"Urgh..."
I clench my fist and trying to get the whole sense of my body.
(How long have I passed out? Why haven't I died yet when my heart stopped beating? Who are those people? And why am I even controlling this body?)
Questions, stir endlessly in my mind before I finally open my eyes. Half of my sight has been buried beneath the piling snow, the city, once bustling and alive now fall to the ever-changing flow. The fire diminish replaced by the solemn moonlight basking the empty streets on tow. Solemn night bask us now, for we are nought but dusk and shadows...
(Oh, my body doesn't hurt anymore. That's one good thing.)
Standing on my limping feet. The spots where there's supposed to be bullet holes were replaced by scars. Holding my missing right hand, I wonder,
"How am I suppose to live like this? Having a monster's body is so much better than this."
Curious by the words last night, I hold my chest and felt no heartbeat. Threading through the snowy streets, I look at the reflection, seeing what the window brings... A young bright boy in his teens with silky white hair and ruby red eyes.
"If I was this cute back then, girls would flock to me like moths to a flame."
Smiling as I express my thought, I realize that I have to keep a bright attitude if I wish to keep going. Looking around the streets littered by squandered cadavers, the place is what you expect from a razed city. From the old till the young, none was spared through the brutal conflict.
"Ruthless to each other huh? Maybe no matter where humanity go, they always leave a trail of ash and sorrow- Ah look at me~ talking all fancy and shit."
As I look into the starless sky, the aurora still shines bright beneath the sunken moon...
"Still, I'm quite fucked right now no? I mean, where am I suppose to go now? I'm lost, I have no connections, I became disabled and I can't reach my other body because it's too high up the mountain- oh, wait, there's still that evacuation base. Let's just go there for now and search for clues or maybe if I'm lucky, I might find a map of some sort."
I look at the headless corpse of a soldier near where I was lying moments ago. Taking his halberd, I pray for his soul to rest in peace and look at my own garb. Like what someone who got shot would expect, it's filled with holes.
"Better get some new clothes if I want to go to a city... Unless there may be a culture where people actually walk around naked. Hehehehe~ Maybe I should check some ancient tribe or some shit when I find some library. Being young and filled with desires sure is great. I rarely get so worked up when I was old."
Looking around the streets, I spotted a clothing store and decided to went inside... After moving the corpse that's holding the knob first though.
*crack* *ring* *ring*
The doorbell chimes like olden times. The display window is still intact, leaving the store inside still clean and tidy even after all the ruckus outside.
"I guess no one actually bothered to check inside... Then again, didn't those people that shoot said that they would check every place? Ah, whatever, now I got free clothes to choose."
Inspecting the garbs in the display, everything seems similar to the victorian era clothing but more colourful I think is the right word.
"Maybe something stylish? What about something that looks like a glowstick got in a fight with a flashlight... Oooh, this one got that steampunk detective style to it, with all the goggles and gloves. Can't wait to try them all- ah sheet."
I hold my missing arm and realize how hard it is to even remove my clothes now...
"Fine, I better choose wisely."
****************************************
"Well, well, well, look at this. Who's the fancy gentleman now?"
With a long twin tailcoat, a wool slim vest over a white long sleeve shirt, high waist pants, and a good old velvet scarf.
"Just give me a cane and a monocle and I'll be perfect. If I remember correctly, the last time I was having so much was during my time picking little Omena's dress... I wonder how she's doing now? She did say she was always beside me."
After taking a very icy cold shower and sorting my head and plans out. I finally decided to pick a pair for myself.
"Now that I think about it, I don't feel cold nor heat anymore... Ah, whatever. I'm totally ready now. Albeit it took me hours to put this on with one hand."
Passing through the hugging corpses, and the bullet filled door. I take the cash register and slam it onto the ground, breaking it apart as wooden coins and paper parchments fling across the room.
(Don't call me greedy or evil. I prayed for their deaths and if this is such times, this place will get loot probably one way or the other. So I'll take what I can and scavenge what I find).
"Still paper money?"
As I pick up the paper parchment, I could see the drawings and write on it. With the blessing of my goddess, I could read the writing which said,
"30 Kor... Don't know how much is that but if there's is paper money then..."
*ring* *ring*
I take a look outside to find the corpse that was hanging by the door earlier. As I rummage his pockets, I found it.
"I knew it, a leather wallet. The slick design's nice though. He got good taste."
(In my world, even though paper money first appears in China during the 7th century, it was only during the 17th century that it finally got mainstream all across the world. While wallet was made during the 16th century, it wouldn't be wrong to assume how much a certain civilization's technology has passed just by looking at their currency alone. Especially when that Hyu guy was wearing a modern winter outfit and carrying a harpoon gun).
Opening the wallet, I could see a small picture- no, the texture... It's a painting!
