A good deed

The proudly advertised "full meal" actually was nothing more than a soup filled with crusty dark bread. To be fair, it still tasted pretty good. Unfortunately even I, a small girl, did not have enough.

I clearly was not the only one with such issues. A woman even soundly demostrated her displeasure with a kick to a nearby birch tree. Her outrage was understandable. Even though she had three small children, the church had still given them only one bowl of soup.

While I watched them I prepared myself to "accidently" run into the priest from before. Naturally I hadn't given up on my plan.

I was still searching for him when I heard a pleasant voice from behind, "Oh hello young miss, I think this is the first time I've seen you around?".

Quickly I turned around and greeted the priest with my brightest teenage girl smile. "Indeed it is! I've been through a difficult time lately and even commited unspeakable things in the name of survival. That is not how I wish to live anymore! A few days ago I remembered the teachings of my gone by mother and decided to turn to the church in search of salvation."

At my words his face lit up and he came closer. "An admireable but also ambitious goal for such a young lady. But with enough devotion everything is in reach!"

For a while we went on like that. I expressed my eternal gratitude and faith in the church, and he slowly got to know me. Or more acurately he got to know my fake persona. It was quite a sob story I had made up when I was pretending to pray. It likely didn't really increase my chances but at least it seemed very believable.

Most of what he said was more or less bullshit to impress a naive young girl, and if I really was one it might have worked.

Concealing my inner thoughts I said kindly, "Your words fill me with hope reverend. With your blessing I might really be able to fulfill my dreams and find a connection to god!"

He laughed charmingly, "You can call me pastor Marlin. But know, it's not me whose blessing you should seek, only god's blessing can grant you true salvation!"

A short thoughtful silence emerged.

"If you are really serious about pursuing your dream you could come with me for now. You could wash up maybe even get a proper meal. What do you say?"

Got him.

With the same amiable voice I replied, "That would be too kind! I can't possibly use your highness's valuable time just like that!" Maybe that was too much, but I think it matched quite well with my persona of a naive and desperate young girl.

"Haha that's still up to me to decide. There is nothing important I have to attend to today so it will be fine."

I respectfully bowed my head. "Your kindness is truely inspiring."

As we stepped out on the street, the morning sun had come back and enveloped everything in a beautiful red hue. Just now did the town start to really wake up. The streets were brimming with far too many people and occasionally, a horse carriage with some important figure drove by.

While walking I could finally take in the whole citys atmosphere. In my previous life I had seen way bigger citys, gigantic crowds of people but nothing came even close to what I was seeing now. Was that the charm of another world?

Slowly we went north. I noticed the farther we wen't the fewer the people became. They also had better quality attire and in general looked quite well of. Not a big surprise though, I had long guessed that this priest's income was far from average.

The fashion sense was also worth noting. The people we passed previously had extremly diverse outsfits. I had even seen a gentleman with top head, coat and to round it up even a monocle! The perfect british cliché.

Jackson Noel, the dead man from my dream, had been wearing some kind of robe. Here, in the richer districts, it was also quite a common theme. Only the colors were varying. I couldn't spot any order in it but I assumed that they probably were from a special organization, and the colors probably represented their standing.

We stopped in front of a two-story building with a small but well kept garden. Quite cozy looking actually!

"Here we are miss! I suggest before we do anything, you go and clean yourself up. I don't mean to be rude but I can smell the street on you", he politely smiled.

While talking he opened the heavy looking door to his house. I swiftly replied, "I understand, would you show me the bathroom?"

Wordlessly he pointed at a closed door on the opposite of the entrance.

Without wasting any more time I opened it and found myself in a small room with a few towels and a bucket of water. Unlucky. I had hoped he would have something better.

Still, it wasn't too bad. At least I could finally get all that filth of me. I quickly undressed and finally started examining my new body in a mirror made of polished stone.

Staring at me was the reflection of a young and quite pretty girl with piercing golden eyes. I had always been a openminded guy so I accepted my new gender relatively fast. What frightened me however, were those strange golden eyes. If I didn't know better I would've probably described them as inhuman. But that wasn't possible right? Or was it? I mentally took note, to find out more about this world's general situation as soon as possible.

Pushing aside all my unsetteling thoughts I trenched one of the towels in water and began to remove the accumulated filth from my body.

I was surprised to notice that my actual skincolor wasn't brown but a pale and unhealthy white. Probably due to my obvious malnourishment and the lack of sun under a bridge. I let out a nervous laughter.

When I was almost done with washing up I suddenly heard someone knocking at the room. "Miss I have a new clothes for you. Your old ones are not appropriate for a devoté of the church."

Before I could reply he had already opened the door and threw a pile of clothes in my direction. While doing that I almost felt his eyes taking in every inch of my naked body. What a pig.

I hurriedly covered me with a towel and feigned shock. "Pastor what are you doing?", I asked with a feeble voice.

A dirty laugh escaped his throat. "I'm doing so much for you young miss. Is it too much to ask for a few little things in return?".

Before I could reply he already continued, "Oh and don't stay in here for too long. You don't want your food to get cold right?"

With a last mischiefous grin he closed the door.

I'm no good person. In fact I would say I'm one of the most selfish and oftentimes ruthless people I know. Some might even say batshitcrazy. But despite all that I couldn't help but feel pity for all young girls who had to deal with such a despicable kind of human being. Today I would do the world a favor.

Filled with these kinds of dark thoughts I put on the clothes he gave me. It was a dark blue dress with some golden strings here and there. Quite cute. And of a high quality. However he had somehow missed my need for underwear.

Before finally leaving the room I checked my appearence one last time and hid my stone under the dress.