Chapter Text
"I can't believe this was happening.."
Arith thought. Right now, this present moment, Arith was dying. He was dying, and he was in pain. He felt something. He blearily opened his eyes. He saw a bird. A crow. It was something he was afraid of, but he couldn't muster up any strength to be scared. Actually, he took ironic comfort in this bird. It was staying despite him passing. Arith sighed. He closed his eyes once more until the bird spoke.
"You could make a contract with me." The damned crow said. Arith groaned while moving his arm, having the idea of catching the bird and throwing it. "It'll save your life!" The bird said quickly, as if knowing what Arith was thinking. Arith thought about it. "Fine."
"What's your wish?"
"I wish for to live free of my curse." Arith choked out, his mind racing, and his heart pounding in his ears. The crow laughed and flew away.
He took what seemed like his last breath. That was until he opened his eyes. He woke up in a new place. This wasn't the room he remembered. No, this was the village. The same village from his first several lives. He looked down and saw he was a girl. He didn't seem bothered by it, though. He stood up, his bones aching from the last life. He looked around and saw the forest was still the same. The bulls were still around him and ready to attack.
He got ready to throw some punches, but he forgot Steven usually intervened at this moment, which did, indeed, happen.
"Stop that!" He yelled out to the bulls. Arith stepped aside. He was stopped by Steven. "Are you okay, Ma'am? That had to be scary." Steven spoke worriedly to Arith.
"Yes.. I'm fine." She sighed. She looked away. The bulls ran away from the forest. A shame she knew how this would play out. "I'm glad! Come, you look homeless enough to stay at out village." Steven smiled. He grabbed Arith's hand and left with him in stow. Arith frowned, the wind breezing on her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the very same crow. She gasped and turned to look at the bird, but he was gone the very same second. She had a shiver run down her back.
"Are you alright?" Steven's words brought her back to reality. Arith nodded. "Yes. I'm okay, just something clouded my mind." She frowned, looking at the ground. Steven still had the brilliant smile. "Alright, let's continue then!" He continued walking with Arith.
Eventually, they made it to the village, the beautiful view from a hill. It was surrounded by sea water, not quite ocean touching. Arith felt nostalgic. This village was but a memory in her past, but here it was again. Arith started tearing up, it was so hard to imagine this place was here again. Arith wiped her nose and eyes, but the dreadful tears kept pouring. Arith collapsed to her knees, Steven holding her tight.
Once she finally calmed down, she stood up along with Steven. "I'm sorry." She sniffled. Steven softened. "Its alright, miss. Let's go ahead." Steven and Arith trailed down the path made by man. Arith's breaths were still uneven from her sobs. Arith quietly followed Steven until they reached the main entrance of the village, the whispers from the villagers were annoying yet they were empty threats. Arith learned to not think about them. She looked around, then Steven left her with money and quickly walked away to do something. Arith hummed. Steven did that a lot in her past lives.
As time passed, she would finally find the hotel that stayed in the village, despite the village staying the same, some shops varied their positions so it was sometimes hard to think it would be in a place she thought it would be. Though, she got her a room and changed into some finer clothes. The crow came back and was laying on her window frame. Arith felt uneasy, the crow should've never existed, especially since it was in her past life.
"It's certain to see you again. I can't leave you alone, especially with your potential." The crow smiled, or what could be a smile. Arith gasped. "My potential? What do you mean?" She felt scared, terrified. She backed up. The crow flew close to her. "You're something that can protect this village. A magical girl." The crow flew back to the windows frame.
Arith felt uncomfortable. This couldn't be right. She was basically useless. Sure, she had some powers before hand, but it failed. She killed herself in the process. Arith sighed. No. This wouldn't stop her.
"How did you curse me? I didn't ask to be like this, but.. I want to protect the village." Arith frowned. The crow smiled. He handed her an item. It was green, glowing green. "That's your power. Keep it close." He cared before flying away.
Would this be it? Arith stared at the item. She held it close. She closed her eyes and thought hard. Just then, she felt something hot scorch her veins. She screamed, but it was silent to the outside view.
Her clothes burned away and another version of her appeared. Arith was surprised. She clinged to this other version. It cringed back and they fused, an intimate gesture that seemed so treasurable. Arith transformed into a magical girl. Her outfit was mainly green with black accents. It had a white puffy skirt underneath. Her shoes weren't heels, but boots for comfort and something that can help her later on. Her weapons were swords and daggers.
She felt her outfit and almost a new body. She smiled and gleamed. She ran outside but a creature awaited her. Arith stabbed it with her sword and it died almost instantly. Its blood spewed on her and her new outfit. She kept running to find more monsters, giving Arith a certain thrill to finally have a purpose and use in her life.
Arith met an even bigger creature at the beach. She smiled proudly, but a chair was thrown at her. She was brought to a realm that was filled with objects and items that shared one theme: Greed. It was full of money, banks, coins, and amongst other things, a crown. It was rich in color. The creature held the crown greedily, sitting on a throne.
The monster itself was tall, lengthy, and full of the shared theme objects. It was named 'Greed in a Cape'.
Arith got ready and used the objects to jump around and get close. Arith took a stance to stab the monster, but she was smacked. She flew to a wall and blood trailed down the wall as she fell to the floor. Arith groaned as she tried to stand. Yet, the monster took pride in knowing that it was winning. It laughed, its minions giggling along side it. It kicked Arith until she was covered in blood.
Arith cried out in pain until she mustered up strength and hit the monster, her power was to summon curses that can combat other curses. It killed the minions, but it took a couple tries to kill the main one.
Arith felt tired. So tired. She collapsed to the ground, her magical outfit disappeared. She returned to her usual self until she closed her eyes and sighed. She smiled in pride before she fell asleep on the ground.