Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

“No. Your memories will be wiped out and you will be born again to a different family. I will make sure to let you be born in a safe environment far from what you have suffered in all these three lives of yours.” He answered in a reassuring yet hurt tone.

“Is there a way for me to know how my mother on earth is fairing all these while?” I asked, hoping for a positive answer.

“You’re too caring for your own good. *Sigh* Like father, like daughter… Look ahead of you.” He sighed and pointed to a crystal ball which emerged from the water.

Images started to form inside the crystal, showing sets of inaudible footage of what happened after my death on earth. Everyone was baffled as to why my body was the only one that was not burnt from the crash.

Everyone who knew me grieved in silence. Even my good for nothing boss cried her heart out like she lost a precious sister she never had. My tears streamed down upon seeing them looking distraught and horrified. I may not have heard what my boss was saying, she was probably cursing me even after my death while bawling like a baby.

She suddenly mouthed the words ‘I will miss you idiot! I won’t forgive you for leaving us like this!’.

“I did miss you too, my dummy boss… It felt like it’s been a while.” I whispered while chuckling lightly on her contradicting words and action.

The crystal also showed how my boss and my friends helped my mother with her medications and treatment. She was extremely devastated about my death. Her face says it all. She couldn’t accept the fact that I was already a corpse when I got home from the supposed vacation. Her tears sent eternal agony in my heart.

She was the most precious mother that I ever have. I don’t even know the queen mother Hera since she only showed up in my dreams a few times and we never had any proper conversation even in my dream.

I kept telling myself that time can heal all wounds, but my tears kept streaming down to my face in distraught. I know I can never see her again. She can still move forward as long as she is not alone, it’s more than enough for me even if it hurts to see her lonely whenever she’s thinking about me and my father. My heart suddenly clenched remembering something that I almost forgot.

My father, who died at work. The day I first held his hands after that horrible incident was also the last day I saw him alive. I almost forgot how he balances his time for work while rushing home or at the hospital just to make sure to give some time for my treatment. How he smiled in tears when he finally had a chance to hold my hand. The times when he and my mother were sleepless while discussing the progress of my treatment and medication. They cried whenever they felt hopeless in my condition. The times when they take their turns to attend to my needs. I miss them both.

The other relatives are also helping her. However, there was something I couldn’t fathom. I clearly remembered that my aunt’s husband has the same face as Sephtis, but now I realized that it was totally different from the god of death. I suddenly questioned myself if my memories were tampered with or was it really Sephtis himself? I was too baffled and confused.

“You realized it just now, right? The one who caused your fear for males was not the human uncle you had. It was Sephtis himself. He also prevented you from voicing out to others about your situation. I couldn’t interfere directly in that world, but I sent your aunt back ahead of time before everything was extremely out of hand. The fear you were feeling was one of the curses he planted on you.” He explained upon seeing my puzzled face.

“C-Curse? How can I remove the curse? Will it be lifted after my reincarnation?” I cried in panic.

“Yes, my dear child, the curse will be washed away by the Abyssal Lake along with your memories and power as a goddess if ever you really choose to reincarnate. Even so, your regrets will still be imprinted within your soul. However, it will help you prevent yourself from making the same mistakes and will guide you to choose a better path in your new life. Are you ready to choose now?” He asks seriously.

I wanted to save Father Lev, but I am just a weak person. I can’t bear the responsibility being asked by the Supreme Being in front of me.

“Don’t decide in a haste. You need to think more… Because there will be no more turning back once you choose one of the paths ahead of you. You will need to pass through the Bridge of Trial. The path will split into two once you succeed. I will temporarily suppress the power of the moon within you so that you won’t break down on the trial. The path on the left is the path going back to the beastman world while the path on the right is a path of cleansing and rebirth (the Abyssal Lake). You have to think carefully.” He explained while touching my forehead.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

I felt a sting on my forehead as if it was being stabbed with a needle.

“Aww!” I moan in pain.

“It will be better soon. Now, go ahead. I wish you well. See you again soon.” He uttered with a smile on his face.

I was baffled because I was already determined to go back to earth and escape the responsibility he was about to bestow onto me.

He pushed me gently towards the bridge and waved goodbye before disappearing before my eyes.

“What did he mean about what he said?” I mumbled to myself.

I started to walk towards the bridge as per his instruction. However, I never knew that the bridge was too long. It was like an endless path of no return.