Death was swift… but it wasn't the end.
He slowly opened his eyes. A dim light filtered through a cracked glass window. The scent of damp wood and dusty earth filled his nose. He tried to rise—the wooden bed beneath him groaned, and his entire body screamed in pain.
He raised his hand before his face… and froze.
This wasn't his hand.
It was larger, rougher, covered in scars and hardened skin. Fingers built for war. His chest rose and fell as he touched his skin, confirming his fear.
"What… is this?"
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he scanned the room. A straw roof, mud walls, a small curtainless window. A cracked wooden cabinet with a half-melted candle. In the corner, a bucket of water covered with cloth. And a mirror.
He approached it. The face staring back was unfamiliar. A man in his twenties, with long crimson-red hair that reached his shoulders, and piercing violet eyes. Devastatingly handsome—yet weary. A faint scar cut across his left eyebrow, only adding to his allure.
"This… who is this person?"
Arian stared at the reflection—or at least, the reflection of this body.
Then it happened.
A glowing blue screen appeared before him:
[System Activated]
Soul Fusion: 100%
Integration: Complete
A storm of memories crashed into his mind—flashes of a life not his own. A boy training with a sword. A father who vanished. Betrayals. Starving villagers. Burning stables. A knife in the dark. And then… blackness.
"What is happening?" Arian clutched his head in agony as fragments of this body's memories forced their way in. Most were hazy, but enough to reveal the man's identity.
His name was Damian Alfarin, a minor baron in the northern lands of the Magnus Kingdom.
Groaning, Arian whispered, "So… I'm Damian now? But I was Arian… I was Arian."
"And this system… what is it? Is it like the ones inside games?" He muttered, pain still drilling through his skull.
[Greetings, Host]
[This system exists to aid you in this life]
[Many functions are available—including the Shop. You may also view your Status simply by saying: Status]
"Status," Arian said softly.
Whoosh.
A blue screen appeared before him:
Name: Damian Alfarin
Age: 20
Title: Baron
Talent: SS
Trait: ???
Class: Knight
Level: 1 [Next Level: 0/100]
Stats:
Strength: 18
Speed: 20
Endurance: 19
Mana: 0
Charisma: 9
Intelligence: 95
Available Stat Points: 0
Available Shop Points: 0
Arian's eyes widened. "Knight? And talents? This world… is it a magical one?"
He shook his head. "No… I can think about that later. I need to know the state of this barony now." He remembered well from his past life: noble courts were nests of conspiracies.
Growl.
"But first… some damn food."
Creaaak.
Arian opened the wooden door of his room and stepped into a narrow corridor leading to the kitchen. Old walls, worn floorboards, rustic tools. The smell of stale bread lingered in the air.
"My lord," a voice came suddenly. Arian turned.
"You… Garth?" he said, recognizing the old servant. Garth—the chief steward, the most loyal servant of House Alfarin.
"My young lord!" Garth's eyes widened in shock, then overflowed with joy. "My lord! You're awake! Thank the heavens—thank the heavens! The physician said you would never rise again!" The old man rushed forward, tears streaming, embracing him tightly.
"He truly loves the former Damian," Arian thought silently.
"It's alright. I am awake now," Arian whispered with a faint smile, gently pulling the old man off him as snot and tears smeared everywhere.
Through happy sobs, Garth stammered, "Though I rejoice at your return, you still need rest, my lord. You shouldn't be walking yet… I must fetch the physician!"
Arian quickly caught him by the arm and spent a long time convincing him he was fine.
"Garth… just bring me food. I'm starving," he finally said.
After eating a simple meal prepared by the cook, Arian bathed. Looking into the mirror once again, he whispered:
"Though this is not my face… though you are not me… I now live in your body. Your friends are my friends. Your family, my family. Your enemies… my enemies."
"I will live this life to the fullest— as Damian Alfarin."
He entered the Baron's chamber. It was large, furnished with a grand fireplace and a desk in the center.
He touched the rough stone wall and found a window. Outside lay a decaying village—rotting wooden houses, barren fields stretching into the distance.
"So this is… my fief." Damian's violet eyes hardened. "I will make it better. I swear it."
The door burst open. Garth entered again, his long grey hair tied back into a ponytail, his voice urgent.
"My lord! Though you've just awoken… you must see to the barony!"
Damian nodded. "My memory… it's still foggy. Tell me—where are we? How fares the land?"
"We are in your manor, in the village of Brixton," Garth replied softly. "It is part of Verdell. And you are its rightful baron."
Then his voice grew heavy. "But things are dire, my lord. The peasants starve. Most soldiers have deserted. Taxes haven't been collected in two seasons."
Damian sat, sipping from a cracked cup. "Be honest with me, Garth. Who am I? How do the people see me?"
The old steward hesitated, then said quietly: "You were… distant, my lord. Not cruel—but cold. Your father was beloved. After he disappeared… everything changed."
"When did he vanish?"
"Two years ago. No one knows how. His body was never found."
Damian's eyes narrowed. "And the surrounding lords? Any threats?"
"South of us lies Baron Kedrin—no, Viscount Kedrin now. He sends spies often. And the Church demands ancient tributes. Our granaries are nearly empty."
Suddenly, another screen appeared before Damian's eyes:
[Main Quest Unlocked]
Revive Verdell
Objectives:
– Restore order in the village
– Rebuild basic infrastructure
– Raise an army to defend Brixton
Damian rose and strode to the door. Before leaving, he turned back to Garth.
"Tell me, Garth… the people. What state are they in?"
The steward sighed, sorrow weighing his words.
"They are broken, my lord. Hungry, frightened, weary. They've lost hope… even in you."
Damian paused, violet eyes glowing faintly in the morning sun. A warm wind swept through his long crimson hair.
"Then let's give them a reason to believe again."