Noah sat up slowly, the dazzle of the marble hall still sinking into his eyes. The woman with the striking red eyes stood in front of him, graceful, calm, and radiant like something from a dream.
He swallowed his nerves and managed a quiet, "Are you... an angel?"
The woman chuckled softly, her voice like a breeze over still water. "An angel? Oh, no, not exactly. I'm just a woman from your own imagination. But," she said, her smile deepening, "I do work for the god of this world, so in a sense, you might say I am a kind of angel."
Noah's brows furrowed. "This... this isn't Earth, is it?"
"No, child. This is Neoabianka. A realm apart. A place where the laws you knew no longer apply."
He took in the space again. The high windows glowing with soft ethereal light. The strange hum of power in the air. It felt like something between a palace and a temple.
"Then why am I here?" he asked, still trying to piece together the enormity of what was happening. "Why bring me?"
"Because you were chosen."
"Chosen? For what?"
"To rule."
Noah blinked.
"You have within you a spirit the god of this world deemed worthy. You were broken, yes, but not shattered. You lost much, yet you held yourself together. The god saw that. Your pain, your loyalty, your defiance against despair—all of it. You are not a perfect soul, but you are a rare one. And so, the god decided your potential shouldn't go to waste."
Noah frowned. "But... if he's a god, why does he care about potential? Why would a god be bothered with a human like me?"
The woman, Austerlia, she called herself, tilted her head, her red eyes glowing with a curious warmth. "Because even gods have regrets, Noah. Even gods have longings."
"Longings?" Noah echoed.
"Yes. A longing to see a soul rise. To see one mortal walk a path he could not. The god of Neoabianka created a world filled with power and wonder, yet it has always needed a ruler who could understand both suffering and strength. He believes that one day, one being—perhaps you—will walk the path to something even he could not reach."
"That sounds like a lot to put on someone."
"It is."
Noah rose to his feet, still in awe of the expanse around him. "What is this place really? This world? You called it Neoabianka."
"Neoabianka," Austerlia said, "is a world as ancient as the stars. A land filled with beasts, people, and powers you cannot yet imagine. Magic flows through its rivers. Forests whisper secrets from centuries ago. Cities rise and fall in a blink. There are elves who ride lightning, dwarves who speak to stone, dragons who govern skies, and humans..."
She paused.
"...humans like you, who dream bigger than the world allows."
Noah looked down at his hands. They were trembling, not from fear, but from something else. "So what now? What do I do here?"
Austerlia walked toward him, close enough now that he could see the intricate patterns embroidered in her gown—runes, strange yet beautiful.
"What you do here is your decision. I won't help you, nor will I follow you. You're free. That's the beauty and the cruelty of this world."
"You're just going to leave me here? No guide? No powers? No map?"
She grinned. "You want to rule, don't you? You want to be more than just a broken boy mourning his past. Then act. Learn. Fight. Rise. No one will hand you a throne, Noah."
He took a step forward, his mind racing. "Then how do I start? Where do I begin?"
"Your journey begins in Opusterra," Austerlia said, her gaze softening. "It's a place far removed from the power struggles of the other lands, but there you'll find the opportunity to start. It's a land of chaos and survival, but it's where you can learn the most about yourself. The people there speak Sanguese, the common language of this world. You'll need to learn it quickly if you want to make any progress."
"Opusterra," Noah muttered, tasting the name. "And... Sanguese?"
"Yes. It's the language most of the world speaks, or at least understands. Though there are many dialects and tongues across the realms of Neoabianka, Sanguese is the bridge between them. You'll need to adapt to this new world quickly. It's no longer just about surviving. It's about understanding what you're meant to become."
Noah nodded slowly, the weight of her words settling into him. There was no turning back now. "And where do I go from Opusterra?"
Austerlia's smile remained calm, but there was a slight flicker of something in her eyes—an ancient knowledge, perhaps, or just the weight of countless experiences. "The rest of the world will reveal itself to you, in time. But understand this, Noah: To rule is not just to command, it's to lead with strength, wisdom, and compassion. You'll face challenges that will push you to your limits. And when you falter, there will be no one to catch you."
Her form began to shimmer, the edges of her body blurring like smoke. "But you are not alone, Noah. Not yet."
Before he could respond, before he could even grasp what she was saying, her presence vanished, the marble hall falling silent once more. He stood alone, the weight of her words pressing down on his chest like a heavy mantle.
Opusterra. Sanguese. The world, the god, the power that awaited him it was all too much to take in at once. But something inside Noah stirred—something that had been dormant since the accident, since everything had fallen apart.
He wasn't sure yet what he was meant to do, or even how to begin, but for the first time since he woke in this strange world, he felt something like purpose stirring in his chest.
The world of Neoabianka was vast and untamed, but it was his now. Whether he was ready for it or not, the journey had begun.