“So, how does it feel being alive and augmented?”
Augmented? Really? What did these things put into me? Please tell me it’s not a bomb…
“Dreadful. I don’t know what you did, I don’t know if I can trust you, and it’s not like I can expect you to answer me honestly if I ask about that.”
“Well, you don’t really have anyone else to trust, do you? It would be better for you to trust us, we’re pretty much the only intelligent species left.”
What? There’s no way that’s true… or… maybe it is… I wouldn’t know. I’ve only been here for an hour at best.
Not that it really mattered. The walls around me kept repeating “This is a temple.” with their colorful patterns telling a story of how us humans have once created a massive sun that recreated the world… That story is somehow familiar, but god…ess I cannot remember what actually happened. If I were there that is. Maybe someone told me. I don’t really know. How would I know?
That thread of thoughts snapped as the creature in front of me stopped, gesturing towards a small room with the words “Well, we’ve arrived. Make yourself at home.”
A bed, a lamp, and a closet. More than I expected, to be fair. A device attached to the creature’s shoulder..? beeped.
“Oops, forgot about that. I gotta go, the Association needs me. If you need to talk later, ask anyone around here for Phrh, and if you need anything, just ask the priests, they’ll help you in any way they can. See you later.”
And with that, Phrh left me to my own devices. With little to do and my head still hurting, I laid on the bed and drifted off into slumber.
“Hi. You’re asleep right now, so I just wanted to ask some questions if you don’t mind.”
“What? You can’t just enter a dream, can you? Who are you even?”
“Sorry, didn’t take form in your dream just yet… Here you go.”
Before me stood a woman, closely resembling the statue in the temple. Is that the goddess?
“Yes, I am. I know what you think, you know. I’m, like, literally a goddess, so, yeah. Anyway, have you been enjoying yourself so far?”
“Why would I? I’m alone, I don’t know anything, I apparently have some sort of device inside me, there are countless unknown creatures around me, I’m all alone, and a goddess is entering mydreams. What makes you think I can enjoy any of this?”
“Oh, that… would make sense actually. I’m sorry. But do remember this, you are not alone. You’re never alone. These creatures are special. They’re friendly, don’t worry about them. You’ll find great friends among them, ones you never thought you needed. Next question, what do you think the meaning of your life is?”
“Are you nuts? Why would you ask me that right now? I’ve only been living for about 2 hours that I remember, and I think even you can see the problem here!”
“Oh… I’m… quite bad at asking questions, am I not? I’ll apologize again, and I’ll get out of your dream now. Sorry. You can think about something else now.”
And with that, she disappeared. What a strange deity. And really, I don’t want to think right now. I think my head needs some rest. Maybe then I can finally get what’s going on. With that thought, I drifted deeper into my slumber, stopping my thoughts and letting my body rest and heal to get ready for what awaited me next…