WHEN I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SPIDER WITH MY GODDESS :VOLUME1

CH – 6 - B - DID I MESS UP WITH THE REINCARNATION CEREMONY

SACHI KONDO

The forest we entered was oak-brown and primitive. The grasses we stepped on were crackly beneath our feet. I was in awe of the size and majesty of the trees. Their knotted arms rose ever upwards, as far as my head could lift. They were hoary fortresses and stood proudly.

We walked in and out of shady glades. The stillness of the night was soul soothing. The forest’s smell was fresh and organic.

At a farther end I saw an opening, but the closer I reached I realized that I was drawn to a totally new place. An oval shaped depression filled with azure blue water, a kaleidoscope of colours overhanging the becalmed lake. The green leaves surrounding the perimeter of the lake had a special luster to them. Several beautiful flowers grew at the foot of these trees and all of them were glowing brightly in their own little spots.

Lady Athena beckoned to me and I saw a small wooden port at my left. We both started walking towards it and a small wooden boat came into my view. A thick rope was tied to one of the post on the port while the other was hooked onto the boat.

The boat was sturdy, small, slender and yet elegant in its own way.

Lady Athena climbed down on the boat and then gave me her hand which I gladly took and I too came overboard. I helped her untie the rope and searched for oars.

“HAAAAHHA. Don’t worry; this boat doesn’t need oars to row it. It too works on magic.”

“I see.” So I settled down on one of the seats while Lady Athena sat on the other plank facing towards me.

I could not hold my excitement. I wanted to know more about this place. For a person who preferred to stay closed inside her room for her entire life. Fantasy places like this is a dream come true.

If Gods do exist, this lake is one of theirs hidden treasure. That might seem a bit ironic, as I am just sitting in front of one.

The idyllic scene took our breath away. Unruffled by wind or rain, it was vault still and restful. The only sound was of the boat moving towards the centre of the lake.

I looked inside the lake and there were shining pebbles, glowing flickers of light, shining orbs scattered all around like elf dust in the great span of lake. It caused a penumbra of colours to illuminate the Buddha still lake. These triumvirate colours ranged from rose-petal pink, grape-green, salmon-silver, neon blue, blood red, shale grey, heather-purple and many more indescribable vibrant colours.

I noticed a huge concentric circle form on the surface of water and a further jolt on my body as I realized that we had stopped moving.

I looked at Lady Athena, and it seems that she is in some kind of dilemma. She must have something important to discuss with me.

“Sachi for a long time I wanted to ask you something. Do you really want to reincarnate yourself? The road ahead is both difficult and painful; the powers I possess might not be enough to even get us through? If you want then you can leave all this and stay together here with me forever. I am sure no one will mind and also you will be safe here.”

I had never seen such a concerned look on Lady Athena’s face.

I waited for some time, trying to figure out what to say, since both of us were slow talkers. I took a deep breath and the glucose smell of amber from the surrounding trees engulfed my nose. I felt so refreshed and at the same time motivated. I had no hesitation or a second thought in my mind of what I was about to say.

“When I was a kid I always thought it would be nice if miracles were true. When I slept alone at night, I always used to stare at the stars from the window and wished that tomorrow things would be different. Even though my parents were no more, at least my aunt or uncle would wish me good morning. I would be able to make friends at school or the delinquents would stop messing with me. I wanted something to happen without doing it myself. Miracles it would be nice if they really existed. But when I met you for the first time all my worries, bad memories, tears vaporized in thin air as if they never existed and I realized that miracles do exist for sure. There was someone who looked after me and maybe I could help them too.”

“But because of me, the other gods and your classmates plotted against us and attempted to murder us. When you alone jumped into danger, just so that you could save me, I was so happy and at the same time felt so miserable. If something were to happen to you I would never be able to forgive myself.”

