Jace Vyn's new life hit him like a fireball to the face. One second, he was floating in the void's cozy embrace; the next, he was trapped in a body that felt like it had been cobbled together by a blind necromancer. His skin itched like a flea convention, his joints creaked like a haunted house, and every breath tasted like regret.
He opened his eyes to a ceiling that looked one sneeze away from collapse; moldy beams sagging under soot and despair. The air was a rancid stew of sweat, rotting vegetables, and something cheesy that made his new throat gag like it was staging a revolt.
"What the hell…" Jace rasped, wincing at his voice; a high-pitched wheeze that sounded like a dying bagpipe. Not the velvet baritone that had seduced readers and lovers alike.
Dread swirled as he pulled himself up, and his body protested with snaps and aches that made it seem like it was running on spite. The shack around him was a mess. The bed was broken, the fireplace was falling apart, there was a table of old food remnants, and a pile of rags that might have been clothes in a prior life. This was his new HQ for saving Lusteria. Fantastic.
A cracked mirror hung on the wall, daring him to look. Jace shuffled over, heart sinking. The reflection was a horror show. Lyss hadn't just given him an unattractive body; she'd handed him the crown for Lusteria's ugliest man. A bulbous nose, red and lumpy like a cursed potato, dominated a face that looked like it was built during a storm. His left eye sat higher, giving him a permanent "huh?" look, while his lips twisted into a scowl like he was born with it. There were warts all over his body. Some were small, and one near his ear had a hair that stood up like a defeat flag. His hair was grayish-brown and oily, which is a violation of grooming.
"Lyss, you sadistic trickster!" Jace bellowed, his wheeze echoing in the shack. He prayed no one heard; this person's social status was probably below dirt.
The Charm System flared to life, its glowing blue text mockingly cheerful.
---
[CHARM SYSTEM - STATUS UPDATE]
[Host: Jace Vyn (Vessel: Wart Hobb)]
[Level: 1]
[Charm Points: 0]
[Physical Attractiveness: 2/100 (Abysmal)]
[Charisma: 15/100 (Barely Passable)]
---
"Abysmal?!" Jace snarled. "This face is a war crime!"
The system, either clueless or cruel, pinged with a new prompt.
---
[NEW QUEST: "First Spark of Charm"]
[Objective: Make Nia Kell, Tavern girl, Smile]
[Reward: 10 Charm Points + Starter Bonus]
[Time Limit: None]
[Accept? Y/N]
---
Jace stared, the absurdity sinking in. He was Wart Hobb, Lusteria's walking nightmare, tasked with charming a tavern girl in a world where his face could scare a dragon. "Seduce my way to heroism looking like a dungeon reject?" he muttered, but the spark that had fueled his novels flickered. He'd written rogues who won hearts with wit and grit. Looks were just one tool.
"Alright, Wart," he said, glaring at his reflection. "Let's see if charm can outshine… this."
He accepted the quest with a mental nod, the system chiming like it was laughing at him.
******
The Rusty Goblet squatted at the village's heart like a drunk uncle nobody invited. Its timber frame sagged, stained by smoke and time, and a creaking sign showed a goblet rustier than the name suggested. Jace hesitated at the door, his wart-riddled body a far cry from his old swagger. On Earth, he'd owned rooms with a smile. Now, he'd be lucky if people didn't flee.
The inside of the tavern was dark and gloomy, with scarred tables, low ceilings, and air that smelled like old beer and sweat. People bent over their mugs, their faces showing how defeated they were.
Behind the bar, Nia Kell moved with sharp efficiency. No storybook beauty, her practical braid and keen dark eyes marked her as someone who saw through nonsense. Her weariness, though, hinted at dreams long buried.
Time to rewrite the playbook, Jace thought.
He lurched to the bar, aiming for charm but landing an awkward hobble. People recoiled, one sliding his stool away with a mutter.
"Evening," Jace said, easing onto a creaking barstool. "Your finest ale."
Nia froze, her eyes flicking to him in shock. "Wart? You're… you're using full sentences?"
Apparently, Wart wasn't known for words. Ouch.
"Been practicing," Jace said, attempting a smile. His reflection in a mug showed a grimace that could curdle milk. Gods, this is brutal.
Nia poured an ale, her movements wary, and slid it over. Jace tried his old finger-brush move, a surefire heart-melter back home.
Disaster. Nia jerked back, knocking over a pitcher. Ale splashed everywhere, drawing every eye in the tavern.
"Sorry!" she stammered, grabbing a rag. "You just… surprised me."
"By looking like a swamp monster?" Jace quipped, keeping it light despite the sting. "Can't blame you."
She was surprised by how self-aware he was. She stopped for a moment, then huffed, which sounded like a giggle. It was faint, but it counted.
---
[QUEST UPDATE]
["First Spark of Charm" Progress: Nia Kell Smiled (1/1)]
[Reward: 10 Charm Points + Bonus Pending]
---
"You're… different," Nia said, cleaning the mess. "Normally, you grunt and grab the cheap stuff."
"Had a cosmic wake-up call," Jace replied, leaning in slightly. "You seem like someone who reads people. I need advice on… blending in."
Nia's brows rose. "Wart Hobb, asking me for advice? You sure you're not drunk?"