The morning sun streamed through the slightly parted window shades, bathing me in a warm, golden light. A feeling I'd missed while in that godforsaken void for who knows how long. I was enveloped in soft, silken sheets, my body resting as if on a bed of clouds.
My eyes didn't wanna open and abandon this wonderful feeling so I forced them open to take in my surroundings. The room, unfamiliar yet oddly comforting, was massive. Despite everything, I felt a bit excited.
This was the gods' deal, obvious in hindsight, but I was too swept up in hopeless emotions to even consider a whole other second life.
Then, when he offered it, I was suddenly overcome with anxiety. What if it was worse than my previous life? Where exactly was he finding this body to stuff me in?
What if, what if, what if.
Of course, in his typical overwhelming fashion, he gave me no time to process, said some bull about being in a "time crunch" before the body began its decay or whatever, then boom bap, here I was in this… luxurious room.
He said he'd follow suit, but he wasn't here yet. Being on time seemed to not be one of his godly abilities.
Sure, I had died a horrible death just as I was finally starting to get control of my life, but this… this wasn't a bad start for my new one. Maybe that god was truly the god of luck…
Just as a smile began to creep onto my lips, a searing heat spread through my stomach and my smile instantly vanished. My muscles spasmed as I clutched my abdomen, a strained curse, slipping through my teeth.
My vision blurred and my eyes began darting around the room, looking for something, anything that could explain or even fix this fucking agony.
"Ugh, why me?" I groaned.
My breath labored. I could barely make out any shapes now, my mind retreating back into my subconscious, my ears ringing, a cold sweat running down my back. I was dying… again.
A strained chuckle escaped my lips.
Right then, a shimmering figure began materializing beside the bed, floating a few feet off the ground.
It was blurry 'cause of the uncontrollable waterfall of tears in my eyes, but I could tell who it was, golden hair and all. It was me… or rather, that god who'd taken my form.
I wanted to smack him just once. But I was too busy dying and could only spit out another curse with as much venom as I could muster. "You bitch!"
Agony was working overtime, doing its best to be unbearable, as if my entire body was being consumed by fire. If I had a knife, I'd have ended it all then and there. But there was no knife, so suffering was the way to go.
And that fucking god, even through these tears, I could guess the stupid look he had on his face.
He was suddenly close to me, though now with a body, I could feel him near. Not just the inexplicable warmth I got when we made contact, but also the sweet scent that radiated off him.
My eyes were able to focus on his features a bit clearly at the close proximity and yep, still my face.
"Ah, right. Sorry about that," he said in an apologetic tone, though his voice wasn't as urgent as I'd have liked. "This body died of poisoning. Let me fix that real quick." He said sheepishly, gliding even closer, as if flustered a bit.
Was he embarrassed? Good if he was, but most importantly, poisoning?!?!
Once near, he tentatively placed a glowing hand, brighter than the halo of light surrounding his form, on my stomach.
My hands fell away to my sides to make room, the clutching clearly wasn't effective so I figured I might as well let the god work.
Even before the healing began, a soothing warmth spread through me at the point of contact, melting away the pain. His hand caressed down to my abdomen, where I had been clutching earlier, and a slight tremble ran through my body.
When the soft light seeped into me, it was like a rush of pure euphoria. My eyes snapped shut as my mind emptied. I couldn't think, nor did I want to. Thoughts would only interrupt my perfect bliss. My body winding like a spring, my toes curling, then a sudden release… and I went limp.
When the warmth finally subsided, I could tell the god had moved away from me. I tentatively opened my eyes, a bit embarrassed for some reason, my body feeling light as air.
Regaining my senses, I sat up abruptly, a mix of panic and anger as I shouted:
"Poisoned?!" I glared at the god.
And of course, he avoided eye contact, as if ashamed of opening his mouth.
"Well, yeah." Like it was a casual, everyday thing.
I heard absolutely no remorse in his... lovely—fucking voice, so I calmed myself.
Anger wouldn't get me anywhere with this god.
"What kinda hell did you send me to?" I questioned through gritted teeth, holding back the simmering rage.
"It's not hell," he muttered, crossing his arms.
Was he annoyed that I was questioning him, or was he offended I'd think him a liar? I thought it was pretty obvious that I didn't trust him all that much, but he does seem clueless about social stuff.
He didn't seem outwardly malicious but a little voice in my head kept nagging, telling me he was keeping something from me.
"Could've fooled me with the torturous pain." I looked at him deadpan. "Come on, be straight with me. Is this like a new program where you lie about it being hell when it's actually hell?"
"Trust me, it's far better than the other options." He suddenly smiled a sinister smile, then frowned when he saw me staring, unamused. "Look, it was just a little poison," he explained. "In fact, that poison is the reason this body's soul was evicted. And subsequently the reason you can claim this body. And just now, I thoroughly purged your body of any impurities, not just the poison, so you're as healthy as a sacrificial bull."
"Uh-huh…" I didn't quite like that last part. Sacrificial bull?
It's not that I was ungrateful, I just felt way in over my head now. Poisoned to death? What would happen when the perpetrator saw me trotting around like the magnificent fairy I was?
They'd probably partake in some casual stabbing… or shooting, if this place had guns, or hanging, or more poison, or assassination, or—
"Hey," the god snapped me out of it. "Stop thinking about your death. You should be looking forward to all the ways you can live your new life," he said in his same excited demeanor. "Your fate is right in front of you, you just need to reach for it Sofia...It's a lot better than the void if I do say so myself."
