I was greeted by the sound of my own groaning. It was feminine, soft, and soothing, but dry and hoarse. It was something I had never heard before, yet it felt oddly familiar.
What happened before—the strange feeling of that dark limbo; the mystifying voice; the blinding, unreachable light; and the sensation of weightlessness—still haunted my thoughts.
I could recall it as vividly as I recalled the tragedy of my past existence.
I managed to come to the conclusion that I had transitioned from one existence to another. But where I was now remained a mystery.
The first sensation, from what I felt, was a gentle touch on my hand, as if someone was trying to comfort me. It was a strange mix of emotions, both comforting and unsettling at the same time. My skin crawled at the unfamiliar contact, my instinct to pull away suppressed by a desire to understand where I was.
And then came the discordant sound of unfamiliar voices speaking in a language I had never heard of before, yet I could understand clearly.
"She's moving!"
I heard a particular voice. It was soft, gratuitous, and filled with concern.
This caused me to slowly open my eyes.
I immediately noticed that one of my eyes seemed to be covered by hair.
But then, my eyes (or eye) beheld seven blurry figures looming over me on one side. There were a mix of maids, armoured knights of sorts, and rich-looking people. Wherever I was in this "First World," it was clear that, in reality, I had no idea what was happening or who these people were. My heart pounded, a familiar anxiety creeping in, making it hard to focus.
"Do you feel anything?" A voice asked me from the other side in a hopeful tone, which was part of another group of seven individuals clad in similar attire.
"Ah…" I attempted to speak, but my throat felt parched and scratchy.
"Take your time, dear. We can wait."
"But we need to figure out—"
"That can wait, Sable."
"Pardon my intrusion, Lady Lorelei, but Sable is right; we need to know what's going on and how she got struck with—" One of the others chimed in before getting interrupted.
"Like I said before, it can wait; she's just woken up from death and needs time to process everything…" Lady Lorelei's calm voice reassured me, but the urgency in the air made me realise that there was something important I needed to understand about my current situation.
For example, what death? I knew I... committed suicide in my past life, but how would they know? Wasn't I transported into a whole new world? Or... was this body occupied by someone before my arrival?
Nevertheless, I learned the names of two people—Lorelei, with sky-blue hair dressed in casual but expensive clothes, and Sable, with silver hair, also dressed in casual but wealthy attire.
Looking around more, I pondered my situation, which led me to to notice the room I was in.
Black and white seemed to be the main colour scheme; some of the furniture had onyx-trimmed edges and accents; and the room itself seemed to be some sort of aristocratic bedroom. Although I wasn't an expert on that topic, in my past life, I just listened to what people said and believed them. The opulence made me feel out of place, it was a massive difference to the squalor I was used to.
The air was heavy with the scent of roses among other things, and the lighting was soft yet elegant.
I then realised I was on a bed, with luxurious silk sheets and a canopy overhead. The feeling of the bed then suddenly arrived, and it felt like the missing piece to a puzzle I didn't know I was trying to solve.
"…Celeste, dear? Are you okay? You've been looking around your bedroom for quite some time now." Lorelei's soft voice brought me back to reality, and I wearily blinked, trying to focus on her concerned face.
But wait, Celeste? Am I Celeste? Wait, isn't Celeste a female name?
I didn't know how to respond; if I were Celeste, would that mean I took a female body for this life?
And if I did... was this room my bedroom?
"Y-yes… I am." I replied, trying to take in all the new information.
Another voice from the right, deep and rich, joined in.
"Maid Cecilia believes Lady Celeste is still under the aftereffects of surviving a Soul Reaper." Said the voice, a black-haired maid, possibly Cecilia.
"Hmm, that is a possibility." Lorelei said thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing in concern.
I couldn't comprehend a single word of their conversation. Aftereffects? Soul Reaper? My mind was spinning with confusion, and I struggled to make sense of the cryptic conversation happening around me.
"Soul Reapers are really disdainful creations." Sable muttered under her breath.
Seriously, what are Soul Reapers? My mind asked, desperate for answers.
However, what came next was something I never could have expected.
Soul Reaper: A scarlet dagger that can sever a person's soul from their physical form. It does not cause any physical damage, but the spiritual wound it leaves is typically lethal to the soul. However, in exceptional cases, the separated soul may be recovered, though the process is difficult and requires powerful magical intervention. It can be countered with energy absorption, negation, spiritual shielding, or by any other energy or spiritual defence mechanisms…
A plethora of words with a scarlet hue materialised in front of me. They seemed to float in the air, forming a detailed explanation about what Soul Reapers were, how they could be countered, their history, and more. It was practically a complete exposition on the subject, leaving no room for confusion or misunderstanding.
The information was overwhelming, very overwhelming, and I had no idea how to process it all at once.
Eventually, they vanished, and a single message showed up afterwards.
Five Uses Left
Five uses? Wait… Was that the perk? Complete... Elu...cidation, was it?
