Who I previously thought was just a ticket lady fully materializes, in all her voluptuousness, and her grin, from the almost smugness it had, becomes fully mischievous.

"Well, color me impressed" she stated, still inside of my mind, "I knew you would have been an interesting one to follow, but never would I have guessed that you would have created such waves from the start!".

Her smile now was painfully wide, and the mischievousness was replaced by some kind of predatory hunger. While I should be frightened by such a look, it was almost endearing on her.

"Who are you really? What do you want? And do you seriously want me to believe that you were present in my world before the catastrophe!?"

"Wow, so many questions, in so little time, I would almost think that you'd like for me to remain in your mind" and as she says this, she starts walking towards me.

And it’s at this point that I realize that I’m in some kind of meditative trance, inside my own mind, with what I think is a [God], walking deeper inside it.

This is bad.

No sooner had I thought it, that an iridescent purple wall, with golden seams, slams down between us.

"Boo, spoilsport! I wouldn't have done much" much!? "but I guess I should start answering your questions, before you find a way to kick me out" I can do that?

"To start, I am the [Goddess of Luck], but as you already guessed that is neither my real name, nor what I truly am" she immediately dops this truth bomb on me, possibly as a distraction to discombobulate me.

"What I want is exactly what you're offering; I do not care about the endless race for relevance that is always going on, all I want is to be entertained, also the respect is nice, you have no idea how little [Mortal] thinks of me after reading in the [Introduction] about me being whimsical and such" she adds, with her expression morphing into a cute pout, and then going back to the creepy grin.

"And lastly, do you really think that a being capable of calling itself a [God] wouldn't be able to cross dimensions on a whim?"

"And you were just talking about how annoying it was to be considered whimsical" I quip back, having regained my composure.

This discussion is going on with this massive, magical wall between us, without it hindering us in the least.

"Don't be a child and listen properly when one talks to you" her eyes crinkle dangerously, "I said that I don't like how that somehow implies that I deserve less respect than then other [Gods], I obviously am whimsical, such is the nature of fortune, ergo my name" she finishes, relaxing in that predatory stillness of hers.

I almost miss the ever-present [Buddy], its constant remarks on my monologues helped with keeping my head straight, which would be useful in a contest of wit against a [Goddess].

"And what, exactly, would I be getting from you?" I try to rein the discussion back on track, so that I may evict this new inquiline from my mind.

"Exactly what that sexy [Arch-Priestess] said, and more if you will reveal yourself more than entertaining enough" she replies, quite jubilantly.

So here I am, with an amused [Goddess] literally at the doorstep of the center of my being, trying to ponder the pros and cons of this arrangement, without [Buddy] telling me what is true, and what isn’t.

She probably noticed my hesitation, because the 'craziness' at seemed to emanate from her diminished, and her expression became more placid and inviting "I know that it’s hard to trust me, or anyone else, really, in a situation like this, but I’ll tell you this: One thing the [Introduction] said, that hinted at the truth, is that I was created to create 'opportunity', but that also means that I respond to no-one and that everyone else is subject to my influence, even when not willing" and then she looks at me, really look at me, her eyes glowing with concealed power, her gaze somehow piercing the magical wall, which I start thinking must be [Indominable], and once again feel that 'pushing' sensation, only this time it is much stronger, "I am powerful, as powerful as any [God], further more if you consider that I am free from most of their rules, and I can be an even more powerful ally if you let me, so let me ask you a question now: Do you want to feel lucky, or not?"

The pressure disappears, the walls lower, and I see her there, where she must have taken a couple of steps back, watching me with an intense, yet kind, look.

"What of my parents? Will they be given the same choice? Will I be able to protect them?" I say, almost involuntarily.

Her expression saddens, the glow in her eyes goes out, and after a deep sigh she finally replies "I’m sorry Darwin, but your parents weren’t chosen, they aren’t here… they are gone, and I can do nothing to change that"

"WHY!? Why was I saved, where you could get much better!? WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ME THAT HAS THE WORST LUCK, IN WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE ALL OF EXISTENCE!?."

I'm crying now, I don't know if I'm crying even in reality, but I do not care right now.

My parents were gone, now I had the certainty, I could believe it a lie all I want, but it fits too well to be anything but the naked truth.

I look at [Lady Luck] right in the face, and see genuine compassion, I don’t know how, but I know it to be so.

"Why would you Gods Transfer people, when it results in such pain, and loss? And don't you dare say that it's to save us, we both know it as the lie it is" I almost miss the fact that there were no [Brackets] amidst what I said, almost.

