Chapter two : reunited

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around me. The room I was in was bright and vibrant. Filled with color and Victorian furniture. I was laying in a canopy bed with purple sheets.

There was light streaming in the floor to ceiling windows to the right of me. There was even a balcony.

...where was I?

"Antonio!" A voice gasped.

Sheri.

It's Sheri!

I quickly sat up, wincing as I did and Sheri threw her arms around me. I hugged her back, my small hands gripping her green dress.

...Small hands?

I looked down only to discover that I was young! Younger than I expected.

"We were so worried about you!" She sighed.

I learned that I had fainted a few days ago and was asleep ever since. I guess I was already living here and Aphrite just gave me the memories of my pervious life or something.

Sheri and Irene are married in this life as well. Luckily, this world was even more accepting than my previous one. I also learned that Sheri is the Head maid at the castle and a baroness and Irene is the caption of the Royal guards. She was a commander in the war and was awarded the title of marchioness and a beautiful countryside estate. That's where we are now.

Somehow, I'm Sheri and Irene's biological child this time. I don't know how, but I'm so thankful. I have Irene's dark hair and...skin? It's a strange but beautiful color. Almost red in some lighting, and then Like a latte with lots of cream and sugar in it in others. It's pretty in the sun. I also have Sheri's green eyes and facial features.

This world is different from my original world. It has creatures and humans that turn into animals. And holy power. Aphrite, the goddess who sent me here, is the supreme god. They worship her. And in turn, she gifts some of the devout with powers. There's a Pope and everything.

I'm six at the moment. Which explains my hands. I discovered something recently; I can talk to Aphrite through the pond in the garden. She said it's a gateway and if I'm ever in trouble I should jump into the pond and she'll protect me.

Sheri said that when I turn eight I have to go to the capital to take a test to see my aptitude with holy power. How interesting. Aphrite assured me that having her blessing would make this life of mine the most wonderful.

I wonder if that's true.

꧁꧂ ꧁꧂ ꧁꧂ ꧁꧂ ꧁꧂ ꧁꧂

I rescued a fat toad from our cat today. My life is peaceful, but boring. We live thirty minutes outside the city, so my moms take a carriage to the Palace and come home when they can. I spend my days "studying" and rescuing animals and reptiles. I recently encountered a garden snake that simply licked my finger and sauntered away, satisfied, probably going to find a mouse for lunch.

Tabitha, my maid and teacher, was setting up the table nearby for our weekly picnic. It when the staff and I bake sweets and cook a big meal and sit down and eat dinner like one big family. I quite enjoy it.

I never have to worry about going hungry.

I think that's the thing I'm most thankful for.

꧁꧂ ꧁꧂ ꧁꧂ ꧁꧂ ꧁꧂ ꧁꧂

I had to come to the palace today. I didn't know Irene was pregnant until I was told I had a baby sister in the other room.

I anxiously ran to Irene and hugged her panting body. She laughed and apologized for worrying me. I've always been quiet. Autistic type of quiet. If we were in my original world I think I would have been on the spectrum.

Sheri showed me my baby sister and I simply adore her. She's so cute. She looks exactly like Irene but with Sheri's fire red hair and green eyes. I tried not but I started crying when she clasped me hand. Irene awed and hugged me.

On the way back, I spotted a beautiful man. He was glorious. He had short platinum blonde hair and blood red eyes. I didn't even notice the blood on his shirt. I didn't care. He looked young. A teenager. Maybe fifteen. He was breathtaking. He suddenly looked over and his eyes zeroed in on me.

I could tell he was taking me in just as I was surely ogling him. He chuckled and walked away.

My face was steaming as I slowly made my way back to the chamber Irene was in and watched in fascination as Irene fed Jullianne.

"Does it hurt?" I asked.

She smiled and shook her head. We we're silent for a while, the only sound in the room static. I don't even remember how I got home. Just that I did.

As if no time has passed I was eight and suddenly headed to the church to test my holy aptitude.

"Are you nervous?" Sheri asked.

I clenched my sweating palms and denied it.

"No." I tired to say, but it just didn't happen.

What I said sounded more like an omission to my nervousness.

"Pfft.." Irene sputtered, and my face reddened.

Sheri rolled her eyes and looked at me. "Wanna know a secret?" I nodded.

"I cried the whole time during my test."

My ears perked. "Really?" I asked.