“The idea of staying with you here forever is more than I could ever dream of. But after fighting that beast I realized that I had to do it…..I had to do it myself. Or I won’t be able to stand by your side. I am alive and I was able to survive because you were there to look after me. I know that you are the only non-combat goddess in the whole group and so the unique skill which I will get unlike others would also be of non-combat nature and so it will not have much use during a fight. But if I don’t do it now, if I don’t stand up for myself then I won’t be able to do it again. Even if it is painful, I am sure I will be able to become strong and keep my promise which I made to myself and I want you to witness it by yourself. So please, goddess Athena, I want you to support me and in turn I want to be of help to you.”

“I don’t think I could be any use to you. I have always been weak my entire life.”

“That is not true. You saved me in so many ways, more than I could count and ask for. When I was on earth I felt so lost. Every day I felt so helpless and unhappy but I couldn’t cry. I thought being alone was more comfortable. Love, care, friendship these are the thing that I was never given. But during the attack when I first felt something important being taken away from me, I was so sad. At the end of my awful life as a looser, I met you. If I hadn’t met you, I would have kept avoiding facing my problems. I might have ended up somewhere worse. I promise you I won’t give up. You brought colours to my degenerate world. When I am with you I am so happy and feel so alive. So that’s why… I want to prove it!”

“Prove it?”

“I want to prove that my meeting you was the best thing in my life. I want to prove it not just to myself, but in a way that anybody can see. I will find a way to get things we want. Even if I have to fight over and over, I won’t give up. So please promise me that you will stay by my side and will always look after me.”

Lady Athena lifted up her head and I could see a bright smile on her face and I could feel how sincere and heartfelt her words were.

“I PROMISE.”

Strong cool breeze had started flowing all around us, for some it tickled and at the same time felt so soothing and refreshing. For a while I had been feeling sleepy but now I was felt more energetic.

But the wind grew stronger and stronger before I and Lady Athena were trapped in a cage of encircling leaves and shining petals of the glowing flowers. The surface of water was no more the flat surface we knew but high and low waves made the boat go up and down after regular intervals. The beautiful colour palette which was engraved on bottom of lake was now vanishing as light orbs of different colours rose from water surface high up in the sky and moving in tandem with the petals.

“Its so beautiful.” Every word I knew in my vocabulary would fail to describe the beauty of nature that stood before me. 

I raised my head and the surface of water sparkled with irregular reflections as I watched particles of light burst out from surface and join the dancing troupe. It was a lightning bolt moment for me.

Something cool brushed my small nose and my eyes went round only to find a small yet larger than the usual orbs flying around circling me. It was white in colour with a tint of blue in it. I tried to touch it with my fingertip and it started to revolve around me.

“This is the Spirit Lake of Heaven of the Eleanora Forest. And that Sachi is the wind spirit. It seems that it has taken a liking to you and this whole charade is her doing.”

Mild strong wind blew through every so often, setting my coattail fluttering and Lady Athena smiled whenever I fixed it back.

There was a special elegance about this lake, where the only sounds came from the gentle movement of atmosphere and waves. I approached the boat’s edge and touched the blue with my bare hand, then pirouetted away.

A blue flickering orb of light rose up from the water at a great speed and a large amount of water followed it. After the water attained some height, I could but only gasp until I was drenched all over by the sudden heavy downpour.

“Sachi are you all right. Your clothes and hair are all wet. Let’s go back and change your clothes or you will catch a cold.”

Before Lady Athena could take any action I held her hands and smiled at her.

“Don’t worry its fine. I like being here.”

I raised my palm in front and water from all parts of my clothes, hair and uncovered body slowly collected above it. Thin lines of thread-like water converged at a single point forming a small water ball. I then slowly made the water ball levitate in the sky towards the shore and sprinkle it all over the flowers of which I had become so fond of in a short amount of time.

“See, all better now.”

 I was smiling at Lady Athena, but before I realized a small green orb of light sneaked behind me and placed a small crown ring of flowers over my head. I touched the crown and was surprised by the sudden treatment and looked towards Lady Athena for an explanation.

“The blue light is the water spirit and the green light is the forest spirit. It appears that they like you too.”

