Chapter 1: Awakening

Aysse awoke to a pale, diffused light filtering through a glass ceiling above him. His vision wavered as he blinked, struggling to adjust to his surroundings. The room itself seemed ordinary at first glance—clean, functional, and minimalistic—but something was undeniably wrong.

His memory.

Fragments of his past swirled in confusion—a year of memories, blurred and missing. He strained to grasp a familiar thought, but all he found was a haze of foreign impressions that didn't feel like his own.

A sense of unease settled in his chest. He sat up slowly, feeling a slight dizziness, but pushed past it. There had to be a reason he was here. He knew that much, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember what it was. He had lost at least a year of his memories.

Then a more terrifying realization hit him: he couldn't sense his mana.

The energy that connected him to the world—the essence that had defined his very being—was gone. Panic flickered at the edges of his thoughts, but he forced himself to stay calm.

"Did I transmigrate to another world?" he muttered under his breath.

The possibility felt real, too real. Everything about this place was different. The room was immaculately maintained, furnished with polished surfaces and devoid of clutter. The walls were smooth; the ventilation was so perfect he couldn't tell if he was underground or in a sealed structure. There were no windows, no indicators of time.

He inspected the door. It wasn't reinforced, nor was he restrained. That was a good sign, or so he hoped. Pressing his ear against it, he caught faint voices conversing beyond—calm, professional, not the tone of captors discussing a prisoner.

Aysse took a deep breath, assessing every detail. He wasn't hungry or unclean. Someone had taken care of him while he was unconscious. That meant he was valuable—at least for now.

Then, as his eyes swept under the bed, he noticed something odd.

A sleek mechanism was embedded beneath it, with cables and thin metallic wires running into the wall. A sophisticated device, inconspicuous yet deliberate.

A pressure sensor... they were monitoring me, he realized.

Before he could plan his next move, the door slid open. Two figures entered—both dressed in medical attire. One carried a dagger at his waist. A peculiar detail struck him immediately: each had a tentacle-like appendage protruding from their forehead, which writhed slightly as if responding to an unseen stimulus.

Aysse's breath caught. Instinctively, he reached for his forehead—and felt the same.

His fingers traced the unfamiliar sensation. This wasn't a dream.

The larger of the two men, clearly the doctor, spoke first.

Dr. Vahr: "I am Dr. Vahr of House Veridan. I oversaw your Insertion into this world."

The word Insertion lingered ominously.

Although the language was new, Aysse understood it perfectly—the memory superposition had embedded their tongue into his mind.

Dr. Vahr: "You're likely disoriented. That's normal. The effects of the Insertion will subside in a few weeks."

Aysse remained silent, letting the doctor assume he was too groggy to respond.

Dr. Vahr: "The Insertion binds your body to a Faery. It is the only way you can live in this world."

Aysse's mind whirred. This wasn't just a new world—it was one where survival required being fused with something else.

Dr. Vahr: "Let me give you something. Nod if you understand me."

Aysse nodded slowly.

The doctor approached, extending his hand. From his palm, metallic tentacles unfurled, gleaming like liquid silver. The moment they made contact with Aysse's skin, a cold, electric sensation surged through his body.

A transfer of energy... he realized.

Dr. Vahr withdrew his tendrils.

Dr. Vahr: "I've just given you $100 Faeriar. It is both currency and the energy required to use your Faery's abilities. Try creating tentacles of your own."

Aysse hesitated, then focused. A faint current coursed through his arm, gathering at his palm. Slowly, his own tentacles emerged—but unlike Vahr's luminous silver strands, his were dull purple, barely reflecting light.

So… this is how it works here.

Three things became clear:

Magic, as he knew it, had been replaced by Faery energy. Faeriar was both power and money. Use too much, and he might be left vulnerable. The Faery contained knowledge. The Insertion had gifted him language, instincts, and even basic control over his abilities.

Elias, the younger of the two men, stepped forward. The tentacle on his forehead shimmered with a refined luster, though not as intense as Vahr's.

Elias: "I am Elias from House Veridan. Can you tell us your name?"

Aysse hesitated—if they had performed the Insertion, they already had information about him, perhaps more than he did.

Aysse: "... My name is Aysse. Nice to meet you."

Elias nodded, satisfied.

Elias: "Good. You're adjusting faster than most."

Dr. Vahr checked his wrist device and then grunted.

Dr. Vahr: "You are in perfect condition. I'll excuse myself—I have other patients to attend to. Elias will handle the rest."

The doctor exited, leaving Aysse alone with Elias.

Elias smirked as he leaned against the wall.

Elias: "You should feel lucky. It's rare for nobles to personally receive someone from the other world. Usually, we deal with... problematic cases."

There was an unspoken warning in his tone. Then his expression shifted, growing more serious.

Elias: "Anyway, welcome to the Kingdom of Eurory—the last place on this world where humans can live."

Aysse's breath hitched. The last place where humans could live?

Before he could ask, Elias stepped closer, lowering his voice.

Elias: "Tell me, Aysse. Do you remember why you're here?"

The question struck deep. In truth, he did not. The memories given to him during the Insertion had replaced nearly a year of his past—he could not remember why he had come to this world in the first place.

His heartbeat quickened.

Aysse (hesitating): "I… I am still unsure."

Elias exhaled sharply through his nose, his smirk widening into something sharper.

Elias: "The future of this world has already been sold. The question is—to whom?"