Chapter 1- prologue 1
(Year 0)
I had barely registered that I just died in my previous life, I don't remember the details exactly but I died at the hospital due to a severe car accident or perhaps this was a dream.
My body felt incredibly weak like gelatin, I couldn't even grip my arms. My vision was blurry and it was hard to identify my surroundings.
Visual and audio information assaulted me very quickly. I was seeing lights and hearing bird chirps and it hurt my eyes and tickled my ears respectively.
Then shortly after the physical senses came in, I felt what seemed like strong arms holding me and being laid against someone's bosom, the person in question placed me on a soft surface.
my sensory output finally gave something clear.
I saw faces of people looking at me with care, these people's skin tones ranged from beige all the way to a chestnut brown, their features were ambiguous as well looking like a cross of a west African and south Asian type ethnicities, their hair was either wavy or curly, and their eyes varied in color.
Perhaps I was born to some type of tribe or small minority group in this lifetime, they however had modern clothes and quite nice ones to boot.
"Is my baby girl healthy?" A woman presumably my new mother, who was very beautiful might I add asked an elder lady who only had white robes. This was English, something I was not necessarily expecting.
The older woman turned to me and smiled "Yes a very healthy one indeed, and her memories are very intact. She remembers her past very strongly. It is rare to remember vividly, may she be blessed."
Wait what.
"Welcome reincarnated one" the elder knelt down to my level. It seemed I was placed on an alter or pedestal. "You have been reincarnated into our clan, and no, you aren't the only one with past life memories but that is what makes us special as a family."
I tried to stay calm from the bizarre situation but I ended up wailing, being reincarnated with memories would be a shock yes but being reincarnated with memories and having people know that plus the bonus of everyone being like you is a bigger shock.
I heard my own cries of agony hearing how much of a baby I actually was and am and my new lungs vibrated, I tried to recover but I couldn't control it which led to more panic for me.
"We will name her Shannon, Shannon Jio." With that everyone clapped.
My new mother picked me up gently and cradled me gently which allowed me to calm down and even get a little sleepy.
The elder had a small smile on her face "Enjoy your first 3 years here, reincarnated one…" it's the last words I heard before falling asleep.
(Year 1)
"Happy birthday!" my mom Amber and dad William said in unison.
A year passed since I got reincarnated, everything for the most part was completely normal and modern.
There was running water, food, bathrooms, computers, phones, TV, Literature, music, and cars.
We lived in a pretty nice home in the eastern part of this city, the city was simply named 'metro-capital'.
This way of living was more refreshing compared to the other world I was in, which made me wonder if this was nirvana or heaven rather than my new life I reincarnated since everyone knowing their past memories was so weird
A medi-care like system was introduced where medical care and treatment was only 35$ per round as long as you were subscribed or signed an agreement to whatever hospital you get care from exclusively, so no one had to neglect their health or be ignorant of it due to hospitals or medical centers insane prices.
Housing is cheap and the education system has high schools act as college or a technical school as well for them to pursue regular educational classes and the field of their choice so no tuition either or fear being homeless or broke.
My lungs and motor skills are better since I am now 1 year old, 31 one if you want to add the past life years.
Despite me now but I still couldn't really blow out the candle much to my embarrassment.
Naturally a baby who just turned one doesn't need to have a special birthday party, it was only me, my parents, and a small cake with one candle while we were at home.
I couldn't blow it out so my parents had to finish the job, it was my defeat but they clapped anyway.
My impression was that my relationship with my new parents would be awkward and perhaps strange, after all imagine giving birth to someone who has an adult consciousness?
But perhaps it's expected and normalized here, it didn't stop them from treating me like their 1 year old daughter. In which I kinda hated being cooed at but it was appreciated nonetheless.
They also told me about customs, why we happen to speak English, and so on.
Evening came as I was binge watching my favorite cartoons on the couch.
"Came Shannon" my mom walked in from the kitchen now in her nightgown "it's time to go to bed"
As if timed a yawn managed to slip out, it was barely 5pm. I would protest but I wouldn't know when I'll be allowed to relax and sleep like this again in my new life so I gave in.
She dressed me in some pajamas and put me on a stool in front of a mirror to brush my hair.
