In the heart of the bustling city marketplace, a young girl, no more than fifteen, stood atop a raised platform. Her slender form was accentuated by the small box supporting her. A weathered rope encircled her neck, casting a somber shadow over the chaotic scene below.
On the ground, standing on a slightly elevated pedestal, a weaselly-looking man with a wiry mustache began to make a public announcement. His voice carried more than what people would have thought it ought to have.
“People of the glorious Kuro empire! We have gathered together to witness what happens when you insult the Eternal emperor or his family.” The man dramatically gestured to the girl who was wearing what looked like just a step up from a hemp tunic. “This girl, as lowly and wretched as she is, attempted to harm his royal majesty. Crown Prince Ryohei.”
The girl standing on her toes would be considered just below average height at best for her age. Many onlookers muttered among themselves, commenting on her pretty looks even at her youthful age. With snow-like skin that was flawless behind the layer of dust. Like a freshly felled cherry blossom pedal that had fallen swept up by a street sweeper. This contrasted by long midnight black hair tied up into a ponytail. Her body was petite, but athletic despite her slightly underfed look, despite her shorter height, it seemed to match well with her features.
However, this was not the most shocking thing. In her crescent-shaped eyes were striking ice blue irises, something that was rarely seen by people of this continent for almost everyone was born with dark-colored eyes. This made the people uneasy looking at her, for surely this was a sign that she was a cursed child, which would explain her haunting, unnatural, azure eyes.
“Well, that was only half true. The truth was she tried to steal the crown prince’s coin purse and after being caught, tried kicking him and then, as a last resort, biting at him. Of course, how could she know that she was biting the crown prince”, Mei thought, her face completely expressionless, though if one were skilled at reading faces they would see a tinge of anxiety hidden deep in those icy irises.
There was little fear that entered her mind at that moment, only an odd sense of relief that washed over her. Perhaps it was a relief that came from the idea she would soon be exiting this awful world. Mei had grown up in abject poverty and to survive she had to pickpocket for a living, the orphanage she lived in was in a sad state and she was often the outcast even among the outcasts, because of her strange eyes which she had no control over. Some would think it was rather morbid for a young lady of barely fifteen years old to think like that, but this world was unrelenting and brutal.
“This girl will be set as an example for all people in the future that choosing to insult the royal family can only mean they are courting death!” The man gave one last bellow before taking out his sword and cutting the rope that held the platform’s trap door.
*SWWACK!*
The sickening sound of the rope going taut causing all the onlookers to flinch at the sound of the young woman’s neck breaking. After a few breaths and some twitching, the young girl’s life ended after a few breaths of time. Thus came the end of Mei’s life.
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The crowd was fairly horrified by the entire event, even a cursed girl. Despite their discomfort, there was a faint sense of relief that the cursed child was also gone from their midst. As the crowd dispersed into the various streets and alleys leading away from the central market, the people cast away those thoughts of disgust as fast as they came and carried on with their lives.
…
“Well…that hurt” A single thought entered Mei’s mind as her soul detached from her body though it wasn’t as bad as she had imagined it to be. Looking down at her limp body swaying in the wind, Mei was uncharacteristically calm for a girl her age. “So this is what death is like?”
As she floated above the scene before her, Mei had no thoughts of anger towards the people who did nothing in the face of her execution no matter how unjust. The only anger she had was at the gods for giving her such a rotten life.
Moments after that thought drifted into her consciousness, an unseen force forcibly grabbed her spirit and pulled her soul at high speeds into the clouds. The world twisted and morphed before her eyes. Reality became different as she found herself racing towards a large citadel which seemed to be built on the top of the peak of a seemingly unending mountain. Once her soul flew inside her eyes or what would be considered, her eyes adjusted to the brightness that seemed to shine from the walls themselves.
“Um…hello? Er…what is going on? Who did that?” she said, dumbfounded. What the hell is going on?
“Ehem!” the sound of a voice clearing their throat came from behind her.
Turning around quickly, Mei looked up to see a man who was dressed in the traditional robes of Kuro with a jade belt around his waist. Upon the belt was a scabbard and a large curved sword clinging to it. The man had a kindly elderly appearance to him.
The man smiled warmly and walked up to Mei. “Welcome, Mei, to the afterlife.”
“What is going on? I know I just died, but I never figured I would be able to stay in the heavenly places with the gods themselves!” Mei was shocked, for even an uneducated girl like her had known that in order to earn a place in the heavens alongside the gods, one had to perform great deeds and honor the gods in order to join. The only other way was to gain enough power in your lifetime to earn your way into the heavens and be named a god by gaining mortal worshipers, but that had not happened in a long time, as far as she could remember from her little knowledge on the subject.
“Yuk yuk yuk! No child you did not get granted access to the heavenly realm and before you think I am going to grant you such a ridiculous gift! No such luck, sadly!” his kind demeanor shifted slightly “I am merely in charge of ensuring that the cycle continues that the One put in place…”
Mei’s hopes were completely dashed…how did he know I was thinking about that though? She thought crestfallen, twirling her thumbs nervously as she realized he could probably read thoughts.
“Child, my name is Kozuma, god of rebirth! And I have had a bit of pity towards you as your life was quite unfair and, frankly, I need a bit of entertainment. So! I am going to reincarnate you fifty years later! You won’t look different from how you did in your past life, but I certainly will help you in one minor way. This time you will be with a family! Aren’t I generous?”
“Wait!” Mei put up her slim hands “You are going to reincarnate me, but what difference does that make if my eyes are still this way? I will still be an outcast!” she emphasized her eyes as she pointed at them.
“Young lady!” he said cheerfully, “you may curse your unique eyes now, but someday should you live long enough you will be thankful for what the One gave you! You will discover a world that you never knew of in your past life. Live well young Mei…” he paused thinking for a bit “I like that name you will keep it yuk yuk yuk!” he laughed heartily again before flicking Mei’s forehead, sending her flying away. At that moment, everything went black and a single thought entered her mind. Peacefulness.