Author's Note: Well, I'm officially writing stories again. But updates will be very and excruciatingly slow, so please bear with me. Also, I am not sure whether or not I will want to continue my previous stories, so those who are looking forward to future chapters to my old stories please do not have high expectations.

Disclaimer: I do not own Magi or any of its characters. The only thing I own are the characters that I will come up with in this fanfic whilst writing.

Warning: There will be gruesome and dark twists ahead. Read with care if you choose to protect your innocence.

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Prologue

Life and death.

Two opposites.

We all know what life really is. It is a contrast and a mix of what we learn or know now as 'right and wrong'. It is filled with so much happiness and joy, and yet it is also filled with so much sadness and pain.

My life— no, previous life on earth was typical. An average dysfunctional family.

My next life— I had never seen it coming.

I am someone who had long lost faith in what others call a 'God'. To me, a 'God' is nothing but a fabricated idol. Those who worship it is just useless and have a vulnerable mentality. But that is just my opinion.

So imagine my surprise when I finally died— if I am to be frank, I'm glad I did— and met up with the so-called deity I had long decided was fake in the afterlife.

My new story unfolds here.

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I shall brief you on my past life. It was dysfunctional, chaotic, and a complete mess. There was little to nothing that made me sincerely happy and I never thought that I would be able to survive in such an environment. My thoughts were always suicidal, but I never acted upon them.

I was the type of person to hate pain. A mere punch or slap would've rendered me vulnerable. I couldn't hold a knife without shaking nor glide it across my wrist. But who says you needed to harm yourself just to prove you were depressed and sick of the world?

But I would've gladly accepted any other reason to die. Like… if a speeding truck were to come my way and I had two options to either dodge it or let it kill me, I would definitely choose the latter. Any other ways of dying was completely acceptable, aside from suicide.

And that was how my end came. I had experienced too much suffering and too little happiness to in my previous life. So when I saw a highway and dozens of speedy cars, I didn't hesitate to throw myself into the pandemonium of rush hour to die.

How do I describe dying? I do not know if it is accurate, but all I can remember is numbness and the blurring of vision. The cries of people around and the sounds of cars stopping.

I heard someone try and keep me awake. I felt my weight shift slightly, as if someone was trying to carry me in their arms. A strange voice urged me to stay awake.

I'm sorry to say— but I smiled mockingly to myself and died happily in that stranger's arms.

Right now, I regret that. The stranger probably blamed himself, especially if he was the driver of the car that had killed me. But I didn't care. I was selfish that way. I was dead.

I was relieved.

Death was like a black void. It's as if you feel conscious, but you didn't have the ability to open your eyes. It was boring, really— just floating around aimlessly with nowhere to go.

At that point, I thought to myself, 'I think I overestimated death. It isn't as grand as I thought. But still, I do not regret my decision.'

Just as I thought that, I felt as if a light had shined upon me. In that moment, I found myself opening my eyes, which surprised me because the whole time I've been in that void, my eyes were pretty much non-existent.

The light that shone on me suddenly grew brighter and blinding. I squinted my eyes closed and curled myself up into a ball, hugging my knees close to my chest.

"No… stop, let me rest!" I pleaded loudly.

'Do you detest your fate?'

The voice took me by surprise. But the question was what got me.

'By fate, do you mean the way my life was decided?' I asked. 'If so, then I don't. I don't detest it, but I do not appreciate it.'

'… I see. This is the first human I have ever spoken with who hasn't started demanding to know who or what they are doing in this place.'

'I find those questions a waste of time.' I said, my voice uncaring. 'I'm dead. That's all there is to it. I cannot change that.'

'No, you cannot. But I can.'

I scoffed.

'Oh please.' I said, rolling my eyes. 'Spare me. Are you a god?'

'You may call me that.'

I sigh.

'Ah, so I'll be receiving eternal punishment for not believing in your existence?' I said bitterly.

'Not quite. You met your end far too soon.'

'I don't get it. Why ponder on the way my end came? There is no point. You cannot change the fact that where I used to be, I am dead.' I said.

'For a teenager, you are quite the predicament. You consider yourself mentally disturbed and challenged, and yet you speak like a philosopher. There are times where you both underestimate and overestimate your worth. But most of all, it is your mind that I find peculiar.'

'How so?' I asked, getting quite interested in the conversation.

'Unlike most, you have an open mind. Your thoughts mostly revolve around what you know and see, and all you've ever known in your previous life is selfishness and bitterness. This should've resulted your rukh, or your intentions to become dark. And yet, you are the complete opposite of what I expected you to become.'

