READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 2: Looking Closer
'It's not the clothes that make the women, but not bad,' Twisting her waist with ease and flexibility to view her back. Her skin was slightly red from being under the desert sun for two weeks. She fixed the single strap of her red top cut above her stomach. She pulled on the straps of her headband, an eight-pointed star surrounding the Konoha symbol. Trailing her hand along her neck, to the frame of a small broken mirror hanging on a small chain. She just stared at it, eyeing the small shard of mirror sticking out. Similar to her situation, a puzzle with missing pieces.
Drawing back the curtain of the small and awkward changing space in the store, she went to the owner standing behind a desk of fabrics, digging into her sack and taking out a small handful of gold coins.
"Will this be enough?"
"More than enough kind miss!" He said, eyes gleaming with excitement.
The clay bricks and stone floors that kept the store cool caused an impact when exiting as the sun of a desert beat down in the small town. Sakura's figure was fit, but she preferred loose clothing that could protect her from the elements, but after being beat under the sun, surrounded by dunes, and little vegetation, she reasoned for something more breathable.
As a shinobi, Sakura had traveled to many countries, and on her missions, she had experienced a lot, but nothing could have prepared her for what happened after she was expelled from the giant tower known as a dungeon.
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Awakening to a sky without a cloud, your skin painting red from the sun, and the sound of vultures circling were far from ideal. Yet being able to wake up at all was appreciated. If only a sense of direction had also awakened with Sakura. She spent days without food or water navigating through a desert full of dangerous creatures that she had never seen before in her life and bandits lurking almost everywhere... To survive she would take some of the supplies the bandits carried before moving on with her journey. She nearly regretted taking as much treasure as she did, like a sack of potatoes which was a side dish in comparison to the bags of gold and jewels she chose to leave behind.
Then finally, she had reached an oasis. Few trees dwarfed by the harsh climate yet tall enough to provide the shadows Sakura could only bath in at night. She gathered water in her hands and drank greedily, despite knowing that she would choke. As she spluttered a new presence was felt too close to have appeared from a short distance that she took a defensive stance.
"Are you alright? I didn't mean to scare you."
Standing barely a meter away; a young man with long blonde hair in a braid the length of his body with a shine that would make Ino jealous and shimmering blue eyes as clear as the water of the oasis; his clothes dominantly green in a style she wasn't familiar with. Sakura also couldn't help but note that he had rather delicate features for a male. He also carried a stick with him and had a large hat on top of his head.
"Who are you?" She knew better than to judge by appearance but at the same time felt no malicious intent directed towards her from this man.
Then he smiled delicately at her, "My name is Yunan, I'm a traveler. How do you do?"
"Sakura," She replied with a simple nod. He looked at her like she was an apple on the branch of a pear tree.
"Nice to meet you, Sakura. Are you a traveler as well?"
"Um;" Sakura smiled; for some reason, she was getting an odd sensation from this person. It was something similar to what she felt before being pulled into the mirror. When she squinted from time to time she swore she could see something fluttering around him in a gentle hum, but it was fleeting. Like trying to learn how to walk for the first time, and stumbling and forgetting how to do it.
"I suppose,"
"That's an unusual piece of jewelry," observed Yunan as Sakura began to unconsciously play with the item around her neck; her fingers lightly skimming over the frame.
"Oh....yes it is." Sakura said looking down at it "Though it has caused me some trouble,"
"Mm?"
"Nothing" Sakura snapped quickly closing her eyes as she wondered into thought. Right in front of a stranger she had met only moments ago. The odd thing about strangers that Sakura discovered was that you feel secure enough to confide in them without the fear of being judged. However, as a shinobi, she was more cautious than that.
"Sakura if I may for a traveler you seem very...lost."
The pinkette looked up at Yunan in surprise; her full attention now directed at him; she gave a wry smile "A mind-reader are you?"
"I don't mean to offend you but-
A giggle erupted from Sakura as she looked up at Yunan "Not at all; you are right I am lost."