I had gotten used to my new appearance, bronze brown skin, dark hair, and violet eyes.
After my hair was wrapped up for bedtime I found myself not wanting to get up from the small bed made for me.
As mother left I thought about the elder lady, whose name is apparently Katrina.
She said to enjoy these 3 years quite ominously.
Did that mean I would die again? Or maybe it meant things could turn sour and this isn't the utopia I think it is?
Either way it was anxiety inducing and I hated suspense, I tried telling mother earlier as soon as I could speak what elder Katrina meant by enjoying the first 3 years of my life and she frowned briefly and said 'nothing to worry about' but it clearly was, I might die again or something bad may happen.
The worst part is that there is little I could do about it.
(Year 2)
My second birthday passed and nothing out of the ordinary happened just yet, except I'm walking on my own much more. Though I realized little babies this age have very little stamina.
One day I had to fill out a form on what skills and occupations I had in my past life life and it filled me with curiosity but I never saw that form again and had no explanation.
It got boring sleeping all day so I turned to daily walks around the house.
I was a soldier for 6 years and counting and a teacher for juveniles for 4 so exercise was a natural part of my life, it was frustrating how difficult it is for a small body to move, I stumbled multiple times from my wobbly legs and got exhausted easily.
I wanted this body to get familiar with running as quickly as possible, given the situation maybe I would have to flee.
Maybe I was overreacting a bit since nothing really did happen but I didn't quite forget about it either.
(Year 3)
My third birthday passed and I got a letter from elder Katrina of all people in the middle of the night, there was a bump that paralyzed me with fear before realizing a letter was left by my bed.
I hope you are doing well reincarnated one, something tells me you fear for your life because of what I said. Do not worry, you will adulthood at least.
However, in a few months leading into next year I along with the other priests will need to take you to the temple for a test, I cannot tell you what it is due to confidentiality but you will find out soon.
And that's where the letter ends.
The next morning mother was extremely upset when she found the letter, it took my father several hours to calm her down.
She cursed Katrina with madness with sharp colorful language, it was a type of anger I didn't see before, it suddenly explained why she didn't want to talk about the 3 years situation.
While the elder did ensure me I would love and not be possible human sacrifice mom's reaction wasn't helping
"She'll take her outside!" I heard her sobs echo from downstairs, they quietly locked me inside my room but I got on a stool and picked the lock open anyway. I figured once I had my earful I'd go back to my room, after all this does concern me.
I've never been outside metro-capital as that statement was pretty vague.
Are they xenophobic? Just how bad was 'the outside' to leave her this raddled.
"It's where the savages are! William can't you see that!"
"Yes honey I know, they only cause war but since our babies memories are intact she is a perfect candidate to be a priestess"
I'm a bit wary on who the savages might be on the supposed outside and being trained as a priestess seemed interesting, it wouldn't be surprising there was a supernatural or spiritual aspect here.
"Are you going to let them take our daughter away?! They'll take her outside and she'll have to go through the crystallization process as a test, I only barely survived that with my life it's not something she should go through-!"
"..."
The silence was deafening and father wasn't responding, it was time to go back.
The conversation was surprising to say the least, what was the crystallization process exactly? Would I be encased in ice?
Either way I was going to find out whether I liked it or not.
(Year 4)
It will be a few months before my birthday would arrive but elder Katrina and the priest came to our home much to mother's dismay.
As much as she wanted to fight and argue with them they didn't budge and Katrina simply kept a knowing grin on her face, it was kinda disturbing actually considering the situation I might be put in danger.
"If she fails I will send her back." Elder Katrina said looking at me.
"What If I want her home regardless?" mom crossed her arms looking furious.
"Then you will be violating clan law, since you are a part of a higher rank in the clan it's only fair. We may treat all members fairly but only branch members can live normally due to dulled memories you know this Amber."
Yikes, a name was being used that wouldn't go too well.
"Screw the 'law'! You have a few dozen priests at your disposal, you're not running out."
"Perhaps, but we need as much as possible to help protect our land and keep the dome strong so the outsiders such as the Shinobi don't realize our existence or plan to invade our land."