‘Ah, I see now. The water spirit sure is playful and the forest spirit must be thanking me for watering the plants. However the taste of water was as sweet as nectar.’ I watched the three spirits play around me when I noticed Lady Athena staring at me.

“Is something bothering you.”

“I have never seen someone from mortal realm wield magic in such a precise manner. It is incredible, you completely are dry.”

“After I have woken up, I don’t know why but just visualizing things while adding magic to my train of thoughts, the phenomena I desire naturally take place. For example-“

I levitated a small amount of water and cooled its temperature while trying to change its structure into a perfect tetrahedral crystal. Then I brought it in front of Lady Athena.

Lady Athena held the crystal and slowly rubbed her hands against it.

“Wow, you made a sturdy crystal from water. At first I thought it was ice, but it’s as smooth as an ornamental stone. Also the light just keeps on collecting inside it.”

“That’s because of total internal reflection. But there’s more….”

I took the crystal and made it float high up in the sky, and then imagined it dismantling parts by parts. Out of nowhere cracks appeared in the crystal and it shattered in a blink of an eye. Tiny yet visible blue sparkling lights surrounded us as they rained back on us and finally merged back with water.

The three spirits started jumping around me.

“It seems that they like the small trick.”

‘In such a short time she has developed overwhelming control over elemental magic attributes. She can even change molecular structure and break it, without realizing the heavy amount of magic it drains. But she is totally unaffected by it. Also, what’s with the great three Pillar Spirits appearing out of nowhere and there sudden liking towards Sachi. It all has only one explanation. Spirits are attracted towards beings with large amount of life force. But in Sachi’s case, three Great Spirits are attracted towards her. Vast amount of MP and SP (life force) are these the result of eating the apple of tree of life. But I think there’s something amiss. World God is still hiding something.’ Lady Athena sighed as she thought there was no point in worrying.

Tomorrow is the big day after all.

“Sachi, today is the last night we spend here together. I hope after we are reincarnated we will be able to meet again soon. I am sure of it.”

“Yes, don’t worry. I will find you in a blink of an eye and then we will together save the world.”

‘Thinking of the Apple, isn’t the celebration for it today in the Cardelia City. Will Sachi like to take a look at the festival, even though it would be reaching its end this late at night?’ Lady Athena thought to herself while she brought her hands near her ears, trying to focus to hear something.

It was getting late night, and we needed to head back to get our proper fill of sleep. Lady Athena insisted for me to rest more because she thought I was still injured. After seeing off the spirits, we reached back at the shore and unmounted the boat. While Lady Athena pulled the boat nearer I tied the rope around the wooden raised post and the other end to the hook of the boat.

“Those spirits were quite sad, when we said our goodbyes.”

“Don’t worry. I am sure we will come back.”

“I hope so. No, let’s do it”

[TELEPORT]

“I thought we were heading back to our rooms. Where are we.”

I was too confused to find myself on a steep cliff not far away from the walls of the Cardelia city. The view was just so breath-taking that I wanted to shout ‘YAHOO’. I could see the whole city in a single look. All the houses and mansion appeared like matchboxes lit up by special attractive yellow lights. Wait is this some kind of festive occasion…

“Today is the celebration for the Revival of the Tree Of Life. Can you hear it?” Lady Athena had closed her eyes and was enjoying the cool breeze in which her long green hairs were spread like wings.

Hear what? I looked back at the brightly lit settlement and my eyes fell on the city square where I had previously saw a huge bon-fire setup. But now a sudden bright flame was glowing on it – it was on fire…

This sound, its so soothing. Is this divine music!

What a gentle sound…. It’s almost like this music is resonating with my feelings and calling me. My hands and legs have started moving and were totally in sync with the rhythm. My ears were hooked to the melody of the heavenly musical instruments and its tune, while all the surrounding voices had ceased.

Seriously speaking, I am not a big fan of music or dance, but this tune I was so attached to it.

“Would you like to dance? Usually they perform it near the bonfire, but I think here’s still fine.”

