Meiris awoke roughly six hours later. When she did, there was dirt in between her lips. She spat it out, once she realized it.

She opened her eyes, but darkness surrounded her. There was also an unfamiliar weight pressing down against her.

She propped herself up on her arms, which made dirt fall from her body.

'What...'

Her mind was deep in confusion. Why was she covered in dirt?

What she didn't know, was that while she was asleep, someone had noticed a body lying in the middle of the graveyard. Her body. The person came to give it a quick burial, in the short time they had before work. That was why she woke up covered by a thin layer of dirt.

After a moment, some sort of understanding lurked close below Meiris' consciousness...

Then her thoughts got overshadowed by a feeling she hadn't felt in quite some time. Cold. She was cold.

'Why? What's going-'

That's when Meiris noticed that her hands were no longer transparent either.

Her physical body has returned.

'What?!'

The shock immediately caused her to stand up.

Was this just a dream? Was her being a ghost?

'It can't- It was too real- I still have the gloves, the cloak, but...

'Was all that a part of a spell?'

She looked around, searching for anyone.

'Am I human again?'

One thing she immediately tried was using her mana. Which hinted otherwise, because it didn't return to how it used to be when she was human. But it didn't have to be related.

"Haaah."

'What is this?'

The fact that this happened once she found her grave seemed like an obvious lead, but was that just a lesser-known ghost trait? That explanation sounded way too convenient. However, it was the best she got.

In reality the reason was different, but it wasn't the time for Meiris to realize the truth.

With her mind trying to piece anything together, she shook off some of the remaining dirt. Though a bunch of it was still stuck to her when she was done.

Her body was also beginning to heat up in the sun's warmth. Good thing it was summer, because she now only had the cloak - the physical body didn't come with magical clothing - to protect her from any cold. Which did a decent job nonetheless, covering her from the head to right above the knees.

'I suppose this doesn't necessarily change much. Yes, I can now include interactions with people more freely... With care until I get further. The food is now a concern. A bed desirable...

'If I switch back... Best if it can happen only when I rest. That I can deal with.

'But the archives- I still want them...'

Leaving things at that, she thanked Thery in her mind once more and headed out of the graveyard, her head hidden in the cloak's hood.

She wasn't a ghost anymore, not in appearance, but she was still a criminal in a lot of people's eyes. Maybe they didn't hang her body for the birds to feed, but she had still been made an example out of. She feared how many locals knew her face.

Realistically, most of them wouldn't notice. Even if they did, how likely were they to assume that she was, in fact, the same person they had seen die? With the wrong eye color - that her new physical body retained - no less?

But she could meet someone who had seen her from up close, who knew the unique lines of her face... She wouldn't risk it for no good reason.

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Since it was noon, the crossroads where the southern avenue exited the capital were filled with people, horses, and carts that combined the two. Meiris even spotted two heavy wagons that were being pulled by veeselas. Strong and resilient animals from the north, if a little slower than horses. An average veesela looked somewhat similar to a moose, but its legs were thicker and the head was thinner near the nose. Though its antlers were just as impressive.

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Meiris lurked near the edges of any roads she travelled after leaving the narrow paths of the slums behind. She looked like a beggar at best - she hid the gloves, having realized they stood out too much - so no one would pay attention to her. Unless she walked under a horse's hooves- Then maybe she would get a reaction. Certainly not a one she wanted.

If only she had brought some random golden or a silver ring from the treasury to sell it... She regretted not thinking about that with every step she took with naked feet.

Though she suspected it would be obvious she stole it, with neither clothes, money nor name to prove it belonged to her. These were no proofs exactly, but they worked like one.

She stopped and sat on a curb to let the soles of her feet rest, while she decided on the immediate plan.

The lack of shoes was her greatest issue. She tried to find some on her way, but any house that was abandoned or had the door unlocked for another reason- There were none.

Her greatest find was an old shirt. A rag, really.

Still, it had to do. At first she intended to keep it for when it became necessary, but apparently the time was now. She ripped it in half, then wrapped it around her feet. There wasn't any blood or bruises yet, only her skin was red. Luckily, the shirt had belonged to someone large enough that, despite the many holes it had, it still covered the crucial parts of her soles with decent thickness.

