1 Valley of Eden

The figure of the woman in the white dress continued to stare at a human figure with a glowing white body and no face. Lying stiff like a statue, the white human figure didn't move even once, even as the woman approached him slowly.

The woman's bare feet were so light on the ground with white grass and bushes. Her white dress and hood matched the natural colors around her. She smiled gently and said, "What's wrong? Are you so mesmerized by my beauty that you can't speak?"

The white figure was surprised when the woman greeted him. "N-no, I'm sorry. I … I just don't know what to say." He stutters a little when he speaks. "I felt my mind suddenly stop." His voice sounded like a young man.

"Your consciousness hasn't been completely transferred yet, so it's only natural that you feel like you can't think of anything."

"My consciousness?"

"Do you really want to know the answer?"

The young man gulped and nodded.

"Your mortal life has reached the main point determined by fate in every life process because as it should be what was given must be taken back … or in other words, you have died."

"I'm dead? How can that be?"

With her yellow eyes, the woman looked serious, "The fire burned your whole house and you were crushed by the burning roof while trying to escape."

The young man thought back to his last second. He remembered all the fires that burned around him. However, he still denied all of that. "It was a mistake, wasn't it? I managed to escape. Look! I'm here. I'm still alive!" he said as he touched his arms and body.

"Open your eyes, human! Look, where you stand now," said the woman.

A place he couldn't imagine. The young man looked around, everything was white and shining. He then looked up at the clear sky, but no sun, no shadow of his own, and no sensation in his body.

Several gigantic waterfalls flowed from above to a place he would never know. The young man was standing in a white meadow with waterfalls on both sides that as far as the eye could see, had no beginning and no end.

He saw no one in the strange place but himself, the woman, and a single large tree with snaking branches.

"So, still believe you're alive?"

"What kind of place is this!?" The young man still didn't know whether to be mesmerized by the wonders of nature here or to be afraid of its reality.

"Valley of Eden. This is the place to choose your new destiny," she answered.

With all that unexplained things entering his little mind, the young man held his chest and took a deep breath. He still didn't realize that he couldn't feel anything here, including breathing. Even, great beings call this place the most calming place in the universe.

"So I died, you're a goddess and this is heaven, right?" asked the young man to be sure.

"Yes, you could say," the woman answered lightly. Before the man breathed a sigh of relief thinking he had made it to heaven, the woman stopped him, "But, this isn't heaven. This place is very different from heaven."

"Then what are you waiting for. Take me to heaven," the young man urged.

The woman restrained him, "Who said you went to heaven? You have a different fate than in that place."

"Is it hell?"

"Better but also worse. You are a lucky person to be given the chance to live life once again. However, according to the reason this place was created, you can choose your new destiny. Live a new life from the beginning or choose to be judged whether you will end up in heaven ... or hell. It's all up to you. Choose wisely."

"Is it because of my goodness in the world that I was given a second chance?"

"It's not in my power to answer. Your second chance isn't from me either."

"Oh, well ... then, can I think about it first?"

And so the young man contemplated for an hour maybe more if only time had flowed in this place. Sitting in the silence, trying to pull the grass that can't be uprooted. His mind kept thinking about the two options but his eyes kept staring at the only tree in the place.

"Hey, goddess, what tree is that?" he called, pointing at the tree.

"You are a rude creature, aren't you? Even on an entity higher than you. I have a name, Ilna. Remember my name carefully, human. That tree is the Tree of Eden. That tree can grow with water sources from 2 different realms. Come here, I'll show you something."

The tree is 65 feet tall and has hundreds of branches that bend like a flower crown. The leaves are not much different from ordinary tree leaves, but the fruit that grows on this tree is special. The shiny yellow fruit makes it look like gold.

"What fruit is that?" asked the young man.

"Maerylis fruit or what humans call Ambrosia, the food of the gods. Each of these fruit contains elemental energy that will give you the power of the element when you eat it."

"Let me guess. If I choose a new life then I have to pick this fruit and eat it to gain power?"

