— So that's it... I died again.
— Hahaha. You can be funny too. That's a side of you I hadn't seen before.
— I'm not trying to be funny. I'm really confused. I mean... the last time we met, you were the God of Death.
— Hmmm, that makes sense. I am many things... But here in this world, you can just call me God.
— Okay... So, what am I doing here, God?
She observed my confused expression, but showed neither irritation nor anxiety. Her gaze was the same as always: an enigma. Her face seemed ordinary, almost serene, but there was something mysterious about it, a presence that defied logic.
— I remember you liked chess. How about a match, just to catch up?
Before I could refuse, I was already seated across from her. The table that had appeared between us was the same as in so many matches from the past — familiar, almost comforting.
— Your future, to me, was always an enigma. I'll start with white.
Pawn to F3.
— I know I made a lot of mistakes... But I always tried to be better. I think, at some point, I just got lost.
Pawn to E5.
— You were very good at what you did. But what amazed me most was how good you were at everything.
Pawn to G4.
— Queen to H4. Checkmate. Why are you telling me all this?
— I knew I was bad at this game, but... Anyway. I saw you succeed at everything you tried. When you wanted to play volleyball as a child, I saw an unbeatable champion. When you tried running, you broke records that would last for years. Even in chess, you would've become a grandmaster, you know? And your music... I won't lie: even a god could fall in love with a human with a voice like that.
She paused, and her gaze drifted into the emptiness beside me. Her eyes looked distant, and for a moment, I could've sworn I saw a tear run down her cheek.
— But there was a future... a path so unlikely, with so many choices and nuances, that not even I could understand it.
— I don't need your pity. I'm dealing with it. Alone.
— Oh, boy... I never doubted that. You made hard choices. Took responsibility for people you barely knew. And even now... you still surprise me.
Her words had a raw, direct weight to them, and they touched something inside me I thought I had buried. My blood started to boil, memories of everything that went wrong bubbling up. I wanted to scream. I wanted to blame her. I wanted to say it was because of that damn freedom of choice she gave me that I became bitter, cold... cruel.
But in the midst of so many thoughts and pains, I could only say one thing:
— I wish I had never met you...
— I wish that too... But I always admired your ambitious, free choices. And of them all, the one I loved most was seeing you with her.
— Me too... Me too.
My eyes filled with tears. I couldn't look at her anymore. Her form was becoming more and more abstract, distorted by my tears.
— But enough of that. I've realized I'm not going to beat you at chess. And I'm not going to accept that defeat either, hahaha. For having beaten me, I'll release your power. I hope that in this world, you shine like you always did. Don't be a shooting star, one that rises and dies quickly. Be what you always deserved to be. Good luck.
Suddenly, I was thrown backward violently, but something caught me before I hit the ground. Something strong — and that groaned in response:
— Holy shit... I've never seen that before, kid! HAHAHAHA!
My head was pounding. Slowly, I realized I was back in that room — only now, on the other side, being held by the Giantess. I looked around and saw the chaos on the floor I had passed through. Then I felt a warm drop run down my cheek.
— Damn, you're bleeding... Did I hurt you, ma'am?
Malaca was getting up with difficulty, but soon flashed a smile as she wiped the blood from her nose.
— Don't worry, kid. My race is naturally tough. But I've got to admit, you gave us quite a scare. Sometimes there's a little explosion here or there, but like this? Hahahaha!
— Auntie, the stone was completely destroyed, but the status was successfully imprinted on his soul. He awakened. I'll transcribe the data and hand it in tomorrow — said Zomeia, with the calm of someone who knew exactly what they were doing.
Then everything started to make sense. That thick glass... it wasn't to protect against criminals. It was to contain what had just happened to me.
— Well, kid... I guess you got what you wanted. So you owe me, right?
My mind was still spinning too fast. I was trying to piece together this chaotic puzzle, but even with several possibilities in mind, I still didn't understand how that giantess was so sure of what was coming.
— How did you know I'd have a power?
— Ah, that's a little secret. Let's just say I had a bit of help... And, hey, judging by what you broke here, you definitely owe me. But let's take it easy. The best thing now is to rest. Unfortunately, I'll have to charge you for your friend's attempt. I only had one stone, you know?
— No problem. I'm going back to the room...
My whole body hurt. Every muscle seemed to be begging for rest, and my mind was exhausted. The noise from the bar kept getting louder every second, a commotion growing like a wildfire. Even so, no one seemed to have noticed what had just happened.
— The noise is getting out of hand. You guys go up. I'll take care of this.
I watched Malaca pat the dust off herself, wiping her face with the palm of her hands. Before leaving, she turned to me with a sincere smile.
— Congratulations, kid. You're an adventurer now.
As she headed toward the bar, Helena rushed over to me, distressed.
