Chapter 30: Alley

Lylia stepped out of the church and stretched her arms.

The cool evening air greeted her, brushing softly against her cheeks. “Alright,” she muttered to herself, “Maybe I'll take a look around for the meantime. I still have many unexplored areas here I have yet to unlock.”

Now that she thought about it, she didn’t even know the town’s name. Oh well, details like that could wait. She had plenty of time to wander. If she went straight back to the inn, what would she even do there? Eat, sleep? Sleep felt like such a waste of time; you could do so much more while awake than lying around unconscious. Yes, resting is a waste of time.

The streets stretched ahead, lined with stone houses and glowing lamps. People passed by, quiet and calm. Along the random way, there's just house, then house, then another house, and more houses. And theres the repeatable pattern of the streets too. Then more people. And also some houses that didn't really seem like a house, maybe a shop or something, but still a house.

Lylia’s steps echoed softly on the cobbled road until she reached a small plaza with a fountain at its center.

"I don't know where to really go around here... Maybe I'll find some tourist guide. My original stoic guide is unavailable at the moment because of some sword quest after all." she talked to herself again.

The fountain’s water shimmered faintly under the street lights and lamps hanging around some... more kinds of houses again, rippling with reflected light. A bard sat by the edge, blowing some wooden flute. She doesn't really know what kind of music or genre he was performing, but it was nice. The kind of song that made you feel like you were in the middle of a fairy tale.

A few townsfolk tossed coins into his hat. Watching that, Lylia got an idea.

She was rich now, after all, or at least, richer than before thanks on a certain someone that randomly appeared to turn her precious bread to ashes. Might let him do it again for some easy money.

She then also fished out a coin in her pocket and dropped it in, mimicking what she saw.

The bard glanced at her, meeting her eyes with a soft, as he nodded once with a wordless smile of gratitude. 

Lylia also just smiled in return and backed away, afraid to interrupt the music if she said anything. She sat down near the fountain and looked up at the sky. The light was fading fast, a few stars beginning to peek through the clouds.

"... Back then on earth, it was rare to be able to watch the stars like this. Or like, to even see them. Unless I visit the country side." she whispered. "I don't think that's the case here though. I bet every night will be like this."

She sighed, feeling a little bored, then leaned over to look at her reflection in the fountain’s water. It wasn't as clear as a mirror, of course. The rippling surface showed her face, framed by her light hair and soft eyes.

“…I’m cute,” she thought out loud.

She tilted her head and repeated. “Really cute.”

Then she smiled to herself as she thought, 'If I keep doing this, I’ll turn narcissistic. Or am I one already?'

But then again… with how cute she was, didn’t she deserve to be? Totally fair, right? She chuckled softly. “I’m an exception,” she whispered. “Who wouldn’t admire this face?”

She was just kidding.

She started making silly faces at her reflection. There was some pouting, sticking her tongue out, puffing her cheeks, and eventually a few faces that… well, she definitely wouldn’t want anyone to see. Like, when you stick your tongue out while looking up.

And then, someone did witness.

A small boy was standing near her, staring without much expression.

Lylia froze, eyes wide. Then she awkwardly cleared her throat, forcing a small smile and gave a tiny wave. “...Hello there.”

The boy turned and bolted.

Lylia blinked. “…Huh?” She stared at where he disappeared, feeling a weird sense of déjà vu.

“I feel like something similar has happened before.” she mumbled, standing up again.

She brushed off her clothes and continued walking around aimlessly, forgetting what she said about wanting a tour guide. But by the time she realized, she thought that she actually wants to be alone this time.

Houses. People. Streets. Houses again. More people. More streets.

Eventually, her steps led her to a narrow alley.

The air there was different. Quiet, and still. The kind of stillness that had its own beauty. She thought that alleys had a strange charm to them, the way the shadows fell between old walls, the way the faint lamplight struggled to reach the ground. She reminisced about how she used to explore whatever street she sees.

She walked in, unhurried.

Then, she saw them.

Three men.

Her first instinct was to step aside politely and pass through, but they didn’t move. Instead, they started walking toward her.

Her light smile faded.

One reached out a hand, just enough to brush her shoulder.

In that instant, Lylia moved.

The book slipped from her pocket, her hand gripping it tight before it even touched the ground. A clean, effortless swing, and one man fell. Another tried to speak, but she’d already struck again. The second dropped beside him.

Only one remained.

He froze, trembling.

Lylia clasped her hands together, smiling softly,. Peacefully, even.

If she were still a man, maybe they could’ve been friends somehow. Maybe she would’ve laughed this off, shrugged, and walked away. She also likes women after all.

But that person was long gone. She was someone else now.

She was a good person.

She must have been punished before, for dying by a truck, but she had also been rewarded for her efforts, as she is given another life. A second chance to redeem herself further.

And she had a god to follow now.

Yes… she was a good person. Believer of God.

In her heart, Lylia whispered a quiet prayer.

She asked for forgiveness, sincerely. For the excessive self defense she had done.