From Righteous To Villain

The night was darker than anything I had ever experienced. I had to realize that I was used to city life, where street lamps always provided enough light, no matter the hour. Here? It was pitch black... and I was in a forest. All those noises, the unknown, the predators lurking in the shadow... as I pressed on, sword in hand, I was trembling. It was terrifying. Worse, I didn't know where I was or where I was going, and I couldn't find my way back, even if I wanted to. I was lost. Alone. It was a horrible idea to just leave like this; I should have waited until the sun came up! While I thought about it, looking up when the trees somewhat cleared away around me, I noticed that the massive, reddish moon was dipping beneath the horizon, leaving an uncertain grayness behind. It was hard to tell if dawn was approaching or if the darkness was just shifting shapes around me. Either way, my body ached from cutting through the forest and its dense undershrub, though not with the same punishing tightness I'd felt in my old life whenever I overexerted myself. Maybe this body really was stronger. Or I was weak. Probably both.

For a time, the only sounds I could hear were the crunch of dead leaves under my boots and my uneven breathing after I continued my trek. I tried not to think about possible animals lurking close by, but then, my mind wandered to the carnage I'd left behind. The scattered corpses, the broken wagons, that lifeless gaze of the man with the crossbow bolt in his chest.

"Shit..."

There was no sense in mourning strangers I never knew, but I couldn't help but feel... off. My chest still panged when my mind flicked back to it… but I forced myself to let it go. I had to keep moving. Focus on that, Auriel.

Eventually, the distant trickle of water reached my ears. Feeling relieved, I followed it through the undergrowth, brushing aside branches that caught on my tunic, making me hiss as they cut into my body. The bandits who caused the slaughter might still be out there, but a chance to wash off the blood—and confirm more about this bizarre situation I found myself in—felt worth the risk. I tried not to rush, creeping toward the sound and spotting a narrow stream winding through thick tree roots. The water reflected the light of moonlight, creating a wavering, surprisingly beautiful path. Waiting a little, listening to the sounds of the forest, I heard nothing that would indicate danger, so I stepped out of my hiding place and headed to the water.

I knelt by the stream, keeping my short sword close at hand because I didn't trust my assessment. The cold water numbed my fingers as I splashed my face and tried to rub away the blood staining my arms. When I cupped my hands and brought a handful of water near my mouth, I paused, looking down at my feet. A face stared back at me from the rippling surface—my face, but not the way I remembered it. I mean, not as I remembered how I looked yesterday. No. I was… young. Seventeen, maybe. The lines and creases that had been there from the years of stress were all gone, replaced by sharper cheekbones and smoother features. My hair was darker, the strands falling just a bit longer around my ears than I'd ever worn them since becoming a respected member of society, giving up on my long hair from my youth. Even my eyes seemed brighter, though they held an unsettling wariness, thanks to my current predicament.

For a moment, I just stared at my reflection. The realization was hard to swallow, and I tried not to think about it. I guessed that I was, indeed, in a different body. It had already crossed my mind back at the caravan site, but seeing it so clearly in the water made my heart flutter. But this was more than that. This was me when I was young. It was my face, not a foreign look at all. It was me... just... younger. I hesitated, half expecting my reflection to flicker and reveal my forty-year-old self. But no—this younger face looked back with a firm, steady glare, even after I slapped at the water, watching my reflection gradually return.

"Well... I'm not complaining..." I muttered, shaking my head with a slight smile.

After my initial surprise, I scrubbed the last of the dried blood off my forearms, cringing at a few cuts I hadn't noticed or picked up on the way. One was deeper than I'd thought, but it had already clotted, leaving just a faint sting. This body must heal faster than my old one—either that or adrenaline was doing all the work.

As I washed, my mind drifted to different fragments of memory bubbling up in me. I knew it wasn't mine at once. It was like watching someone else's dreams: a nighttime caravan rolling through dense woods, lanterns swinging on wagons, inaudible conversations. There was a sense of purpose suddenly in my mind—this other Auriel had been proud to be assigned to guard duty. He was new but determined to prove himself. He was doing things by the book, trusting his teammates and believing that if everyone pitched in, they'd all succeed and defeat any enemy. A soft sigh escaped my mouth as a tinge of empathy shot through me.

"Naive in both lives, aren't we?"

Then the memories shifted to the attack: men in dark hoods rushing out of the undergrowth, steel clashing, panicked shouts everywhere. The caravaners scrambled to fight, but they were disorganized. Then, someone shouted.

"They're here for the cargo!" 

But, then—betrayal. One of the merchants, a scrawny man with a crooked nose and an even more crooked grin, signaled to the bandits. He must have made some deal because the attackers spared him at first. The caravaners' confusion was enough for the bandits to overwhelm everyone else, going for the cart the man had signaled for. They were clearly here for whatever it was carrying.

