Yuomo wondered who that sweet voice calling to him from the shadows belonged to. Suddenly, hands emerged from the void, taking him by the shoulders with a gentle touch, as if offering a warm embrace. Then, with a firm yet kind tug, they pulled him out of the darkness and the gloom that had enveloped him moments before. A blinding light surrounded him completely, forcing him to shield his eyes. He blinked repeatedly, trying to adjust his vision as the brilliance slowly dissipated.
When he finally managed to focus his gaze, he saw a woman of indescribable beauty standing before him. She was young, radiant, and almost ethereal, as if she belonged to another realm entirely. Her silvery hair, long and flowing, had delicate tips dyed in a soft pale pink that shimmered under the light. Her eyes were like translucent blue crystals, deep and reflecting the calm of a serene sea at dawn. Her skin was smooth and clear, yet not so much as to outshine the luminescence that surrounded her. She wore an intense red dress—a garment that looked like liquid fire, the color of fresh blood. With a warm smile, she said: "You are welcome."
"This must be a dream," Yuomo whispered, incredulous, as he observed his surroundings. It was a celestial garden, a landscape worthy of a masterpiece. Channels of crystal-clear water meandered through meadows dotted with cherry blossoms, whose petals fell softly with every breath of the breeze. In the distance stood a small cabin, modest yet beautiful, appearing to be made of golden wood under the sunlight. Everything radiated peace—a calm Yuomo had never experienced in his entire life.
"Where am I?" Yuomo asked, still dazed. "In my home," she replied, her melodious voice seeming to resonate through the air.
Yuomo was marveled. This place was completely different from anything he had ever known. It was a sanctuary of tranquility, an oasis of serenity that contrasted sharply with the chaos and pain that had dominated his recent years. The woman looked at him intently and added: "It was I who saved you from that cruel fate."
But suddenly, Yuomo felt a stabbing pain in his abdomen. He remembered how he had been stabbed repeatedly. He urgently pulled up his shirt, searching for the wounds, but found not a single cut—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 am in...
Before he could finish the thought, the woman interrupted: "In fact, you are dead. But I was able to save your soul," she said, vanishing from his sight only to reappear behind him. With great delicacy, she helped him lie back on the ground, aware that he still carried the weight of the suffering his death had caused.
"But… didn't you say you had saved me?" Yuomo asked, bewildered.
"Of course I saved you. But only your soul," she replied with a tranquil smile, though she seemed slightly amused by Yuomo's perplexed expression. "I suppose I should have started from the beginning," she added, leaning toward him with a sympathetic gaze. "I am very sorry for that; you must be confused. It has been a long time since anyone from your world has come here."
"I am Ravada, the Goddess of this realm," she said, her voice soft yet carrying immense authority.
Yuomo was stunned. A Goddess? His rational mind searched for a logical explanation—a glitch in reality or an advanced simulation—but the warmth of this place and the purity of her voice left no room for doubt. This wasn't code or a process; it was something far more ancient. For a moment, he thought this was all a vivid dream, and that the encounter with the man who stabbed him had been nothing more than a nightmare. But Ravada shook her head before he could even formulate the question. "No, it is all true," she explained. "All I did was save your soul. I saw that it was not yet your time; I took pity on you and decided to bring you here." Her words echoed in Yuomo's mind like a distant bell. She hinted at something more: someone had intervened in his destiny.
Yuomo then began to connect the dots. This was just like those animes he had seen, where someone dies and is reborn in another world. Ravada smiled, noticing his thoughts. "Something like that," she confirmed.
"Then… does that mean I'm going to have a second chance in this world? And what will happen to my family and my pets?" he asked, a lump forming in his throat.
"Do not worry," Ravada replied calmly. "They will be able to live in peace. Of course, they all wept at your funeral. In your world, a month has already passed since your death. Many people attended—even those who barely knew you felt your absence; you left a deeper mark than you realized," she added, trying to soothe any lingering sadness in Yuomo's heart.
Though he understood her words, Yuomo couldn't help but shed tears. He would never again see his loved ones or feel the affection of Kila or Chop. Ravada, sensing his grief, wrapped him in a warm embrace and placed a kiss on his forehead. That gesture calmed him, though it also made him blush slightly. He had never been so close to a woman, let alone someone as extraordinary as Ravada.
Once the bittersweet moment passed, Ravada continued. "I will send you to a new world called Novaraser. You will be reborn there, but you will retain all your memories, including the memory of your death." She paused, watching him closely. "It seems you wanted to ask me something."
Yuomo nodded, surprised by her perceptiveness. Ravada proceeded: "You will be reborn in this world, but I need to know: where do you prefer to start? In high society, as a farmer, or perhaps as a simple villager?" Yuomo, ever humble, replied without hesitation: "It doesn't matter. Whatever you decide will be fine by me."
Ravada looked at him deeply, as if she could pierce 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 have always suffered from a lack of funds and have been sidelined by others for being introverted. I understand now where to send you." A soft smile played on her lips as she extended her hand toward him. "Furthermore, you shall carry my blessing. With it, you will be able to protect yourself and learn many things. It shall be a gift to aid you in your new beginning."
As she extended her hand, Yuomo felt an electric tingling race down his spine—a sense of wholeness that filled the voids that stress and exhaustion had carved into his spirit.
Yuomo accepted everything Ravada said without doubt. Anticipating his thoughts, she added: "You are surely wondering what I desire in return." However, Yuomo said nothing; he simply remained silent, listening intently. 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 wavering. Ravada smiled at his willingness and added: "There are more things I wish to tell you, but that would take too long. Every time you come to my temple and pray, we shall speak." Yuomo nodded, understanding that this was only the beginning of his connection with Ravada.
Before dismissing him, the Goddess looked at him with gravity and warned: "Be careful, Yuomo. There are forces that desired your death. The man who murdered you… he is also in this world."
At the mention of his killer, the ghost pain in his abdomen seemed to burn with renewed intensity. His fists clenched instinctively, and for the first time in years, the resignation in his eyes was replaced by a spark of icy determination. The words struck like thunder in Yuomo's mind. His expression shifted from sadness to a profound seriousness, tinged with a flicker of resentment. Why was that man here? What did all of this mean?
Ravada, sensing his confusion, explained: "I do not know for certain, but there are forces similar to me that seek to blacken 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. In that moment, Yuomo's body began to glow with an intense light, turning into pure energy as he slowly faded from the realm.
"Go and fulfill your dreams," Ravada whispered, her voice soft yet laden with meaning, as she watched Yuomo's light slowly vanish into the air. A melancholy smile crossed her face, as if she knew she was sending him to a destiny filled with both danger and possibility. Then, her figure disappeared completely, leaving behind only a faint shimmer that dissipated in the breeze.
Suddenly, in some distant place, a massive door swung open with a dull thud, as if the world itself were holding its breath. Rapid footsteps echoed in the silence, hurried and determined. A clear, firm voice broke the air, announcing: "He has been born!"
And then, a piercing cry flooded the space—a sound so pure and powerful it seemed to vibrate in every corner of Novaraser. A warm, delicate hand stroked the newcomer, enveloping him in tenderness. A soft voice, full of love and hope, whispered beside him:
"Welcome to life… Welcome to Novaraser, my son."