The Mysterious Woman

"Cursed luck!" Allen's internal expletive echoed as he found himself with no recourse but to shut his eyes, bracing for impact.

The crystal ball hurtled toward him with ominous velocity, swiftly embedding itself into his left chest.

A resounding "Whooshh!" accompanied the abrupt eruption of luminance, illuminating the altar with an intensity that bordered on blinding.

...

"Ugh!" Allen's eyes fluttered open, met by a perplexing transformation in his surroundings.

The altar bedecked with its eight imposing statues had transmuted into a resplendent emerald garden, awash in the vibrant hues of blossoming flowers.

"How have I suddenly found myself in this locale?" A furrow formed on his brow as confusion enveloped him, rendering the circumstances unfathomable.

Initially, he had resigned himself to an impending demise as the life crystal ball hurtled towards him—a resigned surrender to the seemingly inevitable.

After all, an assault of that magnitude from a power ball crystal might have proven insurmountable even for an adept at the Great Wizard stage, let alone an individual like himself, perched at the more modest echelons of the True Mage stage.

"Is it possible that the life crystal ball's assault led to my demise?" Allen's confusing muttering punctuated the query, his head tilting in contemplation.

Just as he muttered to himself, a sudden response came from behind him—a remarkably beautiful and melodious female voice.

"You're certainly not dead." The soft, beautiful voice caused Allen to gasp in surprise.

He swiftly turned around to locate the source of the response.

In an instant, before his eyes stood an exquisitely beautiful woman, her facial features flawless from every angle.

Her hair resembled the daytime sky's gentle blue, cascading down to her hips.

Draped in a delicate white dress, the woman covered herself modestly, though her calves and feet remained exposed.

Enhancing her allure, two blue anklets adorned with intricate patterns and gleaming gems graced her ankles on both sides.

Furthermore, the enchanting smile gracing her face bore the resemblance of both a graceful maiden and a goddess descending from the heavens to bestow blessings upon humanity.

It could easily be asserted that, across his two lifetimes, he had never encountered a woman as exquisitely beautiful and graceful as the one standing before him, save for a single figure in his thoughts who perhaps bore a slight resemblance to the woman at hand.

"Who might you be?" Allen's wariness heightened, causing him to instinctively take a step back as the mysterious woman materialized.

While the woman's beauty and charm were undeniable, he remained impervious to such allure, for his mind was inherently keen and not easily swayed by external stimuli.

Conversely, the enigmatic woman, upon hearing Allen's cautious inquiry, responded with a gentle smile.

"So you're inquiring about my identity after making contact?" With a playful tone and a smile gracing her lips, she regarded Allen.

Indeed, Allen found himself startled by the woman's assertion.

"When did I touch her? This is our first encounter, isn't it?" His thoughts raced as he attempted to unravel any potential accidental interaction with this mysterious woman.

However, he found himself at a loss, unable to recall anyone from his memory.

"Please refrain from jesting, for I am entirely unfamiliar with you and our paths have never crossed, let alone any physical contact," Allen said with a perplexed shake of his head, refuting the woman's claim.

"Not touch me?" The woman arched her eyebrows slightly, a hint of annoyance touching her expression as she placed her hands on her hips.

Perplexed, Allen furrowed his brow, struggling to comprehend why this enigmatic woman claimed he had touched her.

"Could you provide a more detailed explanation?" Allen inhaled deeply, gradually easing his guard.

It was becoming increasingly evident to him that the woman before him harbored no hostile intentions.

"In that case, what about the crystal ball you came into contact with?" The woman's eyelashes fluttered as she posed a direct question.

Taken aback by her words, Allen's mind raced to catch up.

"The crystal ball of life, you mean?" Almost involuntarily, Allen sought clarification from the woman before him.

Affirming with a nod, the woman responded, "Exactly, that's what I meant. And you dared to touch me without permission?"

She regarded Allen with a questioning gaze, seeking clarity.

Allen's eyes widened in astonishment, fixated on the woman before him in sheer disbelief.

"Are you saying you're the crystal ball of life?" His brows furrowed in bewilderment.

"Indeed, I am the very crystal ball of life you mentioned," the woman confirmed with a gentle nod.

With a wave of her hand, two chairs and a white table materialized seemingly out of thin air.

Gracefully taking a seat, the enigmatic woman gestured once more, conjuring a complete set of tea paraphernalia.

Allen remained rooted in his spot, thoroughly taken aback by these unfolding events, his mind racing to process the extraordinary sight before him.

"What has captured your attention?" The enigmatic woman cast a brief glance toward Allen before gesturing to an empty chair opposite her.

Following the subtle cue, Allen promptly approached the vacant white seat and lowered himself onto it with a gentle touch.

"Would you care for some tea?" The woman extended the invitation as she approached Allen.

"Absolutely," Allen responded with a serene smile, embracing the offer without a hint of fear in his countenance.

Now that he comprehended the situation, his previous apprehension significantly waned.

As it's understood, power-infused crystal balls possess their own sentient souls and emotions.

Naturally, each of the eight crystal balls manifests a human form that embodies these emotions and souls.

The woman before him, without a doubt, embodied the human form of the crystal ball of life!

"How unexpected..." Allen mused to himself, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

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Notes: I had a lot of business to take care of, so it was too late to update.

Instead, if I'm free tomorrow, I'll update two chapters at once!!!

Stay Tuned!