Anna still didn't know anything about the woman she was talking to.
— You're saying you'll take care of my body… and that I'm going to be reincarnated in a world connected to the Bardo, right? And you… what do you gain from this?
A knowing smile touched Kalypso's lips.
— It is as you guessed it. Of course, I have my own agenda.
— …You need me to do something for you."
A refined laugh answered her.
— Yes, but don't worry. Nothing too serious. You see… every world is a core of energy. This universal energy called Aether is present everywhere... within every living being, in every atom… This energy is primordial for celestials. Unfortunately… once one becomes divine, they can no longer descend into those worlds to collect it themselves. They can no longer produce it either. That's why they choose avatars and gather followers.
A breeze brushed against the young mortal. When the voice returned, it was much closer.
— Their followers, through sacrifices, rites and prayers, offer their Aether to their patron. This energy allows us to maintain our divinity. A god who loses all of their energy… ceases to exist. And since a god abandons their body upon Ascension, the disappearance of their power means… death.
Kalypso fell into thought. Anna accepted the silence and waited for her to continue. She then she noticed a sweet scent of incense. Was it coming from the goddess?
— There is another way to obtain Aether. By sending a manifestation of themselves. An avatar is someone blessed by their protector. The bond shared between the vessel and the god allows the latter to siphon energy from the reality in which the avatar resides.
When Anna tried to picture it, a ridiculous image flashed in her mind.
'A straw in a glass,' she thought, exasperated. 'Kalypso… wants me to be her straw!'
Of course, she kept the thought to herself and simply waited, doing her best to hide her indignation.
— This avatar becomes the god's medium and gains some of their attributes. A contract is formed between the mortal and the deity. It defines what each party agrees to. This is the kind of agreement I hope to make with you.
— You want me to become your vessel…
'Your straw !' she nearly said aloud.
— Exactly. And let me be clear: this won't be without benefit to you. You were brought here against your will, by the Comets. But neither your body nor your soul is designed to remain in the In-Between for long. And time doesn't flow the same way here either. You have already stayed too long. If you don't reincarnate soon, you'll begin to suffer the consequences… leading to your death. But once the pact is sealed, you shall become my avatar and shall be immediately transported to your destination.
— What destination?
— There are six worlds connected to the Bardo. One of them is Earth. The world calling to you… is Asura."
— Asura… Anna repeated.
She'd heard that name before. Asura… or Ashura?
— Isn't that some kind of demon? she asked.
— Western culture describes them that way, the goddess explained, because they use their own religious framework to classify things. A Christian would certainly see an asura as a demon. But I am not talking about an indiviual. I am referring to the world called Asura. In fact, the inhabitants of Asura are called Asurians. As for what Asurians really are… well, why don't you guess.
The truth suddenly seemed obvious. Anna was fairly certain her guess was right.
— …The Asurians are former Earthlings...
— Exactly, Kalypso replied with a smile. The Asurians, like you, are mortals brought here to become divine vessels. And soon, you too will be an Asurian.
There was a lot to take in. But Anna decided to go back to basics. If she really was about to become the straw this goddess used to drink her cosmic cocktail, she needed to figure out quickly what she stood to gain or lose from all this.
— The Asurians… returned to Earth. Otherwise, we'd never have heard of them in legends, right?
— Some of them did, yes.
— Can't you send me back to Earth instead of Asura?
—I could, Kalypso sighed. But only if I paid the price. And unfortunately, I have neither the means nor the will to do so. However, mortals have managed to return on their own. If that's your wish… the answer likely lies on Asura.
Anna felt trapped. No matter what happened, she'd be sent to this foreign world. And who knew what awaited her there?
'Am I just going to become this goddess's slave?' she groaned internally. 'Is this really my fate?'
She suddenly thought of her sister and her father, probably sick with worry.
'I have to find a way back,' she told herself. 'No matter how. For Dad and Jenna.'
For now, she had to survive. And serve this goddess. Kalypso's voice softened.
— I am aware of your fears, my child. You're not the first to have them. These contracts have existed for millenia. And yes, in the beginning, the relationship between mortals and gods were far from equal. Humans were indeed once servants of us. But times change. And the gods have learned... sometimes the hard way... that humans serve a higher purpose when you know how to… motivate them.
Kalypso's tone became playful.
— Since it's a contract, you should gain something from it too, correct?
A crystalline laugh echoed around her.
— I told you earlier that those who are brought here always carry a powerful desire. Nowadays, when we can, we try to help our contractors achieve their goals. So tell me, child. What is your wish?
— I want to see my family again, she sighed.
The goddess shook her head.
— As I said before, I lack both the will and the power… Traveling between worlds is something you'll have to explore on your own. The powers I grant you must be useful on Asura. Know that among the six worlds linked to the Bardo, Asura… is one of the most dangerous.
— What kind of dangerous?
— You've already seen them. In the movies you love, in the shows you watch… Asura is a world brimming with Aether, overflowing with life and magic. Everything that is impossible on Earth is possible there. You will meet creatures larger than anything you have ever imagined, and entities that can bend the laws of physics with their thoughts. The climate itself will sometimes be your worst enemy, as much as the monsters you will face. And above all, the Asurians you encounter will all be avatars of gods whose intentions are unknown. Not only the deities, but their humans too, will be your foes… for each of them was chosen by the Comets. Each of them has a wish. And who knows what they're willing to pay to make it come true? Who knows if they must slaughter a thousand humans to reach their goal? Once you're there, you won't be able to trust anyone.
Anna took a deep breath. She stood at the edge of a cliff, and soon, she would have no choice but to jump.
And yet, a small voice whispered in her ear. It came from her heart. A warm feeling spread through her chest as she clung to that hope. Emotion vibrated in her throat.
— …Can you… restore my sight?
Silence answered her. Anna was breathless. Maybe it wasn't possible after all. But this was a goddess, and magic existed. Other worlds existed! Was it really too much to ask to see again?
— …I was afraid you would ask, the goddess finally replied.
The blind girl's hazel eyes began to glisten.
— Don't despair just yet, Kalypso added. It is possible… for you to see again. But…
Anna held her breath.
— …First, you must understand how you lost your sight. I was not your first encounter with the supernatural, was I? Anna, do you remember? The day it all began?