I woke up feeling as if im in a dream. The place was black and I cant see a thing. But I felt somebody’s presence.

A person wearing a crop top and ripped jeans was tapping me. “Who are you” I asked while quickly backing away.

She responds “I saw you while I was finding a way myself. You we’re lying down here as when I found you.”

She tries to reach my hand and tries to hold me up. But as I was too nervous with overwhelming emotions to hold it.

“Are we going to get out here or not?” She coldly asks. Wether I want to get out or not, I was still unsure of what I will be doing.

But my body was a step closer than me. While I was still deciding, it has already accepted her hand. It felt as if I could trust her.

After a while, we kept walking. We kept on seeing stones everywhere we go. She keeps on mumbling stuff to herself, is it about me?

I was too afraid to ask so all I did was sit and follow her quietly. I suddely hear her voice. “Jane” I was confused “W-what did you say?”

“Call me Jane.” She answers without hesitation while walking. I continued to walk there suddenly. “Its rude not to tell your name.”

I was avoiding her asking me personal questions like that. But it seemed like there was no choice. “D-Diane…” I answered fearfully.

“Well, Diane, looks like we are going to wallk a long way.” She talks to me without any signs of fear. All I see when I look at her is peace.

“I guess…” I answered quietly while avoiding to push the conversation more further. Unfortunately, she was a talker.

“It’ll be a long road, you know. In states like these all you need is—“ ugh…I can’t stand her. All she does is talk.

Until then, I see light while walking. My eyes was full of glitter, not too late, she has also realized it and pulled me to run.

I was perplexed. I dont feel comfortable how she tugged me on like that. I’ve longed distanced myself from society and now Im here.

The light was clear but…not that I see the sky but all I see is light. She kept pulling on to me but I couldn’t pull my hand. We kept going.

The groud is as soft as clouds, the air is as cold as the winds of the sea. This place is the place closest to paradise. I was too shocked to think.

By a few moments, I then realize the ground is clouds nothing to see down but the ocean. But what confuses me..How is this possible?

A person that is transparent appears in-front of us. She was wearing exotic clothes. Clothes that is obviously not seen every day.

She then starts to speak. “I have summoned both mortals from different worlds to have a trial by the fire.”

I kept thinking of the words she uttered. “Trial by fire? Which involves killing!?” I kept on shaking uncontrollably. I was too scared to talk

Jane lets my hands go and points to the person. “Who are you to give us trials.” She blurts out without hesitation.

“You are in front of the the God of time. Every millenium, I give two people a chance to have a trial. Only one shall survive.” She answered

“Hah. Goddess? The Gods left us long ago. What a joke.” She says to the goddess unbeleivingly.

“Are you certain about that, dear child?” The self-proclaimed goddess answered with a voice cold as the winter night.

She senses something unusual so Jane stepped a few steps back. The goddess sighed. “You mortals always exaggerate.”

She then continue to floats as light as a feather. She looks back at us. “Would you rather die or follow me?” She utters.

“W-we’ll follow you..” Jane answers after a moment of hesitation. The god nodds and continue to guide us from the clouds.

After walking a few moments, we’ve arrived to our place for the first trial. I see something familiar. “This is…a battlefield?” I whispered.

“Mere mortals are still aware of historical places like these? You’ve impressed me.” The god praises me as she continues to walk.

A moment later. She stops. “This will be thw first trial. To fight the darkness only with your bare hands.” She explains without fear.

“Bare hands? So you are aware that we will get killed during it? See this is why gods dont give us time.” Jane scoffs fuming with anger.

“Why, I would not have say that only one survives at these trials, yes?” The goddess continues to look at both Jane and I.

Jane on the other hand just shakes uncontrollably. “So you’re using humans. As playthings? Is that it?” I could feel her anger rushing out.

“If that’s what you can call it, then perhaps you are right.” The goddess replies coldly. Both people don’t have a point of understanding.

“Well then. Shall we start?” The goddess clears up the atmosphere. Jane then steps forward. “Bring it on.” “Let the games begin!”

The first trial was about to start. I was feeling nervous. A fight to the darkness? What kind of fight? To the death? Jane was there holding me

“You feeling perplexed? Don’t worry.” Even if I think her words are exaggerating, I can feel a sense of comfort in it. As if she’s known me.

