God's Reign

In one moment, Meyra went from lying in her bed to sitting in a white room. There were no doors, windows, or obvious sources of light. An ominous glow emanated from the center of the room, appearing like a spotlight. Meyra pinched herself, felt nothing, and tried to think of ways to wake up.

"Hello, Meyra," a voice said within the room.

Meyra was unable to find the person attached to the voice, not seeing anything in the room besides herself. The spotlight in the center narrowed, and someone came into focus. An elderly man sat in a wheelchair in an oversized hospital gown with hearing aids.

"Excuse me sir, do you know where we are?" she asked the man.

"What did you say to me? The old man croaked out before he spun his wheelchair until he faced her.

"Where are we?" Meyra raised her voice while the man began to wheel himself towards her.

"We're not on your planet, where the tiny people live." Meyra stared at the man.

The man was a person like Meyra. He was comparable in size to her and not significantly taller as he insinuated. She was able to see that she was no longer at home but was unable to discern why the old man would speak in this manner.

"Where are we then? And why are you speaking as if you aren't a person?"

The old man gave a sly grin, "Well that's because I'm not puny like you people, I am God.”

Meyra stared at the old man, who looked as though he might be on his deathbed.

"You look like you would collapse at any moment, isn't God supposed to be all-powerful?" The old man began to laugh, clutching his stomach.

"Indeed, that is true," the old man wheezed in between his laughter, "You may be curious why I summoned you. I might be all-powerful as you people believe, but I have quite the tempting offer for you to work in my stead." The old man slumped down in his chair, not moving.

Meyra watched the old man for a moment, not wanting to startle him. She got up and walked over to him to ensure he was okay. As she was standing there, the old man quickly sat up. Meyra stumbled back and tried to catch her breath. The old man gripped onto the chair until his knuckles turned white and stood up out of the chair.

"Gotcha, didn't I? Ha, you are so gullible." The old man stretched, and the wheelchair vanished, "I shall pick a form more suited to your preferences."

The old man stopped moving towards Meyra and bent over. His body began to fold over itself, twisting and changing colors with no sound. The man took the form of a child holding a teddy bear in their pajamas, Meyra looked down on them, and the child disappeared. Then it was a young adult dressed in business attire, to which Meyra stayed silent.

Eventually, the old man took the form of a person that was roughly middle-aged. They had darker skin with dark hair and eyes. Their hair was short and tied back, by small braids with feathers. They wore loose fitting clothing, making themselves appear androgynous.

After taking that form, the god stretched and cracked their back. They flicked their hand and a chair materialized behind Meyra. She felt a force push her down into the chair, while the god casually sat down on another chair.

The person looked away from Meyra, mumbling to themself, "This better be interesting soon," before they turned to face her.

"Do I have a choice?" Meyra asked, while the god huffed in annoyance.

"No,” they paused and yawned, “You may ask me three questions regarding this matter to appease your curiosity." The person leaned back in their chair, balancing on the back two legs.

Meyra stayed quiet for a moment, thinking about what questions to ask. It was possible that the god would not answer them or have a response that was inadequate for what she was looking for.

“Are you sure that you are a god, and not a genie?” Meyra asked.

The person snorted, before intently glaring at Meyra. The legs on her chair snapped, making her fall into a pile of broken wood. She expected pain and inadvertently winced, but she felt nothing. The god chuckled to themselves quietly before moving their chair down to the ground. They leaned forward, putting their elbows on their knees.

"Will I be able to see my family alive, is my mental and physical health and safety guaranteed, and what am I expected to do?" She asked, making the god grin.

The god stood up, the chairs disappeared, and Meyra stayed on the floor. The white room began to change color, like paint spreading across the walls. It became a lush garden with plants in bloom with a table set for tea. Meyra went to stand up, but wind lifted her into the air, placing her into a formal dress.

It was a light pink and made of silk, cold against her skin. The dress had long puffed sleeves and hit at her knees. It had a small train, reaching down to her ankles. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a large braid, ribbons braided into it, tickling her back. She looked down, seeing herself in heels and pursed her lips, hoping the terrain was flat.