"I am legitimately sorry that it had to be this way, unfortunately, we are not Omnipotent, nor is the [System], so we have to cut our losses when we are obliged to do so. Your world was the nth casualty in a war way bigger than even me, with an opponent that doesn’t allow victory, but only survival. I swear to you that we are not the bad guys, but I would understand if you couldn’t consider us the good guys, even though I like to consider us as such, our inner strife for popularity is just that, a competition, we still work together to safeguard you from the greater evils of the [Cosmos]. The [Nexus] isn’t simply a safe haven from the conflict, but a training ground" The [Goddess of Luck] possibly said the biggest secret of this world to the insignificant me, and all I can think of is how much I want to punch her in the face, "I wish I could tell you more, but this is all I’m allowed to say without attracting the ire of my colleagues" she adds, with a sad smile.

I’m not thinking straight, I can’t deal with this, why is it always me?

…But it isn’t always me, I’m just pessimistic, I know that, and I’m being an asshole by thinking like that, with the billions of lives lost, but I can’t help it, not right now.

[Luck], once again, notices my emotional state and speaks up: "I am truly sorry about what you’re going through, breaking through the [Pacify Enchantment] might seem fortuitous, considering the valuable [Trait] you gained, but it also exposed your naked mind to the horror that you're experiencing, without the safety-blanket that we normally prepare. I'm not saying that it's your fault, mind you, only that you're going through it not as protected as others; the [Enchantment] might seem cruel, to mess with someone's mind upon arrival, but it is a blessing, it's there to help you cope with the reality of things, in a safe and controlled environment."

At some point I must have lowered my gaze to the ground, because that last statement made me look back into her eyes.

And I am impressed by the honesty in her expression, no mischievousness is present, not her intimidating look, nor pity, she is literally mortified about what I’m going through, at least the non-watered-down version of it.

I’m sure that these thoughts are born from me, even the other [Gods] had to make me feel their presence to try and interact with me, even [Luck] was rebuffed from my [Trait] when she tried to invade my personal space.

I have no doubt in my mind: whatever goals these [Gods] may hold, there are not actively malicious, nor working against me.

The [Humans] in the [Nexus] are safe, and they will be looked after.

I’m the one that needs me the most, I need to take care of my own mental health first.

I take a deep breath, hold it in for a few seconds, clean my face of any signs of my ugly crying, and then exhale, "Ok, I believe you, and thank you for your consideration."

[Luck]'s visage becomes visibly kinder, and her shoulder relaxes a little, "Good- I mean... You are good, right?", she says, a little chagrined.

"No, I'm not, but I will be, and now isn't the time, let's talk business" I reply.

She looks at me askance, but lets it pass, and continues "The deal is pretty simple: I become your [Patron] and you become my [Patronage], that is pretty cut and dry. This will not make you my servant, or anything like that, but only because that is the kind of deal I'm proposing, be careful in future contracts, what it will give me is a direct way to check in on you. Instead, you get all that was advertised, and more, as a sort of 'apology' for what you’re going through."

I’m currently working on fumes, but I’m definitely feeling better; I don’t really have anything against this deal, she gets a tv channel tuned to the 'Dulcet' wave-length, and I get a chance at enough power to make of my life whatever I will of it.

But you see, I keep saying that I hate going into things blind to then just proceed to do so, and I’m sick of it.

"At this point I know that you’re being sincere, and I appreciate it, but this is too good of an opportunity to let it pass: is there any other prohibited insight that you can reveal to me?"

She gives me a flat look, almost successfully hiding her remaining sympathy and her growing amusement "Well, aren’t you shrewd one; using the opportunity birthed from one's own weakness to grasp for more? I knew I like you."

She cutely tilts her head, and her hair whips and floats, as if it was in zero Gs.

"I guess there are still a couple of nuggets of information that I can safely share with you."

My hopes of being better-prepared surges.

"But I’m not going to" She smiles wide, her mischievousness plainly back.

My hopes crash and burn.

"Don’t look so dejected, I’m still going to give you more information, just not right now."

"What? Why not now?"

"Because I am the [Goddess of Luck], not the 'Goddess of Preparedness', you will get that information at the right time, in the right situation."

I'm kind of annoyed by her antics, but I must admit that she's growing on me: for how whimsical she might be, she's clearly an honest and genuine person, and I guess that's what matters.

"So, you get to spy me in the shower and I get a lot of stuff?" I get back to quipping.

"Pretty much" Her smile wider, clearly amused by my phrasing.

"And you will not elaborate on what that 'more' is exactly going to be?"

"Nope."

"Shit."

"You’re going to agree to the contract or not?" she starts tapping her foot, somehow, in the blackness of my mind.

"Ok, sure, where do I sign?"

She puts one hand on her waist and snaps the fingers in the other one, and-