Chapter 2: Chapter 2: In the Presence of a Goddess

When I came to, everything was still dark. But not the same kind of dark that you see when you're about to die. Or are dead. It was more like actual darkness. I could make out shadows despite the lack of proper lighting. I stood up to my feet and started patting myself down. Everything felt so cold. Not the dying kind of cold, either. I would know seeing as how I'm pretty sure those two crooks killed me back at my campus.

It was more like a windy, chilly cold. To my relief, I was dry. But then horror settled in when I realized that I was naked save for a thin strip of cloth wrapped around my waist, barely covering the parts that I'd prefer not to be seen by others. I try my best to figure out how long the cloth is, but I could barely even see my hands a few inches away from my face.

A light in the distance pulled my attention from the shred of clothing that covered me. It flickered like a flame, slowly growing in size as it came closer. I stared at it with my jaw agape. I could feel the blood pumping through my veins. My heart sounded like it was beating right next to my eardrums. I took a few steps back as I raised my hands in a defensive pose. But with each step I took to retreat, the flickering light only grew brighter and larger.

I turned around and started running. Didn't care how cold the floor was and how the rocky surface hurt the bottoms of my bare feet. I ran as fast I could. I assumed I died once already. Definitely didn't want to experience that again. I picked up velocity, reaching my maximum speed in a matter of seconds. But no matter how fast or how far I moved, the light kept up with me.

"Please, stop running."

The voice was loud yet strangely gentle. Almost motherly. I slow down my pace before coming to a complete stop. Hunched over, I took in a few deep breaths to regain my composure. It's not like I could outrun light, right? Oh, and in case you were wondering, I didn't do so hot in physics class either so I could be totally wrong about that part.

"You're only wasting your energy by trying to flee," the same voice said. At this point the light was so close to me I could see my shadow stretch out for what looked like infinity. I slowly turned around, worried of who was following. Granted, the soft voice did ease my fears a bit, but her last statement about how futile it was to flee didn't do my nerves any favors.

I was greeted by a by a massive woman. And I'm not talking about girth. I mean she'd make pro basketball players envious with her height. Must have been ten or eleven feet tall. Her skin was fair, as if she hadn't spent much time in the sun while her hair was a brilliant blonde that reached all the way down to her hip. One side of her locks covered half her face, leaving only one emerald green eye looking at me. Soft pink lips were curved upwards, giving the impression of a gentle smile.

She was dressed in a long white toga that hung on one shoulder. The cloth wrapped tight around her hips with one side showing a bare leg while the other half draped all the way to the ground. She wore a pair of woven brown sandals that wrapped around her shins. In one hand she held a lantern, the source of light that had been following me. As I squinted closer, I could tell that something was off about it. Instead of there being a candle or some kind of fuel source to keep it burning, the flame was suspended in the middle, twirling midair like a little fireball.

"Where am I?" I ask. I'll admit, it came out a bit... nervous. I wanted to sound confident but not like a jerk. But I also didn't want to sound scared and intimidated. Somehow managed to say it as wrong as possible and came across as a cowardly jerk with how blunt my voice was only to be followed by panicked panting. But the tall lady didn't seem to be bothered by how I said it.

"You are in my sanctuary!" she said smoothly. Her free reached out as if she was showing the place off to me. Now with a bit of light, I could make out exactly where I was. Beneath me was a stone floor. Smooth for the most part save for the occasional uneven bumps scattered across. Place could have used a good sweeping. Filling up the void were a never-ending series of marble pillars that kept an equally never-ending ceiling from falling on top of us. And that was it. Lots and lots of stone and nothing else. I stare around in silence, trying to avoid eye contact with the woman in front of me.

"I know you have other questions," she said rather nicely. "And I have a feeling I know what they are."

"You can read my mind?" I ask in shock, taking my gaze from marble pillar number fifty-one to look at her.

"No. But I've done this many times before, so I'm familiar with what my Champions usually say when they're first brought here."

