- Idris POV -
I awoke to void, no sound, light, or weight. Just pure darkness.
'Huh? Where the hell am I?'
Looking around to find nothing left me with nothing but my own thoughts.
'Dead I guess? Damn... Nothing here though, no afterlife just limbo? This fucking sucks...'
As I frowned, a faint glint caught the corner of my eye.
Looking over, I saw a small white dot. Trying to walk over to it made me realize I had no body.
'You're kidding right? I can't go over to it? This is my entertainment for eternity, a white dot? You can't be serious... Oh wait?'
During my ramblings, I could tell the dot was coming closer... or getting bigger? Either way, it was coming, and coming fast. At a rapid pace, it started to encroach upon me.
'This isn't going to hurt me, is it?'
The light filled my vision. Consciousness and senses slammed into me like a raging wave. Violent, yet not painful, it overloaded everything, and all thoughts ceased.
Returning from the disorientation caused by the spiritual flashbang in limbo I had just received, I found my body heavy.
'So I'm not dead? The doctor will think I'm insane.'
After blinking my eyes a few times, my vision returned. I was enveloped in a softness so heavy that it bordered on restraining; a deep crimson blanket covered my entire body. It felt plush on the skin, smelling faintly herbal.
'Mmm, velvet? Wait what!? Er... This is not a hospital.'
Still in a stupor, I pushed the blanket down. I pushed myself up drowsily and propped myself on my elbows. Even without the blanket, I felt unusually heavy.
Looking around, I found myself in a room that didn't just scream historic; it practically breathed antique from the dark brown wooden walls. Each panel was meticulously carved with intricate, interlocking floral patterns spread across like stylized vines. They were polished to a deep sheen, seemingly untouched by human hands. This wasn't just fancy taste; this was a declaration of wealth.
Through an open window, light from a setting sun streamed in, honey gold and so thick one could almost touch it, glazing the walls and the slightly lighter-colored wooden floor. On the far wall hung a grand tapestry, illuminated in the light. It depicted a battle scene with men gleaming in armor clashing in a field wrought with blood. In the back, a general stood between two banners bearing a familiar-feeling red sigil.
The air was still and cool, carrying the scents of wood polish and the dry paper smell given by old books, along with an earthy aroma of spring and ancient wood. The only sounds to be heard were the rustling of leaves on the trees outside and the distant steps of people in the hallway with faint, inaudible sounds of their conversations.
'Where the hell is this? Am I in a manor or something?'
Sitting up fully, I turned to slide off the bed. Yet I was shocked when I slid much further than expected.
'The floor was farther than I thought.' I turned my head to check.
'Damn, how big is this bed!? Wait.. No, this bed looks normal. Why do I feel so small? WHAT!'
Raising my hand, it felt weak and uncoordinated. Then I saw the unbelievable. Looking down, I saw small hands and pale skin. Soft and uncalloused. These were not my hands; this was not my body. My breath hitched at the sight; my mind raced.
'This is all wrong! What the hell is this?!'
With my daze gone and my mind now fully awake because of the shock, my memory cleared. A convenience store robbery gone poorly. The clerk tried to pull a weapon, and the robber opened fire, then turned to me and shot me too. It was a lousy shot; he fled with the cash as I bled out on the ground, dying before the medics showed up. And now... I'm a child, a rich one apparently.[1]
'Damn, dude, I was just getting some instant noodles and an energy drink... Transmigration, huh?'
The word rippled through my mind. I'd seen it a thousand times reading web novels. My past life was spent entirely on reading, playing games, and binge-watching things, so of course I knew what this was.
A cheeky smile stretched across my face as I began whispering.
"System."
Nothing
"..."
My smile faded quickly.
"Hud? Menu? Spirit? ...Hello?"
Absolutely nothing happened.
'Okay, what the fuck. Where's my golden finger?'
'Ok, I guess retaining memories is a bit of a cheat, but come on, man!'
Forcing air into my lungs with a ragged, sharp inhale to quell my dissatisfaction.
'Okay, so I died, woke up here in a new body, and didn't get a cheat skill... Could be worse.'
It didn't really bother me that I had died. I never really cared if I died; all I did was waste away in my room after. Luckily, I had finished my latest game before I went to the store.