The Complete Elucidation perk seemed to match perfectly with the sudden appearance of the detailed explanation and the after message.
But before I had time to ponder about it more, a male voice interrupted my thoughts, bringing me back to reality.
"Celeste, can you stand?"
"U-uh… I don't know…"
"Try standing. We'll make sure you won't get hurt." The voice continued.
I was hesitant for a moment. I didn't even know why I was so trusting of these individuals in the first place. Haven't I been betrayed enough in my past life to learn not to trust anyone?
Regardless, I eventually tried to push myself up from the velvety bed.
As I tried, I noticed how my body felt lighter, my hands seemed smaller, and my balance was off, as if my centre of gravity had shifted.
But I couldn't do it, my muscles seemed to be weak and unresponsive.
"Don't worry, it's normal to feel disoriented at first." Lorelei reassured me.
I glanced over at my arms, hoping to figure out the reason behind my limp muscles.
My left arm appeared more slender and delicate than I remembered, but it seemed fine.
So, turning my attention to the right arm, I was startled to find a massive, deep gash running from the top of my forearm down to the palm. The gash was black in colour, with no visible bleeding, yet dark and crimson streaks emerged from its depths. At the palm of my hand, the injury resembled the head of a motor neuron, its ends frayed and jagged, reaching to my fingertips, the centre hollowed out.
"Wh... what happened to my arm?" I whispered, as my whole body began to tremble.
"Lady Celeste, whatever do you mean?" Sable asked. "It's just your mark."
Mark? What kind of mark is this? It can't be a simple mark. Is this not a wound that should be treated? Panic shot through me, and my heart hastily pounded in my chest. The anxiety was almost paralysing; memories of past injuries and neglect flooded back, making it hard to breathe.
I glanced around the room, the opulence and unfamiliarity of it all pressing down on me. The people here seemed to accept this as normal, but every instinct I had screamed that something was wrong. Very wrong.
However In that moment, amidst my rising panic, an idea sparked in my mind.
"Oh, right… sorry… Could I have a minute?" I muttered.
"Ah, please do take your time, Lady Celeste." Sable replied, her voice calm and reassuring.
Maybe the explanation perk could help me understand what was happening. I needed answers—desperately. My thoughts were frantic, my mind grasping for any semblance of clarity in this bewildering situation.
I closed my eyes briefly, focusing inward.
What is this mark? Please explain, perk. I thought, eager for the perk to activate.
If I used one of my five remaining uses on that explanation perk, I would certainly understand what the "mark" was. I didn't want to waste it, but I needed to know.
A few tense seconds passed. Then, as if responding to my silent plea, the perk activated and an additional set of words appeared in front of me. This time in a black-red hue.
The Mark of Corrupted Cardinality: An ultra rare mutation of genetic code that rewrites and corrupts the cardinality within the host's body. Effects include:
Absence of Pain: The host no longer feels physical pain.
Cardinality Level Cap: Limits the potential growth and development of the host’s natural abilities.
Enhanced Abilities: Certain physical and mental abilities may be temporarily heightened, but at a cost.
Potential Loss of Control: The host may experience episodes of uncontrollable behaviour and mental instability.
Shortened Lifespan: The mutation accelerates the aging process, significantly reducing the host's life expectancy.
Lack of Empathy: Emotional detachment and a diminished capacity for compassion.
Increased Aggression: Heightened tendencies towards anger and violence, often leading to destructive behaviour.
...
It went on and on about the potential effects of the mutation, its origin (which apparently no one knew about), and what it meant for those who possessed it. The information was overwhelming, but at least I finally had some insight into what was happening to me. However, now that I knew that it was a hated and feared mutation, it made me anxious about how others would react to it.
I felt a chill run down my spine. What did this mean for me? Would I be treated as an outcast, feared and despised like in my past life? The fear of rejection and isolation crept in, making it hard to focus on the rest of the explanation.
Looking around, the people surrounding me all kept that relieved look that I was okay. It made me curious as to why the people around me didn't seem to hate me for have such a mark.
"Is Lady Celeste feeling fine now?" Cecilia asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah… I think…"
"Lady Lorelei, do you think we should allow Lady Celeste to rest? It may be disorientating to wake up to so many people." An orange-haired maid asked.
"That may be for the best, Beatrice. We don't want to overwhelm her." Lorelei replied.
"Everyone, I demand that Lady Celeste be given space and time to recover. Please respect her privacy and allow her to rest."
Everyone around seemed to nod in agreement and quietly disperse; it was like Lorelei was some sort of queen giving orders to her subjects.
Either way, everyone left. However, I did notice Beatrice, that orange-haired maid, lingering by the door; her eyes, which definitely weren't crimson red before, glared at me suspiciously, as if she knew something about me that others didn't.
She eventually left too, but not before giving me one last piercing look that sent a shiver down my spine.
* * *
Two hours had passed with me gazing at the ceiling and admiring this room.
Since I got here, I learned some new names, found out what a Soul Reaper is, noticed a mark on my right arm, realised my body feels quite different, figured out that I might be "Lady Celeste" in this world, and noted people are already suspicious about me.