"Do not mention those savages in front of my daughter" she snarled.
"Clan head and Mayor Diana will be overseeing this as well."
"She should have never been the heir, Maya wouldn't have let such a thing happen."
"Maya was weak." Elder Katrina said with a glint of intimidation in her golden eyes.
So the savages are the ninja? I didn't know a lot of Japanese really but Shinobi meant being a ninja or something of the like right?
Oh boy, ninja actually exist here? It certainly makes things unappealing then.
I had so many questions while mom and Katrina argued, the ninja, the supposed clan, the clan dynamics, the outside, everything.
"Stand down Amber." Katrina said eerily calm. "You are but a powerless being here, except that. If she shall fail we will bring her back, simple as that_"
The guards that came with the priests held mother back from taking me back and it made my anxiety climb.
I didn't have time to react to such a situation as they snatched me quickly and placed me in the limo they had.
At first I was anxious, nothing was said to me and I was left to my own thoughts to digest what had unfolded.
The limo being quite the long car had multiple sections to it, likely in the front the priests were conversing but I wouldn't be able to hear them.
But the ride seemed like it would be a long one, the limo was driving until evening and it stopped so everyone including myself was given food and beverages.
It became very long to the point of nearly night fall in which I already fell asleep.
When I woke up the limo had already stopped, I saw in my view a white temple.
It was an awesome looking one, huge like a royal castle but it had the architecture of Indian and east Asian buildings.
The guard opened the car door and I was escorted inside.
The inside of the temple was even more grand, decked out with a plethora of suites, hallways, prayer rooms, discussion rooms, and the like.
But unfortunately I didn't get to see those, I was instead led to a room with a white door and it revealed Katrina and one other woman.
"That will be all, leave us" the woman said with a sharp and powerful tone, the guards respectfully retreated.
Said woman had a dark skin tone with her curled hair to her back and golden eyes like Katrina, her looks were sharp and made her look very scary but she was admittingly beautiful.
"Shannon my dear, this is Diana Jio." She made an introductory expression to the woman. "She is the current clan head and Mayor."
Ah so she is the one mother mentioned, and wait we have the same name?
Diana turned to elder Katrina. "So this one is the one with vivid memories?"
"Yes."
"I see, I want the crystallization process done as soon as possible." she said this very coldly without hesitation.
"The can be arranged as soon as an hour or 2, but let's allow her to feed her curiosity first"
Diana simply stared at me. "Hm, very well" good lord if looks could kill I be dead by now (again).
"Reincarnated one, what do you wish to be answered? You have 30 minutes before I leave." This sounded barely like a question and more like a statement or demand.
I had many questions, and the thing with that is that I would even get all of them answered likely, but I quickly sorted the ones I wanted answered the most.
"Um, why do we have the same name?" I started, simple enough"
"Because we are a clan, all 3,334 of us in the city have the last name Jio and no we aren't inbreeding, we are very distantly related. If you are thinking I am a close relative I am not, at best I am a very distant cousin of yours."
"When was the clan created?"
"About a millennium ago"
"Does this clan have a hierarchy?"
"Everyone is equal, however if your memories are more vivid you have more responsibility than others especially if you remember skills and knowledge from the past life. You will be considered a higher ranked clan member and as such you may be a priestess, clan or politics leader, or mayor. Higher ranked members are required to keep certain information a secret"
"Why am I chosen to be a priestess specifically then?"
"You had written a form about your skills, you had potential for all 3 but priestess is the most appropriate and beneficial."
I took a few seconds to digest this information, this setup was certainly interesting but it still didn't explain mother's anxiety about becoming a priestess or maybe a higher ranked clan member in general.
Before that though I asked about the bigger elephant in the room.
"So how does ninja work here exactly? And why are we wary of them?"
"Shinobi is a classified subject, most people here don't know they exist to prevent panic. Shinobi are on the outside of the dome and have immense power as well; they use energies to create common disasters like whirlpools and lightning. We don't possess such energies and our special dome negates such a thing and hides us, our natural skills and abilities on the outside will seduce such beings into enslaving for nefarious deeds we desire no such thing."
Diana's explanation of Shinobi using energies to create disaster was familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it.