There was an abrupt silence between them for a few short moments as Sakura and Yunan contemplated what to say next.
"I'm lost," Sakura said "I want to return home, but I just can't seem to find the way. Somehow it feels further than I'm aware of,"
"I never thought it would shatter like that," Yunan said looking now at the frame with sharp eyes that Sakura immediately understood that he had more than an inkling about the object.
"D-Do you know what this is?"
He was silent longer than she would have liked him to be, but eventually, he looked at her with a soft expression. "Looking Glass. Clearing windows and opening them; letting the user pass through into different spaces in this world and another. One different than their own,"
Sakura straightened herself, "Yunan...this mirror is it…..?"
She already knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from him. Her caution was lost in the sand; all, she wanted to see was the clear answer that she couldn't draw herself.
"I was surprised; when I felt that someone had entered through the Looking Glass from the other side, and then for it to shatter….."
"You said another world....does that mean I'm not in mine anymore?"
Yunan nodded curtly, "I'm afraid that's correct. You somehow entered the mirror and caused it to be destroyed. The shards have scattered, but I still feel them in the dungeons I summon. You were also in one of those dungeons and even got a hold of that djinn's power,"
"That tower…..you summoned?" Sakura breathed deeply. "What are you? What is going on?"
Yunan stood up, "I don't have all the answers you're looking for right now. But if you want to return to your world; you have to restore the Looking Glass. It is drawn to the shards and it wants to be repaired. If you succeed, you'll be able to use it once more to get back,"
"I think I get it," Sakura stared at the frame, frowning so hard her forehead had crease lines etched into her skin. "So this will get me back to my world?"
"Not until you complete it."
"You still didn't tell me who you are?"
Yunan smiled "You should be careful on your journey. There is much going on with this world Sakura; one very different but very similar to your own. For better or worse and you will likely be unable to avoid getting caught up in its calamities. Especially if you are going to pursue the shards,"
"What are you saying?" Sakura asked suspiciously; narrowing her eyes at the young man. Raising his stick into the air, a fluttering chime echoed through her ears, sand blew over her eyes causing her to squint in discomfort. Her body felt like paper, that was soon lifted in the wind.
"If you want to awaken your new power, simply follow the voice in your heart,"
"Wait; tell me what exactly do you mean by that?" Sakura called trying to get her feet back on the ground, but the wind held her in its hands, gently but firm enough that she couldn't break from it. No matter how she attempted to twist, or the amount of chakra that she poured through her body.
"Don't worry. You just have to listen and look carefully."
There was the fluttering again and for the first time Sakura caught sight of what appeared to be golden birds flying around Yunan; she didn't know what they were or how she knew this but they seemed happy?
"Trust yourself and I'm certain the answers you're seeking will come to you."
"Wai-
And then similarly to when she was thrown into the dungeon, she was drawn upwards to the sky and forced to fly through it.
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"Look and listen; what the heck does that even mean?" Sakura said to herself as she stared at the broken mirror once again. She narrowed her eyes; it had been hours now since she had run into the strange traveler and she was yet to figure out the meaning behind his words. It was as if she was trying to solve a riddle.
She took off her headband starring up at the star that had been placed on it. "You wouldn't happen to know anything do you?"
The headband glowed and Sakura sighed "Didn't think so...."
She had been sent to the outskirts of a city, and Yunan was long gone from her sight. Going back into the desert to look for the one person who understood who she was and her situation was more tempting than realized, but logic dictated that Yunan wouldn't be waiting for her at the oasis, and wandering a desert with no particular destination in mind was nothing short of foolish. She was reckless but she wasn't stupid.
The best choice was to move forward and find the remaining shards of the frame so that she could return to her world.
Before embarking Sakura prepared for the unknown, buying supplies for the journey and yet she still would not be able to relieve herself of even half the treasure she chose to carry along.
Dirt roads that kicked up dust and filled your mouth with passing caravans and buildings made of stones, clay, and straw, most in simple clothing with a little color. It was all something new, a world without ninja, where magic existed. She would have been curious, but her mind was set on finding the path that would take her to the shards of the Looking Glass.
