"This is... Earth?"
Marlene said as she looked downwards, the blue planet filling her view. There was something magical about seeing her planet like this. Of course, she had been to space quite a few times to conduct experiments under zero gravity, but there was something about floating in space completely alone.
While looking down at Earth, Marlene realized that she couldn't see any part of her body.
"It makes sense I wouldn't have my body... So this is what being dead feels like, interesting."
It was common knowledge that there couldnt be sounds in space, but somehow the very foundation of the laws of physics were broken as Marlene heard a voice behind her. This voice was ethereal, it was not like anything she had heard before.
"The souls of the dead are transported into
Thyreum, you are the exception."
As this otherworldly voice spoke Marlene could not resist the urge to turn around, and what she saw would stick with her for the rest of her life.
It was... Indescribable to say the least. If one had to describe, it could only be said that it was the entire, unfathomably large and perpetually expanding universe, condensed into a single point. Infinitely large, yet infinitely small.
As Marlene kept looking at the mysterious *thing*, she was more and more enraptured by it, every single part of this being gave her immense inspiration. If she could return to her laboratory, she was certain that the entire world and the biological wars would experience a huge upheaval!
After an unknown amount of time passed, Marlene heard the same voice in her head.
"Seen enough?"
"Shut up."
Marlene was completely obsessed with the scenery in front of her. She couldnt care less about the mysterious voice, the reason she could hear that voice, how she was in space and everything else that eluded her completely vanished from her mind. As she kept looking at what was basically everything, she felt a sublime change in her, but once again, she did not care at all. Rather, it was more accurate to say that she did not have the capability to think about anything other than the vast expanse in front of her.
"Sigh, this is what I get for letting a mortal soul see my true body..."
The voice said, intending to disguise itself to wake Marlene up from her tranced state, but just as it was about to do that, Marlene spoke.
"No, wait!"
"Hm? You have actually still retained your mind? That is impressive, I shouldn't have doubted Emyron, he indeed chose a good candidate for forced reincarnation."
"Forced Reincarnation?"
"Forced reincarnation is when a Scout deems a soul worthy enough for the time of death to be accelerated so that they can be reincarnated as an Envoy. Although it is exceedingly rare because I am the only one able to perform such an act, in fact, you are the first one to be recommended for it in the last few million years, and the only one ever from Earth."
Countless thoughts ran through Marlene's head as she replied and started asking some of her questions.
"I see... I'm guessing you are some sort of god then?"
"I am revered as the Soul Goddess. I go by plenty of names but that is the one that should give you the best idea of my specialization."
Marlene's eyes darted around the True Body of the Goddess while countless thoughts ran through her head, replying to the Goddess after some time.
"I'll get to the point with my questions. What do you want from me? What do I get for doing whatever it is you want me to do? And lastly, how do I get back?"
The Goddess took no time with her answers.
"Your objective is to assist my revival ritual. I'll answer your last two questions at once, your reward is being able to go back to your world. Before the time of your death of course."
"So I get to help the high and mighty Soul Goddess in her revival but all I get in return is being able to return to my prior situation? Now that's not a very fair trade is it?"
Marlene replied in a mocking tone.
"You are the first one to dare negotiate with me, but fine, I'll let you entertain me."
"What does it take to become a God?"
Marlene could hear a subtle sound that was vaguely reminiscent of a laugh.
"You are entertaining indeed, little one. There are many requirements for attaining divinity, I shall not bother with the specifics, but know that no God may interfere with the procession of Godhood. Choose something else."
"So there is a way..."
She replied with faint excitement in her voice.
"If I can't have you make me a God... Just give me some cheat ability, obviously the reward will be upfront, and it will make it that much easier for me to assist in your revival right?"
"Consider it done. There is very little I would give up in order to get my body back, and I assume you know that too since you are so bold with your requests. I hope you are this shrewd in your quest as well. I spent the last of my regenerated power bringing you out and helping that asshole rewind time, so you'll be going now. I hope I'll see you later on your road to success, little one..."
Marlene heard her words fade as the infinite expanse she was analyzing quickly grew larger in her view, completely sucking her into itself...