Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God

Amari tightened her grip on the edge of her coat as whispers trailed in her wake. She had expected some fallout—some cold looks maybe—but this? This silence, this shunning… it was worse.

Earlier that morning, she had tried to act normal, brushing her hair back and pretending her eyes weren't rimmed with exhaustion. Nova had noticed, of course. He always did.

"You didn't sleep well."

He said bluntly.

She sighed, arms crossed.

"You think? I spent all night wondering if someone was going to barge in and drag me off for treason."

Nova didn't seem fazed.

"Should I take care of the royal family?"

"No! I don't want that. It's bad for business. I don't want to be the reason blood runs through these streets."

Amari snapped, more sharply than intended. Then she softened.

Nova gave her a nod, unreadable as always.

They opened the shop as usual, but hours passed, and not a single customer walked through the doors.

Not one.

Worry prickled beneath her skin.

"I'm going to see what's going on."

She muttered, grabbing her scarf.

Nova didn't stop her, but before she could exit, he reached out. A faint pulse of aether brushed her shoulder.

"Be careful."

He said simply.

She didn't ask what he did. She knew enough to realize he'd marked her.

The streets were eerily quiet, but the market stalls were still open. People still moved—but when their eyes fell on her, they looked away quickly.

Some crossed the street to avoid her entirely. Others just stared like she was diseased.

"Hello?"

Amari asked a familiar face from the herb stall across the street.

No answer.

Just the rustle of feet and a turned back.

Amari's stomach sank. She tried again, approaching an old man she'd known for years.

"Please, can you tell me what's going on?"

He didn't meet her eyes. Didn't speak.

Just walked past her like she wasn't even there.

It was then that the fear fully set in. This wasn't a misunderstanding.

This was punishment.

She froze when a guard finally stepped in her path. His eyes were kinder than most, but his expression was heavy.

"You should head home, Miss Amari."

"What's going on?"

She whispered.

The guard hesitated, then sighed.

"The queen's displeased. She didn't give an order, but… word spreads. People know when to stay in line."

"So that's it? I'm exiled without a word?"

She asked, voice small.

"Not officially. But if I were you, I'd stay inside. You've got enemies now, and not all of them will wait for permission."

The guard muttered.

Amari stood frozen in the street, surrounded by the faces of people who once smiled at her.

Now, they wouldn't even look her in the eye.

Amari's footsteps echoed unnaturally loud in the empty street as she hurried back. Her heart was racing—not from the walking, but from the cold dread clawing up her spine.

The guard's warning kept ringing in her ears.

'You've got enemies now…'

The moment she turned a corner, that feeling intensified. She couldn't explain it, but every hair on her arm stood upright. Someone was behind her. She was sure of it.

She picked up her pace.

The feeling only got stronger.

Her eyes darted to the side, searching for a reflection or a shadow, anything. But before she could react, a strong hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her into an alley.

She stumbled back against the stone wall as a man loomed in front of her. His eyes gleamed with something feral.

"You think you can insult our queen and walk around like nothing happened? You're just some shop rat. You don't deserve her mercy."

He snarled, breath foul with sour wine and bitterness.

Amari struggled in his grip, heart hammering.

"Let me go!"

The man raised his hand, and she could see he was gathering aether. Sloppy, untrained—but still dangerous.

"Time to teach you what happens to traitors."

Panic surged in her chest. She tried to remember Nova's lessons.

'Focus. Gather. Shape.'

But her hands were trembling. She had never used aether in real combat before.

Still—she had no choice.

She thrust her palm forward with raw instinct and screamed. Her aether burst out violently, more powerful than she expected.

The man's eyes widened in surprise as the force slammed into him, sending him flying backwards through a pile of crates.

Amari gasped and backed up a step, chest heaving.

'What did I just do?'

But before she could bolt from the alley, another figure stepped into her path from the other end.

Her heart sank.

He was tall, cloaked in simple gray, a hood shadowing his face. He raised both hands slowly.

"I'm not here to hurt you. Relax."

The man said calmly.

She didn't.

"Stay back."

She warned, forming another pulse of aether in her hand.

The man tilted his head.

"You're not nobility. You're not a priest. Yet you can use aether like that. Impressive."

Her hand wavered.

"What do you want?"

"To help. I'm like you. I wasn't born into their world. But I have power they can't explain. Just like you do."

He said.

Amari narrowed her eyes.

"Why would I trust you?"

"You don't have to. But if you stay out here much longer, more will come. That man you just blasted? He's nothing. You'll be facing much worse next time."

She hesitated.

"I've been watching you. I saw you at the palace. You've drawn attention, Amari. And not the kind you want. The queen doesn't like being defied."

He added.

"So what? I'm supposed to hide? Crawl under a rock because I upset some spoiled monarch?"

She spat, her panic turning to anger.

The man gave a small smile.

"No. I'm saying you're in danger. But maybe… you don't have to face it alone."

Her aether pulsed again in her hand as she stared at him, trying to sense any trick, any hidden hostility.

There was none.

Just quiet patience.

She let the aether fizzle and drew in a shaky breath.

"You didn't tell me your name."

He gave a slight bow.

"Call me Lio."

Amari stepped back, still on edge.

"Why are you helping me, Lio?"

He glanced over his shoulder, checking the alleyway.

"Because I don't like how things work here either. And maybe… it's time someone changed them."

Lio's voice dropped to a low murmur.

"There's a rebellion taking root—small now, but real. People like us, ones who don't belong to the royals or the priesthood. We're tired of playing by their rules."

Amari froze. The word rebellion echoed in her mind, sharp and dangerous.

"This is your chance, Amari. To stop running shop errands for people who see you as less. To fight back. To break the chains they've wrapped around you since birth."

He continued, eyes steady.

She looked away, throat tight. The queen's wrath, the silence of the people in the streets, the weight of fear pressing down on her—he wasn't wrong.

And yet… she shook her head.

"It's not that simple."

She whispered.

"No. It's not. But it's real."

Lio said.

Amari's fingers curled into fists. She wanted to be brave, to say yes. But her thoughts raced with images of fire, of death, of losing everything.

"I… I need time."

Lio gave a small nod.

"You'll have it. But not forever. Things are moving fast."

He turned to leave, his cloak catching the wind.

"When you're ready, find me."

Then he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Amari alone, trembling with uncertainty.