Daphen - The sun god has returned

I felt my body immersed in a current of water, like a river. I opened my eyes and saw the starry sky above me. I sat up on the riverbed, still confused. Where was I? I was certain I had been in a fatal accident and died, yet here I was, conscious and sitting in a vast blue lake.

I wasn't wearing any clothes, but for some reason, that didn't bother me—I felt completely at home.

I looked at the water to see my reflection, and my eyes widened when I saw that the person reflected wasn't me, but a woman of supreme beauty. She was so beautiful that her long brown hair seemed to dance on its own in the wind. Her skin was milky, tinged with a porcelain white.

"My daughter," a masculine voice reached my ears. I looked around, but no one was nearby. "Down here, my beloved child."

I glanced again at the water's surface and saw nothing anywhere. Was the water speaking to me? I felt confused for a moment, but the water stirred around me, and I felt embraced.

"I shall name you Daphne. Welcome to Thessaly. I am your father, the river Peneus. Your mother is one of my nymphs, Creusa. We are so happy to welcome another beauty among us. Come, come meet your sisters and brothers."

The river fell silent again, and all I could do was follow the direction that felt right. I was surprised— I had never been much of a swimmer, and to be honest, I was terrible at it. But now, I glided through the water with ease and skill, as if I'd been doing it all my life. I avoided sharp rocks and kept green algae from tangling in my hair. The fish in the river didn't seem to mind my presence. Perhaps they saw me as part of their world.

Eventually, I reached a large lake. The river continued north, but for some reason, I wanted to enter the lake. It didn't take long before I heard soft laughter, and the water began to stir. Beside me, I saw a woman who greeted me with a broad smile. Could she be one of the sisters Peneus had mentioned?

"Welcome! My name is Metope. I've come from my lake in the Peloponnese, near the city of Stymphalus, to greet you." She seemed excited. I wondered how old I was compared to her; we didn't seem to have a big age difference. But theoretically, I had just been born...

More presences soon gathered, joyfully joining us in the lake. Metope introduced each of them. I learned that she herself had between 12 and 20 children with the river king where she lived. They were a huge family...

When the waters below us moved, everyone fell silent. Their mouths closed, and the laughter and songs they'd been singing disappeared into the air around us. I realized something important was happening.

"My sons and daughters, it gives me great pleasure to present your new sister, Daphne." It was the same voice I had heard earlier, in the place where I had reincarnated.

"Just as I have given to all of you, Daphne will also be gifted a lake or river to call her home." There was applause all around.

I stood at the center of the lake, the water having pulled me there as if I were being pushed and carried toward the center. All eyes were on me. There were creatures everywhere—I wondered if they knew each other's names.

There were all kinds of nymphs present, some dressed in light silks, while others, like me, were completely naked. However, no one seemed bothered by it. It appeared to be a normal practice.

The river continued speaking, expressing how proud he was of each of his sons and daughters and how deeply he lamented the loss of some, killed by humans or centaurs. I noticed Metope wiping away a tear, and I wondered if she had lost any of her children.

"With that, I conclude the introduction of your new sister. Feel free to stay a while longer or to leave."

I didn't see my mother, or at least I thought I didn't. Some of the nymphs passed by me, playing in the water around me, and I couldn't resist joining them. We twirled, creating small whirlpools, and when I raised my hands, the whirlpool lifted from the water and spiraled toward the edge of the lake.

"Oh," I exclaimed, unable to hold back my surprise.

"Magnificent!" A male voice I hadn't heard before spoke beside me.

"Welcome to the family. It can be a little chaotic at times, but we love each other above all else. My name is Hypsaeus, King of the Lapiths."

"Daphne," I introduced myself. I didn't have any title like my brothers and sisters, nor was I a queen of anything.

"If you ever have any questions about anything, feel free to ask. Our father isn't the most explanatory person, although we're all born with our purpose."

Yes, of course, I thought. But I had reincarnated in the body of a Naiad, a nymph known for dwelling in freshwater places like wells, rivers, and springs...

"Thank you," I simply replied.

Hypsaeus nodded and disappeared beneath the water. A short time later, I found myself alone in my new lake. I knew who I was and what lay ahead.

But why had I reincarnated into the body of a nymph, and particularly in Greek folklore? On top of that, I was destined for such a tragic end... fated to transform into a great laurel tree...

I lay on my back, letting the current embrace me. The sky was beginning to turn a yellowish hue, and just as described in school books, a bright yellow chariot, pulled by two Pegasi, crossed the sky above me.

Apollo. The one who would pursue me and seal my fate... if only there was a way to stop this tragic love story from coming true...

As the sky grew lighter, a feeling of panic crept into my heart. This wasn't my world. I had been sent here for a reason. It was up to me to find out what that reason was...