Columns scattered in quarters over the space.

Gold sprayed lavishly over every surface.

In the golden stone, etched within were patterns, words and pictures.

Like a castle throne, the room rose in the center followed by steps upward, all leading to the middle of the room, to him.

Despite never meeting the man- No the being before, Sera could tell there was something different about him.

He felt like a million people stuffed inside one person, an unending crowd, he was overwhelming.

She couldn’t see his face or his features, instead a fog like presence hung around him, colourless.

Looking down at her legs, she was surprised to find that her legs hadn’t already started to move at the thought, they were waiting, they were obeying.

Almost as surprised as she was when she saw him, she noticed with a delay that her light blue clothing, worn by all the patients at the ward, was missing.

Not only that, but her shirt and underwear was as well, but it didn’t feel unnatural.

The air didn’t feel cold, and his presence didn’t make her freeze up.

Neither did the two sets of eyes to his side.

On the left of the being, on a smaller throne, was one of the most beautiful women Sera had ever seen.

Her skin was a light bronze and her hair luscious and freshly groomed. She also wasn’t wearing any clothes, Sera remarked as her eyes fell to her chest which was modest, fitting of the smaller woman's stature.

On the other side was almost the opposite, pale as the lights in the halls she had spent her life in, was an enchantress. Just looking at her made Sera get lost in her flawless skin, her hair by comparison was short and a light red that didn’t betray her look of peace and tranquillity.

So, Sera was surprised when she saw two stumps, where her legs would be. They didn’t look unnatural, they looked like they fit, the skin had long healed over, and it was as if the beauty didn’t need to walk in this perfect world.

“That’s not all.”

His voice broke her revere brought on by curiosity.

“Look at her eyes,” Sera brought her eyes to the red haired beauty, who was watching her with an amused but satisfied look, before she gave Sera a miniscule shake of her head and faced towards the other beauty.

Sera had no difficulty pulling her eyes away as she looked onto the bronze woman laid bare.

As her eyes met hers, she noticed they were clear.

Clear of any malice, clear of any sight except her own.

As she looked on she could see herself in those eyes, the first thing she saw was her own eyes, her crimson eyes.

Wherever she went there they were, despite her feeling freed from her illness, the blood-red eyes would tell her differently every time.

Looking down at her hands, the itch on her right hand was gone and the cuts on her legs and torso were also gone.

What was happening?

Sera felt her spine tingle as the felt at her emotions without them commanding her.

Standing up from her spot she saw runes spotted all around where she had sat, a red plethora of colours was under her, her feet felt the warmed stones with no delay, the same surprise that would continue to shock her.

“Except this time, it's true.” Calming but wanting, was her first impression of the being in the middle, his features were changing as her perspective of him changed.

At first, it was a pure gold light but the more he spoke, the more normal, the more human he became.

“What?” Sera spoke naturally, her body not slowing her.

“Your eyes, I couldn’t fix but your mind, on the other hand, was quite easy. How does it feel being yourself for the first time in years?”

Her mouth formed a perfect ‘oh’ as she began to look inwards.

The first time feeling normal since the incident, Sera brushed past the thought and really focused on what she was feeling.

Surprised and then...

Calm.

Serene.

Years of therapy trying to help control and manage her illness made her use the tools to her full advantage, she could feel herself easily reach the meditative state her teachers tried for years to help her at least touch.

Now she could reach it easily, her thoughts were organised rather than erratic and her body, she could feel it, and it wouldn’t act without her permission, wouldn’t act on random thoughts or on daydreams.

Sera could feel her eyes moisten, and her shoulders shook, but the burning and the shaking stopped as she began focusing on her surroundings.

Her mind normally wasn’t allowed to focus deeply on one object before her body brought her away, but now, the runes etched into the floor, the yellow sheen covering every surface and the plentiful pillows demanded her attention.

She was lost in her thoughts for what felt like hours until the room was fully explored, whenever she remembered the being and the two on the throne she asked “It’s alright for me to just look? I don’t want to waste your ti-”

But she was always stopped as he, the being simply watched on, just from looking at him, she could tell he was content to wait.

Maybe it was like watching a pet explore a green field, with the sun just hitting and the grass sparkling from the dew.

Finally, however, the room was explored.

One massive bed lay in one of the corners, a towering empty blue screen floating midair above it.

In another corner, a table filled with food that had always seemed freshly made, no matter the times Sera had returned to it.

In another was a garden, freshly trimmed with markings on the floor and under each plant pot, Sera dimly recognised as a form of Braille and when she touched one such plant the name came to her, along with its needs and current maturity.

More such wonders were surrounding the room before Sera snapped out of her wonder and curiosity that she had regained.

Noticing that she was back at the splotch of red she had first come to the room on.

Sera spoke up, her voice and demeanour feeling unnaturally calmed. “Are you sure I’m fixed, I still feel a bit… me.”

"I've fixed the illness, but your mind is damaged,” he replied as if they had been good friends, his hands rested on his throne as he continued.

“It needs time, however, I wasn’t able to fix one side effect from the illness."

The being’s image spluttered again, this time changing to a more solid smiling figure, “Your eyes will be always be scarlet, they will always see more, but what more isn’t for me to say.”

Sera felt her breath catch as she looked at her own crimson eyes through the pool of water nearby, the way they had been since the incident.

“I don’t know how to say this any other way than directly,” Sera tried to focus on the elephant in the room, “Why am I here, and fixed and… alive.”

Against her skin she could feel the air draw towards the middle of the room, towards him, “When is charity not a good enough reason?”