I nodded. After a while. I see that some gods and mythical creatures all around the battle grounds. As if this is a show.

It’s not only me who noticed. “Hah. Gods are gathering. Is this some kinds of amusement to them?” Jane angrily talks looking at the gods.

“The first trial, starts now!” The goddes shouts looking at us with a face that’s hard to read. I dont know if she’s full of joy or not.

Then just after she has spoken her words, the ground shakes like there is an earthquake. Jane was there she was protecting me.

I can’t decribe her. But I can feel her aura getting bigger and bigger. “Stay back.” Jane covers my sight of view.

I can feel the ground that it’s getting closer and closer towards us. But I couldn’t see a thing as Jane covers my view.

I can hear them. I could hear the crowd shouting and as I hear it louder and louder the ground shakes even harder.

“Close your eyes.” Jane said. I hesitated for a bit thinking she’ll leave me to fight the monster myself. But I didn’t have another choice.

I nodded and closed my eyes. I kept on trying to listen to the sound of voices to try to know what the situation was like. I dont know…

But then. I felt that Jane’s strong-willed aura was dissipating. I covered my eyes hoping that I was still by her side. There’s nothing I can do.

After a few seconds. I realized…The rumbling kept on growing stronger. Then the crowd kept on shouting louder.

I decided. I’m going to fight back too. I turned to my side to see what’s happened to Jane. In shock…She was no longer there.

Thoughts flooded my brain saying that she didn’t protect me. But she ran away and sacrificed me. I couldn’t move an inch.

Maybe the monster is just behind me. Slowly walking towards me. I can hear it’s roar and it’s steps but my body was too frail to move.

My mind was so active I was trying to move. But I couldn’t pick my body up and my brain is faster to calculate. Jane left me…

After by a millisecond. I see a black lizard as big as a bus has hopped to the sky! I see thorns on it’s shell and I was too scared.

It was about to slaughter me but a voice ran in my head “DONT BE SO WEAK!!” As the mysterious voice said. But I knew this was my end.

Someone shouts “Move!” Then i see Jane has kicked the monster without a sweat. Is she a monster? I kept on asking myself.

The monster then banged on the wall of the battle ground. “First trial is completed!” The gods cheered both of us.

Jane help me up with her hands shaking. “Why didn’t you dodge? Will you let yourself be slaughtered meat without me?” Jane asks.

The audacity! Even if she has a point does she have to point that fact out? “I..” my mouth didn’t respond as fast as my brain.

“Nevermind. Let us go to her.” Jane takes my hand and starts to pull me and we both went to the goddess hand-in-hand.

“We defeated it. Are you gods satisfied now?” Jane asks the god pissed. “Well. You are both an extraordinary pair, I must say.” She smiles.

The battle geound dissipates. “Well. Tomorrow is the next challenge. Feel free to explore the worlds of gods.” The goddes leaves.

“Tch. Hey, what was it earlier.” Jane then suddenly asks me again what stopped me earlier. Dang she’s still on to that subject.

“I..” I was about to reply. “You know if you’re not going to talk, its better to just die here in peace, aren’t I right?” She lets go.

“I-it’s not that I dont want to..!” I was going to tell her a reason but she just walks out ignoring me. Does she always have to be that way?

I left at that moment towards the opposite direction that Jane walked off. I wanted to not meet and leave her as far as I can.

I ran straight. All I see is nothing but endless sea of clouds. I’m not lost, am I? I couldn’t see the end of it. Just the sky and the ground.

I sat there absent mindedly. Life is full of surprises. I wish this was a nightmare. I wish that when I wake up…I’m living in a normal life..

I passed out. Then I woke up. All that light that I see earlier has turned into darkness. I turned to see the cloud castle. I cant see a thing.

All is nothing but pure darkness. “Hello? Anyone?” I whispered trying to find my way out of the dark. I kept walking to one direction.

I dont expect anything to happen. I just want the light earlier to go back and guide me back to the castle…I dont wish for any more

After walking a while I feel someone’s presence. Yet I hesistated and was too afraid to talk. Someone grabs my hand.