An eerie smile so wide it threatened to rip my skin appeared on my face. I must have looked hysterical if anyone were in the room. A thought crystallized in my twisted gamer mind at this moment.
'No system, no cheat, not a game but reality? Fine... Screw it! I'll treat it like a game anyway!'
'So amusing! What's the worst that can happen? Die again? Been there, done that! This is the ultimate RPG!'
'Let's take a look around, I guess... This is my spawn point after all. Bonus points for aesthetic, by the way.'
Looking towards a mirror in the corner of the room, I took a single step forward before falling to the ground. I misplaced my step as my whole body was very uncoordinated.
'Damn, forgot I'm a child. This feels so weird.'
Outside the door, I could hear the scuffle of boots as the door opened to a knight in light, maneuverable armor.
"Huh!? The young master is awake! Quick, we must go tell the lord!"
Before I could even say anything, he shut the door and ran off, his heavy footsteps slowly fading into the distance.
Shaking my head from the sudden distraction, I once again checked the room out.
I stood up and proceeded to take slow, calculated steps. Staring at my feet the entire time so as not to fall, it slowly got a little easier as my body adjusted slightly. I decided to make my way to the mirror as I was extremely curious as to what I looked like.
Stumbling slightly on the thick rug in front of the massive standing mirror framed in black and gold, I hesitated for a moment before stepping before the glass.
"Oooh damn."
I muttered subconsciously while looking at myself. The first thing I noticed was my hair. Thick, heavy waves of a full head of hair were brushed back, falling just past my ears. The color was a deep, dark mahogany red, like aged wine or dried blood. It was regal, intimidating... or maybe unsettling, and distinctive. It seemed to declare my standing as nobility, or that I was not to be questioned.
My face was obviously youthful, as I was a child. My eyes were a clear, sharp gray, gleaming like a blade and cold like a winter storm. They were set under dark, straight brows that ended like daggers. Though I was a child, there was no childish softness in the gaze staring through the mirror; it was unnervingly out of place on such a young face, having a straight nose and sharp definition in all areas.
The one downside was how slender I looked, seemingly from a lack of eating. Though the overall build of my body was covered by ridiculously elegant sleepwear. Soft black linen clothes, embroidered with silver threads.
'8/10 right now... But dude, if I buff up while growing, I'll be a damn ten, oh my.'
'This is great. I was just hoping I didn't look like a generic blonde hero. Definitely a unique character design. The hair is just insane, dude.'
I ran my hand through my hair as my thoughts were broken by the door flinging open with tremendous speed.
'Showtime!'
A woman swept in, with curling brown hair framing a face with the word 'Worry' slapped on.
"Idris! Oh, thank the heavens you're okay!"
'Oh, Idris, huh? So that's my name... I've used that on characters before. Pretty cool, I'll keep it.'
She rushed forwards at me with arms stretched out for an embrace. Barely having time to brace myself, she grabbed and held me with what felt like the force of a bear. Stiffening slightly from embarrassment, though she didn't notice or didn't care, she asked:
"Sweety, are you alright? You've been out for two days! Are you feeling okay?"
'Yep, this is 100% the mother of this character.'
'Hmm, okay, let's just play it shy and tired for now.'
After waiting a little bit in the embrace, I squirmed my way from her grasp.
"I'm fine..." I squeezed out in a small voice.
Looking past her, another figure stood tall. The man, with sharp features and straight-backed posture, had a strong build, broad shoulders, and a tailored tunic on. He had the same intimidating dark red hair cut shortly and slicked back, as well as gray eyes like mine.
'And the father arrives as well. Damn, he's built. Might be a knight?'
He observed me with a calculating intensity; I felt as if it had a physical pressure. His face was unreadable, yet feeling more real than the exasperated mother in front of me.
"Calm down, Eleanor dear," he said, his voice low and precise, commanding silence into the room.
As our gazes met, the room went silent, as if we were both trying to peer into each other's minds. I didn't blink. It was not like I minded a stare-down; I'm not a little kid after all... Anyways, they're just NPCs, even if they are named ones. After a bit of thinking, I decided to break the silence. Well, not that I had a choice, as my stomach betrayed me...