Meyra stood up on the green ground, noticing the lack of brush on her feet. She walked towards the table, seeing a piece of the white room in the distance. As she passed it, she felt a shiver run down her spine. Meyra walked towards the table that the god was sitting at, taking note of the lack of food and drink.

The garden was pleasant with a breeze that didn’t move the plants. Flower petals fell down from the flowers but wouldn’t hit the ground. Birds chirped, but there was no life or movement around. The only life forms that she could see were herself and the god.

From the table, the god waved her over. Meyra went to move her chair, but it moved before she could touch it. She gently sat down and was pushed in. In front of her was an empty teacup, an empty dessert stand, and presumably an empty tea pot.

"I can guarantee that not enough time will pass for your family’s tombstones to wear away, however seeing them alive is a different matter."

Meyra watched the god lean forward on the table, eagerly waiting for a reaction. She turned away from them, looking off into the distance. Her breath was unsteady as she tried to hold in her tears. After she steadied her breath, she leaned her head on her arms, dabbing the dampness from her eyes. When she turned back, the god was grinning and leaning back in their chair.

“I can guarantee you will come back alive.” They stared at Meyra, holding a teacup in their hands.

She, having expected an indirect response at least once, rolled her eyes. The god watched her movements as she readjusted in the chair, moving the train out of the way. Meyra looked up at the god and let out a sigh, keeping quiet. She watched the god start giggling to themselves and felt her heart start to race. Her hands began to tremble and she moved them under the table.

“If you are incapable of guaranteeing these, and the belief that a god is omnipotent as you said, how do I know if you are the god you say you are?” Meyra questioned.

“I have no need to entertain you further. Would you like to see my true form?” The god taunted her, smirking, as if they wanted a specific answer.

Meyra watched them, remaining quiet, with trembling hands. The god rolled their eyes while frowning. They stood up from their chair, making the table and chairs disappear. Meyra fell to the ground again, and took a deep sigh as she got up, dusting off the dress.

The god began to walk away with warning, causing Meyra to run to catch up. She followed behind them as they went deeper into the garden. Birds began to come out of the trees, and petals reached the ground. They walked up to a cliff, watching the sun set on a distant town. The two stayed quiet until the sun had fully set.

“You will go to a world that is not your own. You will mend what is wrong using the tools I provide you,” the god spoke as the scenery changed back to a room.

This room had all the objects of a forest, but with no sky or living beings. The trees were hollow and still without a breeze. The god walked up to a rock and sat on it, causing it to change shape to resemble a chair. Meyra looked around, only seeing pebbles around her, and sat on the green painted ground without plants.

Meyra looked up from the ground at the god that was staring up at the trees and said, “Why must I go elsewhere?”

The god turned and glared at her, “I do not need to disclose that to you.”

“Please elaborate on my last question. That answer is too open-ended,” she said, taking a deep breath after.

“I will teach you magic, and once you are prepared I will take you.” Meyra closed her eyes, not wanting that as a response.

“To confirm, you said I have no choice in this?” She asked, and the god nodded.

Meyra furrowed her brows, rubbing her forehead, “Fine, let’s not waste more time then.”

The forest objects disappeared, and Meyra was brought back to the white room. She was forced into a chair, and a desk was placed in front of her. A chalkboard appeared and the god appeared dressed as a teacher. Meyra held back her laughs, looking at their comically large glasses.

Meyra was taught the various parts of magic, from the conceptual understanding to its application. She had no indicator of time, had no need to sleep, and quickly lost her track of time. The god began teaching her basic levels of magic, like creating a fire on her fingertip. Her powers grew, allowing her to use a larger variety of magic.

When Meyra was given short breaks, she drew pictures of her family on the ground to remember their faces. As the days passed, Meyra continued to remember their names and drew them to not forget. She would use various types of magic at the God's direction, from creating sculptures to burning their faces into logs, depending on what they were practicing.

