Traveler

My memories of what I will now call my “First Death” are clear, I remember Arthesya, I won’t ever forget her…but first things first.

I look my body. I’m a girl, quite a fit one at that. Chest…not satisfactory, will send a complain later. Arthesya did not have big boobs though, so maybe she modeled me on her. Man, I wish so. If I’m only half as cute as her, this second life will be a breeze. Just knowing I’m that cute will basically make me unable to hate myself. First plan of order would be finding a mirror. I need to be sure Arthesya made a fine job modeling my new body. I won’t believe it ‘till I see it!

Thinking about it, there’s a sea on the horizon, it could do the trick…I hope. Back home I used to go to the beach during summer, with my family, at least before they completely gave up on me. Water was so murky only a vaguely brownish color could be seen. In movies and tv shows there are always limpid lakes, seas, sometimes even pools, and people can see their reflection in them. That’s an experience I never had, one of the several there were robbed from me by reality. To this day I’m not sure if It’s even realistic or not.

Time to find out I suppose, after all I got through the wheat field and now I can see a slope going all the way down to the water…but there’s no road! I mean, there is a cliff and there’s no way I will climb down there. Well, I was on the edge of a crater after all so maybe it was stupid to think getting near sea-level was possible, even looking as far as eye can see, there’s no place in which to descend further without the need for climbing gear.

“Wait, maybe I have something that can help me!”

I shot out loud in a way that would have me rolling to the ground embarrassed in my previous life. In a way even just thinking that I’m a cute girl now, without even being sure of it, feels freeing. As if I can finally be myself. Ironic given I’m technically not in my God given body. Or, well, I am in a “Goddess” given body. Man, it’s confusing to think about.

Still, I search inside the clothes I woke up in and only now I notice that they are…not that strange. They are a little worn down and surely not something I would see people in the street usually wear, but I’m not in some kind of strange armor or peasant dregs from the medieval ages. It’s more akin to a gothic lolita dress with a medium skirt.

Color’s black, adorned with a pink flower around my not big enough to satisfy me chest. The various frills are also in the same pink color. I almost seem like a maid, even if conclusions will have to wait until the “where to I find a mirror” issue is resolved.

I’m pumped! I absolutely have to see this cutie in a gothic lolita dress!

There’s something in the chest pocket, which is on the other side from the pink flower. It’s…a folder paper with a message written in it.

Break the shackle on this island and you can have be saved

“Break the shackle on this island? Only that? It will be shorter than I expected!”

The Goddess imprisoned body it’s still there, I just was not paying attention to it. Still, there were multiple chains attached to it. I suppose each of them it’s a different seal on her body and had already assumed mine would be a long journey to break them all.

Instead, it seems that I just need to handle one and that Arthesya already positioned me near it!

She keeps getting points in my book, even if nothing will probably surpass the dress. I spin around gleefully a couple times, it’s strange to think I could even be this happy!

“Break the shackle? You should give it up”

And like always, the moment I’m happy my behavior backfires on me. There was someone there. Someone saw me spinning around like an idiot. I can feel my cheeks turning red. It seems just feeling cute it’s not enough to save myself from being embarrassed around other people. Especially if they see me being a stupid idiot.

“N….no, I’m j…jus”

I start muttering a random excuse, but the stranger talks over me.

“You must be a reincarnated. Arthesya it’s still trying to this day. She should have just accepted fate, a Goddess should know better. Well, maybe I’m supposed to be happy the mission’s still on.”

It doesn’t feel like he’s talking to me, but more to himself. It doesn’t help that I can’t see his face. Looking at how he’s dressed…maybe my gothic Lolita outfit really is out of place in this world after all! If everyone’s like him, I will sick out like a sore thumb!

He’s in a blackish exploratory like suit, with an astronaut’s helm covering the head. It’s kind of jarring to be honest, like a mix between an archeologist and an astronaut. You can argue the two can be similar on a conceptual level, but at least in my world they are not…yet. Space can’t be explored as of now. He does seem to be exceptionally fit, but doesn’t have a neither a threatening aura nor an arrogant one. Instead…

“Maybe that’s why I was led here by that idiot. [ECHOES] can be such a pain. I wonder if knowing she’ll ever understand her ultimate limit.”

