A ceiling I don't recognize...

I always wanted to know what it was like to say that but... it's anticlimactic.

I woke up in a normal? house.

If I had to describe it, small?

It's 2 stories that I know of but, no real rooms that I can see on this floor. Starting from where I am, there are stairs straight in front of me and there's a door to the right of them. I say this place is small because next to me on the right is a table and 4 chairs and on the other side of the table looks like a small kitchen. Yes, I woke up next to the kitchen. On my left and behind me are walls but, there is also an arc that looks like it leads into another room behind me on the right that I can't see from here. I also can't see the top of the stairs so I have no clue what's up there.

How did I get here... I remember... those self-proclaimed gods...

I may have overreacted... Were they telling the truth? It's hard to believe but you can't sleep in a dream so at least this isn't a dream... still it's hard to believe.

This is getting me nowhere...

I tried to get up but I felt strangely dizzy. Even sitting up is a challenge.

Ok, now what?

I lay back down trying to figure out what's going on and what I want to do but I got nothing.

Just then, I heard the door open.

(proclaimed god of death) "Ohh, you are finally awake"

It's the black haired one.

Remembering what happened, I want to get angry but I think I'm just too tired to. Haven't they done enough damage?

(proclaimed god of death) "Well, you can ignore me if you want, I'll just talk to myself then."

He grinned at me.

Is he trying to be funny, he is making it harder for me to be mad. Maybe this one's nice?

(proclaimed god of death) "Then, to explain to the air, my name is Nox, this is my home, that is my spare bed, the room behind you is the game room, upstairs is off limits until you can walk properly, and feel free to ask any questions whenever you want."

How am I supposed to respond to that? Isn't that completely different from earlier?

While I'm stunned at the difference in treatment he continues.

(Nox) "If you won't ask anything then I'll start with an apology, I'm sorry for how my brother acted when we first met, most of my siblings think of outsiders, aka humans, as toys or ants. That, unfortunately, has led most of my siblings to act like small children when "their toys" won't act the way they want. It's not a good apology but I am, admittedly, not familiar with this sort of thing."

That's... disturbing... toys? But this was better than the last "apology" I got.

(Nox) "My sister, the ex-goddess of beauty, is a prime example of this. However, I think she forgot the rules mother and father placed when they created us. We are created and get placed based on our interests and personality, but if we break the rules we will be placed in a more... suitable domain. She, as the goddess of beauty, cursed something beautiful, as well as cursing someone innocent by reversing a blessing, which is against the rules. If you want to know more, you only need to ask."

Now he has an annoying smile like he's expecting me to ask, but I won't. As much as I want to know what happened to this ex-goddess, I feel like I'll lose if I ask anything. Not sure what I have to lose at this point though.

(Nox) *Sigh* "Alright, I get that this situation must be difficult for you to accept but I'm not here to make things worse. I get that first impressions are important and that we completely mucked that up. Look, the last important thing I want to say for now is that all the people that were kind to you, now that there is no curse, were given a little extra luck as compensation for the trouble we caused. Not enough to win the lottery or jump out a plane and live but enough to live a long happy life."

I was getting angry again. AFTER the curse is gone, they could only fix this mess AFTER I died!!!

(Stella) (WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO DIED?! MY PARENTS WHO DIED?!!!)

I shouted in angerly my mind but he responded...

(Nox) "They were each given a wish we could give for their next life, your parents wished to be together again after asking for your happiness. We couldn't give you happiness due to the curse so they made the second wish after we promised to take good care of you and were reborn as neighbors. They are 10 years old now and have a puppy love for each other while living normal, happy lives. For anyone else, you will only need to ask and I will tell you."

Even after they died they still worried about me, even wishing for my happiness...

I'm glad my parents are happy, but did he just read my thoughts???

(Stella) (YOU CAN READ MY MIND?!)

I thought, more out of surprise than anger this time but his next words did not lessen my surprise.

(Nox) "What, no, you said that out loud."

(Stella) (I didn't say anything though...)

(Nox) "no no, see you are talking out loud... Wait your lips weren't moving... Telepathy?"

He murmured that last word but I still caught it. But telepathy? How could I do that?

(Stella) (What are you talking about...)

(Nox) "It's not too strange, you don't have a body so you wouldn't talk using vocal chords anyway. Besides the domains in this place are stronger than on earth so anything you would classify as magic should be possible."

(Stella) (Then how was I yelling at you and that self-proclaimed god of life earlier?)