I just blinked. Pretty sure I had a stupid-looking expression on my face too. My mouth hung open, but I couldn't force any words to come out. And this tall woman had the audacity to just giggle and put one hand over her mouth in a fruitless attempt to try and hide it.

"I'm sorry," she said while still giggling. "It's just that I can never get over the fact that everyone is brought here... in that..." She pointed at my "robe." Realizing that I'm practically naked in front of this... mystical entity, I scramble my arms and curl up to obscure as much of my nude form as possible.

"Here. I'm going to make things as quick and easy for you. Let's start by getting you into something more demure." The lady tossed her lantern at me. I flinched, covering my face with my arms as I saw the object leave her hands. But instead of soaring towards me and hitting my face, it hovered straight like a deflated balloon. It stopped a few feet in front of me, twirling in place.

"My name is Govessa, by the way." She smiled while staring at her lantern. She made a few large and elegant movements with her arms and the flame within the lantern became brighter. I closed my eyes for a millisecond, and the moment I opened them we were somewhere else entirely. Gone were the countless pillars. Instead we were surrounded by a sea of clouds in a baby blue sky, standing on a round stone platform. In front of the lantern was some kind of projection or hologram. Looked a bit like a menu in a video game with all the options. I reached forward, finger ready to touch the [Class Selection] option only to stop an inch away.

I turned from the screen to look at Govessa. She still had the smile while both of her hands rested in front of her. "This isn't some kind of test, is it?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, her smile momentarily disappearing as she stared back, confused.

"You're not testing my patience, right? I'm not going to turn to stone because of a choice I make? Or will this end up being one of those monkey's paw, genie wish things where I get what I ask for but at some absurd personal cost."

"Nope. Just pick whatever suits you best." Govessa walked around the projection and stood next to me. Things got even more awkward once a breeze passed by and ruffled the lone bit of fabric that I wore. I stepped to the side some, making sure to give the lady some room but enough space so that I don't fall into an infinite abyss because of extra strong wind. "Perhaps it would help if I gave you a bit of information about what exactly is going on here."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Yeah. I think that could do me some good."

Govessa took in a deep breath. I had a feeling that whatever she was about to say was going to be lengthy.

"We are at war," she began. Then there was a brief pause, like she was contemplating something. We? There were only two people there, me and her. So I assumed I was dragged into this war as well. "Zahnte and his minions have conquered the Core Realms. And their influence is slowly and surely spreading to the exterior territories."

The lady waved her hand again, this time bringing up another enormous, hologram-like screen. There was a giant map on it where the land was divided into what I assume were territories, with each section color-coded like a board game. The areas in the center of the mass were a dark purple while the outer sections were a bright yellow. Even though I'm bad at math, evident by the reason why I'm even here in the first place, I could tell that the purple took up a whole lot more area than the yellow.

"You have been chosen to join my cause in pushing Zahnte's forces back, hopefully eradicating them completely."

My eyes opened wide. Govessa took note. "That's a lot to ask for," I said calmly.

She lowered her head, looking somber as she placed her arms behind her back. "I know. This is not something that I enjoy doing. And if you don't want to help, I won't force your hand."

"Really?"

Govessa nodded. "Really. All you need to do is just walk off this platform." She turned around pointed down towards the cloudy depths below. I looked over my shoulder just enough to see if even a bit of ground was visible below. Nope. Nothing.

"Uh... what will happen if I do that?" I ask.

"You'll return to where you once were."

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"I'm pretty sure I was murdered," I replied, looking at the woman while holding back my tears. Didn't want to give off the impression that I was weak, but I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by everything. Sue me.

"You were."

"Oh. At least it's nice to get some confirmation." I blinked a few times and quashed my tears. For some crazy reason I was chosen to be a warrior. Can't be seen crying in front of the goddess-like being that summoned me.

