Chapter 1: Nelly of Salamand
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In the vast expanse of time, the soul of Cosmos once again finds its way to the mortal realm, this time as Nelly, the daughter of Josef of Salamand.
As Nelly reaches the tender age of nine, the fabric of reality tears, creating two parallel worlds, each with a different path for her.
Original World: The Heroic Sacrifice of Nelly
In the original world, Nelly’s courage shines brightly as she stands in defense of Salamand against a Daemonic Horde. Her bravery is reminiscent of the warriors of light from the tales she grew up with. Despite her youth, she fights with the heart of Cosmos, ultimately sacrificing her life to protect her home and the people she loves.
Parallel World: The Tragic Loss of Josef
In the parallel world, it is Josef who meets a tragic end, crushed by a boulder in a valiant effort to save his daughter. Nelly survives, her father’s sacrifice leaving her and her mother to face a future without him. The loss of Josef is a heavy burden, but Nelly’s spirit, imbued with the essence of Cosmos, ensures that she will rise above the sorrow, her life a testament to the strength and resilience of her lineage.
Chapter 2: Original World: Josef's Grief
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the loss of Nelly plunges Josef into an abyss of grief. The once strong and jovial man, known throughout Salamand for his warmth and courage, finds himself grappling with a sorrow that seems insurmountable. His daughter, his pride, and joy, had stood bravely against the Daemonic Horde, sacrificing her life for the safety of their home.
The villagers, who had celebrated Nelly's spirit and Josef's strength, now watched in silent mourning as the light in Josef's eyes dimmed. The forge, once alive with the ring of his hammer and the glow of the fire, stood cold and silent. His laughter, which had echoed like a hearty melody through the streets, was now a memory that brought tears rather than smiles.
Josef's days were spent in solitude, his nights haunted by the absence of the daughter he could not save. The paths they had walked together, the adventures they had shared, were now pathways to memories that brought more pain than comfort. His heart, once full of love and hope, was now a vessel of despair, each beat a reminder of his loss.
The depression that held him was a shroud, a darkness that no words of consolation could penetrate. Yet, even in his deepest sorrow, the legacy of Nelly, the strength of her spirit, and the courage of her actions lingered. It was a small flame in the darkness, a flicker of hope that someday, somehow, Josef would find a way to honor her memory by living the life she had so bravely fought to protect.
Chapter 3: Epilogue part 1: Josef's Dream
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In the quiet of the night, Josef tossed and turned, his sleep troubled by the weight of his grief. The room was dark, the only light the soft glow of the moon filtering through the window. It was in this stillness that a dream began to unfold, a vision that pierced the veil of his sorrow.
He found himself standing in the meadows of Salamand, the grass beneath his feet wet with dew. The air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers, and the gentle hum of life whispered all around him. It was here, in this place of memories, that he felt her—a presence as familiar as his own heartbeat.
"Nelly," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The meadows shimmered, and there she was, his daughter, radiant and whole. She was running towards him, her laughter a melody that he had thought lost forever. Her image was clear, so vivid that he could almost reach out and touch her.
"Daddy," she called out, her voice echoing in the space between dreams and reality.
Josef's heart ached with a mixture of joy and pain. He wanted to run to her, to hold her in his arms and never let go. But as he took a step forward, he realized he could not move, his feet rooted to the ground.
"Nelly," he tried again, desperation seeping into his tone.
She stopped just out of reach, her smile as bright as the sun that now rose above the horizon. "I'm here, Daddy. I'm always here," she said, her words wrapping around him like a warm embrace.
Tears streamed down Josef's face as he understood. This was no ordinary dream; it was a gift, a moment granted by the cosmos for a father who had lost too much. Nelly's presence was a balm to his wounded soul, a promise that though she was gone, their bond remained unbroken.
As the vision began to fade with the coming dawn, Josef's heart filled with a sense of peace. He knew that when he awoke, the pain would return, but for now, he held onto the dream, to the precious feeling of his daughter's presence.
And when he finally opened his eyes to the morning light, Josef carried with him the warmth of Nelly's smile, a treasure locked within his heart, a reminder that love, once given, never truly dies.
Chapter 4: Epilogue part 2: Crystal Dreams II
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As the final chapter of Nelly's mortal story closes, her goddess-soul ascends once again to the celestial embrace of the Starry Void. There, her Goddess-body awaits, nestled within the heart of a crystal that pulses with the light of a thousand stars. It is here that she enters a state of rest, her essence merging with the divine vessel that has housed her since the dawn of time.
In this sacred slumber, Cosmos dreams. Her dreams weave through the fabric of reality, touching upon the lives of those she has left behind. She dreams of Josef, her father in the mortal realm, whose heart is heavy with the loss of his cherished daughter. She feels the depth of his sorrow, the profound emptiness that has settled in his soul, and her heart aches with a love that knows no bounds.
Yet, even as she dreams, a sinister laughter pierces the tranquility of the Starry Void. "Mother" Eos, with her cruel cackle, mocks the pain and the sacrifices made in the name of light. Her laughter seeks to disrupt the peace of Cosmos's rest, to remind her of the eternal struggle between the celestial and the corrupt.
But the Goddess sleeps on, undisturbed by the malice that lurks nearby. For within her dreams, she holds the power to bring comfort to Josef, to offer him a silent assurance that his love was not in vain. And though Eos may revel in her mockery, the day will come when Cosmos will awaken, her patience and her rage a storm that will challenge the darkness of her "Mother" and restore balance to the universe once more.