I opened my eyes slowly, and the first thing I saw was the bright blue sky, surrounded by soft white clouds drifting across the heavens. A strong breeze swept over my face, bringing with it a refreshing coolness that seemed to cleanse my soul. I could feel how fresh the air was as it touched my skin, as though this were not the world I knew. I turned my head, and my breath caught in my throat when I realized I was on a floating island, so high amidst the clouds.
"Wait, this is…" I cried out, my voice tinged with disbelief.
A wave of nostalgia washed over me. This floating island, with its lush green trees and sparkling grass, was so familiar. This was a place I once knew, a place I had visited before. Somehow, I was now in the Realm of Goddess Allina.
"Wasn't I just fighting Strigifavorus? Did I die again?"
My gaze then shifted toward an altar standing at the center of the island. It was a circular altar, adorned with ancient carvings that glowed faintly, filled with a mystical light emanating from the sacred stones surrounding it. Every inch of the altar seemed infused with deep magical energy, reminding me of all I had endured—struggles, pain, and sacrifice.
I stepped closer, my feet light despite knowing this was a place shrouded in mystery. Just as I was almost in front of the altar, a soft voice called to me from behind.
"Anggi…"
I froze. The voice called my name with such gentleness and honor. I turned around, and there, standing before me, was Goddess Allina, radiating an astonishing beauty. She wore a shimmering gown of sea-blue, as though her entire being merged with the sky and the surrounding nature. Her calm face radiated a soothing light, though there was a subtle sadness in her eyes. Truly, her aura was different from before. It was as though the careless personality she once exuded had dissolved into the atmosphere. I would have bet that, had this been my first meeting with her, I would have immediately believed she was a goddess.
"Congratulations," Goddess Allina said, her voice soft, "You've defeated Strigifavorus, Anggi."
For a moment, I felt confused, but before I could ask further, something else caught my attention. In the air, a large owl flew around us. With two pairs of elegant wings, it circled low, as if recognizing us. It spiraled several times before calmly perching on Goddess Allina's shoulder.
I gasped. The owl—it could only be Strigifavorus, the enemy I had just faced. Its eyes, once full of vengeance and fury, had transformed into eyes brimming with peace and calm. I couldn't help myself and asked, "That… that's Strigifavorus, right? Why has it changed like that?"
Goddess Allina smiled gently, her gaze understanding. "Don't be afraid, Anggi," she said. "Siti is my pet, as I mentioned before, no longer in battle mode. She is now tamed. She is not the monster you faced in the battlefield. This is her true form, and she has returned to me. For that, I am truly grateful."
I stared at the owl, bewildered. There was no more anger in its eyes, only an extraordinary tranquility. "But… how could she change like this?" I asked, wanting to understand more.
Goddess Allina paused for a moment, her gaze suddenly distant, as if recalling something too painful to speak of. I saw the sadness on her face, as though there was a long story behind all of this. Yet, she didn't answer my question, merely allowing the silence to envelop us.
The Weather Goddess sighed deeply. "Right now, I lack the power to tell you. If you receive the Sacred Artifact from my siblings, we will explain everything to you. I promise!"
I sensed a deep sorrow in her, something more than mere regret. I decided not to press further and asked gently, "Goddess Allina, how am I here again? I'm not dead, right?"
Goddess Allina looked at me with full attention, as though seeing deep into my soul. "You were called here, Anggi," she answered softly, "Because I wanted to thank you for your kindness—you've returned Siti to me. I know how hard it was to defeat her in her form as Strigifavorus, and I couldn't let your good deed go unnoticed."
I felt warmth from her words, though there was an undeniable tension. "I didn't do it to receive a reward from you," I said sincerely, "I only... did it because I knew it was the right thing to do."
Goddess Allina smiled gently, then continued, "But I must give you something, Anggi. Something worthy of you, as the vanquisher of Strigifavorus."
I was taken aback and didn't know what to say. A gift from Goddess Allina? What could a goddess of such immense power give me? Divine Blessing again? Or perhaps part of her power? If so, I hoped it was her illusion ability. Honestly, that ability was quite astonishing. If that was what she wished to bestow upon me, I wouldn't be foolish enough to refuse.
Goddess Allina raised her hand with a delicate motion, and suddenly, out of nowhere, a long, dark brown Cloak appeared, floating in the air as if woven from wind and hidden light. The cloak shimmered, with intricate and beautiful designs and ornaments—each thread sparkling as though reflecting the entire surrounding world. I stared at the object, wide-eyed, unable to believe what I was seeing.
"W-What is this?" I asked with a trembling voice, unable to contain my curiosity.
Goddess Allina smiled widely, as though she had anticipated my question. "This is my Sacred Artifact. It's called Vitruj. This cloak not only serves as protection, but also contains the incredible power of elemental wind. Since I no longer have a physical form, this item is useless to me."
I stood in stunned silence, my eyes wide as I heard her explanation. Vitruj? A Sacred Artifact? Does that mean the cloak is the Spirit Crystal of the Wind Soul? I had never imagined that a Spirit Crystal wasn't a crystal as its name suggested. Wait, no. Didn't the Spirit Crystal of the Soul of Hope I collected take the form of a pin? Does that mean all Spirit Crystals take on the shape of ordinary objects? No words came out of my mouth, only disbelief filling my mind.
Goddess Allina looked at me, watching my stunned reaction. "Take it, Anggi. Vitruj is now yours."
I still hesitated. Did I deserve to hold the Spirit Crystal, Vitruj? Was I truly worthy of using it? But seeing Goddess Allina's trusting eyes gave me the strength to take a step forward. I nodded slowly, and with a heavy heart, I accepted the cloak.