She hums in agreement and smiles at me.

Irene ruffled me and laughed, "don't worry. Everything is going to be fine." I smiled too.

She's right. Everything is going to be fine.

The cathedral is even bigger than the palace! And far grander. With white marble and gold everywhere. It radiated pure energy. And that was only because the goddess despised those with any evil emotions. They were powerful things, emotions.

The cathedral was made up of several buildings. We were in the main building; the church. It was a large room, that's ceiling seem to blend into the sky. It was completely made of glass! The walls had beautiful and exotic paintings that each told a different story. They even had a plaque to tell you what the artist's message was. My favorite is the one about the forbidden love of the prince and the dragon. Not a real dragon, sadly, because those aren't a thing. It's a metaphor for an insanely powerful person. Like a minor god.

There are thirteen rows of pews, each exquisite marble. There is a red carpet underneath them, and each has a number and a name. The names are people in the book of Aphrite. The two rows closest to the door don't have names. The names are for people who want to participate and read from the Bible as those people. Like the pew Irene is sitting as is Sur Rogen of Friair, a noble knight who assisted the goddess Antrophe (the goddess of pain and war) in starting a war between Fliair and Androus (a country ruled by a tyrant). It was a good chapter about standing up for what you believe in and to fight back against a tyrannical ruler. In the end, Sur Rogen of friar died killing the tyrant of Androus and was rewarded with a eternal place besides Antrope.

In the middle of the room, there is a raised area where the altar is. This altar looks different from the ones I saw in my previous world. It's...in the wall? This altar (and the only reason I know it's an altar is that I asked Irene and she said "that's the altar.") is an almost 3 meter tall pale crystal jutting out of the wall. It's beautiful in it's simplicity.

There were a few other kids there. They were just as nervous as me, thankfully. The line was decided by dates of birth and seeing as mine was yesterday, I was the last in line. One by one, the children in front of me went up and touched the giant crystal engrained into the wall. Only two made the crystal shine, and it was barely a spark but the room erupted into claps and cheers.

Three more to go.

Oof. I was nervous. I started looking around to try and ease my nervousness and my eyes caught a beautiful man. The blonde man I met before. Even though it had been a few months, I hadn't stopped thinking about him. And I didn't even know his name. Gosh, he was beautiful. He saw me look and smiled widely. To which I blushed and hid behind my mother, safely starting at him. I kept staring at him until I was my turn and they called my name.

"Antonio Reeves Aphrite Von Graves," The priest bellows.

I slowly walked up the steps of the platform before arriving in front of the crystal.

I was hesitant to touch it but I brought my arm up and away from me, towards the crystal. I slowly leaned towards it before the priest behind me coughed and pushed me forwards. I fell into the crystal and felt no pain. But I was blind for a moment.

The crystal flashed a blinding bright light and then slowly stopped. I opened my eyes to a grand scene. There was gold and blue light all around me, and Aphrite was in front of me, translucent. She slowly lowered her body before she hugged me and whispered "goddess chosen,". She left after she gifted me with a kiss on the forehead and power rushed through me. The wind seemed to whip through the air, ruining Sheri's hard work. My long hair came out of the intricate braid it had originally been in and my curly hair just bounced around me. I felt a weight on my forehead and a lightness that made me feel like I could fly.

I couldn't see this, but what other people saw when she kissed me were angel wings on my back and a crown forming on my head. There was also a mark on my forehead where she kissed me. And mark showing her favor. And my eyes flashed yellow.

As soon as it happened it was over. I felt the weight of something on my head and noticed I was wearing beautiful new robes. They were white and yellow, with blue and pink tiny flowers lining the skirt and dozens blooming on the long sleeves. There was a skin-tight deep blue shirt that had a choker neckline and a small circular cut out above my clavicle. There were white silky dress pants underneath the robe as well. She even gave me white boots to go with them.

And...and my hair, it was white!? Like, a beautiful creamy moon white, but still white! It did go well with my skin tone...but that wasn't the point! And my skin was different too! Lighter! Less...mocha? It didn't look it's beautiful and rich red! I want the skin back!

I was surprised and looked to my mother's only to find Sheri with her hand over her mouth and Irene holding her. I looked around and saw that everyone else in the room was kneeling. Except for that beautiful golden man. He was smiling again.

And for some reason, I couldn't look away.