I was about to pull back my hand but I hear a voice. “Hey, hey! Its me. Stop moving too much, its dark.” A familiar voice was there.

“J-Jane…” I stuttered in hesitation. “Wait I’m finding a way. Stay still.” I feel her embracing me while her trying hard to find a way back.

I can feel her warmth surrounding me. I had always been confused on why I kept feeling safe around her protection…

“Just wait..Be patient and I’ll get us out of here.” Jane’s voice was cold but I felt as if she was comforting me. It was my mistake.

I’ve never experienced someone trying to fix my mistakes. Its always been me from the start. Is this the reason I feel comfort?

A moment later a light starts to appear. It made me realize it’s already daybreak. I asked myself. “How long has she been searching?”

As light breaks again all I see are dark circles under her eyes and red all over her eyes…She didn’t stay all night to find me, did she?

I felt pity and was about to reach her face and tell her “thank you.” But the self-proclaimed goddess appeared after crossing the dark path

“My, my, I do apologize. My memory has betrayed me and has forgotten to tell you to get back before dusk.” She said insincerely.

“You’ve been playing us all along, hm?” Replied Jane while letting her embrace around me go. She was close to stumbling. She was tired.

“Maybe. The world of the gods is much more mysterious than the world of the mortals.” The self-proclaimed goddess muttered.

I was so confused. But I can sense that Jane is tired. I eyecontacted the goddess. “Ah. I’ll make an exception. I’ll start today’s trial later.”

I put out a sigh of relief thinking that Jane could rest before the next trial. The goddess waves us goodbye as I help Jane go to a room.

“You told her to reschedule it, didn’t you.” Jane stops. “I-..” I was about to answer her. “What do you think I am?” Jane tries to pull her arm.

She successfully pulls it out but results as her stumbling. “Um…It’s been a long day…Take a break first.” I was going to pick her up.

“I didn’t say I needed your help, did I?” Jane scoffs. She tries to get up herself. After a few tries she stands up while shaking.

“Jane…It’s been a long night…” I was going to hold her hand. But as I was reaching for it she steps back. “Are you kidding me?”

I was confused. How can she tell me that I’m kidding at a moment like this? “I’m not weak, Diane. Im stronger compared to you.”

“I was just going to say thank—” “A thank you? How childish can you be? I just went out to look for you so I can pass the trial shamelessly”

What? She thinks of me as a toy? She thinks… That she needs to defeat me in order to win the trial? She didn’t really care about me?

Negative thoughts came flooding into my mind. I fell down due to shock while she goes to her room without even looking back at me.

I was just going to say thanks…Did I do something wrong? I was looking at the ground when something fell down.

Water…? I suddenly realize I was tearing up… I…I’m…Crying? A sudden realization to me comes up..Jane hates me, doesn’t she…

I try to get up and walked away. Looking at the sunlight glimmer. Today is to be forgotten like any other common days.

Someone appears before me a few moments later. “Lovely for a stroll, isn’t it?” The transparent goddess asked me with a joyous face.

“Has the weather always been like this?” I feel the sun shining and the clouds line perfectly. I want this scene to be carved to my heart.

“The palace of the skies never experienced a calamity. It brings nothing but chaos.” The goddess replied looking at me.

“But calamity brings hope. You wont know.” I replied to her. Calamity is not just chaos but it brings each people closer to their destiny.

The goddess eyes brightened. “You’re different than others.” The goddess sent out a sigh of relief. Was she expecting something?

There was a silence for a while. “So what’s the relationship between you two?” The goddess asks. I was confused but all I answered was;

“We dont know each other.” I coldly reminded me of what happened earlier. “You mortals are quite interesting indeed. Just as she expected.”

She? Who is she? The leader of the gods!? “So tell me. Who is she?” I asked the goddess. “The supernova. The star all gods looks up to.”

There is more to the world of gods after all. Even a supernova is known. “I’ll talk to you later.” I replied to her. I need to find out what’s up.

“I see. Looks like you’ll need to do something for today. Dont be late for the second trial.” The goddess kindly reminds me.

After she leaves. The god looks at her hand. “It’s happening faster than I thought.” Her hand then flickers disappearing and appearing.