I had lived a pathetic life.
Abandoned by my parents at an early age. Homeless until I was fifteen. Then, a simple delivery boy job that barely paid enough to rent an attic.
Needless to say, I was barely getting by. I had lost all interest in living. But I swear, when that truck was two feet from my delivery bicycle, my instincts reflexively urged me to move.
I twisted the handle as hard as I could.
CRUNCH!
It broke off and came loose in my hand. The truck rammed directly into me, and I crashed straight into the road divider.
I couldn't scream. My jaw was crushed, my teeth scattered across the road, some embedded deep in my own tongue. My ribs had shattered, my organs pulped.
My head... it was split open, bleeding heavily.
Darkness flooded my vision. The loud noises of traffic buzzed and beeped before fading into silence.
I felt the heat leaving my body. Someone grabbed my arm, but I couldn't feel it.
"So, this is how it ends?" I mused. What did I even do to deserve such a painful death?
I succumbed soon after that, lying on the ground as too much blood was lost. I heard an ambulance siren, but by the time it arrived, there was nothing left to save.
I woke up in a completely different place. A massive bed, big enough for ten people. And oh, so warm.
I touched the fabric; it was extremely soft and fluffy, the color of blood-red silk.
"What in the world..." I sat up and looked around. I was in a luxurious chamber. Sunlight streamed through a colossal arched window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The walls were hung with rich, dark runic carvings. A massive, unlit fireplace of carved marble dominated one wall, and an ornate wardrobe stood in the corner, its dark wood gleaming.
Was this a dream? A hallucination? Didn't I die in that brutal accident?
My breath hitched as I thought about what had happened. Just remembering the scene made my chest tighten. I clutched it and forced myself to exhale.
Calm down. First, let's make sure this isn't a dream.
"Ouch!" I pinched my cheek. It hurt.
"Not a dream... But where am I? This room... these hands."
I brought my hands up in front of me. They were clearly not mine. They were soft and slender, belonging to someone who had likely never seen a day of hard labor in their life. My old hands had been calloused and covered in scars.
I stood up and approached the full-length mirror mounted in one corner. I looked at my reflection and was stunned.
Pale skin with a rosy tint. Silver hair that fell just below my eyes. A lean, healthy body with a good balance of muscle and fat.
I was topless, dressed only in loose-fitting lower garments. I ran my hands all over myself, feeling if this was real skin and not some costume. I ran a finger across my chest; the ribs that used to jut out were gone, hidden beneath a layer of healthy flesh. I knocked my fists gently against my bones. The usual dull ache of calcium deficiency was gone; these bones felt strong and healthy.
Most striking were my eyes: a brilliant blue that seemed to shine with some inner light stared back at me.
I was a completely different person. I looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, around the same age I was. Other than that, everything was different.
"How can this be... Don't tell me..."
Only one possibility came to mind.
"Reincarnation? No, that's when you start as a baby... Transmigration? Isekai?"
I had heard of such terms; they were too popular not to know. Even a dirt-poor delivery boy like me had a basic idea of these concepts.
"No way, it can't be. Maybe it's all just a hallucination. Maybe I survived the crash and am in a hospital, lying in a coma?"
But if this was a coma-induced hallucination, it was far too realistic. Not only did the pinch hurt, but I was experiencing a sensory overload: the faint breeze hitting my bare skin, the cold floor beneath my feet. My vision was also extremely clear; every pore, every ridge of my skin was visible.
My head hurt just from thinking about it all, confusion warring within my mind.
"Let's just calm down for a second," I sighed, shivering as I finally noticed how cold I was. I slipped back into the bed and burrowed under the heavy quilts.
"Phew... so warm..." I closed my eyes. When was the last time I had slept in a bed so warm, so comfortable?
"I don't need to panic. Let's take things slow. If this is some transmigration trope, a system or a spirit is bound to interact with me."
The moment the word "system" crossed my mind, a sharp click echoed in my head, like the sound of a vault opening.
A translucent red, holographic panel appeared in my vision. A neutral, synthetic voice rang directly in my mind.
[System Binding...]
[Binding Successful.]
[Welcome, Host. You have been transmigrated to the world of Archondria.]
[Your current stats are as follows...]
[Host: Luis Eliza Blizt]
[Race: Human (87%)]
[Bloodline: Blizt]
[Magic Core: Locked]
[Strength: 100]
[Health: 100]
[Intelligence: 90]
[Stamina: 120]
[Luck: 150]
[Charm: 200]
[Skill(s): {Guide: Lvl 1}]
[I am your unique skill, {Guide}. In this new life, feel free to ask me any questions you may have. Just think the question; I am connected directly to your consciousness.]
[You do not possess the memories of this body, so I will provide hints and context when necessary and permitted.]
I stared at the panel, my mind racing. So, it was real after all. Transmigration. A new body. A new life. A chance to start again, free from the misery and dullness of my life on Earth.
However, I was still perplexed by it all, with so many questions I wanted to ask.
"Hey, wait a second. First, tell me what's going on. How did I get here, and why?"
[An excellent question, Host.]
[You have been selected for a second chance at life. When you died in your world, your soul was brought here for a new beginning. As for why you were chosen, it was not entirely random, but rather a glitch in the system.]
[The owner of your new body, Luis Eliza Blizt, and you both died at the exact same time, down to the picosecond.]
I took in the explanation and closed my eyes. So, not only do other worlds exist, but there are supernatural powers that can switch souls between them. And here I was, the result of it all. Starting over. I looked at the panel again. Magic Core? Skills?
I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. In my previous life, I was envious of others who had comfortable lives, parents to depend on, friends, and most importantly, the freedom to explore their potential. Now, I had something even they could never have. I had always thought God was unfair to me, but this... could this be compensation for all my suffering?
"So, if I believe what you're saying, who is pulling the strings? Who transmigrated me and created you? And what am I supposed to do now?"
[The one who pulls the strings—my creator? I am afraid I have no such information in my database. Whoever it is clearly prefers to remain anonymous.]
[As for what you have to do, it is simple. You don't have to do anything extraordinary. You just get to live this new life as you wish. This new body, its belongings, its relationships, its problems, and its advantages are all yours to deal with. The original Luis has passed on, so you may do as you please with no reservations.]
A small, involuntary smile played on my lips. This was the best-case scenario. I almost thought I'd have to defeat some demon lord or something. I could just relax and leisurely enjoy this second chance.
I leaned my head back and spread my arms wide, looking at the ceiling. My heart pounded with excitement alone.
"By the way..."
BOOM! BOOM!
My question was cut off by a loud banging on the door.
"###### ###### ### # ## ####### ##!"
A female voice called out from the other side. I could barely hear it; the door was made of thick, solid black wood.
"What's she saying?" I demanded, getting out of bed.
[Auto-translation initiating...]
[Complete.]
A system notification popped up as I approached the door.
"Young Master Luis! How long do you intend to stay in bed? Today is your name day and the day of your Awakening Ritual! It is already the eleventh hour!"
This time, I understood her perfectly.
I grabbed the ornate door handle and fumbled with the strange mechanism. It finally unlocked with a solid thunk.
Then, I swung the heavy door open.