*Grumbling*
I closed my eyes in annoyance at the timing. Letting out a small sigh, I patted my stomach before looking back at the NPC deemed 'father', who had an amused look in his eyes.
"Ugh, I'm starving."
The tension bled away, replaced with the laughter of a common family. We relocated to a lengthy grand dining room with chandeliers hanging and candles lining the table.
Instead of a mighty banquet one might think of, a finely decorated large bowl lay before me on the clothed table; it would seem the rest of my family had already eaten. In the bowl, a hearty beef stew was present, steaming as its scent wafted into my nose. Chunks of incredibly tender meat sat rooted like islands, with carrots and small round onions swimming through the sea of rich, dark gravy.
'I haven't had anything but chicken and instant noodles in months,' I thought while shedding an imaginary tear.
'Guh, this food item is rare grade. Definitely too good to be uncommon, but no buffs like epic grades would probably have.'
As I inhaled the food with ferocity that bordered on animalistic, the rich flavors flooded my taste buds. My father sat quietly with a glass of wine in his hands, silently observing me, assessing me. As I was nearing the bottom of my bowl of food, he spoke up.
"Idris, given your... fainting," he started, his words cutting through the sound of me eating, stilling the air around. "I think it would be best if you have an escort for the foreseeable future until everything's clear." Raising a hand, the maids opened the door to the hallway, and a man stepped through.
He was a grizzled man with gray streaks in his hair. Not overly tall, but still a unit overall; his arms, in particular, were most impressive and looked like tree trunks with vines from all the veins and muscle fibers showing. A distinct scar on his face from his nose down past his jawline could be seen through the myriad of others visible on his body.
'That's one hell of a mean mug. He's screaming veteran.'
"Wilfred here served with distinction in the Ducal Guard before retiring to be a guard for us. He'll help you in any way he can and ensure you don't overexert yourself," my father introduced him calmly as they nodded to each other.
'Damn, so I've already got a bodyguard NPC... Wait, ducal guard? Is this a duke's family? We've got to have some relation to get him.'
As I stared at Wilfred, stuck in my thoughts, he gave me a curt, wordless nod.
'Quiet type, go figure. I mean, look at the guy. I wonder what his stats would be...'
I forgot to greet him myself as I swallowed the stew without breaking eye contact, peering into his being with keen observation as if dissecting him. He seemed to have noticed this, as the faintest trace of a smile escaped his lips for a brief moment.
-----
Waking up the next morning, I got into a scuffle explaining to the maids that I could very much dress myself as I pushed them out the door before slamming it shut. Shortly after, I stepped out fully kitted up in noble attire. Luckily, I had them lay out what I needed on my bed, so I didn't walk out looking like a fool.
'Let's check out the map first.'
To the side of the doorway stood Wilfred, silent as usual, following me like a shadow. I wandered around the estate and its gardens for about an hour, simply observing and taking note of the surroundings, before stopping in the hallway, engaging in a stare with Wilfred.
'This guy really says nothing... No sass but also no bootlicking. I like it! +Rep in my book.'
After a few long moments, I broke this never-ending silence with a sentence that seemed to surprise Wilfred a bit, likely due to whatever my player character did in the past.
"Take me to the library. I would like to read, but my memory seems to still be hazy."
At this statement, Wilfred's eyebrows raised ever so slightly. A flicker so brief only someone actively searching for tells would catch it. I noticed it thanks to my countless hours in games, however, I have no clue what his impression of me was that caused him to make that face.
As he took the lead, I followed him through the maze-like halls. Upon reaching a large doorway, Wilfred simply opened the door for me and stood off to the side. Thankfully, his eyes were either closed after stepping away, or he would have been unnerved by the wicked smile on my face.
My mind filled with ideas as I stepped into the room where I would basically live for quite some time. The smell of old paper and dust assaulted my nose and the shelves loomed over me with leather bound tomes.
'Finally! Time to learn the lore!'
[1] Before anyone asks, no there is no child arc, it's going to be basically time skips until Idris is 18 for a couple chapters (like 2) and that's it. This is to set a base for his skills and knowledge of the world as well as avoiding a suddenly personality change explanation.