Ary ran ahead and struck the end of her staff into the ground, and sent the men back, far from the girl. Ary stood between the girl and where the men were standing, holding her staff at the ready. The men tumbled, hit their heads, and the impact knocked them unconscious. The woman stood still, stunned by what had just happened. She looked between Ary and the men. She was flustered, but also somewhat relieved that Ary was there. Ary stayed in that stance for a few minutes, then she turned to the woman, worried and her tone as gentle as can be.
"Are you okay?" Ary asked, her hand clamped onto the girl's shoulder.
"Uh, yes, I think so," the woman stuttered. A stranger protecting her flustered her. Ary used a simple healing spell for a small scrape on the girl's hand. The girl was stunned. "What- h-how did you do that?"
"It's just some simple healing spell," Ary explained to her. "My name is Ary, by the way. I never caught your name."
"Uh — Talu," she managed to stammer out, holding her hand now that it's healed.
"Well, Talu, I hope you have luck on your travels," Ary smiled at her and headed off. "Just be careful; people are often very hypocritical with magic wielders like us in certain circumstances."
Ary went back to Serinity and climbed on, riding off. Leaving Talu there. Talu watched her go, holding the hand Ary healed over her heart. Her heart beat had increased, her face dusted with a gentle red hue. Her single remaining eye grew brighter. She just met someone, possibly the first person to give her help without looking to gain something, anything beyond her name. Ary rode on in the woods, heading back to the shop where she had taken the job to take care of nomes, even if she didn't know it was undead nomes that a girl was using to possibly just scare people away. Ary wasn't sure why Talu did that, but it wasn't her place to pry. The scar over her missing eye looked awful. Like it was from a claw or some blade, if Ary got to see Talu again and get to know her, she would ask about it if Talu was comfortable with it. But that's for another day, and something she will let fate decide if it's worth thinking on with someone she just met.
As the sun went down, Ary and Serinity made their way back to the shop to get paid for getting the job done. The town was quiet, but still, people were out and about. Ary and Serinity made their way to the magic shop. The shopkeeper was about to close up when he saw Ary and Serinity coming their way.
"Back already?" He was surprised by how his voice sounded.
"Yeah, I dealt with it faster than I thought," Ary said as she got down from Serinity's back.
"Alright, let's get you your pay then." The shopkeeper led her inside, dug in a box behind the counter, and set a big bag in her hands, filled to the tied-off end with coins. Ary took the coins gratefully, then left with Serinity.
"This is great, Serinity!" Ary smiled as she spoke low enough not to wake up anyone from their homes as night fell. "I could get a new outfit with this money."
Serinity made a fuff noise, shaking her head.
"What? You want an accessory too?" Ary laughed. Serinity waved her head up and down. "Alright, I'll see what I can get."
Ary and Serinity looked around the town, looking for a shop that sold clothes and was open. But to no avail, all the clothes shops were closed. It was disappointing, but not unexpected. After all, most shops are closed at sunset. Ary sighed and made her way to the edge of the woods with Serinity. There were a few abandoned houses and rubble outside of the town, so Ary wouldn't be upsetting anyone by placing a house there. Ary used some plant-based spells and some earth-based spells to put together a house, nothing huge, but just big enough for Ary and Serinity to stay in. A door big enough for Serinity to walk in, the entry parting to bedding for her, then stairs going up to an entire living space for someone to stay in. Ary made her way in once the door was shut and locked. Serinity settled in her sleeping space. Ary hung up her hat, cloak, and staff before she made her way through the living space. She looked at herself in the mirror made of crystal. Her hair was a mess, her dress tattered and dirty, nothing like the princess she was in her last life. She smiled at her reflection. She was the opposite of the dainty and careful girl she used to be.
"This is me," Ary said to herself as she looked in the reflection, dirt on her face. "And I love the new me."
As Ary made her way to the room she was sleeping in, she thought back on the prince who saved her in her last life, then froze. He was always saving a servant boy who was always by his side. The more she thought, the more she realized why he didn't go save her first. Because the prince was terrified that his secret boyfriend was in danger. In this world, same sex relationships among royalty are unacceptable. Ary tried to imagine how he felt in that moment. Not being in love with the woman he was forced to marry, and that day with people being slaughtered, he must have been terrified that his boyfriend was collateral damage. Ary didn't blame him. If anything, she felt rancid for thinking he was a player when he was switching girls to keep up the look of being straight. Then, running off with the boy, he must have been doing everything to make up with him.
"I wish you luck, Prince Alexander Devot," Ary said, looking into the shadows, wishing the prince from her past life luck with the love he has.