NO REST FOR THE INNOCENT

A cool breeze was what woke me up, the chilly feeling having me tucking my toes right back into what seemed to be a blanket; my eyes had been too lazy to spring open—at least until I realized I wasn't sleeping on a bench or my usual at home bed.

The room was dark and my vision was still stained by my drowsiness but I could tell I clearly wasn't in my usual setting. As far as my memory served me, I don't remember ever lying down to sleep in a medieval looking room.

Cautiously, I stepped out of the bed; my movements aimed towards the open balcony door that quickly revealed an unfamiliar town—city? Most definitely the types you'd see in old films about ancient Britain and so on.

"So, it wasn't a dream..." I let out, my voice nearly a whisper as I pocketed my hands, shielding my soft palms against the unexpected cold. My eyes still glued on the view before me.

For a moment, the confusion that had taken over slowly dissolved away; the new reality I had just been offered quickly dawning on me. I'd rejected the offer at first because of my worries, some part of me believed my problems would have simply been carried on from one life to another.

Like a folder being shared across devices via a USB drive.

The refreshing feeling of simply knowing those who haunted your past were no longer around to prey on you was enough to send a wave of satisfaction coursing through me. The devils that sent my life spiraling downhill were no longer able to reach me; felt like having the high ground in the situation. Couldn't resist showing a smile to that information as well.

That being said, the confusion had only taken a short stroll before quickly making its way back—where the hell did the so called 'architects' send me and who was I?

From the moment I'd woken up, I had instantly noticed the change.

Smaller body, softer skin, fancier attire and no rugged beard with stray grey strands sticking out. Unless I'd been taken back-in-time in terms of my physical appearance, this wasn't the Ren Takahashi that I'd grown into. Hell, even my younger self wouldn't manage to land this striking appearance. The number of times I checked myself out through the out-of-place mirror at the corner of the balcony was enough to make me sure of that as well.

"Ah, you're awake master..." An echoed voice let out, the audio seemingly coming from within me rather than from the world around me with bright golden text appearing before me; seemingly subtitling the words I was hearing.

Slightly surprised, I jumped back, nearly falling off the balcony but thankfully saved by the railing.

"Who and where are you...why can I hear you in my head?" I let out, frantically searching around me.

"Fear not, I am the Architect's messenger now assigned to you. I'm glad your rebirth went as planned"

The messenger? A flash in my memory was what calmed me down. The figure had hinted towards the lady in its palm engulfed in light being the so called messenger; why she chose to be a voice in my head was a question I myself had in mind...that and a lot of other questions as well.

"It seems this body's memory hasn't yet been transferred to you" She let out, a hint of concern in her tone, "Forgive me master, do try and hold onto something. It'll only take a moment."

A moment--she said.

I didn't even get the chance to utter a single word. Next thing I knew, a crushing feeling had taken over.

My knees grew weak and my chest felt compressed. I'd thought getting rammed by a 9 ton truck was the worst I had felt but screw me for ever having such an innocent thought. A second was how long I'd be willing to bet it actually lasted, but a year is what it felt like.

My vision had long been blurred and all I was left seeing was flashing images, memories of my body's previous owner. The speed coupled with the bulk of the memories made my head feel like it was being ripped apart from the inside out. Had I known of this feeling beforehand I would have much rather preferred being thrown into the void.

Not to mention the contents of the memories themselves...

Even while being crushed beyond belief, I couldn't help but tighten my jaw in anger.

New life my ass--I was basically living a far more complicated version of my previous life.

Prince Aeron Tylvannis, 20th prince of a kingdom named Velmoria. A black sheep among the flock...my new identity. Blessed and cursed in his own unique ways.

Knowledge far superior to that of his 19 brothers but magic below that of commoners. Hell, he had none to begin with.

In our modern ages, perhaps my body would have been a blessing; a mind capable of absorbing any form of information with ease--that there is something most people wish they had. But in a world already blessed with a surplus amount of magic, I was now basically the last remaining drop of water in an practically empty cup. And I sure as hell wasn't pleased by it.

To top it off, my mother had died of an unknown cause on her way back to the kingdom's walls. An accident, they said; despite the scene showing clear signs of an attack.

"Damn you all..." I let out, my breath nearly depleted as my blurry vision struggled to bring the floor into focus.

"The memory transferring process seems to have been a success. Welcome to your new life, Sir Aeron Tylvannis." The messenger's voice echoed through my mind as I mustered enough energy to stand.

Without uttering a word, I stared at the blurred world outside the balcony with my slowly returning vision before quickly taking a leap; throwing myself off the elevated space.

Oh boy did I have a lot to say to those bastards once I got sent back to the void again...I would have given them one nasty essay's worth of insults had my body not abruptly stopped mid-air with a dim golden glow outlining my body.

Just as fast as I'd jumped off, my body was transported back up. This time, my body being chucked into the room with the balcony doors being slammed shut.

