My eyes felt as though they were weighed down by the gravity of countless battles, but I forced them open. The first sight that greeted me was the face of a woman, her beauty striking, with flowing black hair and eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe. To my shock, I realized I was lying on her lap, my head cradled in her gentle hands. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively tried to sit up, but her hand pressed firmly against my chest, keeping me in place.

“Easy now,” she murmured, her voice as soft and soothing as a lullaby, “you’re safe here.”

I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The last thing I remembered was the clash of swords, the roars of dragons, and then... nothingness. This place was different—calm, almost ethereal. The air was thick with the scent of roses and something else, something unnervingly sweet.

“Where... where am I?” I croaked, my voice raspy and weak.

She smiled down at me, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something deeper—something that sent a chill down my spine. “You’re in the presence of a goddess, Elfan.”

“A goddess?” My mind was reeling. I was fighting orcs and dragons... how did I end up here?

The woman tilted her head, her smile widening with a possessive glee. “Yes, you were. But you pushed yourself too far, draining your mana to the brink of exhaustion. Your body simply couldn’t sustain the immense power you were channeling.”

“Mana exhaustion... I died?” The words felt foreign on my tongue. “Wait... you can read my mind?”

“Of course I can, silly,” she chuckled, her voice a mix of condescension and affection. “I am a goddess, after all.”

“Let me guess, your name is Ellen, right?” I asked, half-expecting to see the familiar goddess of the Elves.

Her expression turned playful, her eyes narrowing as if finding my assumption amusing. “Ellen? No, no, she’s far too busy meddling with Elven affairs to be here. I am Wisdora, the goddess of humans and wisdom.” Her hand moved to stroke my hair, her touch both soothing and suffused with a quiet, terrifying power. The way she did it was more than just comforting—it was possessive, as if she were caressing something that belonged to her.

“Goddess of humans?” I repeated, trying to wrap my head around it. “Shouldn’t I be with the goddess of the Elves?”

“Perhaps,” she replied, her tone growing serious. “But you do know that Ellen broke the rules by bringing you to this world, don’t you?”

“Broke the rules?” My confusion deepened.

“Yes,” Wisdora continued, her hand pausing as she locked eyes with me. “You didn’t die in your original world. Ellen took your soul and placed it in another vessel here. What do you think happened to your body back in your world?”

My mind raced, grasping at possibilities. “I don’t know... maybe I’m in a coma?”

She shook her head slowly, her gaze piercing. “No, Elfan. A body without a soul is just an empty shell. You died mysteriously, and no one knows what caused it. The true cause of your death was soul extraction.” Her words sliced through me, cold and undeniable.

I swallowed hard, the gravity of the situation pressing down on me. “So, what happens to me now?”

Wisdora’s expression softened, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes. “Normally, your soul would be lost in the abyss, unable to return to your original realm. Or, Ellen could claim it, and you would be reborn a few years later as an Elf, but without any memory of your previous life.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Like a newborn, starting from scratch?” I asked, dread creeping into my voice.

“Exactly. A blank slate,” she confirmed, her voice laced with teasing. “But I have no intention of letting Ellen have her way again.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, my heart pounding. “Are you going to let my soul fall into the abyss?”

“Yep,” Wisdora replied, her lips curling into a wicked smile.

“What?!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You can’t be serious!”

She giggled, the sound both enchanting and unnerving. “Oh, I love that look on your face. I’m just toying with you, Elfan. This world was dull before you arrived, but since you came into being, things have gotten... interesting.”

I was left speechless, caught between relief and frustration. “...”

“Don’t worry, my little puppy,” Wisdora cooed, her voice laced with a possessive affection. “I will bring you back to life, but not without a price.”

I hesitated, wary of what price she might demand. “What do you want in return?”

She leaned in closer, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered, “Puppies shouldn’t concern themselves with what their masters desire.”

Before I could react, Wisdora’s lips met mine in a soft, lingering kiss. Her touch was electrifying, sending a surge of energy through my body. When she finally pulled away, her eyes glinted with a playful yet possessive light.

“Once you die, your soul belongs to me,” she declared, satisfaction in her voice. “And just so you know, I’ve also revived your little lover for you.”

My mind raced, trying to comprehend her words. “My little lover? Do you mean Anna?”

Wisdora’s smile widened, wickedness dancing in her expression. “Exactly. I couldn’t let you go back to the living world alone, now could I? But remember, next time you die, you’ll be reborn as a human... or I might just decide to keep you as my pet for eternity.”

I stared at her, trying to gauge her intentions. She was beautiful, powerful, and utterly unpredictable. “What about Ellen? Won’t she be angry?”

Wisdora’s eyes darkened, her playful demeanor fading as she spoke. “Ellen is preoccupied with the goddess of the Orcs and dragons. She wanted to descend and kill you herself, furious that you were exterminating her people. But Ellen intervened, stopping her.”

“Wait,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “Goddesses can descend to Earth?”

“Of course we can, silly,” Wisdora replied, her tone lightening once more. “But our powers are limited when we do. Even so, she could kill you in an instant. You’re still weak, my little puppy.”

Her words stung, but I knew she was right. I was out of my depth, caught in a realm where gods and goddesses toyed with lives as if they were mere playthings.

“...”

“Entertain me more, my puppy,” Wisdora purred, her fingers tracing possessive patterns on my chest. “Dance for me, fight for me, make this world more interesting. And if you do well, I’ll reward you.”

“What kind of reward?” I asked, suspicion lacing my words.

She leaned in close, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, “That’s for me to know and for you to find out. But trust me, you’ll crave it.”

With a wink and a playful smile, Wisdora vanished, leaving me alone in the strange, ethereal realm. Her laughter echoed around me, a haunting reminder of the bargain I had just struck.

The world around me blurred, darkness closing in once more. But this time, when I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on a soft bedroll inside a dimly lit tent. The scent of earth and campfire smoke grounded me in reality.

I looked to my side and saw Anna lying next to me, her breathing steady, her face peaceful as if in deep sleep. Relief washed over me, tempered by the knowledge of the price we had both paid.

Sitting at the entrance of the tent, keeping a silent watch, was the captain of the Black Blazers. His eyes met mine, and he gave a small nod, his expression inscrutable.

“You’re awake,” he said in a low voice, careful not to disturb Anna. “We thought we lost you both.”

I sat up slowly, the weight of recent events pressing down on me. “How long was I out?”

“Only a few hours,” the captain replied, his gaze shifting to Anna. “She hasn’t woken up yet, but her vitals are stable. Whatever happened, it seems you both made it back in one piece.”

I nodded, but my thoughts were elsewhere, replaying the encounter with Wisdora. She had called me her “puppy,” had kissed me as if claiming me, and had brought us both back to life—but at what cost?

As I looked down at Anna, still sleeping peacefully beside me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were now part of a game far beyond our understanding, with stakes higher than we could ever imagine.

And somewhere, in the realm of gods, Wisdora was watching, waiting for her "puppy" to perform.