I yawned as I opened my eyes. That was a nice nap. But the only thing I saw was a white abyss. I'm here again?
I sat up and saw Asteria in the distance, "Good morning, Miss Asteria," I said waving at her.
She turned around and smiled at me, floating my way, "Good morning child. How was your rest?"
"I slept well. How 'bout you?"
She smiled, "Silly thing, I am a goddess. I have no need for mortal practices."
Okay, now. What do you mean by 'mortal practices?' You know, as a human, I believe sleep is a very good habit to keep up. I mean I know you're a goddess and all, but I wouldn't wish a sleepless life on even my worst enemy.
"I think you should try some sleep yourself. Since you're kinda immortal, it might help you pass the time, since you live forever and all," I suggested.
Asteria stared at me for a little while. Wait, why are you staring at me? Shit did I piss her off? Oh shit, I knew I shouldn't have said anything.
"Hehe, out of all the requests I've received in the centuries of my existence, partaking in sleep is a unique one," she chuckled as she kept staring down at me.
Yup, tall lady.
"Um, thank you?"
Wait, why was I here again? Right, Asteria must've called me here for something.
Maybe I can finally get some answers!
Ow, okay now my neck hurts. Is this what it's like for short people?
Well 5' 6 isn't that tall but, still I'm taller than most of my family. Well, Minh is taller but that isn't really fair 'cause he wears Converse. Anyway, questions need answers. I stand up, still not tall enough, but with less neck pain. So... yay?
"So uh, why did you bring me here?" I asked, watching her smile disappear.
"The reason I have summoned you to my domain is to give you the answer you're searching for. Now that the situation isn't as dire, I can finally give you answers to those pesky questions of yours," she explained.
She stepped away from me, everything around us turning black. Um, what's happening? Everything was so dark, the only thing I could see clearly was Asteria's purple eyes staring down at me.
Okay, you're freaking me out. Quit looking at me like that!
After a moment, the place lit up with sparkling stars shining in the abyss like a night sky. Pretty. Asteria walked in circles around me, her white hair glowing in the darkness. She kinda looked like a star. Well, that makes sense. She is the goddess of the stars.
She cleared her throat, "Hero from a world beyond," she started, her voice echoing.
Ow, my ears. I like loud noises but this is too loud.
"I have summoned you to carry out a divine task. Many centuries ago, there was a god that had committed a grave sin, which had sent our world into war."
War? So it's not just Annferd and Glorian?
"In hopes of bringing peace to this land, I had sealed him away. But now, the worse has come. For the seal has weakened over the centuries and I am afraid, it will only be a matter of two years before it is broken."
Well, that doesn't sound good. I stepped closer to her, "So you called me here to fix the seal?"
She shook her head, "I fear, it is not as simple as that, my child. No, what I want you to do is rid this world of that foul creature forevermore."
I stepped back, "So... you want me to kill a god?"
"Essentially, yes," she nodded, turning away, "I know that killing a deity similar to I, will be a daunting task for any mortal. But that is precisely why I had summoned you. With my blessing and protection, I assure you that you will succeed."
"Yeah, but it's a god we're talking about. As far as I know, I'm still human and a really weak one, too."
"Yes, humans are extremely weak creatures, which is why I had summoned you to propose a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yes," She answered, turning back around, "Despite being tethered to me, you are quite weaker than I expected. So I had decided that other than my protection, I will give you a portion of my power," she explained.
"So like, demigod status?" I asked.
Holy shit, am I gonna be a demigod?! Hah, suck it Minh!
Asteria shook her head, "Not a demigod per say, but you will be fairly strong."
Dang it.
She smiled, reaching out her hand as glowing marks appeared on it, "Now then, will you accept my power?"
Hell yeah!
I reached out to shake her hand but stopped. Wait a minute, why does this feel sus?
I looked up at Asteria, then at her hand.
"So you just want me to kill this evil god, right?"
"Yes. Now there is no time to waste. Just take my hand," she clarified, moving her hand closer.
"Are you sure, sure?"
"Yes," she nodded, her hand moving even closer as she stared at me. Her frown not letting up.
"Like really sure?"
"YES," She snapped, her voice echoing around us, "Ahem, now child, take my hand," she urged.
Ow my ears again. Okay now I know this is sus.
I withdrew my hand taking another step back, "I don't know, maybe you can give me some time to think about it."
Asteria closed her hand, her eyes still on me, "I see... very well. I will give you a year and a half, for now. I will wait until then," she agreed.
She didn't look very happy, I swear I saw her eye twitch for a second.
"So, can you send me back?"
"Of course," she replied, snapping her fingers, "Remember, I will summon you in eighteen month's time."
I nodded, "Right." Then black.
— * —
My eyes opened again, this time I was in Minh's room.
Yay, I'm back! Hold on, I thought I was sleeping on the floor before. Did I sleepwalk here? Nah, my body's too lazy for that. Did Minh move me? Probably.
I got out of the covers- and the room was sparkling. The cleanfreak has struck again.
"Morning, lazy butt."
I turned to see Minh sitting on the floor eating some meat skewers we got the day before.
He handed me one of the skewers, "After you eat, go brush your hair, I'm not letting you leave this room looking like that."
He was nagging again!
"Okay, okay, I know," I sighed, chomping down on it.