The moment I touched the cloak, I felt how soft its fabric was. It felt as though it had been woven from clouds and wind—light yet strong. I could feel warmth radiating from the fabric, as if every fiber touched my soul with deep tenderness. But shortly after that, something strange happened.
The cloak began to transform into fine, shimmering particles, dispersing like a gust of wind. Before I could catch my breath, the particles entered my body, merging with me. I was startled and felt a slight jolt, but no pain followed. Instead, there was a feeling as if my body was bathed in energy I could not imagine—energy flowing gently but full of power.
Goddess Allina watched me with a gentle smile. "Don't worry, Anggi," she said in a voice full of calm. "It means Vitruj has now merged with your body. Of course, you can manifest it again if you wish, but I highly advise against it if you don't want Vitruj to be taken by someone else."
I still felt confused, trying to grasp what had just occurred. "I don't feel any difference. Do I really have Vitruj inside me now?" I asked, a bit unsure.
"Correct," Goddess Allina nodded. "With Vitruj, you can access the elemental wind ability—the power to change the world around you. But remember, Anggi, you are still weak. You must train your magical abilities to unlock more of Vitruj's potential. The stronger you become, the greater the abilities you will gain. Perhaps, you may even be able to use my highest technique, The World of Illusions."
"Really? I will be able to use that power?" I asked with enthusiasm.
"It all depends on you."
I looked at my hands, feeling the energy flowing through my body. It felt different—like wind swirling within me, dancing freely. I felt more alive, stronger, and more connected to the world around me.
Goddess Allina gestured to me. "Now, try using your new power."
I nodded, feeling excited but still anxious. I walked a little away from the altar, standing with focus in the middle of the calm island. I closed my eyes for a moment, gathering power within me. Then, I opened my eyes and waved my right hand forward.
In an instant, a fierce wind began to blow. The grass on the ground started swaying, and the trees around the island shook violently. The wind grew stronger, swirling rapidly around me, as if responding to my call. The clouds in the sky also moved faster, as though governed by the power I had just created. I felt the wind as a part of me, as though I were the master of it.
This feeling… was so similar to when I had the Divine Blessing, except now it felt like my power was limitless. No incantations, no viglets—just my intent, and I could control the wind as I pleased. When I tried to move the earth's water, nothing happened. It seemed that the Spirit Crystal of Vitruj could only control the elemental wind. For the other elements, it seemed I would have to use the old ways.
Even so, this was an incredible power. Not only could I create fierce winds, but I could feel pure magical energy flowing through me. It felt... amazing. But also, it was terrifying.
"This... is amazing," I whispered, almost unable to believe what had just happened.
Goddess Allina smiled, as though she understood my confusion. "You've only just begun, Anggi. Don't hesitate to train your abilities. You are the bearer of Vitruj now, and as a Haier-Elvian, you have limitless potential."
After feeling the power that had just been granted to me, I gazed at my hands and body with an overwhelming sense of awe. The wind blew softer now, as though nature itself was absorbing this change. I felt stronger, more alive, but also more connected to something greater than myself. I took a deep breath, grateful to Goddess Allina for giving me this chance.
"Thank you, Goddess Allina," I said sincerely, my eyes meeting hers, full of wisdom. Truly, at this moment, she truly was the perfect goddess.
Goddess Allina smiled widely, then her laughter rang out with a crisp, cheerful sound. Her bright voice seemed to shake the tranquility of the surroundings. The perfect goddess figure crumbled and was replaced by one with a more playful, mischievous look.
"Hahaha! No need to thank me, Anggi. I've only given you what should have been yours. Oh, you know? I just saw something interesting!"
I stared at Goddess Allina, confused, unsure of where this conversation was heading. Before I could ask more, Goddess Allina continued with a teasing and playful expression, "I saw everything that happened in the world below, you know? And... yeah! Why didn't you kiss Dimas back then? The atmosphere was so perfect, when he looked so desperate, what a pity you didn't do it! I thought that would have been such a beautiful moment."
I felt my blood boil at her words. "W-W-What? K-Kiss Dimas?" I nearly shouted, feeling embarrassed and confused. "You—! That's impossible, you know! I don't have romantic feelings for Dimas! We're just... friends!"
Goddess Allina laughed even louder, her voice so sharp it almost hurt my ears. Truly, I started to feel exasperated seeing her like this again. "Hahaha! You're so silly, Anggi! Not knowing a good opportunity when it's right in front of you! If I were Dimas, I'd be so disappointed. Poor guy... You're so oblivious, Anggi! You're not cut out to be the female lead in a romantic story."
I felt my cheeks heat up, barely holding back my urge to shout at Goddess Allina. "This isn't some romantic movie, you know! Why don't you stop teasing me like this?"
Goddess Allina, with her mischievous smile, continued to tease me. "Clueless, silly, boring! No wonder you don't have a boyfriend!"
I began to feel incredibly frustrated. I couldn't hold back my annoyance at Goddess Allina's childish attitude any longer. Without thinking, I quickly covered her mouth with my hand, trying to calm the situation. "Shut up! That's enough! Take me back to the real world right now!"
Goddess Allina raised an eyebrow, laughing softly, and finally nodded, releasing my hand from her mouth. "Alright, alright, I'll send you back to the real world."
In the blink of an eye, a bright white light surrounded my body, enveloping me with a warmth that soothed me. The light wrapped around me completely, and I felt myself rise, as if carried by a gentle yet powerful wind. I knew this meant I was returning to the real world, to a place full of problems and challenges, but this time, I felt more prepared.
Just before I was completely enveloped in the light, I heard Goddess Allina's voice, now more tranquil. "Don't forget what I said earlier, Anggi! Once again, I ask, be more aware of the feelings of those around you!"
And with that, the world began to fade, disappearing into the ever-brightening light, while I felt the final warm gust of wind from the Realm of the Gods.