— Fly, are you okay? Are you hurt?
— No... I'm fine. I mean, at least physically.
— What do you mean?
— Nothing, forget it. Let's go upstairs. I need a bath and a bed. I'm not feeling great.
The night in that city was eerily quiet. The streets were empty, almost lifeless. A few shops still had their lights on, and I noticed that all roads seemed to converge on a single point.
— So... that's the dungeon.
From a distance, it looked like just an ordinary mountain. But even from there, you could feel its imposing presence. It was one of the many dungeons in the world, and although its current level was classified as C, everything could change. At first, it was just a Rank E dungeon, until internal portals to more dangerous levels were discovered. The rank only increased after many deaths... and miscalculations.
If I could help it, I'd never set foot in there. But something inside me... something that wasn't just curiosity, burned for answers.
— I wonder what it's like in there.
— Fly... you're still awake?
On the other side of the bed, Helena was massaging her temples, her face turned toward me. I had even tried to get two rooms, but she insisted: she wouldn't sleep far from me. Maybe she still thought we were in that old place...
— I am. I'm glad we made it this far.
— It was all thanks to you... Thank you, Fly.
— Don't thank me yet. We need to find a way to make money here. When we do, we'll live a free life. No chains. No bindings.
I truly believed that. With every fiber of my being. I'd been cursed at, beaten, humiliated in every way imaginable. But if there's one thing I've learned... it's that perseverance always wins. Almost always.
— Tomorrow... shall we go out and explore the city? What do you think?
— Of course... I'd love that!
Helena smiled, excited. Her enthusiasm was contagious. My feelings for her were... complicated. Confusing. It wasn't romantic love, at least I didn't think so. But I wanted to protect her. I wanted to make sure this world never broke her.
— How long are you going to keep holding her?
— She's beautiful... She has your nose and your mouth... but she's got my eyes and my ears.
— That makes sense, considering she came from you. Hahahaha! Now hand her over. She needs to eat. You can be silly after she's fed and changed.
— I love you. Thank you.
— Shut up... I love you too. But since you're feeling so sweet, how about getting me something tasty to eat? I'm starving.
— You do know you're not pregnant anymore, right? Hahaha!
— Shut up, you dork! Hahahaha!
The dark, starry night brought back memories of a past buried so deep it almost felt like dreams.
I whispered:
— I miss you...
The next morning, Helena was the first to wake up — and she made sure to wake me up in the process. She had always been anxious when it came to new things. I already suspected she'd be up before the sun had fully risen.
— Your ear's huge... You didn't sleep well, huh?
— Sorry, I got excited. I slept, just... not much. Come on! I want to see the city!
— You could slow down a bit. The city's not going anywhere. And besides, we need to eat first.
The city was much quieter in the morning. The noise only began to pick up once we went down to the first floor. You could hear conversations, chewing, and drinks being gulped. A lively atmosphere.
— Good morning! I see you're up early. What would you like to eat? Today we've got manticore tail or galito egg — said Bromeia with that ever-sarcastic smile of hers.
— Good morning, Miss Bromeia. Honestly, I can't even tell which of those names is actually edible. I've always been used to regular bread and eggs... Do you have anything more, hm... normal?
— Of course not! We're next to a dungeon, not some village café! Both of the things I mentioned are tasty, trust me. But the galito egg has a more familiar flavor — and it also gives a two-hour energy buff.
— I'll go with that, then. And the drink? Also got a weird name?
— Rotten rat urine.
She paused dramatically and then burst out laughing.
— Just kidding! It's coffee! Hahahaha! The look on your faces was worth the joke!
The dining hall where people gathered was small, so it was easy to bump into someone. No one seemed to care about two kids wandering between tables. It was cruel... and comforting at the same time. At least we didn't have to worry about thieves or creeps. But it was also clear that no one would welcome us into a dungeon exploration party.
Even so... I knew that if my plan worked, we could make money doing what I did best.
— Fly, have you tried this egg? It's delicious! I feel like it's the tastiest thing I've ever eaten!
Watching Helena marvel at something so simple was almost comical. To me, it tasted like a regular egg — just a bit stronger. But to her, it was like discovering the world for the first time.
— Anyway, from what I saw when we got here yesterday, there are other places to eat. Maybe we'll get to try more flavors today.
Her eyes sparkled, despite the dark circles from a restless night. There was life in her. Hope.
— But... will we have enough money?
— Don't worry. I'll talk to Malaca. I'll find out exactly what this deal means. Depending on what it is... we'll be fine.
Helena's face lit up with joy, but my mind was still stuck on the previous day. Everything that had happened... what Malaca really wanted from me. I wouldn't have to wait long to find out. About an hour later, I was sitting in front of her, listening to the proposal.
— No fucking way I'm doing that!