I squint my eyes looking up at the sky. The sunlight that bleeds through the tree leaves blinds me, but all I feel is amazement and slight oddity.
'The light is so… close?'
In my last life I was in a world called the Abyss well before it was actually called 'Terra' but then called Abyss after the Fourth Rupture. Raptures being world altering events, if I had to compare it to Earth it was like super volcanoes erupting to the meteor that killed the dinosaurs.
In any case during the Fourth Rupture decades before I was transmigrated the Ash God descended the sky was covered in a layer of ash, the ash blocked off all sunlight to the surface leaving the earth in a literal dark Abyss.
'How uncreative…'
Many tried to disrupt the ash but to no avail, although it seemed akin to regular ash it bounced off most magic and sword attacks, in addition there commonly lurked monsters of the 7 to 8th rank amidst the ash clouds so those who tried flying up saw no success and only death.
'Considering the average person was ranked 0 to rank 1 there really wasn't much hope.'
I let out a sigh, holding my hand out and feeling the warmth of the sun.
Although there wasn't sunlight in the Abyss through the use of mana, a form of energy, humanity managed to substitute the problem through various artificial sources obvious ones being lanterns and lamp posts,
The less obvious ways of producing light was a [False Sun] that shone above the ash but that only appeared in the later parts of my journey.
'One of the few times we managed to see actual sunlight was when we fought the Ash Titian Soarock, its body went above the ash clouds; without the Saintess's healing and our monk Bodhi's protection magic we would have died instantly.'
As thoughts of my comrades circulate in my mind I sigh feeling bitter.
'I've been transmigrated again…. it seems I won't be joining them afterall.'
Many questions appeared in my mind, about why I was here, was there something… or maybe someone who brought me here, and if I would go through the same shit I did before.
Picking myself up and standing from the tree trunk I had been resting on I looked around, the trees were about a dozen meters in height and their leaves were wide, but that was not what caught my eye, it was instead the differing height and attributes of the trees.
Normally trees required sunlight to grow if a tree too short it would have a harder time surviving without sunlight and less trees of such height would appear while the taller trees would be in abundance but around me trees were of various heights some short some tall, their leaves were of vibrant colors, from odd fitting teals and purples an earthling would find uncommon.
I quickly realize why this was the case,
"This world… has mana"
To put it simply Mana was a form of matter grouped with solids, liquids, gasses, and plasma, it was closest to plasma but what made it so special was that it could directly change the attributes of other forms of matter,
Spells or magic was what allowed those changes to occur, such as an ice spell making a solid block of ice or fire magic making a gas like reaction.
But that was in simple terms even I do not exactly know what mana is, as despite affecting making towers of ice and fire there is also dream magic and time magic that affect concepts,
'One general rule is that 'Mana can be anything''
I shake off my thoughts and start walking, since I woke up I heard the slight sound of a stream nearby. During this walk I look at my body.
I am wearing a leather tunic with light leather armor on top, laced black boots that reach half my calves. Looking to the side I notice a belt that is attached to the sheath of a short sword, a dagger, and a leather water pouch.
Over everything is a cloak, all in all it was quite the comfortable attire not too hot but still keeping me protected from the elements.
I unsheathed the sword, it had a textured grip, there were no markings indicating its origin, the only thought that occurred in my mind was..
'This is a damn good sword'
Well balanced and sharp, it would be useful. I sheathed the blade and started my jog.
As I continued, I felt something odd…
"A-aren't I… getting a bit too tired.. "
I feel slight sweat pour down my face, my body feels hot, and my legs feel numb, quickly leaning against a tree I lament.
'T-this body sucks!'
I had realized this when I looked at my thin arms and pale complexion, although I did not have fat I was skinny and without muscle!
'I wasn't even this pale in the sunless Abyss!'
With a sickly body like this, forget drinking until I pass out. I should worry about even surviving in the first place…
I shake my head as I resume walking instead of jogging and a thought occurs to me.