Her head tilted at the thought, she was taught not to trust but… he had done so much good and her memories when it came to people were thin and far between.

Again the god’s image changed, this time with crisp lines outlining his jaw as he spoke “Of course, now that you’re fixed, healed and able to think adequately. We’re at a cross paths, as to what to do with you.”

He flourished his hand pointing at the golden pavement in front of them, it split into two with an illustration of Sera forming on each piece, but slightly different from each other.

“You can either choose to stay here, with us. Have this be your new home, and we’ll love and cherish you with the expectation that you’ll do the same.” As he finished, the golden pavement arose from the ground and became a translucent screen to her left.

A God’s Mercy

Positives:

Love and cherish your fellow wives, and your god. Live in the castle as if it were your home.

Consequences:

Personal freedom limited, unable to leave the castle without permission. Must love all the god’s lovers.

Sera blinked at the bright text in front of her eyes, she tried moving back, but it followed her.

Her eyes blinked like a confused dog at why a god would want her to be with, but also at the ruthless honesty that the consequence's column.

It almost felt like a deal with a devil.

She wanted to keep thinking about the reason behind the so called ‘mercy’ but there were other things to focus on, like the other question she realised hadn’t been truly answered.

“Before I accept anything, who ar-”

“Sera, I’ll answer your questions after I explain the second choice, trust that there’s a reason that you wouldn’t squander if you knew.” The being interrupted before he gave away the last choice.

“Enter Temporous and live your life there, healed of course but far away from Earth.” Then without missing a beat, the second pavement was ejected to her right.

A New Chance

Positives:

Healed of mental illness. A new life on Temporous. Your eyes will be the same.

[It is something even I am unable to change.]

Consequences:

Hidden.

[Asking will reveal what awaits however will also make the difficulty of the start of your new life harder.]

“I cannot give you more information without there being a balance to your new life, a consequence, if you will.”

His figure lost its clarity and was shrouded in a fog as Sera realised his physical appearance was who she interpreted him to be.

“Will asking who you are lead to a consequence? And…” Sera paused as she debated knowing or not knowing, “What are the consequences?”.

“I, am Amet. God of leisure, God of recreation, God of pleasure.” As he spoke, the white haired woman’s eye twitched and the clear eyed beauty pulled her gaze away from Sera to Amet.

“There is no consequence for asking my name, most in my presence forget the need for it, feeling my aura is often enough to quell any questions. Now the consequences for starting the new life.”

He pointed his finger at the golden screen on the right as it updated in real time.

A New Chance

Positives:

Healed of mental illness. A new life on Temporous. Your eyes will be the same

[It is an aspect that even I am unable to change.]

Consequences:

Your head will be bleeding, and you will be dizzy. You will be unable to breathe, you have 10 seconds before you collapse and suffocate. Amet will be unable to talk to you about the choices.

The room kept it's quiet serenity, but Sera knew there was only one choice.

She had to stay here forever, for all she knew the other choice would lead her to certain death, how long had she been dead before Amet had rescued her?

Sera stared between the gold screens before her finger hesitatingly went up to grab A God’s Mercy before she looked around the room.

She knew where everything was, the garden, the bed, the food.

This would be her life… for eternity?

She then looked at Amet, his figure had turned a soft blue, and now she could see thick leg muscles jutting out from the throne.

She looked at his wives, they were like she was Sera suspected, they were given the choice, and they had chosen to stay… and to keep their disabilities.

“Did you two stay disabled because of your own decision?” Sera had an inkling that living lifetimes in an enclosed space wasn’t as heavenly as the castle told.

Sera saw two nods, but they didn’t say a word.

So she paused before sitting cross-legged on the spot, and let her mind free.

Thinking, exploring each idea, until she found herself solving the possible new life she would find herself in, if she couldn’t breathe was there something wrong with her lungs or was she at the bottom of the lake or the sea?

Hours passed as Sera finally stood up, her legs not feeling any discomfort despite her awkward sitting position.

“Thank you, but I can’t stay here. Amet would be interesting to learn about and you two as well, but…” Sera found the castle walls resembling more and more the hospital she found herself trying to escape for years, unable to leave and having her life chosen for her was too much to handle a second time.

“I’m sorry. Thank you for healing me and for the… offer. Goodbye,” With that, Sera pressed the golden screen.

A New Chance

Positives:

Healed of mental illness. A new life on Temporous. Your eyes will be the same

[It is an aspect that even I am unable to change.]

Consequences:

Your head will be bleeding, and you will be dizzy. You will be unable to breathe, you have 10 seconds before you collapse and suffocate. Amet will be unable to talk to you about the choices.

[Transfer to Temporous]

Immediately the golden screen shone on her being and in a heartbeat she was gone.

Almost disappointingly fast, there were others that had taken days or weeks, but she was gone here mere hours.

The atmosphere turned in the room quickly as the ceiling slowly began shrinking.

The bronze skinned beauty turned to the foul aura, to the distinct image of the halved man, who was sitting in the middle of the room, “Why bother disguising yourself? Her chances of succeeding are-”

“Never low enough not to take proper precautions.” The being’s voice changed in tone, as if a veil had lifted from the air.

The room began to fold in from itself as he morphed back. “I’ll send you two back to Amet, thank him for me.”

“You do know we’ll tell him what you’ve done. Impersonating our god is a blasphemy.” Her eyes still clear were able to follow him regardless as his throne began disintegrating beneath him.

His figure morphed as a face rotten with age, halved into one with a youthful sneer. “Let him come, a single Blasphemy won’t be enough to stop me.”