If only she could make sense of what Yunan told her. If only she had a starting line instead of wandering. But she couldn't remain stationary either or that would achieve nothing. So she would begin traveling to find the answers.
"My; that..." A merchant trailed starring at the gold peeking out of Sakura's bag. "That is quite a large amount of treasure. You'll draw a lot of attention to yourself. The road following out of this town is famous for bandits."
"And to this town." Added Sakura with little regard "That is something I am concerned about,"
"Yes; that's because of the recent rise in attacks on caravans and such."
Understanding what was meant in that short sentence Sakura didn't press the matter any further. She would stay a night to make sure she had taken all of the essentials and then be on the road once again.
Sakura smiled; this merchant was kind even while mentioning her treasure he did not look upon it with greedy eyes nor did he attempt to pry into her business and ask how she had acquired that treasure. Sakura pulled out a smaller sack from the larger one and held it out to the merchant; who became wide-eyed.
"Consider this my thanks to you for informing me," Sakura said holding out the bag as though it weighed nothing which to her it did.
The merchant raised his hands "But this is-
"Please take it. Honestly, it would lighten my load."
The merchant's wife seemed to be struck speechless but her eyes filled with tears of happiness as the merchant took the bag grateful. After receiving more praise than she thought necessary, Sakura asked, "Oh yes; do you know where I can find an inn and caravans leaving soon. Possibly tomorrow?"
After receiving the information and gathering up the last of her supplies Sakura set off towards the caravans as directed. She was going to ask around to see who would be leaving tomorrow and then get some rest-of course if it was that she could only leave today so be it but she was hoping to find a way to move this treasure along.
She felt a light flutter within her and gently touched the headband on her "It's not that I don't appreciate it, but I've got so much still,"
There had been many surprises rising to the surface since Sakura left the dungeon. She didn't realize for a while that she was carrying one until she heard Beleth's voice inside her head and found the eight-pointed star on her forehead protector. As the conqueror of the dungeon, she was not only entitled to its treasures but also the power of the djinn that resided within. She just didn't know what that meant for her.
Confirming that she had been transported to another world, was still taking most of the space in her mind. There were humans in this world, just like her, but there were other elements that were not. And as an interloper, she was unaware of those differences. But as she arrived at the caravans, one of those differences made itself known.
"OI, MOVE IT YOU WORTHLESS PIECES OF TRASH,"
The air vibrated with the distinct clinking of metal shuffling against itself, moving closer and closer towards her. She saw several men moving across the road, clearing ways like they were poorly experienced shepherds leading a flock. Only this flock consisted of humans dressed in the same rough fabric covering their hollow bodies. A sight that captured her interest and grief. There were about fifty in all and they varied in age and gender. It was a sight that made the pinkettes blood boil to such a degree she was trembling. Heavy chains decorated each person's wrists; ankles and neck as they were dragged along with hollow and discolored faces.
'What kind of sick-
She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence for there wasn't time.
"Hey!" Sakura called stopping the five men that were leading the people. "What do you think you're doing?"
One of them turned to her with a disgruntled face obviously from being called. "Huh, you talking to us girl?"
The pinkette did not waver "Yeah; what the hell are you doing with all these people? Let them go!"
The ten men glanced amongst themselves before they burst into fits of laughter.
"Is she serious?"
"Let them go!" another mocked in a girlish voice which only succeeded in pissing Sakura off even more.
Then the largest man of them all, potbellied hanging from his clothes, stubble, eyes that reminded you of a snake, stalked over to Sakura "Listen here; if you don't want to get hurt I suggest you keep your trap shut girl. Don't you know slaves when you see em?"
Sakura's eyes widened at the word "Slave?"
"Yeah; these people are slaves. They're going to be sold at an auction in the next town."
Slavery. Such a thing existed in this world? The freedom to take another human being and treat them as property without mind or will. Something like that was allowed?
