The terrifying sensation of falling still lingered, the piercing screams seemingly echoing in her ears. Lin Xiang trembled as she opened her eyes, only to see a blue-white moonlight flowing like water before her. Seven white stars twinkled in the sky, but accompanying this divine spectacle was the visible, rapid collapse of the world's edge.
A noble goddess appeared in the ocean of moonlight. She wore a black gauze dress, a net-like belt adorned with a large ruby in the center encircling her waist. The goddess's deep eyes gazed at the girl, who was now merely a soul. Her eyes seemed to overflow with pain, and an ethereal voice echoed in Lin Xiang's ears: "Unexpected traveler, welcome to the Moon Door. I am Mystra, Goddess of Magic of the Forgotten Realms."
Lin Xiang's soul trembled under the direct gaze of this brilliant radiance. Suppressing her fear, she mustered her courage and asked, "Greetings, Your Divinity! May I ask why I am here?"
Mystra looked sadly at the crumbling divine realm and sighed, "Our world is about to be destroyed. Shar has destroyed my weave at the cost of the Shadow Weave. The energies of the elemental planes have erupted, tsunamis and gales are devouring the land, and the gods are about to fall into the Astral Plane for eternal slumber." The goddess removed her belt, the black net on it constantly disintegrating. "Before entering the Astral Plane, Savras made a final prophecy, helping us find the existence that can save us."
Her gaze fell back on Lin Xiang: "Fate revealed you to us. One of my mothers, Selûne, the Moon Goddess of Creation, found you in the Sea of Chaos beyond the crystal spheres."
As she spoke, the goddess handed over the broken belt: "We need to make a bargain. Swear upon the River Styx, and I will bestow upon you all that I have. In return, you must return to the continent of Faerûn in the future and spread my faith again, so that I may awaken from the Astral Plane and return to a reborn world." Although she didn't fully understand the goddess's words, given the circumstances, it was best not to conflict with her. With this thought, Lin Xiang reciprocated the oath. Dark waters flowed between the woman and the goddess, silently witnessing the vow.
The goddess smiled silently and looked back at the shattered unknown: "Ao has awakened. This catastrophe will put him to sleep again until the world is reborn."
"And you, it is time to go." The seven white stars fell into the sea of moonlight, transforming into a small boat that carried Lin Xiang out of the crystal-like wall and towards the unknown Sea of Chaos. In the silence, an unknown amount of time passed. Lin Xiang found that the boat had also begun to slowly disintegrate. Although she didn't know what would happen if she left the boat's protection, a strong sense of panic washed over her. In this vast Sea of Chaos, time and space were non-existent. Lin Xiang couldn't recall how many bubble-like small worlds she had seen born and instantly destroyed. Hiding within the boat's radiance, Lin Xiang worried if she could safely reach her destination before the boat completely disintegrated.
The boat's radiance gradually weakened. Countless beings of unknown good and evil cast their gazes upon Lin Xiang. Finally, the boat arrived at a peculiar world. Unlike the crystal sphere structure of Faerûn or the bubbles seen on the way, this world was composed of five layers. The lowest layer was the Abyss, above it the land, in the middle the sky, and higher still a silent night. Outside the night was a tightly interwoven darkness. The boat carried Lin Xiang through the darkness, then disintegrated into stardust. Without surprise, the unprotected Lin Xiang fell from the sky, plunging into a vast ocean.
After an unknown period, a tender call awakened Lin Xiang.
Vaguely, a gentle voice called to her, "Wake up, my child."
Upon waking, Lin Xiang found herself within a white, glowing shell, with golden pearls spread beneath her. A gentle wave lapped, and the shell opened its tightly closed valves. A goddess with fair skin and brown hair slowly opened her eyes, her ocean-blue eyes calm and deep. Waves gently caressed her body, dressing her in a white gown.
In that instant, Lin Xiang felt a moment of bewilderment. The suddenly appearing black belt transformed into a pearl necklace, with the ruby at her chest shining brilliantly. Memories surged back like a tide, and the bewilderment in her eyes was replaced by serenity. She knew her name and her origin. One of the Oceanids, daughter of Oceanus, the God of the Sea, and Tethys, the Goddess of the Seas. Tyche, sister of Metis, aunt of Athena!
After calming herself, Tyche immediately felt her future was dim. This was Greek mythology, notorious for its lack of integrity. Women were inherently treated unfairly, constantly wary of some male god leaping out from the bushes to snatch them away. Rather than gods, they were beings with immense power, their desires so strong and unrestrained, like troublesome brats acting as they pleased.