Chapter 2
I pushed myself up, staggering slightly as i struggled to gain balance. My sight was dizzy for a moment, but it quickly cleared. I looked around me, scanning my surroundings.
Everyone around stared at me like I'd just risen from the dead. Well technically, I did rise from the dead.
I was used to people looking at me with fear, with respect. But this, that look of pity I could clearly see in their eyes, it disgusted me. Who gave them the damn right to pity me? Because I had tried to kill myself? Not me, the owner of this pathetic body. His name was Lucian.
His memories was so clear in my head, and it felt like they were mine. I could feel his emotions clearly too, his rage, his sadness , his fear. Fucking emotions, I hated feeling emotions.
"Can you mind your damn business?" I groaned, glaring at one of the passerby who kept looking back at me instead of facing the way they were walking.
The blood soaked shirt I was wearing clung to my body uncomfortably, and aside that, I felt so pissed at everything. I had been so close, so close to my goal and now this happens?
From the memories I saw of the owner of this body, this world also had magic like ours, although I could barely feel my powers anymore, it was still there but only about 5% was left. Which means If I wanna get to the top once again, I would have to start all over.
Sucks but, I can manage. After all, I've always enjoyed the thrill of stomping over others to reach my goal. The world is wicked, that's for sure. Humans are selfish, no matter how nice you act or choose to treat them, they always find a way to make you the villain, to blame you for whatever wrong thing is going on in their lives. So why not go all out and just be the villain then.
I turned to face the building which Lucian had jumped from. It was the academy he attended, full of competition. Everyone wanted to reach the top, after all...this was a world where only the strong survived.
Damn it I could already feel a rush of excitement flow through my veins, I was really doing this all over again huh. A second life, a second chance, a chance to make things right. I wouldn't make the same mistake I made back then.
If possible, I might be able to return to my world after I get my powers back. But to do that, I'll have to find whatever artifact my powers were sealed into. I just hope I'm able to find it somewhere in this world. If I'm actually able to get my powers back, reaching the top would be a lot easier.
But for now, I first needed to handle the issue at hand. Which was to change into some damn new clothes.
I quietly walked into the academy, heading for the student dorms. Everything felt too familiar, like I was used to this place. Infact, it felt like I was Lucian himself, the only difference was that our personalities were completely different, I was no coward like he was.
"Lucian? Isn't that Lucian? What happened to him?" I heard one student whisper as I walked down the hallway.
"He must have gotten beaten up but Dante and his team. Too bad he got on their bad side."
Yeah I remembered everything. Dante was the main cause of Lucian's death. Lucian was the son of a criminal, a serial killer who was currently in prison. And because of that, every piece of shit in this place thought it was their duty to make his life hell.
And Lucian… the idiot just took it. Never once fought back. Never once tried to shove it in their faces that their perfect little families probably had skeletons worse than his old man's crimes.Too bad he chose to commit suicide instead.
Dante was the worst of the lot, a spoiled brat with a decent amount of magic talent and too much influence thanks to his father being a Council member. He had lackeys who laughed at his pathetic jokes, obeyed his every word, and made sure anyone he didn't like got crushed.
I clenched my fists. If I were at full strength, I'd have burned that smug bastard to ash by now. But in this body… I'd have to bide my time.
As I reached the dorms, heads turned. Whispers followed me like rats chasing scraps.
"Look at his shirt, it's soaked…"
"Why is he even back here? I thought—"
"Maybe Dante didn't finish the job."
I ignored them. Feeding into their gossip was a waste of energy. My eyes scanned the hallway until I spotted Lucian's door last on the left.
The room was small, barely enough space for a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe that looked like it had been stolen from a junkyard. The air smelled faintly of damp socks and instant noodles. Wonderful.
I shut the door behind me, leaning against it for a second. My heartbeat slowed.
Lucian's reflection stared back at me from the cracked mirror above the desk, pale skin, messy black hair plastered to his forehead, and eyes that looked… haunted. My eyes now.
"Pathetic," I muttered at the mirror.
But not for long.
I stripped off the bloodied shirt, tossing it in a corner. The fresh clothes from the wardrobe weren't much better, they were made of cheap fabric and worn at the edges. I would have never imagined myself living so downgraded. I was royalty, I had lived my life surrounded by servants who wouldn't hesitate to serve me. But well, this was a small price I had to pay after being given a second life. But I don't plan on living like this for long anyway.
A knock rattled the door.
"Lucian," a mocking voice called. "Dante wants to see you now! Seems like you'd forgotten your task. He is really pissed."
A slow grin spread across my face. Looks like I wouldn't have to hunt him down after all.