Chapter 1. The Princess Posessed!
Tomoko Murai, aged 19, fresh out of training for her new job, was ready to strike into the working world and finally live her life. Unfortunately, she never knew she was allergic to peanuts, and after making herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for her first “new apartment” dinner, tragically passed. She stood, floated maybe? In what seemed to be space. Before her a petite, what she assumed to be an Angel, floated behind a pedestal made of inky blackness and starlight. The being was short, with impossibly long hair, skin that shone with sparkles, two little wings puffed out from under the mass of hair, and in a shamelessly tight top and equally shameless short skirt.
Are angels supposed to look like this? She thought as the being blew what looked to be a bubblegum bubble before popping it with her tongue and noisily chewing.
“Soooo...Tomoko Murai, it looks like ya had a bit of a rough go at things huh?” The being finally spoke, looking up at her.
“Just about to start a new career, died of an unknown allergy ya had, man talk about bad luck huh?”
“Uhh, am I in Heaven?” Tomoko finally found her words.
“Awwh! Ya think you're in heaven cause I'm such an angelic beauty huh?” The being giggled as she flipped a bit of her hair.
“Nope, not heaven, you're in the...uhhh...purr...perfu...uhh,,purr-”
“Purgatory?!” Tomoko squeaked.
“Yeah! That's the word, purgatory! You get to choose, afterlife or a new life!” The being's eyes shone with happiness as she explained the situation, “I'm Astra! Goddess of the Afterlife or something like that, still new at the job hehe~”
Seeing that Tomoko stood mouth agape, Astra continued on.
“So you can either go to the afterlife, which basically is nonbeing until you're no longer nonbeing or something like that, or you can just be reborn into a new life with all the memories of your previous life! Personally I think you'd have a real shot at rebirth, you were really headed places if you didn't eat that sandwich!” Astra floated around the still-stunned Tomoko.
“Like am I reborn back on Earth or..?” Tomoko was beginning to grasp the situation better.
“You can! Or you can be reborn in a new universe! That choice is always more popular~” Astra pulled out a few brochures form her hair. “Like a sci-fi universe, fantasy universe, there's even a universe where you look like Picasso paintings!”
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“Well I always did like fantasy novels and games...” Tomoko picked up the brochure for a fantasy world.
“Fantastic choice! Now I know the best one to send you~ Say hi to Elhaym for me~” And Astra waved a star-studded rod over Tomoko's head before she could react.
“W-wait wha-?” Tomoko was immediately sheathed in light as her body disappeared, and the feeling of falling asleep washed over her.
Tomoko awoke, or was it waking up? It was like watching the first person view of someone waking up.
“Wait a minute why do I not have control of my body?” She panicked.
“Wait who said that?!” A gruff voice came out of her? Mouth? Was it her mouth? It felt like it -should- be her mouth but she had no control over it.
“What's going on! The goddess said I'd have a new body?!” Tomoko was even more panicked now, she had no idea why her new body, or was it even her body at this point? She had no control as the body slapped the sides of her face, and quickly ran to the mirror in the corner.
What Tomoko saw in the mirror astounded her. She could see that she was in the body of a very tall, very muscular, very large-chested woman. She had short, messy silvery-white hair, big bright eyes, bluer than the deepest sapphire, but a very, very, VERY confused face.
“What goddess? Who? What is this voice in my head?!” The gruff voice cried out, anguishing in the mirror.
“Am I possessed by some spirit?!”
“Uhh, I don't know how to explain this easily, but some Goddess of the Afterlife named Astra said I was to be reborn, but now I'm in your body? I have no idea how to explain...” Tomoko felt helpless.
“Wait, Astra? My Deva...ah wait can't go into that...but I know who you speak of and that's as far as I am legally allowed to say...” the body answered back.
“Wait, you know? What? Are you Elhaym? She told me to tell Elhaym 'Hi' for her...” Tomoko was even more confused now.
“Oh my~” The tall, muscular girl squirmed and blushed, “How sweet of my Deva.” Elhaym twirled a lock of hair for a moment, before composing herself. “So it looks like she's still getting used to the new job nfufufu~”
“Wait, so you know what's going on?” A bit of hope found its way into Tomoko's voice.
“Yeah! Silly Astra, so now I've got a voice in my head~ You know my brother always told me I shouldn't listen to voices in my head but with you I think I can make an exception nfufufu~”
Elhaym began to dress herself, with Tomoko still getting used to seeing but not controlling anything.
“By the way my name is Elhaym von Ornstein, what's yours?”
“Uh, Tomoko Miura, I guess pleased to meet you?” Tomoko wished she had the same confidence as Elhaym about the situation.
“Nice to meet you Tomoko! Don't worry, you're in safe hands with me! In me? You're technically in me I guess but no worries! We'll get you your own body in no time at all!”
With confidence like that, how could Tomoko ever doubt herself? Or would it be doubting Elhaym? Is it confidence in Elhaym or herself? Tomoko wish she had a brain to have a headache with over the question.