2 The Talk...

MC's POV:

I am dead. aren't I? what the hell does she mean of mother of all creations? Or is it all just a nightmare? Did I smoke a joint after the funeral? But I never had a joint after my first disaster. And why does she look like mom? Is my subconscious taking the form of mom? Did I or did I not die?.... Is black better or Red better? Superman likes Batman...." Many thoughts are racing through my head. Some coherent some incoherent some illogical and unrelated.

I was brought out of it when I heard her say," Yes you are dead. And no you are not high. I look like the person whom you would like to talk with most at the moment that is your mother in your case." The last sentence brought a smile to my face. Of course, I would want to talk to my mom the most. She is the best. But then the reality of my death brought my mood to an all-time low. But wait why should I trust her? Maybe the dosage is high? Maybe.. my thoughts are crushed when a white-hot pain started to course through my nerves. I feel like everything is exploding starting from my chest. My breath got shallower until I couldn't. I keeled over and spasmed until I blacked out.

I woke up for the second time. I groaned and I blinked my eyes until I could focus on the woman before me. " That is the pain you are supposed to feel when the bomb went off. You escaped it because you came here. But cause for an effect is inevitable. Don't worry what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger."

" Well, it did kill me...."

"..." I think I saw a ghost of a smile on her cold face but she quickly masked it.

"Anyways I think the pain made you realize that you are not hallucinating so let's cut to the chase. You are lucky. You were supposed to die like all the people on that bridge along with some villagers of the low-lying areas. Instead, it ended with only yours and the perpetrator's death."

So I was destined to die after all. Not that I mind at least this was better than dying as failure in a cowardly act of suicide. I hope my martyrdom helped my family as there would be many politicians trying to donate and commend my act of bravery and self-sacrifice. Well, now I feel bad for leaving my family behind. Well, my brother is a clever guy he'll manage the affairs.

"So what now? Am I going to reincarnate? go to heaven? Hell? " Even though I am an atheist, dying and talking with a higher being changed my perspective.

"Hmm. You gained a lot of good karma so you have two choices: Your soul can move on and have a new life with luxury but you will forget all of this and your previous life."

That's a good deal but if I forget my life then what does the new me have to do with the present me. All the characteristics are what make me: me will be gone. Let's hear what the other choice is.

"Or you will be reborn into another world with your persona but the connections you made in this world will be erased. But you need to protect this new world from its destruction."

"Huh? Protect the world from destruction? Why would the world need an outsider need to protect itself? Wouldn't it have some self-preserving measures? and what do you mean by connections will be erased?"

"One question at a time. First, Yes. There would be certain methods by which the world prevents its destruction. But, some world's self-preventive measures fail when the world is faulty due to the merging of multiple worlds or some outside force disturbing it. These worlds are unstable and are prime targets for a race of beings that thrive on the world's chaotic core. You are task is to prevent its destruction and from then on that world would be your responsibility. Severing connections means you will remember that you had a family but you won't remember who is your family. Your experiences will remain in the form of feelings and hence your character remains the same. It is needed to break your anchor to your previous world. This will also make sure the new world does not reject you. Your fate would be tied to the world you are reincarnating."

Oh, that means I won't remember mom and brother huh? Well, I have gone ahead without saying any goodbye. I wish there was a way to send my last words to them. Wait! She did say that I have good karma maybe I can use it to send some blessings to my family.

"Hey, goddess..." I hadn't finished my words before the goddess answered.

" Yes, it is possible but interesting...I didn't think you care for your family so much. I thought you hated them."

Wha..! Did that mean that she has been reading my mind all this time. I look at her to find that she is grinning which confirmed my suspicions.

"it's alright I don't read them all the time. Only when I am bored." Bored she says. It is more terrifying since it shows that I am at her mercy. Well, l will just be honest with her since there is no point fussing over it since I am already dead.

" I hated the situations where the responsibilities tie me down due to them but I don't hate my family. I am not a sociopath."

"Any way you can do that but you might face difficulty in the task." Well, I can sacrifice that much for them at least.

" I agree"

" Great you still have one wish regarding the condition of your birth. So what do you wish for?"

" I wish to be born in the same culture and era so there will be no problems adapting." that and a good family would be nice but it will have to do since it's only one wish.

The goddess smiled at my wish and said, " Okay then. Have a good life and well save the world."

After hearing those words the world around me darkened as I blacked out again. Well, at least I hope in this new world I wouldn't be powerless and crushed by responsibilities.