Part 1 – Whispers on the Road to Rosaria
The old wooden cart rattled as it trundled down the cobbled road, pulled by two broad-shouldered chocobos with dusty golden feathers. The wheels creaked under the weight of fine luggage, ornate chests, and silken bundles wrapped in the colors of a faraway kingdom. The heat of the afternoon sun pressed down gently, casting shimmering rays over the distant hills of Rosaria.
Inside the cart, nestled among the cushions of noble cloth, sat a young man.
He looked no older than fifteen—silver hair cascading down his shoulders in smooth waves, skin unblemished, and eyes… crimson like polished rubies. His gaze drifted to the open sky, expression unreadable. He wore a dark, elegant tunic—black and gold, draped with a long cloak lined with silver trim and deep purple. The garments were oddly styled, foreign, as if not of this world—yet somehow majestic enough to fit among nobility.
What the hell is going on…?
His name—at least, what he remembered it to be—was Alex.
But before waking up in that lavish bedchamber two weeks ago, before being told he was the foster heir of a distant noble house sent to the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, his life had been… something else.
Subway stairs… A headache… Then darkness.
And then—he had opened his eyes to this.
This place is… too detailed to be a dream. And those names—Rosaria, Phoenix Gate, Duke Rosfield…
His crimson eyes narrowed faintly.
This… this is Final Fantasy XVI.
"Milord," a voice called, shaking him from his thoughts.
It was one of the soldiers riding beside the cart—Captain Wymund, a hardened knight clad in red Rosarian armor, his breastplate gleaming with the insignia of a golden flame. A large scar cut down from his left brow, and despite the gruff appearance, the man had been surprisingly patient.
"You'll be seeing the gates soon. Best sit straight. You'll want to make a good impression on the Archduke's court."
Alex gave a polite nod. "Thank you, Captain."
God, this feels surreal…
There were six soldiers in total—two scouts on chocobos at the front, two more riding flanking positions, and two at the rear. Their discipline impressed Alex. Their armor wasn't just for show—these men had clearly seen real battle.
The group had passed by small hamlets and sprawling farmlands over the past day, making brief stops to refill waterskins and barter for feed. At one village, Alex had noticed a small boy selling carved wooden figurines by a well.
The child had looked up and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Are ya a prince, milord?" he'd asked, half-whispering.
Alex had only smiled in return, handing him a single gil coin—a currency he instantly recognized, much to his own disbelief.
This really is Valisthea…This is real.
Now, as the capital city of Rosaria loomed in the distance, the streets grew busier.
Vendors called out in thick accents, peddling spices, inked manuscripts, cured meats, and leatherwork. Children darted between carts, and a bard strummed a lute on the corner, singing a song about the Phoenix rising from ash.
As they passed through a market lane, Alex caught snippets of conversation:
"Did you hear the Dominant of Shiva is just a girl?""Not just any girl, mind you. The Ironblood might be plotting something again.""Another skirmish with Sanbreque last week. Gods save us all."
Alex's fingers curled slightly as he listened. The Dominants… This is before everything starts.Joshua should still be a child. Clive too. Jill…
And that meant he still had time. Time to figure out why he was here, and what he was meant to do.
His head pulsed faintly.
Ever since arriving, he had felt different. Stronger. Sharper. When he closed his eyes and focused, a strange menu seemed to flicker in his mind—a status screen.
He hadn't told anyone yet. Who would even believe him?
He focused.
Name: Alex
Race: Undead (Overlord)
Class: Magic Caster (Eclipse Lord)
Level: 100
HP: ∞
MP: ∞
Attributes:STR: 75 | AGI: 90 | INT: 500 | DEX: 80 | VIT: 300 | RES: ∞
Spells Available:Basic-tier Necromancy (locked)Summon Undead I (locked)Time Stop (locked)Greater Teleportation (locked)Inventory – accessible
That word—Overlord—appeared again and again.
These stats… They're insane.It's like I've got Ainz Ooal Gown's powers. But why? Why me?
Still, most of his spells were inaccessible. As if sealed.But his body—the raw presence, the passive skills—it was already there. Sometimes, when a soldier stumbled near him, they'd seem to freeze for a second before speaking again.
One even whispered the other night, "His eyes... they don't look like a boy's."
The cart turned one last corner before slowing at a stone archway.
Two Rosarian guards stood watch at the main gate, and beyond them, the marble towers of the Rosfield estate gleamed in the sun.
"This is it," Captain Wymund said.
Alex reached up, adjusting the black-and-gold pendant at his collar. The heirloom had a strange insignia—one that had caught even the Captain's attention before. He'd said it looked familiar, but old. Lost noble house, perhaps?
He exhaled slowly.
Let's see how this world reacts to me… and how I react to it.
To Be Continued in Chapter 1 – Part 2…