'Hm? What is that so supposed to mean? And rukh? What is this, "Magi"?'

I heard low chuckling.

'Those who come here to me are as impatient as you are. I have another question for you, dear one.'

I waited expectantly.

'If you were given another chance to live, how will you live it?'

My eyes widened in complete surprise.

'...' I kept silent for a few moments, pondering on how I could possibly answer that.

'Do you want to live again?'

'Of course I do.' I answered, clenching my fists angrily. 'I want to live, expect without anything holding me back from the things I want to do.'

'Your greed and determination is amazing. But I will not give you a new life for you to live so contently. You are still to abide by the world's laws.'

I clicked my tongue in irritation.

'I don't suppose you plan on killing people on the life I am about to give you, am I right? Are you that selfish?'

'… I am selfish. But I know the value of a human life.' I answered.

'Keep those words of yours in your heart, dear one. They will guide your judgement henceforth.'

I sigh.

'So you really are giving me a new life?' I asked.

'Yes. I am surprised you accept this so easily.'

'I am an enigma. You cannot easily understand someone as myself.' I answered, slightly smug.

Chuckling again.

'I see. From here on, I renew you. May Solomon's Wisdom guide you.'

'What is with all the 'Magi' references?' I asked.

'Oh, you haven't figured out? I'll be sending you to the world of Magi.'

Wait, what?

'You're kidding right?'

'Not at all. Did you really think that the world of Magi does not exist?'

'… it's a fictional story.'

'Most believe so. But who is to say that it is not real?'

'… it's a fucking fictional story.'

'Ah, I see you won't believe me until I send you there. Farewell, dear one. I do hope we do not meet so soon. It would be a waste if you died early, although your presence here with me does make this place much more enjoyable.'

'… IT'S A FUCKING FICTIONAL STORY.'

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I groaned once, feeling something solid on my face.

My eyelids felt heavy, but as moments passed, they seemed to grow lighter. Slowly, I felt my consciousness come back to me.

I opened my eyes, blinking a few times. I realized that I was lying on my stomach, my hand beside me. The ground beneath me was dirt and sand, which confused me because there were rarely any dirt roads around the city anymore.

Slowly, I raised myself up, sitting on my knees. My body felt sore and heavy, as if I had been sleeping for a very long time. I still felt half-asleep and admittedly, I wanted to fall back asleep there. Well, had it not been for the lack of shelter and comfortable bed, I would've done so.

I looked around my surroundings. There was not much to say. The only thing I saw here is dirt and sand road in the middle of nowhere.

A few moments later, I hissed in annoyance. I looked up at the sky and used my forearm to shade my eyes as I gazed at the hot sun above me.

"Ugh… heat waves." I grumbled in annoyance.

I looked around once more, hoping to search for shelter. Instead, I found none. Only miles and miles of sand greeted me.

I started to feel a bit panicky. Where were all the people? The buildings? Civilization? Internet access?

Suddenly, I recalled all the events that occurred before I woke up. The car, the blood, the void, and the mysterious voice that loved Magi references.

I then remembered a specific part of the conversation which confused me.

['Not at all. Did you really think that the world of Magi does not exist?'

'… it's a fictional story.'

'Most believe so. But who is to say that it is not real?'

'… it's a fucking fictional story.']

My eyes widened in horror and I felt my eye twitch slightly.

"Fucking god, please don't tell that voice is right." I said out loud to myself.

I shook my head furiously and slapped my cheeks.

"Okay— okay—" I said, trying to calm myself down. That wasn't the time to be in a state of hysteria and confusion. I needed to think rationally and logically— even if I really did rise back from the dead.

"Food and water. Shelter. Then money." I murmured, placing a thumb under my chin.

I then blinked and looked at my arms, staring at it in surprise. My skin color wasn't as light as this. I had darker skin!

I then looked at my body. Instead of casual clothes, I was wearing a simple dirty white dress that reached my knees.

I tugged at my hair. Instead of it to be shoulder length, it was about chin length. I looked at my bangs and my eyes widened as I saw a clear and dark brown color.

"What the actual fuck." I said out loud. "What the fuck did that guy do to my looks?"

Soon, I heard the sounds of hooves and moving carts. The creaking of wood and the whinnies of horses couldn't be mistaken. It must've been a caravan of some sorts.

I turned around and indeed, I saw a caravan heading my way. It looked like it was travelling alone, since there was only one caravan in sight. I saw a lone man in front, handling the reins of the horses.

