I woke up again—but not as a baby. This time, I was a child, perhaps the same one I had been before being killed. Bright light surrounded me from every direction.
Was I finally dead? Is this the afterlife?
Though, honestly, I hadn't expected to end up in heaven.
"What's happening…?"
"I saved you before you could completely die and be reborn somewhere else."
I turned around and saw a beautiful woman standing before me. She wore a long white dress that seemed to glow on its own. Normally, I might have admired her beauty—but now wasn't the time. Something felt wrong.
"Why did you do it?" I asked. "This is the first time I've seen you in the fifty times I've died. That means you want something from me. What is it?"
She looked slightly surprised by my bluntness but quickly composed herself.
"You are very smart," she said. "And you're right. I do need something from you."
"Spit it out."
"A war is coming."
"So what does that have to do with me?"
"You, my child, are the one who will be able to win this war."
"Pretty words," I replied coldly. "But there is no winner in war—only loss. And why would I involve myself in a war that has nothing to do with me?"
"I know you're not a bad person," she said gently. "I know you care about innocent people dying, and that you hate war more than anything."
"You know nothing about the kind of person I am," I snapped. "And even if I do fight in that war, it will be my choice which side I stand on. I won't follow you just because you ask me to."
She sighed.
"I knew this wouldn't be easy. I'll give you time to think about it… I'll send you back for now."
"For now?" I scoffed. "What makes you think I'll come back?"
"I know more than you think," she replied calmly. "After all, you're not the only one who has lived for thousands of years."
As she spoke, she gently held my small hands. Light began to surround us.
"See you soon, Celea."
Celea met her gaze before completely disappearing.
I finally got the chance to see and hold your hands.
The mysterious woman smiled warmly, staring at the space where Celea had stood only moments ago.
How many more times am I going to wake up in places other than where I fell asleep? Celea thought, sighing.
She was back in her new parents' house. They were still there—yes, still just as dead as she'd left them.
"Looks like I'll have to find another place to live."
She went outside and headed to the library to look up houses she could stay in. After some searching, she found a beautiful villa hidden from the world, isolated in the middle of nowhere.
Perfect.
She noted the address and took a taxi.
When she arrived, she stepped out and walked straight toward the man standing in front of the house. He looked surprised to see a child alone.
"Did you run ahead of your parents?" he asked kindly. "Is your mommy on her way?"
Being a child really sucks, Celea thought. But I don't have a choice.
She looked him straight in the eyes. Her irises shifted from a rare, beautiful green to pure gold.
"This house belongs to me," she said calmly. "It was never for sale. You will erase every trace of its existence."
"Yes," the man replied blankly before walking away.
"Beautiful," Celea murmured as she entered the villa. It was clean, quiet—exactly how she liked it.
"I'm broke…" she sighed. "Guess I'll have to rob a bank tomorrow."
BOOM.
"What the hell?" Celea rushed outside. "Who's bombing near my property?"
She froze.
A dragon.
It wasn't uncommon—this world was full of mythical creatures, though humans couldn't see them.
"But why are they fighting here instead of their realm?" she groaned. "How annoying. Now I'll have to deal with this before my house turns to ashes."
The Battlefield
"I see… Hunters."
She frowned. "These bastards couldn't find a better place?"
The dragon lay dying. When their eyes met, the creature looked at her desperately, then glanced toward a distant spot before taking its final breath.
"I understand."
Three large black eggs lay hidden nearby.
About two hundred hunters surrounded the area, advancing toward the dragon.
"Step away from the dragon if you want to stay alive," Celea warned.
The hunters froze. A child's voice—yet not human.
"She's not human! Kill the child!"