One day, Meyra was drawing her family on a log using fire magic to burn the marks in. She drew what she remembered and her eyes welled up. Her family had become more blurred by the day, but not enough for her to notice. That day, she was unable to remember their faces.

Meyra threw the log into a bush beside her and brought her knees to her face as she sat on the ground. She wailed, rocking herself back and forth as she tried to remember what her family looked like. The god went up to her but she glared at them, and they walked away not saying anything. Meyra spent that day trying her best to remember her family's faces with mild success.

It took an unknown period of time for Meyra to give up remembering her family's faces. Instead, she focused on remembering them through a journal. Every day she wrote down the memories she could remember so she could look back on them. That journal got her through the training, allowing her to still feel a sense of family when it was just her and the god.

Her skills were honed by the god, until she could use any type of magic she could think of. Meyra's abilities became so advanced that she was able to burn down an entire forest without a drop of sweat. Time continued to pass until Meyra was advanced in all the magic types that she was taught. Once the god felt that she was adequate, the room she was training in disappeared.

Meyra was dropped into the forest she had seen previously. She felt the grass under her fingertips and she looked around. The trees were so tall that she couldn't see the tops. She couldn't see or hear any creatures as she sat there.

“Your current appearance is not sufficient,” the god said from an unknown location.

Before Meyra could question, her form began to shift. She wailed in pain, her back bulging and ripping her clothes. Meyra applied some pain reducing magic and sighed, feeling her body relax. The god frowned and removed the magic, causing her to screech in pain. She laid down on the ground when she lost the will to stay upright.

When the pain dissipated, Meyra looked for the god to no avail. A pool of water appeared in front of her. Meyra tried to stand up but felt a weight bring her down. She looked to her back and saw large wings. They were covered in white feathers and were taller than her when she was standing.

Her new form was quite taller than her original one. From a distance, the god explained that this world had taller people. The frame was boxy, and well-built. She had pointed ears with tanned skin. Her eyes were a dark blue with curly blonde hair. The clothes on her were loose flowing and neutral colors, with holes in the shirt for her wings.

Meyra turned from the pool of water and saw a cliff. She walked up to it and looked around, seeing the same scenery she had previously. The deafening silence faded as she began to hear the creatures call and the breeze against her skin. She looked around, the god still not visible.

“You will be in Dovin, the merchant center of Volvin. Remember, you may look like these people but you are fundamentally different.” A voice spoke beside her.

Meyra looked down to her right, observing a spirit sitting next to her. It was a white animal, resembling a fox. The creature looked up at her with a toothy grin. Meyra looked around, seeing none of the forest creatures reacting to them.

“I will guide you as needed. No others can see me,” the fox spoke as it stood up.

“You may only use stronger healing and support magic, as the role you will fill will be an Angel. They are known for their healing abilities,” the fox trailed off, explaining she would be able to use other basic magic such as cleaning and sleeping.

From the view of the town, Meyra looked down off the cliff’s edge. The land was once farmland, with abandoned tools in the fields. The land was dried and cracked, with plumes of dust as the wind blew. There were few houses surrounding the land, those that were there were dilapidated. They appeared as if they were abandoned for years.

“This land was once the farming center of Volvin. Rildin was the fastest growing region, growing a variety of crops that you could not imagine,” the fox said while they looked down on the land.

According to the god, the land had been barren for so long that it had become a famine. There were no stores remaining, resulting in people starving or performing illicit acts to buy food. Meyra looked down on the region, seeing most of the houses in the northern half. People were hunting or fishing to eat, and the northern portion of Rildin borders the ocean.

“I want you to save these people. Magic alone cannot solve this issue,” the fox hummed, swishing its tail.

“How would you like me to do so?” Meyra’s heart ached as she watched children come out of the forest.

Their clothes were too large for them, covered in dirt and blood. They had large baskets that were full of fruits she didn't recognize. Their bones showed through their skin with their faces sunken in. One of the children sat down to eat some of the berries, and the other was trying to drag them away from the forest as the sun began to set.

