Faith, Lust, and Hypnosis

Chapter 28 (Goddess’ Descent)

"Odd. This world has become hazy... my home..."

Within a confined space between realms there stood a woman with golden hair and blue eyes, her surroundings undefined and blurred. She raised a hand to her forehead, her expression one of confusion. "Why can't I reconnect with my body?" she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of apprehension and wonder. "My home world… covered in darkness…"

Her beautiful face, a mirror image of Aria, the goddess and founder of the Aria Church, contorted with bewilderment. A delicate hand rose to her temple, slender fingers tracing the line of her jaw. Confusion clouded her blue eyes, as vast and deep as the cosmos.

"I don't understand," she murmured, her voice a soft ripple in the formless void. "My physical body... it remains on that plane. Our connection... it should be absolute, unbreakable." She tilted her head, a gesture of pure perplexity.

"I ascended from there, leaving my mortal shell as a conduit, a permanent link. Millennia have passed, and our bond remains unbroken. Yet, in these last few centuries... something has shifted. I can no longer feel it." A cold dread began to seep into her ethereal form, a chilling contrast to the warmth she'd always associated with her earthly connection.

The vibrant hues of her golden hair seemed to dim slightly, as if a light within her was beginning to flicker. "This… this darkness… What could possibly sever a Goddess' connection to her physical body?"

'I must investigate.'

Aria thought, her ethereal form shimmering with renewed purpose. She turned her gaze towards the swirling currents of energy that represented the flow of souls entering and leaving her home world. Countless points of light, each a spark of life, danced before her, some fading into the void, others bursting forth with vibrant energy as they embarked on their earthly journeys. She observed the intricate patterns, the ebb and flow of existence,

There were many questions Ginova wanted to ask, alas Aria was the enemy. Questioning her directly would bore no fruits, rather isn't there a better way?

'Welcome back, Aria. I've put a lot of effort into overseeing and managing this world in your absence. Why don't you come closer, take a good look, and enjoy the ride? No need to be shy, hiding behind an innocent soul like this. I don't know how to put it, but I have a funny feeling that you might really enjoy it in the end. Perhaps…'

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I opened my eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling greeted me.

'What? Where is this?'

Raising my hand to my face, I saw small, tiny fingers before me. My voice, when I tried to speak again, came out as a soft gurgle. Panic flared, hot and immediate. This wasn't my body. My hands were long, elegant. My voice commanded respect.

A large face loomed into view, obscuring the strange ceiling. It smiled, a wide, toothy grin that seemed almost predatory. A woman's face, but etched with lines of weariness I'd never known.

"There, there, little one." Her voice, rough and unfamiliar, soothed me despite my fear. She lifted me, her touch surprisingly gentle. I stared at her, my mind racing. This... this was impossible. I'm Aria. Goddess Aria. I didn't do small and helpless.

"You're hungry, aren't you?" The woman moved with me, the world a dizzying blur of motion and color. I caught glimpses of a modest room, a fireplace flickering merrily, a wooden cradle in the corner. A cradle.

She brought me to her breast, a soft, warm mound pressing against my face. Instinctively, my mouth opened, seeking the nourishment. A strange, sweet liquid flowed, filling me with a warmth that chased away the initial panic.

As I suckled, I focused on the sensations, trying to understand. The warmth of the woman's skin, the rhythmic pulsing of her breast, the sweet taste of her milk... these were real. This tiny, helpless body was mine.

"You're such a good girl," the woman murmured, her voice thick with affection. I wanted to scream, to tell her I wasn't a girl, that I was a goddess, the creator of the very church she likely prayed to. But the words remained trapped, replaced by another soft gurgle.

I tried using my power. Accumulated throughout the millennia, a reservoir of pure energy waiting to be unleashed. But it was useless. A flicker of will, a mental command that once moved mountains, now resulted in nothing. My power, my abilities, weren't working. I felt it inside me, a dormant volcano rumbling beneath the surface. It wasn't gone, but simply… inactive. Locked away.

Panic flared, a wildfire in my tiny chest. This fragile vessel, this infant's body, was a prison. Trapped. Helpless. The realization hit me with the force of a physical blow, stealing the breath from my lungs. I, Aria, goddess of love and righteousness, reduced to this… thing.

And then, against my will, the tears came. Great, heaving sobs that wracked my small body. I couldn't stop them. The frustration, the fear, the sheer indignity of it all poured out of me in a torrent of uncontrollable grief. The woman holding me stiffened, her rough hand patting my back awkwardly.

"Shhh, shhh," she crooned, her voice laced with concern. "What's wrong, little one? Are you still hungry?"

Hungry? I wanted to scream. I was starved for my power, for my freedom, for my self. But all that came out was a choked, hiccuping sob. I buried my face in the woman's breast, her warmth a small comfort in the face of this overwhelming despair. My tiny fists clenched and unclenched, a pathetic display of impotent rage.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I had a plan, a purpose. I chose this vessel, this life, to investigate. To understand. To reclaim what was mine. But now… what? What was I supposed to do? How could I possibly fulfill my purpose in this… state?

Just what in the world is going on…?