The Goddess Reborns as a Nobody

09 Under the Light of the Glow Worms

Why am I suddenly in the middle of pitch-black darkness who-knows-what feet below the ground with a weird person holding my hand and talking in a language I don't understand?

Well, here's what happened just a few moments ago back at the surface...

"Are you sure about this, Keira?" Mom worries.

I give her a vigorous nod. "Very, very sure. Don't worry about me."

"Now, now, Nialla, let the kid experience an adventure every now and again," Uncle Roger chuckles amiably while two villagers secure a rope to a tree that we'll be using to head down the hole.

A couple villagers who discovered the hole wanted to come with us but we all agreed that they should stay on the surface for their safety.

I can see that some of them are either too wary or too worried about what could be under the ground and I understand their anxiety. In order to calm their nerves down, I assigned them to keep watch for the rope in case something happens or we won't be able to leave the underground.

It's a lie. I know my family is more than capable of finding a way back to the surface if the rope did broke or something. But I know that giving the anxious villagers something to do while they wait will occupy and ease their worried minds.

Besides, if there are, indeed, monsters down below, it'll be much easier for us to fight without worrying about protecting the villagers in an unknown location.

"Are we all set?" Dad calls out, glancing around and making sure if we're all ready before he faces the two villagers who had asked to volunteer. "Can we depend on you two to man the ropes while we're down there?"

One of them immediately gave a salute, eyes shining with excitement at being given an important job to do.

"We will do our best, Master Rodney! We won't let you down!"

With a grin, Dad pats their shoulder and gestures towards us. "Alright, let's move!"

Not long after that, I find myself strapped across Mom's waist while she shimmies down the rope. Uncle Roger is the first one to go down, followed by my Dad, my Mom, then Thaddeus.

We barely made it at least two feet from the surface and it's already pitch black. I wish I can see but unfortunately, my infant human body isn't equipped with night vision.

"Here's the bottom!" Uncle Roger yells from below.

Huh, that's surprising. I don't think we've been climbing down for more than five minutes and we're already at the bottom? I can't deny that the hole being a little shallow is kind of disappointing.

I yelp when Mom suddenly jumped off the rope to land flawlessly on the stone floor.

"Mom! Give me some warning first! You scared the stuffing out of me," I pant, clinging to the wrap that secures me to Mom like my life depended on it. And I mean that figuratively and literally.

"Ohoho, I'm sorry, my little Keira, I'll remember it next time," she giggles as she begins to untie the wrap from me.

No! I wish there won't be a next time! I'll make sure to find someone else to carry me if we have another underground exploration going on in the near future.

As soon as my feet hit the ground, I begin to wobble. It seems that the shock from where Mom jumped is still coursing through my system.

"Keira, are you okay, sweetie?"

Mom leans down and starts to fuss over me but I make a face and try to turn away. If she keeps on fussing over me, she'll know that I'm not feeling good from the jump to the sudden stale and almost rotten-like smell of the underground.

I'm not in the position to complain since they might send me back up the surface.

And I don't want to risk it, especially when the hole is disappointingly shallow and we're probably just a super jump away from the surface.

"Mom, I'm fine, I'm okay. I was just shocked, I'll be fine once I get my bearings," I tell her with a forced smile.

She scrunches her forehead as if not believing a word I'm saying. Which is valid given that my stomach is still quivering and my leg muscles are shaking. But I'm not going back!

"Uhm, anyone? Help me?" Thaddeus suddenly whines.

He's still clinging to the rope but for some reason, his foot got tangled in it and he couldn't come down from a good three feet away from the ground.

In a corner, Dad and Uncle Roger are busy inspecting the stone walls, Thaddeus is asking for help and I want to shake off Mom's doubtful look. It's perfect!

"Mom, Mom, it seems Thaddy is stuck and Dad and Uncle are busy."

Her gaze is full of suspicion when she eyes me intently before sighing and heads towards Thaddeus to help him down.

Bracing a hand and leaning heavily on a stone wall near me, I heave a sigh of relief once she's far away enough. Thank goodness I got away but I need to calm myself and settle my nerves without getting sick so I can explore this cavern.

