Athena's Awakening *

"Ms. Demerin, the company has scheduled a love-themed variety show for you. You just need to prepare for the signing of the contract."

Scheduled a what?

Athena's eyes fluttered open, she felt a sharp ache piercing her temples as if her head was about to split in two. She blinked, disoriented, taking in her surroundings.

Where am I?

What is this place?

Who are these people?

Her focus shifted to a futuristic, clean office with strange furniture and hologram screens.

So advanced? Am I not dreaming? 

There was a slight hum of technology, and a stranger in an attractive suit appeared in front of her, her face displaying worry.

Who is she?

"Ms. Demerin, are you okay?"

Before Athena could answer, a torrent of memories that weren't her own surged through her mind, vivid and overwhelming.

Athena Demerin. That's who she was now, or at least, who this body belonged to.

In her past life, she had been Athena, an orphan turned assassin in the 21st century.

Her final mission had been her undoing, eliminating the world's wealthiest and most elusive businessman and the strongest mafia leader, Xavier Angelus.

She had succeeded but at the ultimate cost, her life.

She remembered the cold, rigorous steel of the streets where she grew up, the relentless training, and the weight of every name on her master's kill list.

Survival in a cruel, unforgiving world had been her only option.

And now, she was here.

Waking up in this unfamiliar world, in a body that belonged to a celebrity, left her questioning her fate. Was this a second chance at life, or a cruel twist of irony?

Can I consider myself lucky or unfortunate?

How did fate choose?

Athena rubbed her temples, trying to ease the pounding in her head. The pain was excruciating, but it paled compared to the horrors of her past.

"Ms. Demerin?"

The woman's voice pulled her back to the present.

Athena responded, "I'm fine. Continue," in a sharper-than-intended tone.

The agent hesitated, then resumed her pitch about the love-themed variety show the company had arranged.

Of all variety shows, why a love-themed one?

The agent's words flowed smoothly, but Athena's mind drifted to the fragments of her new life.

"And don't forget," the agent concluded, "you need to confirm your status with the Bureau and get a copy of your single certification. It's standard procedure."

Athena nodded absently. "Okay."

When the agent left along with the staff, Athena exhaled and leaned back in her chair.

I am in the interstellar era. My soul must have transmigrated in a different dimension after my death. I never thought occupying someone else's was possible.

Slowly, she began to sift through the patchwork of memories flooding her mind, piecing together who this new Athena was and what this world held for her.

Interesting.

Athena Demerin was the cherished granddaughter of the prestigious Northern Duke's House, one of the four noble families governing the Andromeda Galaxy's A-ranked planet, Asenus.

What a weird name, Asenus Planet.

This planet was home to a royal family and several influential lineages, with the Demerin family entrusted to guard the vital northern border.

Duke Nathaniel Demerin, the head of the house, had three sons, Ryan, Lansmith, and Carl.

Lansmith, the second son, was the father of two children, Lawrence, the diligent heir, and Athena, the family's beloved star.

Athena was no ordinary noble. Unlike others who basked in the privileges of their titles, she chose to chase her dream of becoming a star.

Was she that bored?

Despite her family's unwavering support, she refused to rely on her lineage, fearing it might tarnish their reputation.

What a fearless lady.

Instead, she hid her noble identity and worked tirelessly to achieve her goals through sheer determination.

But her ambition came at a steep cost. At just eighteen, Athena's relentless pursuit of becoming an S-list artist within three years proved fatal.

Overworking led to her untimely demise, leaving her dreams unfulfilled. She only spent two years and died of exhaustion. She's twenty years old by now. Such a young age...

Now, another soul inhabited her body, one who understood both the burden of ambition and the price of survival.

"Now that I've taken care of your body," the new Athena thought, "it's my turn to take care of you, and your dreams."

She glanced down at the cheap optical brain strapped to her wrist.

So this is a tool similar to a computer and a phone combined. Interstellar people are truly smart!

Its antiquated style was an obvious contrast to the lavish lifestyle she could have had as a Demerin, reflecting the thrift of its prior owner.

"You were really too frugal," Athena mused with a wry smile. The faint hum of its interface flickered to life, casting a soft blue glow on her wrist.

Her mind churned with possibilities. Was it worth continuing to struggle in anonymity when she had the undeniable power of the Demerin name behind her?

I can take advantage of it...

If she revealed her identity, the public support of one of the galaxy's leading noble families could launch her career to unimaginable heights.

"Perhaps," she thought, "it's time to weigh the benefits. Using the Demerin name might be the fastest path to stardom."

The decision loomed large, but one thing was certain, this time, Athena Demerin would live fully, boldly, and without regrets.

-

When Athena stepped into her temporary home, she froze, taking in the surroundings. The furniture was minimal and worn, the walls bare and unadorned.

What kind of mess...

Everything seemed as though it had been bought at the lowest price possible.

Athena's lips curled into an assortment of disbelief and laughter as she whispered something under her breath. "Is this... a storage unit pretending to be a home?" 

She moved through the small space, her gaze landing on the battered couch and a table with one leg unevenly propped up by a makeshift wedge. Her eyes narrowed.

If I hadn't seen the hefty balance in her bank account, I might have believed Athena Demerin ran away penniless and brought nothing from her family's estate.

Curiosity led her to the kitchen, or what passed for one. When she opened the refrigerator, her jaw nearly dropped. Rows of vials filled with dull-colored liquid stared back at her.

"Nutrient solutions?" Athena groaned, pulling one out. Her eyes skimmed the label. It was strawberry-flavored.

"Not a single piece of real food in sight?" She sighed, exasperated. "You really didn't live like a noble, did you?"

Who gave her this idea? Her memories were somehow passive, like a dull soul in a living body.

Deciding to try it, Athena unscrewed the cap and took a sip. Her eyes immediately widened, and she spit it out into the sink.

"What the hell?" she gasped, wiping her mouth. "What kind of flavor is this? Rotten strawberry?"

The lingering aftertaste made her stomach churn. She turned to her optical brain, activating its scanner to analyze the contents of the nutrient solution.

It's totally gross!