Return

I jolt awake, my eyes snapping open. The world around me is blurry for a moment, but I quickly focus, trying to orient myself. My body feels... off.

I'm lying on something soft, something... familiar, but not. I blink, and my gaze shifts upwards, eyes tracing the high ceiling.

Where am I?

The room is grand--luxurious even--its decor refined and polished. My mind is racing. Confusion washes over me like a cold wave. I don't remember how I got here. I... I was dying. The poison. The serum. I--

My heart skips a beat. I sit up abruptly, the sudden motion making my head spin. But as my hands touch the fabric of the bed, i look at them. They're... small. Smaller. I pause, flexing my fingers, then move my hands over my body, feeling the unfamiliar shape. I feel the texture of my skin, but there's no pain, no injury, no mark of the serum's corruption.

What the hell is happening?

I look down at my arms. They're... different. slimmer, smaller, almost delicate compared to my old, more muscular build. My torso is thinner too. I slide my hands down my chest, my legs, my whole body, trying to find something--anything--that feels like the person I used to be.

But nothing. There's no sign of what happened. No physical injuries. Nothing to explain the drastic change.

I feel my chest tighten, a smile creeping up on my face as the realization hits me. I'm in someone else's body.

My body trembles with excitement. I laugh--low as the weight of it settles. I've never felt this kind of thrill. The madness of it. It's falling into place.

I swing my arms out, unable to contain my joy. I fling them wide, not thinking about the space around me. But then--

Bang

A loud crash rings through the room as my fist slams into something solid. The wooden headboard of the bed dented in, a huge one at that. Creacking and groaning under the force. I look over in shock. What?

How the hell did this small body do that?

I blink, staring at the dent in disbelief. That's not supposed to happen. I thought I was weak--fragile in this new body.

And then, it hits me.

I start laughing again, this time in hysterics. it's manic, wild. The serum worked, not on me, but on someone else, but on me at the same time.

How does that even work?

I look at the hands in front of me again. The golden caramel glow of the skin, the warmth I feel emanating from within. 

Before I can think about it further, I hear something. Footsteps--running. The sound echoes through the halls outside my room. 

I tense, my senses sharpening, even more heightened than they ever were. I can hear everything--the exactmoment they'll step through the door. The exact moment they'll--

The door swings open, and a group of people rush in. They're dressed in fine attire, a mixture of bodyguards and servants. They faces are filled with concern, looking around the room in a panic.

"Master!" One of them calls out. "Are you alright? What happened? What was that noise?"

the word catches me off guard. Master? I blink at them, my mind still spinning from the overwhelming changes. They're calling me master? It doesn't make sense. Where even am I?

I raise a hand, stopping them all from speaking, feeling the power of their attention in my grasp. "I'm fine," I say with confidence, though inside, I'm reeling. "Leave. All of you."

They hesitate for a moment but quickly comply, except for one. they also don't seem to bother trying to get him to leave.

He must've been someone this body trusted.

He looks about my age. He's tall, but his build is more lean than muscular. his skin is dark, but there's a unique softness to his features, like he's not fully grown yet. His hair is short, tightly, coiled, and neatly kept, and he wears a dark suit that matches the others in the room. But there's something about him--his eyes, maybe. They're sharp, calculation. He's clutching a sword--not for any offensive purpose, but with a protective grip, as if ready to shield me from anything.

He looks at me with a mix of curiosity and concern, his brow furrowing. He seems nervouse, unsure.

"Are you... okay, Master?" he asks, his voice quiet, but llaced with anxiety.

I'm curious now. This boy... he's different. "What's my name?" I ask, trying to hide the sense of amusement in my voice

"Huh?" the boy voice in worry and confusion.

"I've lost my memory," I say it casually, it's not entirely a lie, but it's not the whole truth either. I've got no memories of who's body I'm in.

His eyes widen, and he stumbles back in surprise, shock evident in his voice. "What? You... you've lost your memory? Master, no!"

He's clearly distressed, but I notice how quickly he tries to quiet himself, a sense of loyalty flickering in his eyes.

I wave my hand dismissively, trying to ease his worry. "It's fine. Don't worry."

"Now what's my name?" I ask once again.

He responds with "Malik, Master. Malik Von Auster."

Malik

The name settles into my mind, but it means nothing to me--not in this life. But... I recognize it. Von Auster. I've heard that name before. It's famous. Powerful.

I take a moment to digest this, letting the weight of it sink in. "Malik, huh?" I say softly, testing the name on my tongue. 

"Yes, Master, it means King."

I feel a rush of pride, when he said that. power. However Malik was, he was important.

"Tell me what's happened? What's going on here?"

The boy's posture straight but tense, and begins explaining. "You... you're the new head of the Von Auster family. Your parents died a couple of weeks ago. The family's been... it's been difficult since then. But your uncle's been helping you control everything. He really treasures you. and You're... you're still getting the hang of it.

I process his words, my mind already spinning with possibilities. Malik's family. The Von Auster family. Powerful. Dangerous.

I nod slowly, absorbing the information. "And what year is it?" I ask, wanting to understand more.

"2067," he replies, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of worry.

"hmm..." I voiced. It's been a year since i've died.

 I look at the boy, "You'll be my new bodyguard. Wait outside. I need to figure some things out." I told him.

He nodded his head, as he got up and starts walking to the door.

"Ah... Whats your name?" I asked him.

"Damien, Master," He told me.

I nodded. "Oh and tell someone to give me a new bed," I said to him before he left out.

I sit back on my bed, my mind racing as I try to process everything. This is it. The opportunity I've always dreamed of. The power of the Von Auster family is mine to command. This new body. New name. New life is mine to control.

But first I need to know what's all happened this past year.