Darkness.
Silence.
Then—a sharp, icy breath filled his lungs.
Skye woke up with a violent gasp, his body jerking upright as though he had been drowning and just barely broke to the surface. But instead of cold water, he was surrounded by warmth. The light filtered through the white curtains and the scent of lavender lingered in the air.
His head pounded. His chest rose and fell too fast. His fingers clenched into the soft silk sheets beneath him.
The ceiling above him isn't the cracked white plaster of his old room. It's high, decorated with intricate gold moulding, polished to a gleaming finish. The bed he's lying in is far too large, the mattress sinking beneath his small frame. And his hands—his hands were tiny. Splayed in front of him were small chubby fingers, too soft and too smooth.
"This is..." His voice came out high-pitched, unfamiliar.
A child's voice?
Suddenly, a metallic chime rung in his mind. A sound all too familiar. It was robotic yet vivid and bright.
The system appeared out of thin air, hovering near Skye.
System: [This is the Fixing System 110. Body synchronization is 99%, please stay calm.]
System: [Ding! Synchronization complete! Welcome, host! You have successfully entered the body of Damien Hertz, age five, and the second son of the affluent Hertz family.]
Skye's mouth twitched. "...You put me in a child's body?"
System: [Correct, host! Congratulations on your new beginning and safe transmigration!]
"A new beginning my ass!" Skye cursed.
System: [Host, please refrain from shouting. Your vocal cords are still underdeveloped.]
Skye smiled chillingly while facing the system. If I could only punch it... just once... "Why don't you come down? Let me take a closer look at you."
The system shivered. It flew farther away from Skye, still hovering in the air.
System: [Detected high levels of murderous intent. Will not cooperate.]
Taking a deep breath, Skye calmed himself before saying, "Can you give me some more info like what my first mission is or the background of this body?"
Surprisingly, he was a lot calmer than he thought he'd be, seeing as how he could still banter with the system like this. Maybe all of this had yet to sink in.
The system chimed.
System: [Of course, host! You are currently in the Hertz family mansion located in Germany. The Hertz family is one of the wealthiest yet secretive families in world. Originating in Germany, the family rose to prominence in the 1700s with Abelard Hertz, a granted-noble-titled duke, who established an agricultural empire. Since then, the sons and daughters of Abelard branched out in different countries, establishing businesses in other areas such as mining, banking, stocks, real estate, luxury goods and apparel. They have amassed a fortune over the past few centuries.]
"So basically, I'm a rich young noble? Right?" Skye asked.
System: [Not exactly, host. The nobility was abolished in the 1900's. And since it's 20XX right now, the Hertz family lost their title decades ago. But, yes, the family is very wealthy. Like previously mentioned, Damien is the second son of Hertz family. Originally, he fought with his brother to the right to lead the company. However, not only did it lead to the falling out of the family, he also was not happy as he was lonely. So, the original died full of regrets.]
The system then bounced around Skye, as if gauging his expression.
System: [As for the missions, this system still has yet to receive them. Sorry, host. But this system knows that you'll receive two types of missions. These two missions are the main mission and task missions.]
Skye paused. Looking up at the cube he asked, "Main mission and task mission?"
System: [Yes, host! The main mission is the original body's wish while the task missions are necessary missions to complete the main wish. The main wish mission is necessary because of the backlash we would receive if we just transferred you to the original's body. Because we are fulfilling the soul's wish and regrets, we can easily transfer your soul!]
Skye paled. "So then, what happened to the original soul?"
System: [Don't worry, host. The original soul of the body had passed away peacefully knowing that his wishes could one day be granted! The soul has now entered reincarnation.]
Skye's small fingers tapped against his arm as he thought. "So... I'm basically doing a side quest for a dead guy in exchange for borrowing his body. And failure equals my permanent death."
Skye exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The depth of his eyes did not fit a five-year-old at all. "And you're absolutely sure that the original soul was okay with this? No lingering attachments, no unresolved resentment?"
System: [Absolutely, host! The soul has willingly departed with full acceptance of the arrangement. There is no risk of interference!]
Skye hummed, tapping his fingers against his arm. "Alright. I mean, it makes sense, somewhat. Morally? Still kind of shady, but I guess it's better than just stealing someone's life without consent. Though... this is all weirdly transactional for something involving souls."
He pondered for a few seconds before nodding and making up his mind. "Okay, let's do this."
System: [Host has made up his mind?]
"Yeah, I'll do my best in this transaction. Besides, there's nothing else I can do." Skye's eyes dimmed slightly. "To go back to my family, I'll do anything."
Then, he eyed the system. "But is there anything else you can do or provide other than information?"
System: [Yes! I can open a shop!]
"A shop?"
System: [That's right, host. As the 110 Fixing System, I can offer you items and other miscellaneous things to aid you with your missions!]
"Can you open the system shop right now?"
System: [Sorry, host. You must complete the first task mission to unlock the shop.]
Skye sighed. "Alright fine."
Once the conversation ended, Skye threw the blanket off and climbed out of bed, his little legs wobbling as he walked to the massive mirror on the other side of the room. The moment he caught his reflection, his breath stuttered.
Woah...
A child stared back at him.
Hair the colour of oak. Wide, round emerald-like eyes. A face eerily beautiful in a way that he'd never seen before. The boy in the mirror lifted a hand, and Skye felt the movement as his own.
It was then that the world finally settled into his bones.
It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a hallucination nor was it a game.
He really had been transmigrated.
He really died.
"Damien Hertz..." He murmured, looking at his reflection again. He doesn't recognize this child in front of him at all.
Skye looked up at the system. "Hey, system. You said the Hertz family was wealthy. How wealthy are we talking?"
System: [Net worth is innumerable. Let's just say that the Hertz family can do anything and get away with it.]
"Hah?" Skye's mouth fell open. "From the government too?"
System: [That is correct, host.]
"...Wow."
His heart pounded. His past life—the struggling young artist scraping by—he died there. And now he had been thrown into a world where he's no longer that broke student with nothing to his name.
He squinted around the opulent bedroom. A stuffed animal that probably cost more than his entire monthly rent in his past life. The extravagant bedroom. The silk sheets. The golden interior, it all screamed wealth.
He was now Damien.
The filthy rich second young master of the Hertz family.