Souls Online: Mythic Ascension-Chapter 69: Mysterious Sanctuary

Aria grumbled to herself as she sat alone in the room. She was conflicted yet somehow annoyed with the behavior of Adam.

She grit her teeth, her fingers tightening around the VR console as she stared at it. Her heart pounded, and she couldn't shake the taste of bitterness on her tongue, the thought of Adam still lingering in her mind, despite her better judgment

She shook her head to clear her head. She still couldn't trust him, but she was grateful for the break from her controlling father. In her hands was the VR console that Adam had provided her with.

'How is this going to help me at all? A video game..really? Is this a trap to catch me off guard? Will I wake up on an operating table when I take this thing off?"

Her mind was racing trying to come up with answers to the questions plaguing her mind.

"Screw it...Hesitating now wont help me at all..."

She sat on the couch and placed the console on her head before lying down. Taking a deep breath, her words came out somewhat tense

"Game...Start"

All the mundane sensations she felt disappeared as her whole world became white. She could feel a fresh breeze on her skin.

Huh? Since when were my eyes closed?'

Slowly, she blinked, taking in her surroundings. The sky stretched endlessly in every direction, painted in soft hues of gold and violet, like the break of dawn frozen in time. Towering structures of ivory and crystal floated in the distance, suspended in the vast expanse of the heavens.

Her breath hitched.

'Oh my god... How is this possible?! This feels too real to be just a video game!'

Before she could process further, a voice, smooth, elegant, and laced with an airy aura cut through the silence.

"Oh my. This is quite interesting. How did you get in here, child?"

Aria's head jerked toward the sound, her pulse quickening.

Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.

Perched upon an ornate throne of what she could only describe as white marble sat a woman unlike any she had ever seen.

Draped in flowing silver robes, her presence radiated an air of regality and mystery as her face remained obscured . Long strands of silvery white hair cascaded over her shoulders, shimmering with an almost otherworldly glow.

"I-I don't know... This is insane.. Where am I?"

Aria's eyes darted around, her breath quickening as her hands trembled. Her mouth opened and closed as panic rose in Aria's heart. The situation was far too weird for her to say definitively that it was just a video game.

The woman on the throne tilted her head slightly, as if amused by Aria's confusion. Her voice carried a gentle lilt, like a breeze whispering through wind chimes.

"Where, indeed?"

she mused.

"This place is a sanctuary.. A place of freedom for those who are trapped. This realm is for those who have the ability to soar but are locked away in a cage."

The woman tapped her finger on the throne as a gust of wind lifted Aria into the air gently, carrying her towards the woman.

Aria's heart pounded as the unseen force cradled her, the wind both gentle and firm as it carried her closer to the enigmatic woman.

"A sanctuary?"

she echoed, struggling to suppress the mix of awe and wariness bubbling inside her.

"I don't understand... What does that have to do with me?"

The woman's lips curled into a knowing smile.

"You are the one who must answer that, child."

As Aria was set down before the throne, she felt the wind swirl around her, tugging at her clothes like playful spirits. There was something strangely familiar about the sensation—comforting, yet distant.

The woman leaned forward slightly, her veiled face still obscured, yet Aria could feel the weight of her gaze.

"You have wings, but you do not fly,"

the woman continued, her voice carrying an air of both wisdom and sorrow.

 "You long for freedom, yet you hesitate. Why?"

Aria clenched her fists.

"I—"

She faltered. She wanted to protest, to claim that she wasn't hesitant, that she wasn't shackled by anything. But the words caught in her throat, as if something deep inside refused to let her lie.

The woman chuckled softly, as if she had already anticipated Aria's struggle. She raised a hand, and suddenly, feathers began to appear and float around Aria.

"I shall grant you my blessing Child... I pray that you find your freedom one day...I wish you luck...Aria" 

"W-wait! How do you know my name?! I didn't tell you that!"

The woman's smile seemed to become sad, the words she spoke soft like a whisper.

"One day I will be able to tell you. Unfortunately today is not the day."

The throne started to glow with a bright blinding light, forcing Aria to close her eyes.

When she opened them again, she found herself lying on a bed in a log cabin.

Welcome to Ascension of Souls Online. 

You have now entered the World of Melodia. 

You are currently in the Beginner Village (Beastkin). 

Please Confirm your Status and set your Character Name. 

To check your Status, Please say [Status] 

You have been blessed by the Goddess of Wind: ꛎ𖦪ꛈ𖤢ꚳꚳ𖤢

'Why is the name garbled? I can't read what it says'

Aria stared at the text before her, her confusion mounting as she tried to decipher the garbled name of the goddess. She could feel a slight pull in her chest, an odd sensation, as if the very presence of the goddess was still lingering in her consciousness.

"Goddess of Wind?"

she murmured to herself, her mind racing.

"What kind of game is this?"

Despite her initial shock, she quickly forced herself to push through the disorienting feeling. The soft rustling of the wind outside the cabin seemed almost too real while the room around her was warm, the wooden furniture simple but comforting.

It felt far too tangible to be a mere simulation.

"Ascension of Souls Online,"

she read aloud, her voice a mixture of awe and uncertainty.

"Is this really just a game?"

She glanced at the message hovering before her, urging her to check her status.

"Status,"

she said, uncertain if it would actually do something.

A panel appeared before her, shimmering with ethereal light. It displayed her character's basic information.

Her eyes widened in shock.

'What the hell is this?!'