“But I don’t know how to…” I spoke quickly as I snapped out of my own musical world.

Lady Athena brought forward her hand and said, “I am not good either, so its fine.”

It was such a tempting thing I wanted to do and the atmosphere of a dark sky night on a cliff near a city – it sounds so great.

Lady Athena sure knows the best tourist spot in Heavens.

I took her hand without any hesitation. Lady Athena held my second hand and signaled me to follow her lead, at least that’s what people actually want to say at this point, don’t they.

Even though the footwork was bad and I tripped several times. But I was enjoying myself. Also Lady Athena appears to be a good dancer.

But we were too immersed in our dance and were mesmerized by the music that in the dark we didn’t notice when each one of our foot was half in air.

We were about to fall from the cliff.

Loud screams were heard at long distances. I wrapped my hands around Lady Athena, and she did the same too.

Just during the good part, such things have to happen and destroy the mood. Well, I had already come up with a plan.

[TELEPORT]

THUMP.

We both were back in Lady Athena’s room. And were lying on our bed. I reduced the momentum using wind magic to slow our downfall.

We lay side by side and our hairs and dresses were all messed up. But what we couldn’t control was..

“HAHAHAHAHA”…..”HAHAHAHHAHA”

OUR LAUGHTER.

“That was so awesome.”

“Indeed, it was.”

After relaxing in the same state for some time, it was time to rest. The day had come to an end I would count it as one of the best days of my life, where I got to enjoy so many things my (dead) life had to offer.

I reported Lady Athena of me retiring back to my room, but she stopped me.

“Wait, let’s sleep here together; I need to keep an eye on your condition. And my bed is large enough to accommodate the both of us comfortably.”

“Okay, …..… if you say so.”

I was glad and excited about a sleep over. Well I was asleep for four days in her room. But that doesn’t count because I was unconscious. So this is my first sleepover.

We changed into our night dress and both of us fell asleep soon after.                                           

***

A DREAM ?

“Good morning class, I am your new home room teacher. I hope you all have a memorable school life this year too.”

‘What is happening, was I not in heaven up till now. Could it all be a dream? No I refuse to believe it, Lady Athena was real. I need to go back to her.’

As far as I remember this is my first day at school in class 2-C, the day I transferred. Well I don’t remember anything what happened that day. But one thing was clear that all this time I was sad. The hair which use to cover my eyes so that I could hide myself from the world, were now curled back to my ears after I met Lady Athena. I was able to see and realize a new light that had filled me with curiosity and joy. But now back in school those rough black hairs were back to steal my new vision.

Class bell rang and then came the recess time. As usual I thought I would be alone. But out of nowhere Sakura and Tama approached me.

“You are the new student. I hope we get along.”

“Yeah, let’s be friends.”

‘What is happening?’

“Okay…… if you say so.”

“I know, why not meet together at the backyard and then celebrate your first day in our class.”

“Okay then, Sakura you will accompany her to the location.”

Finally the dismissal bell rang and I saw Sakura rose up from her front seat and quickly made her way to my last end seat.

“Let me hold your bag for you. After all today is your special celebration day. Follow me.”

I followed her through the classroom, corridor and then finally the back alley.

“We have finally reached.”

Sakura while holding my bag introduced me to the other girls who were smiling at me.

“Meet Tama and Saki your new friends.”

If it was me from 6 months back then I would have ignored all those evidences in my wake which were screaming at me. The evil smile on their faces, their unnatural way of taking my belonging, luring me out here. Despite I remember all the small chitchat and staring looks of my other classmates.

“She is trapped.”

“They found a new scape goat.”

“There is no helping her.”

“Just leave her be.”

“She doesn’t look that friendly or special at all.”

‘No one tried to warn me properly, and my naïve previous self fell for the foolish desires of having friends. I knew what was coming now.’

Sakura pushed me down and pinned me to the ground. She threw the bag towards Saki. Saki unzipped it and searched through every corner of it. She took out all the money from my side chain and threw the bag at me.