'How vulgar'
"They're our property."
"And there's nothing you can do about it."
Sakura no longer had any intention of holding back, "What the hell makes you think you have a right to someone else life?"
One smiled with missing teeth, "This is the world's system sweetie; ain't anyone going to demolish it."
This was the world's system?
That's right.
This world wasn't hers; she had no attachment to it; nothing to bind her; she had no reason to hold anything back. She realized that not too long ago; she could do whatever she pleased. She could deny the system all she wanted.
"If that's the case; I'll gladly fight it," Sakura hissed, clenching her fists. "Unchain those people right now! They aren't your property!"
They laughed in a manner that reminded Sakura of donkeys. She could easily endure knowing that it would be that much sweeter when she broke loose. It wasn't going to be long before they realized they were stepping into a minefield mistaking them for daisies.
"Who the hell are you to tell us what to do little girl?"
"Just a traveler,"
A hand reached out towards her, "We'll make you a slave too then and teach you what it means-
The bones in that hand were reduced to shards after Sakura took it and squeezed with little might. The man fell back in agony, clutching his broken hand and rolling around in the dirt wailing. The nine remaining drew their swords and moved to attack.
"YOU LITTLE-
She side-stepped the heavy swing and knocked out her attacker, leaving only eight.
They were experienced. Not as professional swordsmen, but rather used to waving a weapon like a wand to take control of a situation. Sakura could detect a slight mixture of herbs on the metal and knew that the blades had been coated with poison. Not deadly, likely just to tranquilize victims and make capture easy.
In less than thirty seconds, the slave traders were unconscious and restrained tightly with all weapons removed.
"I'll deal with you when you wake up,"
Sakura then went to the chained individuals who were wondering what would become of them. She couldn't blame them, since they were supposed to be sold at an auction and were now in the hands of a young girl. But they were about to realize that this was the greatest light of luck found in their misty despair.
Sakura moved quickly to unchain all of them, the chains had been worn for so long that it rubbed against their flesh and left painful marks revealing their enslavement. They were like paper ready to be swept away in the wind.
"From this day on, you are all free to do as you wish. You're no longer slaves,"
Sakura could see that they were having trouble believing this, not in a negative sense but that they had already lost so much hope that they worried fate would be cruel by letting them glimpse at it from afar. Only to keep it out of reach. But she was more than willing to show them that there was indeed hope and a second chance.
One of the women grabbed her wrist, and squeezed them weakly, tears falling down her face. "Bless you, child. Bless you,"
Under the remaining light, Sakura tended to the former slaves. All were malnourished, their bones protruding under their limp clothing. Sakura hired out an entire inn to lodge and tend to them. She healed and bandaged the injured, those who were in better condition stayed to help her.
She didn't sleep that night as she attempted to fix both physical and mental injuries inflicted on the slaves. They must have also been traveling through the desert under the worst conditions. She heard that the number of people now was half as that many were lost during their journey to this town.
Many cried about losing captured family members, having to watch them be discarded without proper burials. A lot suffered from dehydration and starvation. It was truly the most unjust. A lot of these people had lives before being captured. Either traveling only to be captured, some sadly sold by their own family, raids, and so on.
Sakura had seen and heard many cruel ordeals as a shinobi, but this was a fresh horror. There was no way for her to permanently remedy such a thing in this world, but for now, she was willing to do what she could.
With this, she stayed in town longer than anticipated but after a week the people were starting to show progress. Sakura decided to leave them with most of her treasure while she kept a small portion for herself and traveling.
It was supposed to be her last night in that town, but while she slept in her room that night. She didn't rest at all. Her mind plagued by a voice, and the same statement playing over and over again.
A slih ma tama kasrah ( Fix that which has been broken )
Aistirdad ma tama tahtimuh ( retrieve that which has been shattered )
Wamae kl qiteat qumt bi'iislahiha ( And with each piece that you have mended )
A n tunazil nafidhatan jadidatan ( A new window shall be descended )
Sakura's eyes snapped opened; her chest heaving up and down as thoughts filled her mind of what it was she had just dreamed. The words were still lingering; with her memory, she was able to recall it all from the beginning to the very last word.