"Damn, what kind of guy does such meticulous work for a tiny paper!? Then again, this is a world of magic so maybe they cast a spell or something?"
As I look closer, it's a painting of a happy family...
"Ah..."
I place the family painting back at his pocket and take his wallet away.
"Hmm, it all feels so natural. Wait, have I rob a place before? Nah, that can't be. I mean I'm a pretty exemplar citizen on paper and in public. Mmm... Wait, I think I remembered something when I was younger..."
****************************************
"Anselm! Anselm! Look! Look! Lookie here! Look at what I found!"
A young girl who's upper face is blurred shouts with all her vigour as she climbs up a small peak where I rest. For some reason, all I feel is nothing but annoyance yet a dread of loss whenever I'm with her.
"What is it now? Did you finally found your forgotten treasure?"
I retort back giving clear signs I don't want to be with her but she ignores all of that and got close to me by hugging my neck with one arm shouting:
"Even better! Check this out!"
She shows me something akin to a pahmplet and point at a certain picture by pulling me even closer saying:
"Look, I actually manage to tatse this thing called ice cream. Even though it's already cold here, it's very refreshing ya know!"
"Really now? And what does that have to do with me?"
"Geez, no need to be so stuck up about everything!"
"It's only with you. So if I can get you this ice cream you'll leave for me for a while?"
"I guess?"
I push her away and stand.
"Then wait as I get one for you."
"Really!? Yaaay, Anselm's the best!"
... One honest roberry later.
"I don't know what to get, so I got one of these vanilla flavour. Since this is a secret, we can't let Father William found out, so we'll just eat it here."
"Ehehe, you really got me one huh?"
"Of course!"
She curls up like a ball and look at me saying:
"You know, Anselm, you're the first person to ever do so much for me."
She tried to hide her face but I can still see her smiling face.
"Well, duh, everyone keeps using threats and force all the time, and I know I'm better then that... And if I don't help you, you'll just pester me all over again. Besides, enjoying things with you may not seem so bad once in a while if you shut your mouth."
"Huh? I mean, hehe, really?"
She picks up the box of ice cream and ready the spoon.
"Then when we finally grown up, will you marry me?"
"Eh? Don't know what that means but if it makes you happy then why not. I mean, the more happier you are the farther away you are from me."
"Anselm... You dummy~ since this is a very special occasion, you can have 2/3 of the ice cream!"
She smiles brightly with her gigggles and take the first bite.
"Of course that much is given, I'm the one who got it after all!"
****************************************
"Uh... Did soemthing like that really happened? I don't know? I can't remember, I know I came from an orphanage but did I really met someone like her? If so, I wonder what happened to her? Urgh!"
I grasp ny head as I groan in pain. It's as if it's hiding more secrets than ever.
"Ah, fuck this. I can't remember much of my previous life! Did the Goddess hide them too? Well screw it then!"
Before I knew it, tears were flowing through my eyes. Using the scarf to wipe it all off.
"Not only is my present life seemed disastrous, but my previous life seems pretty catastrophic too. I wonder how did I even become what I did back then? If I have to admit, I met with some pretty cute girls and a lot of dead flags."
I take a step outside and wonder,
"Then again, I thought there was supposed to be monsters here? I wonder where could they have gone? Could they had their fill? If so, what about the bodies?"
I look around to find only the empty streets and falling snow.
As I enter the shop again, I pick up and count the papers and dimes before putting it in the wallet... With an arduous process since who knew that using the wallet is hard with one hand right!?
"1.2 thousand kors and 80 wooden dimes that has no numbers. Don't know how much is that but I'll take it anyway."
I tuck in the wallet and grab the halberd.
"It's time to head out baby."
Staring at the mirror as I talk to myself.
"Okay, cheer up, I always wanted to say that. Mhm, okay enough joking around. It's time to get serious, with the serious face- psffhhhh! W-what the hell! Hahahahahah!"
I fell on my knees and hug my stomach as to hold my laughter in but,
"Damn, this boy's face can really make the funniest looks! I'll bet a hundred bucks that he could make that face on a comedy stand without speaking and everyone would laugh... But then again, won't that mean nobody would take me seriously when I show my serious face- pshhfffff Hahahahahaa! I- I wheeze need... To stop!"
Dropping the halberd, I slam my hand to the ground as I'm pounding a lump of meat, I finally catch a breath and use the halberd the to stand on my feet.
"Whew, okay, that's better. The fact I could get all I want in the streets alone show how prosperous this city is. Sad to see it got turned to ruins. But thanks for the service, with this, I wouldn't look suspicious at all."
*ring* *ring*
As I set my foot outside, a strong blizzard sweep across the streets like when doom settles like a shroud. But mother nature with her kindness buries those who has fallen beneath her white sheet. My gaze falls onto the great mountains beyond and soon, I take one small step for my new body, one huge step for me.