Chapter 3

It's been the second time that I've felt the bliss of this warm embrace of sleep without waking up from the pain of my previous disease. However, this time, instead of the face of a beautiful goddess to great me after waking up, a familiar glimmer of light floats right above me as a feeling of an unknown loneliness filled my heart.

Slowly I got up from the ground as I unknowingly wiped a tear from my cheek. I felt a weight slid down my chest as I saw the sword that the goddess entrusted to me before I came here. I saw a somewhat familiar field of flowers that I feel like I've seen before, the garden was filled with bright blue flowers and the magical floating islands surroundings that decorated the garden with a fantasy like world setting.

"Thou art have finally awaken?"

I suddenly heard a gentle voice of a woman behind me that made me jump where I'm sitting from. Facing the direction where the voice came from, a woman calmly standing few steps from me. With a dress of a priestess like gown colored in black and white with some highlights of gold, her eyes were closed as her luscious black hair framing her beautiful face, without a doubt is the famous photobomber of the game, the messenger Gentiana.

Realizing that I was once again staring dumbfoundedly like I did with the goddess Gaia, I fixed my posture to prepare my self for an introduction. After all, although Gentiana in this from is just like a beautiful priestess, her real identity is the Astral that governs Ice, the Glacian Shiva.

"G-greetings. My name is Aciel, I am from E—ahh…. I-ahh…" I stupidly almost slipped there and said something dangerous, my introduction was a complete failure. Although I planned to just introduced my self properly, I haven't yet thought of an acceptable excuse as my identity in this new world. I've even almost made myself a fool by telling my self where I originally came from, especially in front of one of the Astrals.

"Fear not, young Aciel. My name is Gentiana, a messenger. I have come to know of your situation, and I welcome thee to Eos, human from Earth." Seeing my face looking for an excuse to find my way out, she said the words that I never thought would save the whole trouble of lying from her.

Well this is great news. I think the goddess purposely drop me off near her to save my self from future troubles from the Astrals. If someone would know that I am not from this world, it would be them. I thank the goddess Gaia for making the trouble and introduce me to this astral.

"I-I see. Uhmm!" I cleared my trout clear the embarrassment from earlier. "…thank you…Did the goddess told you of my situation?"

She nodded, "It's as the young man said."

I sighed a breath of relief upon hearing her confirmation. "I see. Well then, let me introduce my self properly again. My name is Aciel, from a planet called Earth. The goddess Gaia sent me her to fulfill a wish of mine…"

I remembered the kind goddess and felt ever grateful that she really did made it come through. My simple dying wish to read an unreleased book of a game I've come to love, have given me the chance to live a new life in a new world.

"If the young man does not mind. May I ask what wish does the young man want?" Gentiana as gently as ever asked me without a single doubt from what I've just said.

"Ahh I-I don't mind…" A feeling of a bit of embarrassment filled me. "…I-ahh, I wished to live a new life, a new life here and… I really want to help this world…"

The close eyes of the messenger slowly opened with a slight look of surprise painting her serene face. And to my slight embarrassment my heart skipped a bit when she smiled for the first time.

"…Your kind words have touched this one's heart. Thank you." She slightly bowed her head in appreciation.

"Ahh! You don't have to do that! Please raise your head…" I was surprised that a simple human like me would have to receive a bow from an Astral, one of the gods of this world.

"However, you don't have to forced yourself to help us. I will understand if you shall choose to do not do so. But I guarantee you that I as the messenger of the gods, welcome thee to Eos to live free as you wish to." Gentiana raised her head and reassured me that I have indeed, have been officially been welcomed to this new world.

I'll choose to ignore the part where she said something about me not to help this world, no matter the circumstances I'll do my best to ensure that I would save as many people as I can.

…

"Well uhh… Gentiana, may I ask where are we right now?" My eyes wondered once again to the beautiful landscape around me. Specially the floating Islands around me, the luscious forest, and the huge castle that really feels so surreal with its majestic beauty.

"We are currently at the kingdom of Tenebrae. Come, we'll see if we could catch up with the Lucis and the Fleuret royalty." She turned around and invited me to follow her.

As I have thought, I knew these surroundings is somewhat very familiar, so we really are in Tenebrae, the home of Lunafreya's family to be exact. However, upon hearing her say that the Lucis Royal were also here only one thing has entered my mind, but I shouldn't jump to conclusions without the whole picture of the situation. I hesitated whether to ask Gentiana a question that might reveal that I know something about the future of this world.

"Is something wrong young Aciel?" Seemingly having noticed that I didn't follow right after her, she looked back questionably at me. "If it's about your origins, worry not. I bowed to protect your secret so that you may live freely to this world." She looked worried that I have misunderstood her intentions.

"Ahh! Please don't misunderstand, it's not that I don't trust you." I hurriedly cleared the misunderstanding while having my other arm. "…Anyways let's go, I'm sure with you, everything will go just fine." I hid my worries by showing her my carefree smile.

Gentiana is here as a messenger means that the oracle Lunafreya has already been born, and with the presence of the Lucian Royalty here in Tenebrae only means one thing. They've come the heal Prince Noctis from an injury, and now it seems like the Lucians will be returning soon…

I tightly gripped the sword Excalibur in my hand, I never thought I would arrive at this exact time here. I steeled my resolution as I followed behind Gentiana. I need to prepare myself… the Nilfheim will be attacking soon.

....