Watching, feeling, and living through these memories, I felt... sick. Again. My breath was caught in my throat, and my heart rate increased. I saw flashes of the traitor taking over the cart and cutting down the old man, who was its original owner, before climbing up to it. Then, the bandits, having what they wanted, cut the traitor down without hesitation, claiming it for themselves. The memory ended with a burst of pain and darkness—how this younger alternate self of mine took a blade to the gut or a blow to the head, I wasn't sure. It came from behind. I touched the back of my head; it did hurt... but there was no injury or blood. 

"A double-cross after a double-cross. Everyone died..." I felt my jaw clench but also felt somewhat happy that the bastard orchestrating this didn't get to live. "Fitting, I guess. That's what happens when people use each other."

I wasn't in the mood to keep ruminating on what-ifs or deal with my alternate variant's past. It was done in the past. No longer my problem. Sorry kid. So I splashed water on my face again as if that could wash away the bitterness. But the thought remained.

Two Auriels—both of us so certain that if they just played nice, we would be treated fairly. Instead, one of us was exploited by so-called friends and coworkers, while an ally betrayed the other. Both of us had died without ever really fighting back. But not anymore.

"Never again."

That mantra pulsed through me like a heartbeat as I stood back up. As if my alternate self agreed with me. Maybe I was no longer one Auriel.

"Just stop thinking..." I told myself, shaking my head vigorously.

I felt unsteady, but it was more from anger than exhaustion. I dried my hands on a scrap of cloth I'd salvaged from one of the wagons and took a moment to examine my gear. It didn't magically change; I still only had the same things that I took. Hardly a fortune, but enough to get me by for a little while—assuming I made it to civilization safely. I hoped that I could make use of my bracelet and the fact that I was an adventurer and part of some organization.

My eyes tracked upstream, noticing a faint glow in the sky. Dawn was coming. I decided to follow the water's flow, reasoning that it might lead me to a main road or an inhabited area. Cities were usually established close to a water source, after all. As I walked, the forest around me gradually changed from dense, ominous woods to more open terrain. Sunlight began to filter through the treetops, warming the back of my neck and illuminating the wildflowers underfoot. I never was a botanist or a gardener, but I was pretty sure these types of flowers were not anything like on Earth.

Eventually, I found a rough trail that paralleled the stream. Boot prints marred the dirt, suggesting travelers used it. I paused, crouching low to inspect the impressions. Some were fresh, but there was no telling if they belonged to friendly adventurers or cutthroats. Still, a road was a road, and if there is any kind of security in these parts, bandits should avoid it... I hope.

Steeling myself, I continued along the path; my ears pricked for any sign of danger, and my grip tightened on the short sword, the weight comforting in a strange way. Every so often, a stray memory from this body's past flickered up: an image of that Guild Hall, the day the other Auriel was awarded Bronze-Tier status. I could feel his pride. How thrilled he was to be recognized as a "real" adventurer. It was almost heartbreakingly innocent, reminding me of my younger self, who believed in promotions and fair raises if you just did your job well.

"A shame," I muttered grimly, "that the world doesn't care about it."

The forest began to thin out, and the trail widened. I spotted a slope up ahead, and something told me that a better vantage might be just what I needed. With confident steps, I followed a switchback that zigzagged up the small rise. My legs burned after being on the trail since night—it turns out even a younger body can feel fatigued after enough stress.

Reaching the top, I paused to catch my breath. The early morning sun cascaded over a vast expanse of farmland and scattered woodland, where the two gradually met. Stretching across a gentle valley before me was a fortified city. Stone walls stood tall in the morning sun, multiple guard towers rising here and there along them. Smoke trails curled from chimneys beyond the city walls, and tiny figures were coming and going at the main gate. Even from this distance, I could sense the bustle of life within those walls. It wasn't a small city, but it also wasn't anything like a city in my time.

For a few heartbeats, I just stood there, staring down at the city like a lost traveler, trying to remember how a map works. This was the first real sign of civilization I'd seen in this world, and although I expected it, it was still... weird.

I couldn't help but notice a slight grin tugging at the corner of my lips. My old self would probably worry about signing up for a permit or filling out the proper forms. But that Auriel died in a drab office lobby, and the other Auriel died bleeding in a forest. I was neither, yet both, and I intended to live on my own terms this time. I will manage and think on my feet. It couldn't be that hard now, could it? Putting it on and touching the adventurer's bracelet on my wrist, I reminded myself that, no matter what lay ahead, I wouldn't let anyone else pull my strings.

"Let's see what this city has to offer for a new start..."