“Uhm.”

“If it’s just this, then maybe she’s just trying to mess with someone. Lonely creature she is.”

“Ehm.”

“Well, at the very least the view from here’s good, I’ll enjoy another nap”

“HEY! I’M HERE!”

Look I’m no stranger to self-indulgent narration but at the very least keep it to yourself, in your head, you know, like normal people! Wait, maybe categorizing myself as “normal” it’s a stretch, especially after I’ve been reincarnated into another world altogether. But at least I’m not rude.

“Oh, right you are. Do you have any business with me?”

“It’s you who eavesdropped on me!”

“Hearing someone shouting it’s not eavesdropped, but sorry if that offended you, I suppose.”

My cheeks burn red again, is it embarrassment? Is it rage? Anyone’s guesses this time.

“What do you mean that I should just give it up? You say I’m a reincarnated, what do you mean? Are there others like me?”

“So many questions. You’ll find that answers are not that useful, but to understand that you’ll first have to hold them all. Such a bothersome world…well, worlds.”

“Please just reply.”

“There are others like you. I am too. Well, I’m more of a borderline case though. Unluckier than you, because I was brought here exactly to exist outside such concepts.”

I…really need to filter information here.

The first person I met just HAD to be a bothersome idiot. He’s also talking like, reaaaaaaaaaaaaally slow. I have places to be! I think! Well, for starters I need to find a place to look at myself at least. And that’s really important.

“Were you brought here by the Goddess?”

“Yes”

Finally, I concise response. A little too concise. This dude flips between being annoying in two polar opposite ways and I have to fight back the urge to hit him.

“So, you too much free her as a mission?”

“Mine it’s different, not one shackle, but every. Well, at least this is how it started up.”

Damn. My rational self-it’s saying that I should really team up with him. This world it’s completely new, I have no idea how to break any of the chains and no idea how to even blend in with other people around here. But at the same time…should I? I just got the chance of a lifetime, literally, a chance to live another lifetime, and the first thing I do its ally to an idiot?

No, for now, I’ll just gather information a little mo…

“You’re really slow. If you want to talk more, I’ll invite you to focus, please. I have naps to do.”

I really should hit him.

“S…sorry.”

But I don’t and revert back to my usual behaviour of feigning to be sorry.

“Shouldn’t you encourage me to accomplish my mission then? We’re allies technically.”

I’ve really done it now, haven’t I? He will now say we should team up.

“No, just ignore your mission. You’ve been given an impossible one, Arthesya it’s just desperate.”

“Wha…”

“This island’s seal can’t be broken. It’s so strong there’s not even any strong guard defending it. You’ve been screwed.”

“Wait! There must be something…she’s a Goddess! She must have given me some kind of power specifically to accomplish this mission, to destroy this seal.”

“And what power is it?”

“I…don’t know.”

“You don’t have any special power. Arthesya can’t give them anymore.”

“So how should I…”

“You shouldn’t. Trust me, just live out your life. You’ve been given a second chance, take it easy. There’s a big city not far from here. Go there, you can get to work as a maid probably. Arthesya at least gave you the perfect look to gain money.”

“I feel like you just said something very rude.”

“Goodbye now, I have something very important to do.”

The very important things were laying on the ground, looking away from me and…sleeping. He’s even sneezing! Are you serious! I guess Arthesya couldn’t bless me with luck after all. First encounter in another world and it’s with a weirdo!

I walk away, probably there’s a big pout on my face. What a guy! No wonder the seals have not been undone yet, if that’s the level of my fellow reincarnated comrades, then we’re really in deep shit.

“One …ronf…last..thing.”

The nerve of that guy!

“Don’t…shhhhh…say to…ronf…anyone…shhh…what your mission is. Commoners…ronf…don’t…shhhh…Goddes…shhh…to be freed….”

And with that, he fell to sleep.