Goddess Ilna nodded gently.

"These elements exist to form the universe. You didn't believe in this kind of thing in your previous life. But, imagine if you could have one of those elements in your body and be able to use it however you like."

"You mean like an avatar? There's wind, fire, water, and earth?"

"In the world, you are going to live in, if you choose it, all life there depends on the elements. Humans who gain the power of the elements are called Elemagnia. While you are here, I allow you to choose and acquire your elements. Think of it as the goddess' kindness."

"Thanks, I guess."

"There are seven common elements or elements that you find frequently, fire, water, air, lightning, earth, metal, and ice. But there are still seven other elements, sound, light, darkness, astral, time, ether, and the void. Some of these elements are rare or hard to find, and some are impossible."

"Why is it impossible?"

"Because the element far exceeds the human capacity to use it. If a human possesses it, the balance of the universe will be destroyed. Reality becomes out of control, and life becomes meaningless. So, how? Have you made up your mind?"

"If I choose the second option, it doesn't guarantee that I will go to heaven, right?"

"Yes."

"Can I choose another option where I can stay here and marry you?" The young man tried to seduce the goddess.

Goddess Ilna cracked a smile. "It's not impossible for humans to have relationships with gods like me. But, sadly, I refuse."

During the young man's life, he had felt rejected by a girl and made his heart hurt, but being rejected by the goddess made him laugh.

He then looked up at the tree branch and its golden fruit, pondering his options. "You know, I really like playing a game. I don't like it if the game I play ends soon. Even though the ending will always be there, I feel I'm not ready yet. If I were given the chance to start the game all over again, it would be annoying, but also fun. Starting an early thrill game, understand the ins and outs of it and how it works, for sure it will be very exciting."

"But, you will also feel the pain, sadness, and suffering that continues to torment your heart. Death is inevitable. Is your heart ready for it?" added the goddess.

"I think it's worth the second chance you're giving." The young man took a deep breath, then looked at the goddess beside him with full of determination. "I will accept all that."

"Very well." The goddess saw the determination in the young man's eyes, Then, she allow the young man to take the Maerylis Fruit.

In the eyes of the young man, the fruit was surrounded by a different kind of aura. Some of the fruit grows very close to the surface, some grow far on high branches.

When he looked at the fruit closest to him, it was covered in a burning aura, suddenly his body felt hot. The burning sensation ran through his skin so painfully, made him feel scared.

His blood was boiling like it was cooked on a stove. He looked for something to extinguish the burning sensation and found a fruit covered in a cooling aura. Without thinking about it any longer, he ate it. With every bite of the fruit, his tongue did not catch the slightest taste, but he could not stop himself from eating the fruit.

"So, you chose water. Well, I respect your decision," said the goddess.

"What's next?" the young man asked with his mouth full.

"Then you'll have to figure it out for yourself. It's no fun, isn't it, when you want to enjoy a game and someone leaks it all to you."

The woman smiled as her hand was raised, a crack in the air suddenly appeared. A mist of light shot out of the crack, flowing gently like a cloud. Then, strong energy pulled the young man into the crack.

"Good luck with your game." The goddess waved her hand at the young man.

Within that passage of cracks, it continued to float forward non-stop. A vibration all over his body, making him realize something. He felt a sensation in his skin like when he was swimming in the ocean. That's when he realized if the water element had seeped into his body.

Then, he felt a second vibration. Unlike before, which gave off a soft and soothing sensation, this time his whole body felt stiff. His head ached as if it was being pressed by something heavy. He could see something even though his eyes were tightly closed. A white shadow flying in the air just like him in empty space.

A light like a gate appeared in front of him, the young man had already reached the end of the passage. However, before entering the gate of light, his body trembled violently, for a moment he felt as if his soul wanted to be separated from his body. And then, everything went black.

However, instead of him becoming a new figure, he was thrown from the passage and replaced by another white shadow.

He was still a white form but his destiny remained fixed on the new body.