rest of his crew gathers their things and quickly leaves, leaving Laura and me alone.

“We meet again. I suspect you’re my guide to the chamber?”

“Yes. Please, follow me.”

Her shy playfulness has vanished, which doesn’t feel comforting at all. The sterile hallways of the cathedral only add to my unease. I can only hope the ceremony goes well.

As we descend the stairs, the beautiful glass panes disappear from the walls, signaling that we’re heading underground. Naturally, the ritual chamber would be in the basement—somehow, that feels fittingly eerie.

The tunnel is narrow, the ceiling mere inches above my head. Laura’s candle is the only source of light in this cramped space. Following her closely, I wish I could see her face; I wonder if she’s as nervous as I am.

A silly thought. Why would she be nervous? I’m the one whose fate depends on what a deity says. But what if she doesn’t respond? What then? What if…

“We’re here,” she says, and I nearly bump into her.

In front of us stands a metal door, as wide and as tall as the narrow hallway itself. A relief on it depicts a flame.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Laura leans against the wall and gestures to the door “I will wait for you here”

I step forward and examine the door once more. Instead of depicting a flame, it could at least tell me if it’s push or pull. But there’s no handle, which leaves only one option.

Bracing my feet, I start pushing with all my might. The door creaks, and dust begins to fall as it slowly turns on its hinges, inch by inch.

It’s heavy, but with some effort, I manage to get it open. Inside, I’m met with an abyss stretching endlessly into darkness.

With shaking hands and a pounding heart, I step into the abyss. Inside, I look around. Blackness stretches in every direction.

I turn back and catch a glimpse of Laura, her face a mix of concern and uncertainty. At least someone cares for me... Bang! The door slams shut.

Now there is no light, no sound—nothing. I scream, but I don’t hear myself. I try banging against the door, but it’s no longer there. My feet don’t even feel like they’re touching the ground anymore.

Calm down, Steponas. Panic will get you nowhere. Think! That’s what you do best.

With a few deep breaths, I manage to steady myself. This feels surreal, as if I’m floating in nothingness. Moments pass, and I find myself… almost enjoying the solitude.

I try to move, but my body doesn’t respond. It’s like it’s not there anymore—as if I’m just a consciousness floating in a void. Strangely, this feels oddly blissful.

"Complacency is no virtue," I hear… myself?

I attempt to turn my nonexistent head toward the sound, but with little success. It sounds like me, but more dignified.

"Who are you? Where are you? What happened to me?" I ask, questions spilling out one after another.

"You’re the Goddess, aren’t you?" I continue. "I’m Steponas, the otherworlder."

"Yes, the ‘software engineer.’ What do you ask of me?"

"The people who summoned me say they need my help, but I don’t have anything to offer. This ritual—they say you’ll grant me a gift."

There is a slight pause. “The people need your help, you say? Yes. The demons of the north are strong. Perhaps too strong for the humans to handle. A blessed otherworlder would change the course of the conflict.”

An omnipotent being, and I’m talking to it. I’d better make every question count—opportunities like this don’t come often.

"This omnipotent being will answer any questions worth answering, so don’t feel rushed," the voice responds.

Right. Of course an omnipotent being would be able to read my mind—it’s in the name.

“Why summon me?” I ask

“The priests who summoned you… their power was granted by me, yes, but it was ultimately their doing. They sought a savior, and you came.”

"Why seek a savior? Why not ask you for help directly?"

“You are not alone in questioning this. Many of my children have pleaded for my intervention, to smite the evil in the world.”

Realization hits me as she continues, “Yes, Steponas, the prayers came from both sides.”

I was right to question the old priest’s speech. This is more complicated than they let on. I’ll need more information before I act.

“Goddess, the gift you’ll bestow upon me—is it meant to vanquish the evil of this world?”

She pauses. “The power I grant will be for you alone. How you use it, and for what purpose, is up to you.”

A blue dot appears in the center of my vision. It grows and grows until a blue flame fills the entire void, contorting into fantastical shapes that seem to depict events beyond description. I feel as if I’ve just understood something—something otherworldly yet profoundly obvious.

The flame vanishes, and I’m back in my body, feeling the ground beneath me once more. The door stands in front of me again, only now it has a handle.

I smirk. "Thank you, Goddess."