"Befriend the people and learn the cause. That will lead you to your answer.” The fox walked towards the edge of the cliff.

“You will see me soon.” The fox disappeared, Meyra unsure of where it went.

Meyra stood on the edge of the cliff, watching the children below. There was a shriek, as they began to sprint away from the forest. She watched as large paws came out of the forest, likely the size of her forearm. A deep growl sent a shiver down her spine as some creatures flew away from the edge.

The children left their baskets of food, tripping as they tried to run back. One collapsed, barely moving, leading to the other carrying them back. Once they were out of sight, Meyra flew down to the ground. She looked into the forest, not seeing the creature that was there.

Meyra picked up the basket, dumping the fruit into the other until it was overflowing. She quietly flew into the forest, looking around. Large fruit hung above her head, like those in the basket, that the children were unable to reach. Meyra filled the other basket and began to fly in the direction the children left.

She stayed quiet, watching from a distance. When the sun had set and everyone went inside, Meyra listened to the family’s woes. She placed the baskets outside the front door and knocked. Meyra flew up into the air away from the house.

She watched one of the children come outside, the other inside lying down. They began to cry and called their parents over. The three collapsed to the ground in tears, holding their hands up to the sky with the fruit within them. The family brought the fruit in and closed the door behind them.

Looking from the air, she stared at the horizon. Dovin was full of light and the city was bustling. Meyra went to start heading to Dovin, but the god fell on her head. Its white tail blocked her vision until it turned around.

“Take this, it will protect you,” the fox spoke as it handed Meyra a small star-shaped pendant.

Meyra looked at the pendant, unsure of what the metal could do. The god remained quiet.

“There's no harm in having it, so take it.” The fox yawned.

“Should I be aware of anything else?” Meyra spoke, gritting her teeth.

“Don't forget that you are weak now. Try to stay alive, I spent a lot of time on you.” The fox disappeared, leaving Meyra flying by herself in the air.

She grumbled to herself, wishing the god gave further explanation as to why she could not use other abilities. Meyra understood that Angels primarily used healing magic, but they had to have something to protect themselves. Her heart sank as she thought about her family, and the god telling her to stay alive. It felt like a premonition of her doom.

As she flew towards Dovin, tears welled up in her eyes. She had no guarantee of seeing them alive and a chance of being seriously injured. In addition to all of that, this body felt foreign to her. Everything was unfamiliar from her hair to her wings, and she knew nothing of this world.

Meyra watched as the population rapidly increased as she neared the town. Just outside of Dovin, there were numerous homes lining the single road into town. She flew down, watching as people moved about. The people walked, flew, and rode large creatures with carts attached to them.

The entryway into Dovin was in disrepair, with broken bricks and the signage worn away. There were multiple stations for check in, but only one had someone there. It was an elderly person that was asleep. Some people went to wake her, but others stopped them, so everyone walked in without checking in.

Meyra walked through the essentially unmanned gate and into Dovin. She saw an inn just inside and walked towards it. The sign was faded, and the door had a small hole in the bottom. A small creature ran outside, and a child that had been sitting nearby ran to catch it.

Meyra gulped and opened the door, wincing as it creaked open. The inn had colorful artwork on the walls with beautiful wooden floors. Dust and dirt had piled up, the artwork fading and the floors appearing dull. The ceilings were high, with a chandelier covered in so much dust that a breeze would make the room full of it.

Meyra saw a squishy object on the table with a sign reading squeeze me for service. She picked it up in her hand and squeezed it. The object screamed and her heart rate shot up, making her drop it on the table. On impact, the object grew four legs and ran around the counter where Meyra was unable to see it.

"Hello, how may I help you?" A frail woman walked out using a cane.

An infant was on her back using a cloth, fast asleep. She wore old clothes, faded and with large patches. Her cane appeared well used, faded where her hand rested upon it.

"How much does it cost to stay here for one night?" Meyra asked as the woman sat down at the desk.

"How much do you have?" Meyra looked down in her bag to see one bronze coin, unsure of its value.

