Prologue - Your Name Is.

“Is that all you desire? You can be more selfish,” the voice admonishes before heaving a soft sigh. “In fact, please be more selfish.” That same voice sounds exasperated, borderline doting, as it calls out to the empty expanse. Bright stars unmarred by pollution twinkle brightly across the sky as a backdrop for the gently swaying grass that ripples and rolls in picturesque waves across the fields.

That is all I want. A young woman sits in the center of that expanse, staring up at the sky to converse with the deity. Without speaking, the deity understands her, and so she pushes her desire forward without hesitation.

“I’m sorry.” As the heavenly voice apologizes softly, she can only shake her head for her unreasonable request. It’s ‘that’, after all. In summary, ‘Due to certain circumstances, you are being sent to another world as a hero. As compensation, the deity in charge can offer you a blessing.’ Wealth, magic, or even special skills that would make anyone cry, ‘God is truly unfair’ - these were all on the table. The only thing she could not do was give information, neither about who the woman was before nor about what would come after. However, the woman that rejected all those glittering options only stares up at the sky and offers an apologetic smile of her own.

“As a goddess, it is an inviolable rule. I cannot take away someone’s dignity or will, so I can neither force someone to be your friend nor can I create someone who exists to be your loyal friend. You understand, my dear, that free will is not to be trifled with?” As the goddess speaks to her, the woman in the fields nods her head. Although her desire was simple, she had asked for too much. With a soft smile, she shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders, then lies down on the grass in defeat.

“Your desire is rare. I want to commend you. Many would ask for great riches or a castle with a hundred servants, for the power to reshape reality, or to fulfill their childhood fantasies. You… All you asked for was a friend. I’m ashamed.” The woman laughs silently, lips parting as voiceless giggles overtake her. What was there to be ashamed of? Rules were rules. Brushing long, silvery strands of hair out of her face, she pushes herself back into a sitting position.

“I’ll try to do something for you,” the goddess continues, only to see the nameless woman in the fields patting her hand on the ground next to her. The goddess laughs and laughs and laughs and as she laughs, the stars twinkle as if laughing too.

“Did I not tell you to be more selfish? You truly do have rare desires. Very well! As you wish, I will sit next to you.” The woman without a name smiles with delight, immediately enveloping the coalesced stars turned person in a firm embrace. Draped in a robe of starlight and wearing a mask, the goddess lets out a surprised sound as she is captured in a bear hug, then warmly returns the gesture.

“You truly do have such a warm aura, dear. Well then, let us figure out a name for you.” The silhouette of stars lets out another soft laugh as the embrace ends and the silver-haired woman amiably pulls the goddess’ palm upwards. With careful touches, the nameless woman writes with her fingertip.

“Aura. That is what you wish to be called?” Eyes just as silver as the woman’s hair stare back at her firmly, resolute. Like a moon in an ocean of stars, the deity thinks to herself, before scooting a little closer.

“Then Aura it shall be. Let’s enjoy a long conversation.“