Suddenly, a blast of light tore me from my stupor, bringing me back to a altered state of consciousness. When my eyes opened, I found myself in a vast, immaculate room, bathed in a supernatural aura. "Am I in heaven?" I wondered, my mind foggy.
It was then that the sound of heels echoed through the room. A woman of stunning beauty materialized before me, surrounded by a golden halo. Tall and slender, her silver hair cascaded down to the small of her back. Her pearlescent skin gleamed like pearls. But above all, her eyes captivated me. Of cerulean blue, they sparkled with a light that was both wise and mischievous.
This goddess, for she could be nothing else, was draped in a vaporous gown that hugged her perfect curves. The diaphanous and flowing fabric revealed more than it concealed the wonders of her anatomy. Beneath the veil, her ample bosom was on display, unintentionally igniting the flames of desire within me.
Enchanted by this divine apparition, it took me a few seconds to gather my wits.
"Who are you? And where am I?" I finally asked in a hoarse voice.
"Welcome, Kazuya Ishida," she replied with a soft and soothing tone. "You are currently in the antechamber of the afterlife, a place where exceptional souls like yours are offered a second chance."
"A second chance?" I repeated, struggling to grasp her words. "What do you mean exactly?"
"As I mentioned, here you are given the opportunity to be reborn, to live a new existence," the goddess clarified.
"I see... You are probably a goddess associated with reincarnation, am I right? And then, what happens?" I inquired with an unsettling calm.
"You were indeed an extraordinary being in your previous life, but I find you remarkably serene for a mortal facing the unknown," she marveled, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Why fight it? The die is cast!" I replied fatalistically, also flashing a slight smile.
"Haha... Even in death, you remain fascinating! Shall we proceed with your rebirth?" the goddess suggested, becoming serious once more. "You are entitled to one wish. Choose the world where you wish to be reborn, whether it be the real world or a fictional universe."
With those words, a vast screen appeared, revealing a multitude of possible destinations. After deep contemplation, I chose the world of Naruto.
"So, your choice is set on the world of Naruto," the goddess exclaimed enthusiastically.
"By the way, what is your name?" I asked out of curiosity. My question caught her off guard.
"Haha... Know that in millennia, no one had dared to inquire about the name of the goddess that I am," she declared with undisguised pride.
"Please excuse my impudence, I was simply curious. Now that everything is settled, may I go?" I inquired wearily.
"Yes," she acquiesced, opening a portal. "Aishia... My name is Aishia Von Tertius," she added with grandeur, a wide smile on her lips.
"It was an honor to meet you, Aishia. I hope our paths will cross again," I concluded as I walked away.
As I was about to step through the portal, I heard the goddess exclaim, "Ryusei...". But before she could finish, the vortex engulfed me, leaving only the echoing word "memory."
"Ahhh..." sighed Aishia. "I was about to warn him against blindly trusting his past memories. Well, it's no longer my concern... I will patiently await the time of our reunion," she concluded, gracefully walking away.
*******
Inside the portal
I rushed through the tunnel of shimmering souls. The enigmatic words of the goddess still echoed in my mind, but unfortunately, I had not been able to grasp the entirety of her message. Frustrated, I inwardly cursed: "Damn it! If only I could have heard the end..."
Suddenly, in the distance, a brilliant light pierced the darkness, like a beacon guiding my soul to its ultimate destination: the day of my rebirth. As I neared the exit, indistinct voices could be heard, whispering in a language still unknown to me. Then, in an instant, I found myself in the open air, embraced by the loving arms of a woman.
Suddenly, a searing pain pierced my skull, and I let out a piercing cry of a newborn. My consciousness wavered, like a flame threatened by the wind.
"What... What is happening to me? Why am I losing my grip?"
For the first time, a visceral fear took hold of me. Was it an error in the transfer of my soul? Or something else entirely? I felt my memories unraveling, my identity inexorably dissolving. I struggled with all my might to preserve my essence, but in vain. Gradually, I sank into the abyss of oblivion, until the darkness completely engulfed me.