Yummy. I got off the bed and sat next to Minh.
"Hey, pass me the sauce."
"Sure," he nodded, mouth full of meat.
He passed the small cup of black sauce to me. I dipped my skewer in it and chowed down.
"Holy- this tastes like barbeque sauce!"
"Really?" he dipped his skewer in and took a bite, "Oh shit it does. So there's barbeque sauce in this world."
"Yeah, I thought I wouldn't be able to eat food from our world ever again!" I cheered.
Minh handed me another skewer, "Don't worry, we will."
"Huh?"
"I was thinking last night. I'll find a way to get us back to our world. We'll see Mẹ again and go back to our normal lives," he vowed, turning to me, "After that, let's go to a restaurant."
I stared at him for a while.
What should I say? What can I say?
To everyone back home, we died in a truck accident. Is it even possible to go back? Maybe I could ask Asteria to send us back. Yeah, I'll ask when I see her again. I mean, no matter how sus she is, it probably wouldn't hurt.
We finished the last of the food and cleaned up. We're definitely going back for more. That was too good.
Minh threw a brush at me. I caught it but, what the hell?!
"What the fuck Minh?!"
"Hair. Brush it. Now."
"Oh my god! I know!" I huffed, "What's up your ass this morning?" I grumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
Asshole.
I dragged the brush through my hair, some of it getting pulled out, but that's fine, it'll grow back- and it's stuck!
I pulled on the brush, but it wouldn't budge, "Minh, it's stuck."
"Again?"
I nodded, the stupid brush sitting on top of my head.
He yawned, "Alright, give it here," he came over, pulling the brush out of my hair.
"Ow, Minh, that hurts."
"Deal with it," he shot back, running the brush through my hair.
Why was it so easy when he did it?! Did I make the brush gods mad at me for some reason?
Once he finished, he folded the blankets, face-planting into the bed after.
I knelt next to him, poking his cheek, "Minh, let's go to the deck."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it's gonna rain," he explained.
Rain?
I looked out the window, staring at the very clear and very sunny sky.
I turned back to him, "But it's sunny."
"For now."
"Seriously? You picked this time to be a shut-in?"
"Yes."
"... Alright, fuck you, I'm going by myself."
"Be my guest."
"Fine!" I huffed, leaving out the door.
-------------------------------------------------------
It wasn't long before I heard the thunderous cries of the rain from outside the window.
Called it.
I lifted my face off the bed when I heard the door open. There, standing in the doorway was Phuong, soaked; you're so lucky you're not wearing white.
She looked at me, wiping her face, "Go on, get it over with."
"Just give me a moment," I paused for a few seconds, marveling at my sister's entertaining incompetency before I added, "I told you so."
"Fuck you."
"You asked for it," I retorted.
I got up and threw a towel at her, "Now dry your hair before you catch a cold."
I walked towards the window to see a dark gray cloud looming overhead. Looked like were going through a storm. And as if on cue, a small part of the ceiling in front of the door opened, and one of those old radio speakers lowered itself into view. When I saw it, a familiar chill ran down my spine. This isn't going to end well.
A static noise could be heard before a voice came out, "Hello, this is your captain speaking. We are currently entering a storm. We advise all passengers to stay in their rooms and secure any and all belongings," a muffled voice explained.
Then the radio returned to wherever it came from and the ceiling closed up.
And I was right again. I am on a roll today. I turned to Phuong, who looked visibly panicked.
"I'm sure we'll be fine."
"Whatever you say," I shrugged, lying back on the bed.
We don't have any of our stuff, to begin with. It's best to just brace ourselves for the impending doom.
Phuong sat next to me, still in wet clothes. "Go change."
"Fine," she got up and left for her room next door and came back in a new change of clothes.
"Better?"
"Yes," I nodded.
She lay next to me, towel around her neck. And with that, we zoned out together. How wholesome.
Unfortunately, that wonderful silence didn't last long and before I knew it, I was tumbling around the room while amber alerts were firing off in my head. Well shit, we're all gonna die.
Side Story Dated - 14 yrs
Rainy Day Memory
It's raining and I'm fine with that. Despite being one for outdoor activities, I can safely say that stay inside didn't bother me. Though I can't say the same for a certain thing.
"Minh, did it stop raining yet?"
I turned around to stare at Phuong lying on the floor, most likely contemplating life while staring into the abyss.
"I suggest not rushing Mother Nature. She can be a cruel woman," I advised, "Go take a nap, or read a book. You know, the things you do indoors."
"But I wanna go run around," she complained, making me sigh so hard that I was pretty sure that my soul had left me to find a place where I gave a shit.
"Well that's unfortunate for you," I shrugged getting off the couch and going upstairs.
To my dismay, the brat followed me.
Damn it.
I managed to escape into my room before she could reach me.
But that course of action led to not only an annoying child following me, but also a whack job of a sister banging on my door.
"Minh, open the door!"
"Begone, wench," I shot back, but that seemed to make the banging louder.
I held out for a little while until she got Mẹ involved, that snitch! And after a round of lecturing, I am saddened to say that I was forced to read shitty fanfiction until the morning after.
It was a sad day.
A/N
It seems Angelo's bad luck radar is right once again. Maybe I should write more lighthearted scenes to balance the karma of the events to follow after this.