It was obvious she needed to figure out a way to get money soon. But how?

She had the general knowledge required to become an assistant of some kind. Yet, it wasn't much of an option. Such a job took time and even if the employer did provide clothing- Not many would hear out someone whose own clothes were as lacking as hers.

Unless she became a hand at some rural tavern, but that wasn't what she wanted either.

A transport guard? It suited her situation perfectly, but... Again, no one would hire someone looking like her for an escort job. And if they were to ignore that, she had no skill to sell.

Not to mention that roads this close to the capital were generally safe.

She pondered for a while, but she couldn't figure out a way to earn money quickly. Maybe becoming human once again complicated things more than she expected?

Though she still preferred it this way when she thought of her future.

No longer a ghost, Meiris wasn't pressed into solving that predicament. Once she was out of the capital, in a place where no one would recognize her- She could as well settle there.

That wasn't what she wanted, but right now she had to find her footing. So even if it indeed was a rural tavern- She could handle a few months working at one.

The only worry she had with that - or in general - was her vulnerability. A young, skinny woman in shabby clothes looked like an easy target to pick, whatever the reason. She would need some luck with the people that she's going to cross paths with, more than she had before. At least for now.

She hated that feeling.

sigh

But there was no simple way around it.

While she was sitting on the curb, watching people pass her by - mostly looking at their feet to keep her head low - another thing reminded her of its existence. She needed some privacy.

And the options... They weren't great. Definitely not for someone used to being a noble, without a single penny on them.

'I could do without this one...

'Alright, let's not linger. I will manage.'

She took a look around, though the sight wasn't all that new. The vicinity of the capital was covered in fields. A few trees grew here and there, but if Meiris wanted any sense of privacy, she had to reach the forest. Which was at least a few kilometers away, almost hidden behind a low hill to the south.

And so she headed out. Away from the capital, away from her past. She half-expected it to find her at some point, but it would have a hard time in places she's never been to, places far from it.

----------------------------------------

The sun was still high up, its light heating up Meiris' black cloak. If not for a cold wind brushing against the lower portion of her legs, it would have been too hot. She considered taking off the hood, but just the idea of doing so with people about made her uncomfortable.

When she reached the top of what hardly qualified as a hill, she looked back.

A funny realization hit her-

'Feels like I'm seeing it for the first time.'

She's travelled to other places before, be it her family's lands or a business partner slightly to the north of them, but she couldn't remember if she had ever seen the capital as a whole. The scale of it... It was surprisingly hard for her to digest.

'I can hardly imagine what cities in Vaunthon must look like...'

The prospect of visiting them was a little exciting. Though it could take a while before she got the chance...

But the view quickly turned bittersweet when her thoughts began to wander through alternate realities. Realities where she still resided in this - deceptively - beautiful city. Where she found an appropriate husband and could travel to Vaunthon whenever and however she liked...

It prompted her to look away. There was no point imagining such realities.

Luckily she had something else to focus her attention on. Soon she found herself in the shadows of the forest.

The foliage wasn't particularly dense, so it wasn't all too dark inside. The shade was enough to pleasantly cool down Meiris' cloak.

What wasn't pleasant however, was navigating the ground covered with various roots and fallen branches. The worn shirt wrapped around her feet did little to protect her from pointy bits, though it definitely helped.

The experience definitely impacted her decision of how deep into the woods she intended to venture.

----------------------------------------

With one issue off her mind, Meiris now realized she's been thirsty and hungry. Which didn't come as a surprise. Though why had she suddenly woken up a human with those needs covered? That was confusing.

'There doesn't seem to be much besides berries...'

sigh

A river was flowing a bit further south. That's where she would quench her thirst. But on her way towards it, she would try to find something for dinner.

'Worst case they should be fine, but I'd rather not poison myself to death.'

Unluckily, she didn't know much about plants or their fruits. She was aware that berries were potentially poisonous, but not which.

If she couldn't find something as safe as an apple, there was one other alternative...

'Those target practice sessions better be enough.'