The woman hummed for a moment before saying, "This will suffice. If you want food, you have to work for it." Meyra nodded as she was given a creature in the shape of a key.

The creature stuck out its tongue to point towards the stairs. Meyra smiled, walking away from the counter. Once they reached the second floor, the key jumped out of her hands. It jumped onto the handle, unlocking the door. The creature, from the door, jumped onto a pillow directly next to the door on the interior of the room.

Meyra sat on the bed and was greeted with a plume of dust. She coughed, covering her mouth, and went to open the window. Meyra used both of her arms and manhandled the window open. She attempted to use cleaning magic to no avail, until she used one of the beginner levels.

Meyra cleaned the room until it was spotless, collapsing in her bed. It was late at night now and she looked at the sky through the window. Two moons illuminated the town, one much smaller than the other. She rested her head against the pillow and immediately fell asleep.

The next morning, Meyra woke up to light shining through the window. She used some cleaning magic on herself and opened up the door to her bedroom. The key jumped onto her shoulder, using its tongue to close the door behind them. Her hand touched the railing, greeted by a layer of dust, so she cleaned it as she walked down the stairs.

The innkeeper was preparing a meal, the infant awake on their back. Meyra offered to help and she declined, asking her if she could clean up the dining space. Meyra went through, making sure the table and benches were sparkling. As the woman was still cooking, Meyra continued to clean. The place was so dusty that nothing felt truly clean to her.

“I'm sorry this is everything and thank you for not stealing the food.” The innkeeper gave Meyra a weak smile as the two sat down to eat.

She placed the infant in a separate seat at the table. The child had different food to eat, and happily feasted. Meyra’s eyes widened as she tasted flavors she never had before. The two adults ate quietly, enjoying their meal.

“For this evening would you like me to clean the common areas?” Meyra asked, causing the woman to start crying.

Meyra smiled, placing her hand on the woman's. After eating, the innkeeper took their dishes away. She cleaned up the infant and placed them back in her cloth holding them in place. For the rest of the day, Meyra cleaned the common areas from top to bottom. She grinned, seeing the chandelier sparkling in the light streaming through the windows.

Meyra went for an afternoon nap and woke up to her key scratching. She got up and went downstairs per the key’s direction. Meyra looked around, standing still, as she observed the broken tables and front door. She placed the door back in place, unable to completely put it on its hinges.

Meyra squished the creature at the front desk and heard nothing. She walked around the counter and went to the back. The innkeeper was unconscious and covered in blood while the infant was crying in a basket. Meyra frantically healed the woman and took the child out of the basket.

She looked at the emptied storeroom. The boxes and containers had been broken into, the metal locks melted on the ground. She was unable to find a speck of food in the entire place. While waiting for the woman to wake up, she cleaned it with magic to the best of her ability.

“Thank you,” the woman said through her tears, “I'm sorry, I only have enough food for the two of us now.” She sniffled and Meyra helped her stand up.

“Please work at the guild, they provide food,” the woman sniffled as she spoke, “I hope to see you again soon.”

Meyra helped the two to the check-in desk, handing the innkeeper her cane that was on the ground. She turned in her key and the woman explained the location of the guild.

“Thank you again, and good luck,” Meyra said, not knowing she was unlikely to see them again.

While walking to the guild, Meyra observed this part of town. The buildings were in disrepair, with many townsfolk malnourished. As she moved towards the center of town, more appeared to be well-fed and better dressed. Their looks varied, with some having wings, tails, and various other differences from the people she knew.

Outside of the guild, Meyra observed the bustling town. There were multiple businesses with a regular flow of people in and out. When she went to knock on the guild door, Meyra noticed that someone had set up various barriers around the building. As the god had not explained this ability in detail, Meyra looked around.

She followed one of the barriers down one of the side streets and noticed the drawings on the wall. Her hands trembled as she felt a jolt down her back. The wall began to glow, and she sprinted away. Eventually, the glowing faded, and she walked through the door.