"I know on Earth there are many faiths and beliefs about what happens after one dies. If you walk off this platform, you will return to the Earth as you last remembered."

"So... dead?"

"Yes. And to keep things simple, let's just say whatever you believe in will happen. Whether it be your soul transporting to the afterlife, your spirit inhabiting your planet, or simple decay, that is what will transpire once you return."

I was never as religious as my parents. Do I believe something happens after you die? Well, I do now! But me skipping out on Sunday school as soon I as hit high school makes me think that I'm not a prime choice for heading into heaven. And I'd like to at least see what this place has to offer before going back to my lifeless body in a flooded alley. I decided to step a bit closer to the floating screen that said [Class Selection]. From the corner of my eye, I could see Govessa smile again.

"Wise decision."

"Do you ever get anyone that... you know..." I pointed to the floorless section behind me.

"Every so often. Not everyone likes the idea of fighting in a war in a strange realm they've never heard of. That's why I've gotten pickier with my choices."

I nodded my head. "Makes sense, makes sense. Is there any specific reason why you chose me?" I pointed to my bare chest with one finger. "I don't have any experience in battle. If you knew that I died and brought me here, then you must have known what happened in my last moments."

"Combat prowess is appreciated, but not necessary. With my magic, I am able to bestow a special Class upon you. You'll become a competent Champion upon your arrival on Sianka."

"Oh. What exactly do you mean by 'competent?'" I made a pair of air quotations with my fingers.

"Imagine a young adult that spent the last years of his adolescence training to be a soldier. You will be on par with that."

"That's not too bad. That's a lot more 'competent' than I am now."

"I believe you. If I sent you down with your current strength, you'd be killed within minutes."

I went silent. Took a big gulp but I made sure Govessa couldn't hear it. "Can I ask you another question?"

"Is it about dying?"

"How did you know?" I asked.

Govessa giggled. Again. Apparently, that's a funny thing to worry about according to her. "Because I saw how you reacted when I made the joke about you getting killed!" she remarked.

"I think it's an important thing to know!" I shot back. "I'm the one putting my neck on the line!"

"I know, I know." Govessa's giggle turned in to a full laugh. After a few moments of hilarity at my expanse, she calmed down, but her grin was bigger than ever. "I'm sorry. I have had this conversation so many times that I forget how concerned you mortals can be with dying."

"Yeah. It's in our biology to try and avoid it at all costs."

"I know. But to answer your question, if you die in Sianka, you will return to where you once were before I summoned you."

"Dead and face down on the pavement?"

"Yep." Govessa nodded, keeping that same smile.

"I'm guessing that's why walking off this platform has the same effect."

"You know, you're the first person to have noticed that. Color me impressed."

Wow. This lady's sense of humor is something else. But I have to admit that I was chuckling on the inside when she pointed that out. I sighed and then rubbed the back of my head. The cold air from the altitude was getting to me so I looked back at the menu. "Is it all right I pick a class now?" I ask. "I'd like some real clothing before we go into any more in-depth explanations."

"That's a good idea. Not like you have an immortal figure," Govessa chided. That smug grin was getting on my nerves, yet I couldn't help but appreciate how much of goddess she really looked like. Her figure was almost statuesque as her toga showed off her shaped perfectly. And despite being (presumably) infinite years old, she didn't look any older than thirty. Her face was both cute and pretty with a pinch of motherliness thrown in.

Then I looked down at my bare self. I wasn't out of shape, but I definitely wasn't a body builder either. Just slim. And a bit pale. Nothing special, but at the same time nothing compared to Govessa.

"Go ahead and cycle through the classes," she said as she looked down at me. Must have caught me rubbing the palm of my hand against my flat gut. I took my eyes off my body and tapped the [Class Selection] option. The screen expanded, surrounding me with images... of me... all dressed in different, fantastical outfits. In the very center was myself, in all my current half-naked glory. To the side was a table of stats on hovering next to the image of my head. My eyes quickly glossed over them.