"I should have expected this much from the same douchebags that gave me a pathetic life to begin with."

"The Architects had predicted such a reaction, but do be at ease, the Architect of wisdom personally selected this body. There is always a reason behind his actions." The messenger let out, every word coming out of her easily ticking every box needed to piss me off.

"Oh trust me, I'm sure there is. Make the guy who lived a shitty life now live a shittier life." I protested, my voice clearly higher than it should be. A bit of an excess considering I'd been talking to a voice in my head.

"Tell them I'm out. You're their messenger right? Go back and tell them that I've chosen to return to nothingness."

A moment of silence passed between us before the golden subtitling appeared again.

"Apologies master, I would have done so had you had enough magic to send me through to them. Unfortunately, as we speak, I cannot even materialize into my humanoid form."

Convenient...super convenient. Not enough magic to send her through in a body that has no trace of magic itself, no wonder the Architect of wisdom chose such a vessel--that bastard.

I hadn't even been in my new life for more than a day and already I had a grudge against my own creators; a justified one too. This basically meant I was being forced to do whatever was required of me until they choose whether or not I can get into contact with them.

Despicable...truly despicable, but there was nothing more I could do other than sigh out my built up anger.

"Of course...whatever, what am I supposed to do now?" I let out, brows furrowed as I rise to a stand with my arms crossed, "I'm guessing since I practically have no combat abilities nor any magic, my task doesn't involve it."

That was one thing I'd deduced which was at least worth living for. My body was a natural handicap, sure I had some bit of combat practice with the commander of the royal knights, but with no magic it was basically useless. Magicless swordsmen who existed were both ignored and looked down upon. A 'dud swordsman' was what they were termed as. The people themselves almost enough to count with your own fingers.

Knowing the deities for even that mere meeting, it was clear they were straightforward but also logical. The fact that I can't meet them without magic while also being reborn in a magicless body alone was enough proof of that. My anger slowly turned into slight relief.

"Quite the opposite master, the Architects believe the answers they need are mostly in exploring dungeons. That involves a lot of combat."

Again--screw me for having innocent thoughts. Before I'd known it, my body was yet again flying out of the balcony at an even faster pace; disrupted once again by the golden glow that easily yanked me back into the room. Sealing it shut with its golden hue around the door.

"TAKE ME BACK! I'd rather live as a homeless bum sleeping on a bench for an eternity than go on this suicide quest your 'oh-so-holy' Architects have forced me into." I yelled out, pulling the sealed door in an attempt to pry them open.

"Calm yourself, master. I assure you, the task you're being given is more than doable." She responded with ease, ignoring my pointless struggles.

"You have been blessed by the Architects, given the opportunity to live as their avatar. With something of this scale, you have your own advantages up your sleeve."

Advantages up my sleeve? Sure I had a quick grasping brain and superior knowledge within the royal family itself, but that was it. To test out my theory, I stretched my arm out towards the balcony doors before quickly chanting a spell I'd memorized--or rather, Aeron had memorized.

Basic fireball, a move they dubbed 'easiest spell to learn'.

I'd seen examples, back when he had a tutor to train him on magic--before they realized he was a dud, a defect incapable of comprehending the basic concept of magic itself. A flame would appear in the form of an orb, then it would expand before rapidly growing based on your understanding of the spell itself. The version in my memory was basically the size of a head--the heat it emitted would be enough to leave you as bones were it to come into contact with your body.

As expected, my words echoed within the room with nothing occurring. Still magicless, not even a slight sensation travelled through my body as I chanted those words; I'd done so three more times to confirm.

"Advantage...What? Did that wise-ass give me some extra IQ points or something?"

"Unfortunately, they explained nothing to me whilst your soul was being transferred. They did inform me, however, that you'd come to understand once we begun our quest." She responded modestly, I'd exhausted all my anger at this point. Getting angry was proving to be a waste of my own energy.

Accepting my basically sealed fate, I let out another sigh before plopping myself onto the bed; the wood complaining as I sat on the mattress.

"Alright then, what exactly am I supposed to be doing? Do you have a timetable or something planned out for me?"

"Glad to see you're onboard, master. First order of business is training your strength through low level dungeon raids."

Going straight in on my first day at the job. Its like handling a high-end customer right after being employed...they really weren't going easy on me. Nonetheless it was either I was onboard or complaining to a voice in my head that threw subtitles at me as if I couldn't hear its voice well enough.

I'd rather fight to death than grow insane.

"Understood...once the sun rises I'll play along as the prince to gain access to the guilds. For now..." I let out, quickly laying down on my bed as I threw the blanket onto my body, "...try not to talk in my head as I sleep."

My words expired for a minute at most before reality itself decided that my slumber had been enough. Fast approaching footsteps made it to my door before the wooden thing itself flew open. The man standing at my doorway drenched in sweat while still trying to maintain a composed look.

"S...sir Aeron Tylvannis. Your father has summoned you to the throne room."