Yuomo wondered to whom that sweet voice belonged, calling out to him from the shadows. Suddenly, hands emerged from nowhere and gently grasped his shoulders, as if embracing him. With a firm yet tender pull, they drew him out of the darkness and gloom that had enveloped him moments before. A blinding light surrounded him completely, forcing him to shield his eyes with his hands. He blinked several times, trying to adjust his vision as the brightness slowly faded.
When he finally managed to focus, he saw before him a woman of indescribable beauty. She was young, radiant, almost ethereal, as though she belonged to another world. Her silvery hair, long and flowing, had delicate tips tinged with a soft pale pink that shimmered under the light. Her eyes were like blue crystals—translucent and deep, reflecting the calm of a serene sea at dawn. Her skin was smooth and fair, though not so much as to overshadow the luminous aura that enveloped her. She wore an intense red dress, resembling liquid fire, akin to the color of fresh blood. With a warm smile, she said, "Welcome."
"This is a dream," Yuomo murmured in disbelief as he took in the place where he now stood. It was a celestial garden, a landscape worthy of a painting. Crystal-clear water channels meandered through meadows dotted with cherry blossoms, their petals falling softly with each breath of wind. In the distance stood a small cabin, modest yet beautiful, seemingly made of golden wood bathed in sunlight. Everything radiated peace—a tranquility Yuomo had never experienced in his life.
"Where am I?" Yuomo asked, still dazed.
"In my home," she replied with a melodious voice that seemed to resonate in the air.
Yuomo was awestruck. This place was entirely unlike anything he had ever known. It was a refuge of calm, an oasis of serenity contrasting sharply with the chaos and pain that had dominated his recent years. The woman gazed at him intently and added, "I was the one who saved you from that cruel fate."
But suddenly, Yuomo felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. He remembered being stabbed repeatedly. Urgently, he lifted his shirt, searching for the wounds—but found no cuts, not even a scratch. Still, the pain persisted, like a ghostly echo of what he had endured. Confused, he thought: I must be in a coma… or surely I'm in the... Before he could finish the thought, the woman interrupted: "Indeed, you are dead. But I was able to save your soul," she said as she vanished from sight and reappeared behind him. Gently, she helped him lie back on the ground, aware that he still bore the weight of the suffering that had caused his death.
"But… didn't you say you saved me?" Yuomo asked, confused.
"Of course, I saved you. But only your soul," she responded with a calm smile, though slightly amused by Yuomo's bewildered expression. "I suppose I should have started from the beginning," she added, leaning toward him with a compassionate gaze.
"I am Ravada, the goddess of this place," she said in a soft yet authoritative voice. Yuomo was stunned. A goddess? For a moment, he thought all of this was a vivid dream, and that the stabbing by that man had been nothing more than a nightmare. But Ravada shook her head before he could even formulate the question. "No, it's all true," she explained. "The only thing I did was save your soul. I saw that it wasn't your time yet, took pity on you, and decided to bring you here." Her words echoed distantly in Yuomo's mind. She hinted at something more: someone had intervened in his fate.
Yuomo began piecing things together. This was like those animes he'd watched, where someone dies and is reborn in another world. Ravada smiled, noticing his thoughts. "Something like that," she confirmed. "So… does that mean I'll have a second chance in this world? And what will happen to my family and pets?" he asked, his throat tightening with emotion.
"Don't worry," Ravada replied calmly. "They'll all be able to live peacefully. Of course, they cried at your funeral. In your world, a month has already passed since your death. Many people attended—even some you might have forgotten. You seemed like a star to them," she added, trying to soothe any sadness lingering in Yuomo's heart.
Though he understood her words, Yuomo couldn't help but shed tears. He would never see his loved ones again or feel the affection of Kila or Chop. Ravada, sensing his pain, wrapped him in a warm embrace and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. The gesture calmed him, though it also made him blush slightly. He had never been so close to a woman before, let alone someone as extraordinary as Ravada.
Once the bittersweet moment passed, Ravada continued. "I will send you to a new world called Novaraser. There, you will be reborn, but you will retain all your memories, including the memory of your death." She paused, observing him intently. "It seems you wanted to ask me something."
Yuomo nodded, surprised by her perceptiveness. Ravada went on: "You will be reborn in this world, but I need to know something: where would you prefer to start? In high society, as a farmer, or perhaps as a simple villager?" Humble as always, Yuomo responded without hesitation: "It doesn't matter. Whatever you decide will be fine with me."
Ravada looked at him carefully, as if she could pierce through his soul with her gaze. She knew she could read the spectrum of his being and judge his deepest desires. "I see," she murmured thoughtfully. "You've always suffered from a lack of funds and were often overlooked by others for being introverted. I understand now where to send you." A gentle smile formed on her face as she extended her hand toward him. "Additionally, you will carry my blessing. With it, you'll be able to protect yourself and learn different things. It will be a gift to help you in your new beginning."
Yuomo accepted without hesitation what Ravada had told him. Anticipating his thoughts, she added, "Surely you're wondering what I desire in return." However, Yuomo said nothing; he simply remained silent, listening attentively. Ravada continued: "In exchange for giving you this second chance, you must uncover something that is happening in this world… and, if possible, resolve it."
The idea of having a new life filled Yuomo with gratitude. With a sincere heart, he accepted the goddess's request without hesitation. Ravada smiled at his readiness and added, "There is more I wish to tell you, but that would take too long. Each time you come to my temple and pray, we will speak." Yuomo nodded, understanding that this was only the beginning of his connection with Ravada.
Before parting ways, the goddess looked at him seriously and warned, "Be careful, Yuomo. There are forces that desire your death. The man who murdered you… he is also in this world." Her words resonated like thunder in Yuomo's mind. His expression shifted from sadness to deep seriousness, tinged with a hint of frustration. Why was that man here? What did all of this mean?
Ravada, perceiving his confusion, explained, "I do not know for certain, but there are forces similar to me that seek to darken this world. That will be your task from now on." Without giving him time to respond, the goddess approached him and placed one last kiss on his forehead. At that instant, Yuomo's body began to shine with an intense light, transforming into pure energy as he slowly faded from the place.
"Go and fulfill your dreams," Ravada murmured softly but meaningfully as she watched Yuomo's light gradually vanish into the air. A melancholic smile crossed her face, as if she knew she was sending him to a destiny filled with both dangers and possibilities. Then, her figure disappeared completely, leaving behind only a faint glow that dissipated in the breeze.
Suddenly, in a distant place, an enormous gate opened with a muffled roar, as if the world itself held its breath. Swift footsteps echoed through the silence, hurried yet determined. A clear and firm voice broke the stillness, announcing, "He has been born!" And then, a piercing cry flooded the space—a sound so pure and powerful that it seemed to vibrate in every corner of Novaraser.
A warm, delicate hand gently caressed the newborn, enveloping him in tenderness. A soft voice, full of love and hope, whispered beside him: "Welcome to life… Welcome to Novaraser, my child."