Years after that. When I was 16.
I was the joke of everyone in the family. The old man scoffed at me every time he saw me and ordered I could not eat with the rest of the family.
"You are not part of the family." He said constantly.
Mom was the one that usually made sure I had food.
And my siblings?
For starters, Edward was a piece of shit. He came one day and showed me the newspaper talking about him being an S rank and managing to take on an A+ rank dungeon on his own.
Ancient Resonances, or AR for short, were dungeons that appeared all over the place. They were usually dealt with swiftly and people like my stupid brother went in and cleared them for loot and fame.
And of course it would be easy for him. The old man gave him S+ rank items for when he started.
"Look! What do you think of your big brother?" He said with a shit eating smirk in his face.
And he was showing to me his status screen.
[Name: Andrew Jarleine]
Class: Knight of the Bright Sun (S)
HP: 2250 MP: 910
STR: 800
DEX: 760
CON: 1000
INT: 750
WIS: 860
CHR: 710]
"Yours were in the 100s, right?" He asked with a smug smile.
I just stared at him and then turned away to ignore him.
"Hey, you ungrateful piece of shit! I am talking to you!"
I felt the grip of hisnhand as he pulled my hair to stop. The pain was unbearable, and it janked my head back, almost making me fall to the ground.
"Let me go, you fuck!" I yelled.
"You should be thankful we let you stay here, you ungrateful brat! One word from me and you can go live in the slums with the rest of the pigs that live there!"
I tried to fight but his grip was too strong. I was too weak! I hated my fucking life!
"Now, now, Edward. You shouldn't be treating your sister like that."
That was Elizabeth's voice.
Edward turned towards her and she came from one of the halls. He let me go, and I turned to face him.
I looked at Elizabeth when I fully registered she was there.
She was... Odd... She did not torment me. At least not directly. She would just flaunt what she had achieved to everyone. She has had made some achievments since she turned 18, just like our older brother, but she took more in the sense of being an idol other than anything.
That... And she was usually walking with her harem of men trailing behind her.
It just felt less targeted.
At least, not always.
"She is misserable enough already." Elizabeth added.
I hate her too.
"Whare is your army of men?" Edward asked, crossing his arms.
"Resting..." Elizabeth had a smirk on her face, then she turned to me. "You know, sis, you are always so stressed... Maybe you would like me to borrow you one of them and blow aome steam?"
Interestingly enough, both Edward and I went "Ew."
They all were at least her age... I was hoping. I was 16... And I don't like men.
A lot of stuff did not change in my mind since I became a woman. Namely, I still like girls.
"Just leave me alone, you two." I said and turned to leave.
"Tell your maid to use white panties tonight!" Said Edward while I was leaving.
I stopped for a second when he said that, but decided to ignnore his taunt.
"You are gross..." Answered Elizabeth.
"Says the one with the harem."
I was not going to defend Elizabeth... But at least those idiots that followed her consented to be trated the way she does.
This whole situation... Was fucked. I hated it. What was that entity attempting when it made me go through this?
Are you watching, Death?! Are you having fun?!
I was being abused physically and mentally every day by who are meant to be my family. Is this the mulligan?! Is this the second chance?!
I should have stayed dead... I should have been dead...
I punched the door inside of my chambers. I was crying. I was still the scrap at the bottom of the barrel! A talentless fool that had nothing to claim for itself. Even when the name Jarleine meant something in this world, I was an outcast that could not take.
Even my siblings that were an A+ were something more than me!
I was not allowed to exit the palace! They were keeping me here like a secret they did not want anyone to know about.
I walked to the balcony. I was in the fourth floor of the builsing. In the horizon, I can see the lights of the city as it is getting dark and the steam from different machines in the houses. Marvelia, the city that I never have been able to visit.
I look down as I leaned myself over the railing of the balcony.
It is quite the fall.
And my body went stiff... I dropped to the floor, surrendering myself to my situation. I pressed my back against the
"Heh..." Somehow, I was still clinging to life.
How long could I endure this? That was the question I was repeating in my head.
And then...
[...Injection finished]
[Good evening, miss Anastasia Jerlaine. Seems I came in just about the right moment.]
"W-what the?!" The system was talking to me.
[My apologies, madam. I was instructed to this day to update your system and give you access to unique features. More might come as my masters steem necessary, but I am frankly sure you will find the ones provided to you right now quite dandy!]
"But... What? I don't understand what is happening..."
[Well, let me provide you with a bit of, let's say, tutorial, like they say in your original world?]
This thing knew I was reincarnated from another world!
"What features are we talking about?"
[Well, first, lets take a gander at your Status Screen]
[Name: Anastasia Jerlaine
Class: Vanguard Mage (F) Lv1
[HP: 300 MP: 250
STR: 95
DEX: 90
CON: 100
INT: 100
WIS: 95
CHR: 80]
"Lv 1?" That was the first thing that jumped to my attention. No one has levels... Only a rank.
[As you might be aware as of now, stats are static and no one gets stronger over time except for personal experience from fighting, which only translates to knowledge, and items they obtain and make use of. With the new update, we allow you to turn said knowledge into more power!]
I stood up... This changed everything!
"Who sent you? Was it Death?!"
[I am in no liberty to reveal said information, my lady. At least, I cannot reveal all of your patron, but I see you are already acquaintance with one of them. They all wish you to succeed in your endeavors]
"Okay..." Did it have to wait all these years?! Shit! "And why today? What makes today special?"
[That information, my lady, was not delivered to me. I was just told to come here. Sincere apologies, a gentleman should never leave a lady like yourself with such questions!]
[Now, to the next feature, and this one is quite important! Is probably my favourite in this update!]
[New task obtained!]
[Clear the first floor of an F rank Ancient Resonance! (Rank F task)
Rewards:
+2500 XP
+1000 Tellins]
A task system...
Rewards...
Tellins are the main coin in this world. You get a bit from killing monsters and by trading whatever you find in there.
My family was filthy rich, that amount would be pocket change for any of them. But I was not allowed into the family coffers and I never was given any amount for me. If I could get some of that money, I could use it in whatever I wanted.
[Take your time with this task, my lady.
You don't have experience in combat and Ancient Resonances are scary stuff, let me tell you! But, as soon as you complete this simple task, you will get a taste of the new features and we will proceed with the next step]
"Next step? Which one?"
[Well... To let you take control of your own destiny, my fair lady]