"What was that?" she asked herself; sitting up from her bed she clutched her head in frustration. Words and phrases she had never heard before; a language in her dreams, yet she could feel that it wasn't. Somehow she understood what she heard.
Everything that had happened flashed through her mind in an instant; from returning home to finding the mirror to capturing a dungeon to the mysterious stranger who told her to open her eyes and ears to the truth and without much realization or consideration of consequence she began to mutter the verses that had entered her mind.
"Aslih ma tama kasrah" She uttered, clasping a hand around the frame of the Looking Glass. "Aistirdad ma tama tahtimuh" Fluttering began filling the room, joining in with her chanting of the unknown language that fell off her tongue like liquid, "Wamae kl qiteat qumt bi'iislahiha" She was able to hear the fluttering getting louder now; it was as if she was surrounded by some kind of swarm she could now hear but still she did not open her eyes. It gave her a sense of warmth; curiosity and caution.
She couldn't have known what was to come after she recited the final verse The fluttering sounded more frantic now than ever but she ignored it.
" A n tunazil nafidhatan jadidatan . "
And just like that, the fluttering stopped. The small yet cozy little inn room became still; the unmade bed lied empty, bags untouched, and would remain unclaimed as the resident vanished without a trace.
Just like the sun that vanishes when night arrives.
The sensation of teleporting was all the same, like being picked up and have gravity work against you. All your mobility, no matter how skilled, becomes moot as you're pulled and pushed and flung all at the same time. You can't see where you're going and you don't know when you're going to get there, all you can focus on is the sensation of having lost control.
Until it finally ends.
It was like her body became stone over the short journey, irritation, and numbness. As if she was waking up from a restless sleep. Her lips parted as she let out a strangled noise. She felt she was lying on something soft yet extremely cold that her skin's warmth was absorbed, sinking into the ground, making it loose only for it to stop when there was no more heat left in her hands.
As she breathed deep, it was as if the air pierced her lungs and she sat up quickly to observe her surroundings. Whiteness and clean air. She tilted her head further up to look at the sky, dark with falling snow that sat on her skin removing her heat. Mountains in the distance, all white, an ocean further out with glaciers.
"Where am I?" Sakura wondered looking around before her thoughts landed on the weather; the snow that touched her bare skin caused her to start shivering. Her attire no longer suited the climate conditions. Then again it wasn't as if she was planning to suddenly wake up in a land of ice and snow.
"How did I get here?"
She began to search for the answer in the confines of her mind; with her analytical abilities sharp as ever it wasn't hard for her to come up with a theory. She looked at the mirror-the looking glass with skeptical eyes.
"Did this send me here?" she wondered.
The top of her headband glowed brightly "It would appear so my king."
She then realized that she did not have any of her supplies she had just bought and the treasure wasn't there as well. It seemed that all she had was the clothes on her back and thankfully her headband.
First entering a dungeon and fighting monsters, then appearing in a desert, and now she was in a land of snow and ice with no specific idea of the geographical location. What's worse, without supplies or any idea on how to get back.
"Well, it can't get any worse."
Or so she thought.
"You there! Who are you?"
Sakura groaned and looked up "Does this world have something against me?"
Turning around Sakura saw that she had been surrounded by several men who were coming down from the hills of snow; all carrying huge red spears of a material she couldn't place pointed right at her. All of them were huge and that was no understatement. Far from any normal human being. It would be sufficient to call them giants. They wore pieces of cloth wrapped around their broad shoulders but other than that their chests were completely bare which made Sakura wonder how it was they weren't freezing. They looked at ease in the harsh climate. Their hair was a deep yet light blue as the sky. Their eyes looked at the small girl with hostility and contempt.
She smiled, holding up her hands, red spears pointed at her from all directions. "Nice to meet you?"