"Ahem Ahem… Status…"
Birds chirp, Nothing appears
"Hmm? No, maybe.. System!"
"Ahh…info!"
A light breeze passes but that is all, I glare angrily at the sky.
"Just like in the Abyss… If you're going to send me to the unknown, at least give me something to help!"
Unlike in the web novels I read, it seemed I wasn't going to receive a system even if it was my second transmigration.
'Alas this junior won't be getting a cheat system that would clear his meridians and give him heaven shattering talent.. '
Such was the case in my previous life despite it being in a game world too...
'Well..I have a theory why…'
Ignoring my disappointment by thinking about theories I had, I continue to walk to the stream through my exhaustion, and soon enough the stream enters my view.
'Water!'
I approached with quick steps before…
"Mmmm…."
A girl washing her face lets out a satisfied noise, her light nearly pale hazel straight hair about shoulder length slightly flutters in the wind, what catches my eye is the staff next to her indicating her status as a mage.
As if noticing my presence, she raises her head, her dim golden eyes shimmer as we lock eyes, she is expressionless. My mouth slowly opens…
"Hello?"
…
Walking around I look at my equipment, a cloak, white blouse, a knee length skirt, and laced boots, strapped around my shoulder to waist is a bag as well as a staff made of pure wood. Overall it wasn't cumbersome nor did I feel it wasn't enough..
'How stylish'
I thought before I clenched my fist celebrating in my mind
'I'm alive…'
I look up through the leaves, the sunlight is warm, and I feel calm.
I close my eyes and smile lightly, I remember my time as a high level mage trying to extend my senses using my will and mana but it is of no avail.
'My rank.. Has returned to the beginning to the 0th rank'
I did not have any feelings behind losing my rank, at the end it was merely a means to an end and that was to destroy corruption. When corruption occurred life was rare to find, only the strong could survive and resist corruption so getting a high rank was a must.
I remember the description of Corruption in the game. It was a cancerous magic lifeform, seeking the end of its host which was the world I was transmigrated into Solaris.
In the Otome game Witches Wandering it was an evil that appeared on the hardest difficulty, and was famous for its difficulty garnering massive attention.
'What really got it popular was the male romance targets since they were… suited to a lot of people's tastes'
Arianna herself may have or may have not got hooked on it for those reasons, though the transmigration to Solaris had changed those thoughts…
'As they say never meet your idols, a red flag is still a red flag..'
Even a colorblind person would realize that if they went through what Arianna had gone through.
'Anyways this weather is quite nice.'
It was very different from my past life where I had been on the edge and desperate to get stronger, now I had another chance I would make sure I would relax and live happily.
'Though, being in the middle of nowhere isn't helping…'
Brushing my hair slightly I close my eyes and raise my staff trying to focus on pulling something from within myself.
'Considering I have a staff this world should have mana or maybe I'm still in Solaris and reincarnated instead?'
Mana, energy both within ourselves and outside in the atmosphere, is a power that allows influence to the internal and external.
I slowly opened my eyes noticing a tiny flicker on the tip of my staff, motes of golden light gathered, a similar color to my eyes, the color of mana was typically based on eye color of course as one got stronger they would be able to hide this trait.
'That's how that Pandora and corrupted mages fooled others'
Of course other aspects were a part of it, shaking my thoughts I looked ahead as the motes of my mana dissipated.
'Small…'
'My mana capacity is way too small..'
Despite the small light show that could barely even be called one, Arianna felt her total mana had dropped nearly 80% from emitting the mana,
'With talent like this only ants would need to be fearful of me, in my last life the talentless could cast a small flame at the very minimum..'
Shaking her head she continued walking towards what she believed was a source of water.
During said walk she thought about her goals.
'Get rich, live peacefully, and maybe get married?'
Though she believed the first two were things she was determined to do, the last gave her mixed feelings, in her previous life she interacted with many of the male leads, of course they were all handsome but many of them weren't really what one would call 'husband material'.