I didn't wanna go back to the void, and I wasn't sure I wanted to see what came after death either. I strongly feared that the bad place was what awaited me on the other side. Maybe I was lucky to be snatched out of the system by this god.
Did I live a good life?
Do I know what a good life looks like?
I almost snorted, thinking back on my short eighteen years of life. The adults in my life surely weren't a good example. Eighteen fucking years, barely any time at all. I was basically still a child masquerading as an adult.
A long silence stretched between us before the god suddenly shook off the melancholy.
"Anyways," he broke through my thoughts as he awkwardly cleared his throat. "I really gotta go now."
My gaze snapped up to look at him floating there.
"What? No, you can't." Surely he wouldn't just leave me here. "I don't know the first thing about this world. I don't even know the name of my new body."
"Sofia. I can't just shirk my duties. I'm a god," he sighed, leaning closer. "Besides, I've been gone for far too long. If I stay a bit longer, the others will notice, and it won't be good for either of us," he said with a haunted expression. "…Mostly you," he muttered.
"What–"
"Yes, other gods and all that jazz," he sighed, running a hand through his shimmering golden hair.
He was answering like that was the question on my mind, when what I truly wanted to know was why it would be bad for me especially, it's not like I signed up for this.
But he left no room to cut in and continued.
"Don't worry, though. I'll pop by sometimes. I promise."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
His reassurance did calm me down a bit. I felt better about him leaving, knowing he'd return even if it was just occasional visits. I had assumed it would be it when he left and I'd be left to navigate this life alone with my dirty little secret. Ya know, me being a body thief and all that.
An easeful smile appeared on his face… so pretty… Anyways, putting my vanity aside.
I really was anxious, no knowledge of this world or this body. What kind of inconvenient, inconsiderate system was this? At least preload me with the memories of this body, but noooo~
All those transmigration novels I occasionally partook in to ignore my crumbling life were a lie? No overpowered system to guide me? No "cheat" skill? Was it because I was a girl… unless—
I looked up at the god expectantly, a big smile on my face.
"What?" He scooted away a bit with a scrunched face, making me roll my eyes at his reaction.
"Don't you have a system to give me?" I asked, a bit too excitedly. I mean, it was crazy thinking that transmigration was real. Surely systems could be a thing too, right? …Hopefully.
My mind was already racing at the possibilities. A luck-based system where I got luckier and luckier as I leveled up until I was the luckiest person in the world. Or maybe a luck-based system where I stole luck from others, ruining their lives in the process. The thought only gave me the slightest glee, so you can't say I'm a sociopath—I… wasn't too happy about it.
Maybe this could go the perverted route, where I get luckier the more I fu—
"What's a system?" he asked, interrupting my train of thought. The god's face twisted in confusion.
I blinked, stunned.
"You're joking, right?"
No, he must've been. The little fucking prankster he was. A transmigration without a system? Preposterous. I—I—I was being cheated. Robbed, even.
What was even the point if I couldn't get overpowered and flex on my enemies, like whoever the hell poisoned this body? How would I snatch the hearts of maidens and men left and right—
Maybe even their chastity, I thought.
He was still looking at me with that same confused expression. How could I possibly explain to this god what a system was?
I tried my best. I really did. Fumbling over my words, throwing around phrases like cultivation, game-like, and villainess of all things. All the while his face grew more perplexed and my explanation more convoluted.
I had never really tried explaining this stuff out loud, but what the hell? Why was it so hard?
"—andthere'slikethisspecialstorageplace,ashoptowinitems,quests,levelingupsolo,givinglikexrayvisionnotforpervertedthingsbutforconvenience,likeextralivesifyoudlike,spiritssummoning,makingsomeoneaslaveshadowslaveisfire,beingaparasiteorsomeshit,andthegreatestestatedeveloperispeakaswell,IwonderhowLloydWaterwillbeatfate?—"
"Stop!" He grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can't give you whatever it is you're rambling on about."
How offensive. I crossed my arms, a pout forming on my face. I really wasn't getting a system, was I? This whole thing was a tragedy from the start. But with this knowledge, it was somehow even worse. Woe…fucking…me.
I was really tempted to cry right here, right now, let the dramatics sweep me away. In fact, I needed a good cry, curled up into a ball on this heavenly bed, wallowing in my misery…
But not in front of him. I had my pride, you know.
So I sucked it up and just glared at him with dismay, trying my best to guilt-trip him.
Seeing my expression, he sighed, and I got a bit excited at the sound. My mother used to guilt me all the time, and I'd sigh just like that right before giving in to whatever absurd asking of hers.
Which meant he was giving in as well.
I wondered what he'd give me if not a system.
"Look, I don't know what this 'system' thing is…" He sighed even more, as if to emphasize his annoyance, but I couldn't care less.
"So?"
"It's power you want, right?"
Obviously, dude… but I kept my cool and said, "…Maybe."
He rolled his eyes, like he could see right through the restrained act, which he probably could.
"I guess it would be inconvenient if you didn't last long," he said thoughtfully. A little too thoughtfully—though, I was a bit preoccupied with more important matters.
My glare was getting harder to maintain as I buzzed with excitement at what he'd give me. An overpowered weapon? Indestructible armor? Maybe even a big thick slimy magical tentacled dil—
He snapped his fingers.
A sound like sparkles rang out as space warped and folded in on itself, spitting an object into his hand. He held it up with a triumphant grin.
It was…It was… a fucking mask?
A hideously ugly, wooden mask.