Chapter 28: Hela

###Chapter 28:

Meanwhile, far away in Eldren, a man who had been thought dead stirred in his own dream. The artifact meant to take his soul had failed, but he wasn't gone. No, he lingered somewhere else—an otherworldly realm between consciousness and oblivion.

The world around him was surreal and ethereal, an endless expanse of shifting hues and fleeting whispers. He floated weightlessly, yet he could feel a strange gravity pulling at him. In the midst of this swirling void, a figure appeared, radiant and enigmatic.

The woman seemed to step out of the very fabric of the dream, her form both solid and fluid. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back, glowing faintly as though lit from within. Her eyes, deep pools of violet, shimmered with wisdom and power.

"Hello, children," she said, her voice resonating through the space, soft yet commanding.

Eldren's body tensed at her words. Confused and wary, he looked around the expanse of his mind.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "Am I… in heaven?"

A faint, knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"No, Eldren," she replied. "You're not in heaven."

"Then where am I?" he pressed, his voice growing sharper as his nerves overtook him.

"You are in your inner world," she explained, her tone patient.

"My inner world? You mean… my mind?"

"Yes," she confirmed, inclining her head slightly.

Eldren furrowed his brows, skepticism and curiosity warring within him. "And why am I here?"

The woman's serene expression shifted ever so slightly, her violet eyes narrowing as her tone grew more serious.

"Because I saved you from death. And for that, you will have to do this mission I now give you."

"Mission?" Eldren echoed, his confusion deepening. "What kind of mission?"

"There is a man," she began, her gaze steady. "His name is Mondryn. He seeks immortality, and in doing so, he will leave countless lives destroyed in his wake. You, Eldren, have been chosen to stop him."

"Chosen?" Eldren's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying I'm supposed to be some kind of hero?"

The woman tilted her head, her luminous eyes studying him with quiet intensity. "Yes, Eldren. You are to be a Celestial Hero."

Eldren blinked, his disbelief evident. Then, as her words sank in, his expression twisted into incredulity. "No way! That's impossible. There's no way this is true."

Her eyes flared with purple flames, her presence suddenly overwhelming. The sheer force of her power made the void tremble, and Eldren staggered back, raising his hands in a placating gesture.

"Are you questioning the words of a goddess?" she asked, her voice thunderous, reverberating through the expanse.

"Whoa, whoa!" Eldren stammered, his voice shaking. "No! Please, forgive me! I didn't mean to offend you!"

The flames subsided as quickly as they had appeared, and her expression softened once more. "Good," she said simply. "Now, let's get back to the purpose of your presence here."

Eldren swallowed hard, nodding silently.

"You are not alone in this mission," she continued. "There are others—Celestial Heroes like yourself—who will aid you. Or, at least, some of them will."

"Some?" Eldren asked, frowning. "Why not all of them?"

The woman's gaze turned pensive, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.

"As you know, there are seven Celestial Heroes," she said. "Each is blessed by one of the seven goddesses. However, the current state of the heroes is… complicated."

Eldren crossed his arms, his curiosity piqued despite himself. "Explain."

She began to pace, her movements fluid and deliberate. "The first goddess, Hera, has not deemed anyone worthy of her blessing since her last hero perished. The third and fourth heroes—blessed by Hecate and Athena, respectively—are… missing. I have not seen them in years."

Eldren frowned. "And the others?"

"The fifth hero, Beatrix," the goddess said, her tone darkening, "is a War Goddess. Her past was full of suffering and betrayal, and I doubt she even cares to take up the mantle again."

Eldren tilted his head, intrigued. "So that leaves… three heroes?"

"Correct," she said with a nod. "If we can convince Beatrix to cooperate, we surely gain a significant advantage. But as of now, we are fighting a losing battle."

Eldren raised an eyebrow.

"Wait a second. You're a Goddess right? So which one are you?"

She turned to face him fully, her violet eyes meeting his.

"My name is Hela," she said. "I am the Goddess of Destruction."

Eldren stared at her, stunned. "Destruction?" he repeated. "That doesn't sound very… heroic."

A faint smile played across her lips. "Destruction is not inherently evil," she said. "Sometimes, to create, one must first destroy."

"Fair enough," Eldren muttered, though he still felt uneasy.

Hela's expression turned serious again. "Now, as for Mondryn… He is no ordinary foe. He has no goddess blessing, yet he once wiped out an entire generation of Celestial Heroes. His power is… unparalleled."

Eldren's stomach sank. "Wait. Are you saying he did that alone?"

"Yes," she said, her voice somber. "Mondryn is a force unlike any other. And now, he seeks immortality—a goal that, if achieved, would spell doom for countless lives."

Eldren clenched his fists, determination flickering in his eyes. "Well," he said, his voice steady, "if I've been chosen for this, then I'll do it. I'll stop him."

A flicker of approval passed over Hela's face. "Good," she said. "But first, we must gather the other heroes. Since I reside within your consciousness, I will recognize them when we meet them."

Eldren nodded, a newfound resolve settling over him. "Alright," he said. "Let's do this."

As he spoke, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, and his vision blurred. His body grew heavy, and he sank into a deep, dreamless sleep.

When Eldren awoke, he found himself lying on the cold, hard ground. His surroundings were dim and unfamiliar, the air heavy with the scent of earth and stone. Slowly, he opened his eyes, only to realize that his vision was sharper than ever before. A faint purple glow emanated from his irises, casting an eerie light in the darkness.

He pushed himself to his feet, his body feeling strangely invigorated. A surge of power coursed through him, unfamiliar yet exhilarating. He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as a faint, violet aura shimmered around them.

"What… is this?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You have awakened," Hela's voice echoed in his mind. "This is the first step toward your destiny."

Eldren took a deep breath, his resolve solidifying. He had been given a mission—a purpose. And though the path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, he knew one thing for certain: he would see it through.

With newfound strength and determination, he began his journey, the weight of fate pressing heavily on his shoulders.