"Well, there's not much to explore here since it's already a dead end on this side," Uncle Roger announces from the other side of the cave.

What? That's it?

I turn towards the stone wall I'm leaning on and just two paces away from me, it's nothing but a dead end as well. Judging the distance between me and where I heard Uncle Roger, the underground probably spans only at around twenty feet long and about ten feet wide.

"Ugh, what a waste of time and excitement," I grumble in disappointment, slamming a small fist on the stone wall.

Crack!

It was the only warning I received before the wall came crumbling down to rubble. And because I'm still leaning against it, still feeling a little under the weather, I wasn't fast enough to distance myself from the gaping hole and ended up falling in and straight down, down, down.

And here I am.

Apparently, I fell on someone. I'm a little thankful because I had a soft landing but that's not the point.

The main point here is who, what, how, and why this stranger is here underground?

And it's so dark in here I can't even see the person holding my hand and they won't let go no matter how much I shake them off. It is even a person, though? What if it's a monster who's evolved enough to recognize speech?

My eyes widen in realization. If that's the case, then this is big and I need to check it for myself.

However, if I need to check it, I need my weak human-like sense of sight. A sense that is useless as heck in this pitch-black darkness. If only I can make natural lighting underground...

I perk up at an idea.

I read in one of the many books in the library that there's a species of underground worms that live here. The worms are close to extinction right now because even though their population growth is fast, they're the primary source of food for almost every monster species in Aster's underground.

If I can alter their genetic code then I'll be able to modify their genetic makeup and create a new species! This might also save them from extinction.

However, using my godly powers to make a godly decree for altering a species is...how should I put it, flashy and showy. I can't hide it and if someone sees me doing it, they'll definitely suspect me of someone who isn't just a mere baby genius.

I squeeze the hand of the mystery person with me. I don't know who they are and I don't even know what they are. But somehow, there's a little voice inside me telling me that I can trust them.

"Hey, you can understand me, right?"

Instantly, they place my hand on their cheek and I feel them nod. This is a quirky way of communicating but it's better than nothing.

"Okay, so please, listen carefully. Uhm, I'm not your ordinary kid and I want you to promise me that you'll keep this a secret. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to take drastic measures," I threaten them.

What drastic measures one may ask? Well, I don't know yet but I hope they'll believe my bluff.

To my surprise, I feel them fumble with my fingers for a moment until I realize that they're making a pink square. I don't know who this is or what they are but that's adorable!

Satisfied with the promise, I tug my hand from them but they still won't let go. Guess I would have known they won't let go of me so easily. But maybe it's because they're scared?

"If you won't let go of me, hold my other hand, please. I can't do my magic if you hold onto the hand I'll be using."

I can't help but smile when they immediately switched the hand they're holding and I got to work.

Writing the godly language in the air, I proceed to change the genetic material of the worms, adding bioluminescence and another feature to improve the species.

By randomly turning a few of them into bioluminescent poisonous worms, not only will they be able to provide light to accidental travelers such as myself but they'll also avoid premature extinction.

Because all of them are bioluminescent now, they'll attract more predators but because of their poison, only the smarter ones get to eat them safely by picking out the safe worms and control their population in the process.

It's definitely a win-win situation and that's one tiny box ticked for the many tasks that await me as a Goddess.

After my writing, a bright light explodes around us, and then we're back to the darkness as fast as we were bathed in light.

A minute passed by, a bright blue hue dots the ceiling, followed by another and another until the whole cavern ceiling is bright with soft blue light.

It worked! I did it!

With a huge, mischievous grin, I turn towards my hand-hogging companion. Finally, I get to see who this mysterious being is!

One minute I was grinning like an i***t and the next, I'm gaping...also like an i***t.

Because the person who never let go of my hand since they held it is none other than a boy.

But not just any boy, but a boy with shoulder-length silver hair and big, equally silver eyes, looking up at the ceiling.

Not only is this boy's hair and eye color special, but he's also drop-dead gorgeous!

But why is it that there's something...familiar about him?

Before I can ponder on the thought any further, he suddenly glances at me and gives me a soft, warm, and heart-stopping smile.

And right then and there, under the warm glow of the glow worms, I think my heart just jumped out of my chest to settle into the palm of his hand.