Nita woke with a dull headache and a soft groan escaped her lips as she pushed herself upright. When she looked around, her breath caught.
Everything was white.
No ground. No sky. No walls. Just endless emptiness.
Panic crept into her chest as she began to walk aimlessly.
"Hello?" she called out. "Is anyone there?"
No answer.
Suddenly, a blinding light filled the space. Nita squeezed her eyes shut, shielding her face. When she opened them again, a figure was walking toward her.
"My child," the figure said gently, "what are you doing here?"
Nita froze, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.
"W-who are you?" she stammered. "Where am I?"
The figure smiled. "I am whomever you wish to call me. Humans are quite creative with names. I am rather fond of 'God'—very imaginative indeed. But I am a woman, so I prefer 'goddess.'"
She paused.
"That, however, is merely a title. My true name is Freya."
The woman before her seemed formed from the void itself—beautiful, powerful, terrifying. Nita was too shocked to speak.
Freya chuckled softly. "Ah... forgive me. Let me change into something less... overwhelming."
A golden light enveloped her, and when it faded, a stunning woman stood before Nita.
She was beautiful before, Nita thought. She just startled me.
"You are here," Freya continued, "because you died. However... I am confused. You were not meant to."
"What do you mean I wasn't supposed to die?" Nita asked.
"Every human has a life thread. It tells me when a soul has reached its end. Yours was not scheduled for today. I was away—on vacation, actually—exploring Earth. My apprentice was overseeing the threads."
Freya's eyes darkened.
"CORA!"
A girl suddenly appeared beside her, making Nita jump back in fright.
"Yessss?" Cora replied cheerfully.
"What did I tell you about cutting human life threads?" Freya demanded.
"It was an accident!" Cora panicked. "I swear!"
"I already feel a headache coming on," Freya sighed. "And no one should be around to witness one."
"Oh yeah," Cora added nervously, "like last time when you almost destroyed an entire planet..."
"Enough," Freya snapped. "We are not revisiting that."
Nita stood there, stunned. One moment she was crossing the street, the next she was listening to gods argue about planetary destruction.
Freya turned back to her. "I have two propositions for you. Choose wisely."
Nita nodded, uneasy.
"First, you may stay here and train to become a goddess, as Cora has. Or—you may be reborn into one of my many worlds and build a new life there."
Cora laughed mockingly. "This is easy. No human would pass up becoming a god. You're all power-hungry."
"CORA," Freya barked.
Nita swallowed and spoke softly. "She isn't wrong. I was selfish. I spent my life wondering why I couldn't find love, instead of helping people who could truly benefit from what I had. If I'm being given another chance... I want to do better."
Freya looked at her sadly, then glared at Cora.
"I respect that," Cora said quietly, turning away. "Most humans wouldn't admit that."
"I choose," Nita said firmly, "to be reborn. I want a second chance at life."
Freya smiled. "Then it shall be done. And as compensation for my apprentice's mistake, you will receive gifts."
⸻
Gifts
The Sword of Nature
A blade that commands plants and trees—able to protect or destroy.
The Mare of Loyalty
A mount bound to one rider for its entire life.
The Infinity Bag
Endless storage without weight or limit.
"I have more gifts planned," Freya said softly. "After all... your name means Gift of God."
Nita felt her eyes grow heavy as darkness gently embraced her.