(Nox) "Well, let's skip the small details for now."

HEY

(Nox) "Anyway, are you hungry? That stupid brother who you met yesterday should be here soon..."

Yesterday? The more he explains to me the more I don't understand. What's a domain? Why is it weaker on Earth? Why is it stronger here? Why can I do telepathy? How is that even possible? Why haven't I asked about the wings? Wait, where are the wings I saw before?

While I was getting lost in my thoughts, he appeared.

*Knock knock*

(Nox) "Oh, that should be him. JUST COME IN IT'S UNLOCKED."

The door opens and that self-proclaimed god of life came in.

(self-proclaimed god of life) "Oh, you're awake... about yesterday... sorry."

(Nox) "..."

(Stella) (... I interrupted you often and may have overreacted so I'll apologize for that and forgive you for being mad at me, but as I don't understand much of what's going on I can't completely forgive you. After all, I don't even know what I need to understand to completely forgive you yet.)

I was taught to be reasonable, even to those who are not. I was also taught that I don't need to forgive everything, as some things are unforgivable. Still, for now, I'll just follow my instincts, I don't like this white "god."

(self-proclaimed god of life) "My name is Alacritas. I bought some soup, it's good for souls."

He says as he hands me the bowl, inside is some kind of steaming clear soup... do I have to eat this...

I look at Nox. I don't know why but I will trust him, well it's not like I can do anything else in this situation.

(Nox) "He made this as an apology for how he acted earlier, it should be ok to eat, I doubt he is dumb enough to poison you at the very least. He should have made something to help stabilize your soul as an apology for the stress he caused you."

(Stella) (Stabilize?)

(Nox) "You didn't notice? Look at your hands."

As he said I looked at my hands, they are transparent... wait, what?!

I looked up to Nox, probably with a shocked face.

(Nox) "When you got overly emotional before your soul began to disperse, I managed to stop it but... to put it simply, the stress your emotions put on your core was killing you. As long as you stay emotionally calm or positive you will recover over time, soul food will also help. But if you get stressed, like earlier, your core will start to dissipate and you will disappear."

I don't really get it but basically I almost died... wait I already died... died for good? I still don't get it but it's something bad, isn't it?

(Nox) "So eat and feel better faster. Then we can go out and have fun, ok?"

I still don't get it but, I'll trust Nox... for now, he seems like he's not lying at least.

So I nodded at him and took the soup. It still looks hot so I blew on it before bringing it to my mouth and drank some of it... it's actually not that bad- PAIN

(Nox) "What's wrong Stella! BROTHER?!"

Nox turned to glare at Alacritas.

(Alacritas) "I really didn't do anything! I really don't know what's going on!"

(Stella) (It hurts...)

Pain. All I feel is pain. Like my skin is being shredded and my blood feels like freezing lava in my veins.

(Nox) "What's wrong Stella. What do I-"

Nox suddenly took the soup and drank some.

(Nox) "!!!, Brother you made it too strong for her! Stella hold still, I'll help you absorb it but this will hurt for a bit."

I didn't know what was going on, I only felt pain. I suddenly felt something warm on my back. The pain got worse, I started screaming out but the pain slowly turned to a comfortable warmth like my back. After what I think was an hour, all the pain was gone but the warmth stayed, and I felt tired... really tired.

(Nox) "Stella, are you ok now?"

He asked with... concern? in his voice. It's been a while since someone talked to me like that...

(Nox) "Stella?"

I nodded slightly, too tired to do anything else.

(Nox) "Thank goodness."

He smiled at me, then looked to Alacritas.

(Nox) "Brother."

He wasn't smiling anymore and he sounded... scary.

(Alacritas) "It wasn't on purpose, I swear!"

Alacritas was definitely scared, I'm glad I'm not on the receiving end. Nox is scary.

(Nox) "It may not have been but that is not what you should say, right now you need to say something else."

(Alacritas) "I'M SORRY!!! Don't be mad, I didn't-"

(Nox) "Don't apologize to me."

Nox motions towards me.

(Alacritas) "Then what do you want me to-"

(Nox) *Sigh* "I guess I was expecting too much of you. Stella, you get some rest, I'll bring this idiot to get some punishment."

(Alacritas) "NO, you are mad, what did I do. No, stop, no, NO!"

(Nox) "I'll be back soon."

Nox hooked his arm aroundAlacritas neck and dragged him out the door they came from...

It's suddenly quiet.

I've had enough. I'm tired, I'm just going to go back to sleep.

Good night.