"This is all happening so fast." I whispered to myself, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden influx of information and attention. My mind raced with thoughts of my past life, the abuse, and the trauma I had endured. Could this new life be any different?
I noticed beside me, on an intricately designed nightstand, a black rose and a red tulip in a crystal vase on the nightstand next to me.
Even though I didn't really like flowers before, they somehow made me feel calm. Was it because of my new identity as Lady Celeste?
Either way, I felt drawn to it and found myself reaching out to touch the soft petals of the black rose, marvelling at its beauty and elegance.
It made me wonder what Lady Celeste was like before I took on her persona.
Was she someone who appreciated the simple beauty of nature, or did these flowers hold a deeper significance for her?
As I pondered, I realised I was still confined to the bed. So, naturally, I attempted to stand. Pushing my arms against the soft mattress, I struggled to lift myself up.
Unlike before, my muscles, while still shaky, seemed to work this time, and I sat up, gazing around the room again.
My gaze met a mirror hanging on the wall, and I couldn't resist the urge to see my reflection for the first time since waking up in this unfamiliar body.
My legs felt weak, but I managed to stand and slowly make my way to the mirror. Each step felt strange, as if I were learning to walk all over again.
When I finally reached the mirror, I was met with a reflection that was… expected, yet unexpected at the same time.
"Wh… Is this really me?" I whispered, feeling a mix of confusion and recognition as I studied the face staring back at me.
Their pale skin contrasted with their long, braided twintails, which featured a unique blend of black and white strands. One of their crystalline purple eyes was partially obscured by the hair, and they possessed a notably ample chest. Dressed in an elegant yet slightly gothic, frilled black dress, they had a delicate red rose pinned to their hair.
My finger subconsciously went out to trace the outline of the rose. The reflection did the same.
"I… wasn't expecting this…"
The figure in the mirror mimicked my movements perfectly, mirroring my surprise.
"I look like someone who hasn’t gone through the stuff I have… It feels nice, weirdly enough. Maybe it’s just a relief to look so different and, I don't know, prettier, instead of feeling all the pain from before. My horrid memories are still there, of course, but maybe this new body is a chance to leave the past behind and start over. Can I really have another shot at life?"
The idea of starting over in a new body, free from the weight of past trauma, was both enticing and daunting. As I stared at my reflection, I couldn't help but wonder if this second chance was worth the risk.
"I guess... Maybe with this new identity, people might actually be kind and not put me down for every little thing. But what could I do that would really make me happy? And is it even worth taking the chance to find out?"
My eyes caught a glimpse of a small glass bottle sitting beside the mirror. It had some sort of shimmering liquid in it.
What's this?
My hand went out to grab it, curiosity getting the best of me. But the moment I picked it up and brought it for a closer look, I dropped it; the liquid spilled onto the floor.
"O-oops. Uhm… I didn't mean to do that." I stammered, feeling a sense of guilt wash over me.
The liquid seemed to evaporate into thin air, leaving behind a faint, sweet scent that lingered in the room.
It calmed me completely, I didn't feel guilty anymore. I didn't feel fear, despair or any negative emotions. Instead, I felt a sense of peace and quiet wash over me, as if the mysterious liquid had some sort of magical effect on my mood.
There's no point trying to kill myself again… I don't want to leave this beautiful feeling behind. I thought to myself.
I stood there for minutes on end, the liquid continuing to work its magic on me, soothing my troubled mind and filling me with a newfound sense of hope.
Until suddenly, three consecutive knocks on the grand, arched wooden door behind me interrupted my thoughts and brought me back to reality.
"Is Lady Celeste awake?"
A female voice called out from the other side. I turned around and felt a strange, familiar feeling in my chest: fear.
Should I speak up or not?
It was a difficult decision to make, as I was unsure of who this person was and what their intentions were. The fear of saying something wrong, of provoking anger, lingered in my mind.
However, she seemed kind… kind enough for me to trust her. The gentle tone in her voice was way different to the harshness I was accustomed to.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to answer. "Yes, I-I'm awake."
The door creaked open slowly, revealing a woman in a maid outfit. She had black hair and warm hazel eyes; it was Cecilia.
"Lady Lorelei has requested for her daughter, Lady Celeste, to arrive in the drawing room." She said softly.
"Is that so? Uhm... I'll, uh, be there shortly." I replied, trying to think of words as I say them.
Cecilia nodded before leaving the room. It was a quick exchange, yet I felt delighted that I had a conversation without it being hostile or just a simple command. It was a small victory, but it gave me hope that maybe things were starting to look up for me in this unfamiliar place.
But saying I didn't feel apprehension would be a lie. Meeting Lady Lorelei might provide some answers, but it also filled me with a sense of dread.
What kind of mother would she be?
Looking back at the mirror, I take a deep breath before heading out of my room, only to find myself in a long hallway that stretched both ways into the unknown.
Where do I even go?