“Now be a proper girl and let us borrow some money. Though it isn’t enough it will do for now.”

“Please don’t take it, that money is for buying for lunch. I won’t complain to anyone but please give it back. I am sorry if I offended you in any way.”

“What did you say? Don’t you want to be friends with us? So you need to make an offering. Nothing comes free here princess.”

Sakura had tightened her grip, even though I was not resisting. My hands were hurting and my clothes were dirty now.

‘Why, things always ends up like this. Why keep repeating even though I knew this was going to happen, I didn’t run away but quietly accepted it.  Has anything really changed at all?’

If only Lady Athena was here. I need to go back to her. To keep my promise, I must try harder. Even though its little I must do something. Even if it hurts I won’t back down anymore. I will surely break free this time.

With all my strength, I pulled my legs back and pushed it upwards like a spring. Sakura was taken by surprise and was thrown back. I took out a large piece of cloth from my pocket (handkerchief) and then threw it at Saki. I snatched my bag from her while she was still in confusion and started running towards the exit gate.

I did not look back. My eyes were closed, but my feet kept on running they didn’t stop. I opened my eyes and saw that I was still running but my surrounding had changed now. Somehow my hands felt a bit heavy. I was running on a golden lit road which seemed to be endless. I looked at my hands and my bag was gone.

Instead there was a white sword in my left hand and a black sword in my right hand. What’s going on?

It did seem that I had seen these two swords earlier. But before I could remember them, it seems that my luck ran out again. The road had disappeared and I was falling down now. I had pretty much gotten used to this type of treatment in my dreams now. But still the sensation of falling from an unknown height is still in no way a relaxing experience. The sword from my hands slipped as I saw them flying away from me. I projected my hands high up in a final attempt to catch them but to no avail. Somehow I had a strong feeling and felt a great connection to these two swords.

But there was no time to think, because I was awake now and I could hear the deep breaths of Lady Athena who was sleeping beside me and for some reason she was very close.

Why did I remember such a thing which I had forgotten long ago? But it doesn’t matter now, I have changed, maybe a bit, but I have!!!

Now I had someone I could depend upon and our bonds grew deeper and deeper by the time we spent together.

Now if I think about it, the things I said yesterday to her. My face was turning red.

As if embarrassed, dazzled, awkward……

My eyes narrowed and a smile appeared on my face. I turned my face towards Lady Athena and in an attempt to wake her up my hands slowly approached her cheeks and after a slight hesitation I poked her with my fingers. Her cheeks were soft and my fingers went deep. She woke up with just a single touch.

“Good morning.”

As usual she woke up after rubbing her eyes and greeted me with a good morning too.

She took a sudden look at my bright red face, and brought her forehead close to mine till they were in contact. I was startled.

“Sachi your face is all red. Are you feeling feverish?”

“No I am fine. Its just that I woke up now.” My temperature started cooling down after Lady Athena moved her face away. I am still no used to it. Huhhhh….

Both of us were quite after this exchange, because we both have now to visit the Temple in the Pantheon for the reincarnation ceremony. We don’t know when we will get to meet each other, so we were still worried and the thought of being separate scared us. We both as usual together took our baths and got dressed for the ceremony. While Lady Athena was wearing the same dress which she wore in the reincarnation ceremony. I on the other hand decided to wear a blue shirt, brown blazer unbuttoned and a blue skirt.

We had to leave after two hours, as the ceremony was scheduled at twelve o’ clock. We decided to make the breakfast ourselves and settled on to make sandwiches, rolled Omelet and eggs with furikake.

After we had finished our meal, an angel appeared at our door with an invitation to the Temple.

Finally its happening, I wonder what awaits us in the new world.

For now to answer our summons, we are going to visit the Temple.

Lady Athena held my hand and kept pressing it harder and harder and yet it was light and gentle. I could tell she was anxious and so was I. I did not speak a thing but the warmth of our hands was more than enough to calm us.

[TELEPORT]

***