Changes

A sharp inhale filled his lungs with air. Having reviewed the last of his memories as Akiol, his identity became fully realized. 

Memories, not his, existed already in his mind. As he frowned he came to realization that it was in fact the opposite. These memories were in this mind already, it was his memories instead being the invader. Massaging his temples to soothe the lingering pain of the migraine. This took a few minutes before the pain vanished and he was able to sort his thoughts. 

It was as he thought. This was reincarnation! This body of his, it's not Akiol's. Rather it belonged to a 19 year old named James. Why did the gods send him in someone else's body? Slowly rising to his feet he stumbled throughout the room he was in. Words filled his mind, knowledge regarding his surroundings becoming more clear by the moment. Names of items, their history, and their purpose. When the bed he woke on entered his sight another pang of pain entered his mind. It was short, far shorter than his initial spike. 

James had died, that was the memory. The original owner of the body had passed out from exhaustion and suffocated in his sleep. Akiol frowned at the death but didn't linger. Instead he paid his respects and continued to move on.

Slowly he became more aware of what this world was. A stark contrast to his own. Mana was nonexistent and fighting techniques were primitive, their strength rudimentary. Even with a lifetime of training no human could slice a tree with a sword. Such a feat was the standard of veteran warriors of his world. However the technology was something of wonder. Much like the artifacts of his world, but far more broad, complex, and common. 

It seemed this planet has reached almost world peace, compared to war driven world of his own. Sitting down on a. . . yes it was a couch, he gathered more information. James' history and more knowledge of his purpose. After an hour of this process he came to a puzzling conclusion. He didn't have a purpose. Akiol was known as the hero from birth. Training himself to live up to the title, his entire life he moved towards the end of the prophecy. Now that it was complete he was. . . free?

Failing to live up to any excitement Akiol contemplated it. This sudden freedom to live as he pleased was strange and made him unsure. Scratching his scalp he devised a plan. From what he could remember as his last moments as Akiol the rest of his party was also reincarnated. There was a large chance that somewhere in this world they too were experiencing what he was. The first order of business was to find his party and reconvene. Unfortunately he hadn't the slightest idea on how to do this.

Next, improve this body he was given. The strength was such a significant drop he felt lethargic. He couldn't keep moving like this. The third step. . .

Akiol frowned, there was something he couldn't remember. Just as he reached for the thought he stopped, like the thought never existed. Suddenly there was no third step. Akiol's plan only had two steps.

A wave of exhaustion flooded his body. It seems the integration of his memories and this body proved to be taxing. Moving back to the bed he laid upon it, amazed by its softness. A comfort like this was an extreme luxury in his world. Due to him constantly being on the move he grew used to uncomfortable places to rest. To have something like this be within arms reach. What a world of luxury.

With both the exhaustion and the comfort it took Akiol only a few moments to fall asleep. His dreams filled with memories of all sorts.