One moonlit night, as Linnea lay in bed reading from an ancient black leather-bound tome, a strange sensation washed over her. Warmth spread from the book like an invisible force, coursing through her veins and enveloping her in an otherworldly light. Everything around her blurred, and the world shifted before her eyes.
Suddenly, she felt herself falling—or perhaps being pulled—into darkness. Her mind screamed as she struggled against whatever was happening. There was no time to react before the light faded completely, leaving only silence and an eerie stillness in its place.
A voice echoed in her head, soft yet commanding: "You are no longer of this world."
Then, everything went black.
When Linnea''s eyes fluttered open, she found herself in total darkness. The last thing she remembered was reading from the ancient tome. Now, she lay in a void, her mind racing with confusion and fear.
"Where am I?" Linnea whispered into the silence. No answer came, but the voice returned, clearer this time: "You are no longer of this world."
She tried to move, only to realize her body was immobile. Her body felt heavy yet light at the same time—cold and damp, with a faint scent of earth and something older, more ancient.
Suddenly, she could feel a presence—a silent watcher from afar. Linnea''s heart pounded in her chest as fear turned to excitement. This was not a dream; it felt too real, too surreal.
The voice spoke again: "Do not fear. You have been chosen."
Chosen for what? Linnea''s mind raced with questions she dared not ask aloud. The silence stretched on, and yet time seemed to move slower here, as if the rules of physics had shifted entirely.
A soft glow appeared in front of her, a single point that grew larger, brighter until it took shape: first a silhouette, then form. Linnea''s breath hitched as she saw what approached—a figure made of light and shadow, beautiful yet terrifying.
The goddess stood before her, her eyes glowing with an inner fire that mirrored the light in the room. She wore robes of purest white, adorned with stars and constellations, and her presence filled Linnea with awe and reverence.
"Linnea," she said softly, "you have journeyed far to find me."
Linnea''s voice trembled as she spoke: "Who are you? Why do you watch over me?"
The goddess smiled gently but remained enigmatic. Her voice was warm yet commanding, a paradox that Linnea found both comforting and challenging.
"Knowledge is power, but it can also be perilous if used without wisdom."
Linnea nodded hesitantly. She had always believed she held some form of destiny, but to meet the very being who controlled such things—it was overwhelming.
"The journey you are on..." the goddess paused thoughtfully, "is one your father has taken before. It is now your time."
Linnea''s world froze for a moment. Her mouth went dry, and her mind went blank. She could feel the weight of the goddess’s words pressing down on her like a heavy fog.
"What... what do you mean?" Linnea stammered, her voice barely audible.
The goddess’s expression remained calm but stern. "You are not human. You have been chosen for reasons you cannot yet understand."
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Linnea''s eyes widened with shock and disbelief. She felt the room closing in around her, her heart pounding so loudly she could hardly hear herself think, and felt an overwhelming sense of disbelief wash over her as the goddess spoke. "I am not human," she whispered, struggling against the realization.
The goddess''s gaze softened. "You are something more."
Linnea shook her head violently, rejecting the notion. "No, this is a mistake. I refuse to believe it. I want to go home!"
The goddess’s expression remained calm but firm. "Your journey begins, Linnea. Deny it as much as you wish, but you will learn the truth."
Linnea''s denial grew more fervent. She tried to push herself away from the goddess, but her movements felt sluggish and weak.
"Please, just let me go," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.
The goddess’s smile was knowing. "You cannot deny your destiny any longer. You will come to understand."
After a long moment of struggle, Linnea''s resolve began to waver. The weight of the goddess’s words pressed down on her like a heavy fog, and slowly, she gave in.
"You are not human," the goddess repeated gently. "You must accept that truth."
Linnea looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of disbelief and acceptance. "Alright... I accept it. What am I, then?"
The goddess''s smile was knowing but enigmatic. "You will discover that on your journey. But first, you need begin new chapter in your life."
The goddess’s smile was gentle but unyielding. "I have been watching you since your birth."
"Why do you keep watch over me?" Linnea demanded, her voice filled with urgency. "Why now?"
Linnea''s mind raced with questions. She had always felt different, as if there was something more to her than she could understand. Now, the truth was dawning on her.
The goddess’s smile was gentle but unyielding. "I have been watching you since your birth. Your potential is unique and has grown stronger over time."
"Why? Why me?" Linnea asked, her voice filled with both fear and curiosity.
The goddess''s gaze was steady and calm. "Because you are ready. The time has come."
Linnea fell silent, her mind still trying to wrap around the enormity of what she had been told. She felt a mix of awe, fear, and excitement, all swirling together in her chest.
"Can I ask one more thing?" Linnea finally managed to say, her voice trembling slightly.
The goddess nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "Go on."
"Why do you need me to complete this journey?"
The goddess''s smile was knowing. "Because the path is not complete without you, and it is your destiny to find those answers."
Linnea felt a heavy weight settle in her chest. She knew she had no choice but to trust this being, even if she didn’t fully understand.
Explaining the Different Rounds
The goddess''s eyes gleamed with an inner fire as she explained: "You will be transfer to one of many rounds of existence. It will be a round in middle age, where magic and different races coexist. And you have already interacted with one round of existence by accident when you were young. Your mind, still developing, shaped it from your imagination and dreams."
Linnea''s heart skipped a beat. She had no memory of creating such a place. The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning.
Linnea’s confusion deepened. "But… how is this possible? How did I create another world? Why didn''t I remember this?" Linnea asked, her voice filled with both shock and dread.
The goddess’s gaze was compassionate but firm. "Memories of your true nature are suppressed until the time is right."
Linnea felt a sense of awe and fear intertwine within her. She had no idea what lay ahead, but she knew one thing for certain: this was only the beginning.
The goddess’s “I will send you to that world.”
Linnea''s mind raced with questions. "What does that mean? What am I supposed to do here?"
The goddess smiled knowingly. "You have been given a unique role to play. You are part of a greater tapestry—a cosmic web woven over centuries, where your actions will influence the fate of countless beings."
The goddess smiled gently. "You will be on our journey soon. Trust in the path, and you will find your way."
Linnea took a deep breath, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The goddess''s words echoed in her mind: "We shall begin your journey. I will guide you from here."
Then suddenly again, Linnea felt herself falling—or perhaps being pulled—into an abyss of darkness. Her mind screamed as she struggled against whatever was dragging her away. There was no time to react; the light faded completely, leaving only silence and a suffocating stillness in its place.