'Or good people at all…'
Whether that be from their overly possessive nature or their tendency to harm others when things did not go their way, such as the common trope of Grand Duke overworking and abusing the secretary, although amusing if done right, loses its charm when said secretary collapses from stress.
'Gosh.. I hope Albert is fine'
In any case there weren't really good male people in her previous life, the few good people that could be sought after were either female characters or family.
Quite literally,
'Duke Heartnova was ranked 2nd on the popularity polls but I was the daughter of said popular greenflag'
He was a tragic character that lost his wife after she gave birth to Rihanna Heartnova, the main character of the game, the Duke took great care of Rihanna despite the common cliche of 'Becoming a deadbeat dad when the wife dies' earning the sympathy and love of many fans.
'I hope Ruri takes my death well…'
Remembering, the little girl who use to cling to me I frowned feeling slight guilt,
'Only slightly…'
Anyway the great duke was put into a coma by his ambitious son Zackian, also my older brother and a Corrupted mage while my little sister Ruri or Rihanna Heartnova became the Windfall Saint.
'After that was when I got jumped and killed.'
Arianna's past chaotic environment made her more accepting of flaws in a potential spouse,
'As long as they're not a douche bag I should be fine….right?'
Then a thought appeared,
'It didn't work in my last life but maybe in this life'
Staring ahead and I steadied my breathing,
"Relationship"
Nothing happened
"Hmm… Ah! Status."
The calm breeze intensifies, I spot a squirrel scurrying by, closing my eyes and I continue to walk with my head feeling a little hot.
'That wasn't embarrassing.. No....'
'...Maybe a bit… yea just a tiny bit.'
Walking along trees the sound of rushing water grew louder, a smile graced my lips,
My mind felt groggy since I had awakened to a third life, it was an odd feeling like a heavy weight was on my body but only my mind instead of my physical self.
Kneeling on the damp grass I rumange through my bag in it I found a magnifying glass, it seemed to be a magical tool, pouring the last useable remnants of my mana in, it gave me information on what was observed through the glass or at least that was what I assumed.
With analysis magic of my past life this would have been a breeze but now with my minuscule magic I would need to rely on this tool in the future, with anticipation I move the glass forward.
-|Grass: Slightly damp|
-|Rock: A pebble|
-|Water: A Stream!|
"..."
'Wow… I would have never guessed….'
Tossing the fraudulent tool back inside my bag I pick up the water with cupped hands staring with an incredulous expression.
'It should be fine right?'
My mind too tired to really think, gave up on safety as I splashed my face, a refreshing feeling enveloped my body
"Mmmm…."
'This is why I should continue living doing relaxing things like this!'
Then a rustle of leaves, I slowly look up to find a thin boy of short stature, his hair black with slight dark bluish colors, his eyes are a deep ocean blue complimenting his hair.
'Cute..'
The thought appeared in my mind, he reminded me of a small kitten I took in my first life on Earth.
We lock eyes, on instinct I use analyzation magic but to no avail, I am way too manaless.
"Hello?"
I stare quietly for a couple seconds before opening my mouth..
"Hello…"
I say no more as it turns quiet, I close my eyes shaking my head,
'He seems to speak the same language, could I still be in Solaris?'
The thought appears but I shake it away,
'No even if that's the case it doesn't change anything'
Arianna's thinking is interrupted,
"Do you have a name miss?"
I freeze, looking down I see my reflection in the water, my hair was formerly golden then turned white silver later down my journey,
Now that color was no more, instead it was a hazel color similar to my first life on Earth yet my eyes have the same glowing gold color as on Solaris.
Arianna Heartnova
That was my name, yet in this life I did not want such memories, some good and most bad to be part of this life.
I merely wanted it to be a time long ago different from now, so I answered with a slight smile.
"Aria.. that is my name… what is yours?"