I chewed by bottom lip. What should I do? Should I ask for this man's help? But what if he's a thief?

The caravan was nearing me and I was running out of time. I was desperate at the time, so I couldn't care less anymore if this guy was a thief or a criminal— I needed to survive.

"Heeeey! Over here!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, waving my arms around.

With my sharp sight, I saw the man jolt up slightly in surprise. The caravan picked up speed and soon enough it was in front of me.

"Oi! What are you doing in the desert all alone? It's dangerous here!" he said.

My eyes widened as the man hopped off the front of the caravan and walked in front of me.

He had blonde hair, with a fringe strangely sticking up. His eyes were golden brown and his attire looked as if it was straight out of Arabian culture. He had earrings on his ears and a dagger was attached on it attire.

"Hey, are you listening to me? What's your name? Where's your family?" he asked.

I was nearly as tall as him, only three inches shorter.

"I…" I murmured. Words couldn't form in my mouth.

['Not at all. Did you really think that the world of Magi does not exist?'

'… it's a fictional story.']

The blonde man tilted his head to the side.

"Are… are you okay?" he asked hesitantly, his arms nearing my shoulders.

"N-no." I answered, my eyes still wide.

His eyes softened slightly as he gazed at my attire. His eyes widened slightly and slowly sharpened in realization.

"Are… are you from the slums somewhere?" he asked.

"Slums?" I repeated.

"Yeah… you look like someone from the slums." He said. "What happened to you?"

"I don't know." I blurted out.

Shit.

"You don't know?" he asked in confusion. "Or you don't remember what happened to you?"

My mind raced. How could I answer this man?

"I don't remember what happened. All I know is that I woke up here with no one around me." I said, looking to the side.

What am I doing? I bit my lower lip in annoyance. It was partly the truth. But I couldn't exactly just blurt out the truth to him, right? He would've thought I was crazy.

"I see." He said as he leaned back a bit. He looked at me, as if he was deciding what to do with me.

"What's your name?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"I don't have one." I said.

The man's eyes narrowed slightly in pity.

"… Do you want to come with me?"

I looked up at him in surprise.

"What?" I asked.

"I-I mean…" he looked to the side and scratched his head. "You're alone in the desert with no one here to help. I can't just stand aside and let you die like that…"

I blinked.

"… please." I said desperately, falling on my knees. "Please help me."

The man's eyes widened as he crouched down to my level.

"Hold up, don't bow! I'm just offering you help, you don't have to do that!" he said, sounding slightly panicked.

"I'm alone in this desert and if it had been anyone else, they would've left me alone to starve and die." I said.

It was true. I knew human behaviour. Had a noble or someone richer or of a higher status saw me, they would've either killed me or take me to become their slave. Meeting this man, this guy of all people in this world— I considered it luck.

If I wanted to survive in this world, I needed this man by my side.

"I'll help you, okay? Just stop kneeling!" he said, sounding a bit scared.

I gave him a grateful smile.

"Thank you…" I murmured. "Thank you so much…"

I saw a faint blush appear on his face.

"N-no, it's fine." He said shyly. He then turned to me with a small smile and stood up, stretching his hand towards me.

"Come on." He said. "I'll help you."

I smiled at him, but inside I felt terrible. My true intentions were not to befriend this man. I just wanted to have a better life in this world than the one I had in the past.

I felt horrible. I felt as if I was only using him.

Outside my internal struggle, I took his hand and held it tightly. He pulled me up gently, allowing me to stand, his hand still in mine.

"Hmm… Miriam." He said.

I looked at him in confusion.

"Miriam?" I repeated.

He nodded.

"You said you don't have a name… so I thought I would give you one mysef." He said with a smile. A few moments later, it dropped and he started panicking.

"Gah! I mean, I don't want to own you or anything! You're not a slave, don't get me wrong!" he said.

I felt a small smile creep up my lips.

"Miriam…" I murmured before giving him a smile. "I like it. I accept it."

The man stopped freaking out and looked at me in surprise.

"Thank you for giving me a name." I said gratefully, looking as sincere as I could.

The man blushed again.

"No… it's no problem at all." He said before smiling and pointing a thumb to himself.

"I'm Alibaba." He said. "And from now on, I'll be helping you out, got that Miriam?"

I giggled.

"Yes, I understand." I said with a smile.

But inside, I was tearing my hair to pieces.

I had just met Alibaba Saluja.

And I was eternally in his debt.

Screw me sideways—

At that moment, I knew I was royally screwed.

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[A/N:] Your thoughts?