"What is the dome? And what does it do?"
"The dome is something that was gifted to our ancestors and is considered the 'inside', it removes those energies and the energies outside the dome are used sophisticatedly to protect and make us invisible from such violent creatures."
I heard elder Katrina giggle from my right. "Oh Diana at least give the term 'energies' the proper name it deserves."
Diana shrugged "Chakras are energy points meant to be balanced for your well being and life, it would never be used for something frivolous as war that is just energy or magic."
Realization struck me, it was Naruto that had elements as the one they were explaining. I remember watching the show in middle school awhile ago, but it had to be a coincidence but still my shocked expression showed.
"Are you already aware of such a thing Shannon?" Katrina looked upon me.
"Yes um, well I watched this anime and we'll have similar elements to the one you explained and if so I have even more questions."
Both women looked at me with interest.
"No, this is intriguing. We will now ask you questions. We will ask you one and we'll answer yours after." Katrina's eyes gleamed a bit, oh great.
"Tell me child, as an example do you remember?"
"Well, I remember the geography and the countries are named after the elements of nature with the exception of some being named after a drink like tea or an animal."
"Yes that is correct, our priests wonder outside to spy on that world and we have been given similar information, but yours can be especially valuable."
"Wait so I'll be a nomad? And how does our clan even exist? This wasn't even in the show"
"It depends on the situation my child, and something tells me your memory of the show is only simply of the world of Shinobi it isn't showing the inside. Which tells me they would never find us, something I am content with."
I wouldn't argue with that messing around in an environment like that is bound to be fatal.
"Reincarnated one, I would like a brief overview on how the Shinobi go about their ventures just in case we need more security" Diana said emotionlessly.
I gave them a brief rundown surprised by how much I naturally know given the time.
"Hmm so they are not only violent fools but easily manipulated by jealousy and greed. Naturally a woman being sacrificed to make a tree with powerful energy would turn corrupt with everything against her, most people in this story seem very selfish and allowed for chaos." Diana clicked her tongue.
"Yes, they should've stayed without that power from the so-called God tree." Katrina agreed.
"Ok, I gave you that. I also wanted to know what about the crystallization process? What is it?" I finally asked my most anticipated question.
The two women looked at each other.
"The outside world has chakra in nature and beings, while we don't possess the substance in our bodies regardless of being outside or inside our eyes will crystalize. Specifically the iris, pupil, and lens area, that isn't the most painful part necessarily." Diana frowned and I recoiled at the thought of such pain.
"Once crystallized our eyes look exactly like a gem in the color of our original eye color, it gives us the ability to manipulate said natural substance into anything we desire. That isn't the end, the end product gives us the gift of claircognizance but at first the information will be processed at incomprehensible speed and eventually you will feel like dying to end such an overwhelming experience. But in order for it to normalize you would need at least an hour."
Diana looked regretful, she probably experienced the pain first hand but I was already enraged seeing why my mother was so hesitant. "Make no mistake though, despite the seemingly great power we are still much weaker physically to the Shinobi they can easily capture us and kill us if needed or make a tool for war."
I remembered that the anime had showcased 3 abilities dealing with the eye called dojutsu, it was a bloodline limit or kekkei genkai giving it's users special abilities and enhancements.
This clearly was a ritual to induce this unnamed dojutsu.
"Wait, what the fuck?" I shouted not caring if it sounded inappropriate for a 3 year old to say. "What makes you think I can ensure that? And do you not get the concept of trauma?"
"I understand it very well." Diana didn't even snap back; she just said it like it was nothing.
"But the jewel eyes are needed for collecting information and strengthening the dome."
"Even if I'm mentally prepared my body wouldn't physically be able to handle that! You should get some older." my eyes burned with fury.
"Hmh. They wouldn't be able to handle it even at adult age, you have a good chance of getting them. Once you pass the eyes won't exist on the inside and going outside the second time and onwards it won't be painful and you will feel normal because the eyes fully settled in. 30 minutes have passed and I shall take my leave, elder make sure she has a suitable retainer and teacher for the ritual. I want this to succeed." Diana simply left me in anger fear and I didn't like it one bit, I started to share sentiments if her being a horrible leader.