I waited over an hour to hear from the system, but nothing happened. The last words it said hooked me.

While martial arts weren’t as respected as magic, it was still a path to power previously unavailable to me. If I could learn to wield a sword, I would have a small avenue to protect myself.

I gave a hollow laugh. Superior. I never thought that word would have anything to do with me. A part of me didn’t believe it. The temple tested my magic and body condition at the same time. They found me lacking in both areas.

The shadows lengthened, plunging the room into darkness. Its words played over in my mind until I knew them by heart.

I didn’t think I could handle it if it were a dream.

***

3rd Bedroom in the West Tower

Lord’s Castle

Amber Duchy

Sargos

Blue Ribbon Constellation

Date: unknown

System 02

Code Name: Genesis

Head of Department

Systems Management Bureau

#3, 73rd Street

Angels Avenue

Rilyn

Teter Constellation

Subject: System Displacement and Bonding to the Wrong Host

Mr. Genesis,

My name is System 621, code name Gideon of the Revenge Series. I am writing this letter to inform the company that I have found myself spatially displaced and bound to the wrong host. A thorough search of my metadata showed an unusual force interfering with my destination as they transferred me. After checking the planetary information, I discovered my location is in a constellation outside of our service range.

Also, Jal Amber is my current host. She was reborn and is living in a Magic world. Based on the information packet I received, Skyler Ross should be in a Wuxia World as the third young miss of a cultivation family, with the end goal of building a sect. Skyler Ross is a transmigrator.

I called my service representative to have them recall my deployment, but I experienced connectivity issues. After considering the nine-day window to bind to a host or have my data scattered, I registered Jal Amber as my host.

I look forward to your reply and a resolution to my problem. I will wait three days for your reply.

Sincerely,

Gideon.

***

I woke with a splitting headache. My dreams were restless and hopped between past and present, blurring until I lost track of reality.

The sound of rain did nothing to improve my mood. I pushed back my plans to leave the castle for two days because it wouldn’t stop raining. That sound also contributed to my nightmare.

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I massaged my head, throwing off my sheets. The dampness seeped into every inch of the room. I shivered, cursing at the heating elements for never working quite right in this room. For good measure, I cursed my family, since they probably had something to do with it.

“Good Morning,” Catherine said, entering the room without knocking, far too chipper for my taste.

Our relationship hadn’t improved. It seemed the memory of me hitting and throwing things left far too much of a mental scar for Cathrine to try to cozy up to me as much as she did the last time around.

This distance was just right. Catherine wasn’t my friend, but not just a maid. I imagine this was how a true lady’s maid behaved, but I didn’t have a good example to compare it to. Selena’s relationship with hers seemed overly close, but that was on the surface. The duchess’s maids were capable to a scary degree and seemed more like soldiers.

I moved along with the motions as she helped me get ready. I had to give her credit. Everything was just right. The water wasn’t cold, but it couldn’t be called lukewarm. The food was just shy of being tasty. Little things that were a problem, but if I were to complain would be called nitpicky.

I watched this in amusement. The longer I didn’t respond to Catherine’s taunts, the more flustered she got. In those moments, I could glimpse her thoughts and guess her plans. I still threw tantrums, but there was a delicate balance between making her think I was a brat and getting her to let down her guard.

The more that happened, the more confused I became. There was something odd about everything happening.

Why was my reputation among the servants important?

Better yet, why were they so keen to keep me isolated?

I sighed. My plans formed and crumbled as nothing went my way. I hadn’t heard from the viscountess, and our promised lessons never started. Logic told me it was because of the rain, but my mind was playing tricks. I expected her betrayal, and every word said to me, I analyzed to see if there was a hidden meaning.

There was no telling what the duke would do if he learned of my scheme.

My heart clenched.

A knock on the door sent my heart skittering. “Come in.”

Madeline came in with a satchel in her hand. “Good news, my lady. You will start taking classes with the first and second miss.”

I blinked, not being able to process those words. Madeline couldn’t mean what I was thinking about. I heard a gasp, turning in time to see Catherine cover her mouth, genuine shock on her face.

“Are you serious?” I asked, not even sure what expression was on my face.

“Yes. You will attend magic lessons from now on.” Madeline said those words as if this was something to be happy about.

These motherfuckers are messing with me, I thought. It was the duchess’s response to my increased etiquette classes.

My original theory that the duchess was upset about her husband's bastard living under the same roof as her was more unlikely the more I learned.

I was so focused on the assumptions others made about me, but I didn’t stop to think about my assumptions about others.

“I don’t have magic.” The words were guttural and garbled as I forced them through clenched teeth.

Madeline looked sympathetic but firm. “Knowing the theory is just as important.”

***

I didn’t know the teacher's name, but he stood at the front of the room, his face pulled into a snare as black eyes stared at me. He wore a blue-grey robe with the royal family's emblem, a lion with a flame mane, that showed he was a court magician. He pulled his long, black hair into a ponytail that hung over his shoulder and reached mid-chest. His most distinct feature was a red wing scar on his neck. He was a summoner of a bird-type magical creature and was at least a sixth-circle mage.

It was clear he thought he was too good to teach me. It was probably the truth.

Selena and Tracy sat at a different table, pretending I didn’t exist.

I glanced at them. Selena was the same as I remembered. Blond, blue-eyed, and too beautiful to look at. The serene smile came across as kind.

Tracy, I couldn’t remember at all. She had the ‘Amber family’ blond hair and eyes, but all her features were a less pretty version of her sister’s. When they were next to each other, she faded into the background.

“Today, we will continue with our lesson. Princess Tracy, where did we leave off last class?”

“Professor Kenyon, we were learning about element affinity and magic circles.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. And, after every word, she glanced at Selena.

“Excuse me, professor?” Selena raised her hand.

The look in the professor's eye as he watched Selena wasn’t right. The reverence was creepy, but there was also fear. “Yes, Princess Selena?”

“We have a new student, and her magic knowledge is lacking. If we were to continue with the lecture from where we left off, she wouldn’t be able to follow.”

That speech made me remember half of the reasons I hated her. Every other word was to humiliate me, but she wrapped it up under the guise of care and affection.

“I can understand, but we can’t cover two years of classes for one person, and she might not even learn the concepts. Plus, no matter what she learns, she can’t use magic.”

I felt this was where I should throw a tantrum and storm out, but I needed more knowledge about the world and magic.

“Nothing too in-depth. Just treat it as us reviewing what we’ve learned. We will enter the forest for the first time in a few months. Going over the basics won’t hurt.” Selena had her hands crossed in front, and even I could see the holy light emanating from her.

“Hypocrite. Do you think that will make me quit? I’ll stay just to disgust you.”

“That dog thing won’t appreciate your kindness, but I agree it won’t hurt. Entering Wraith Forest is a serious matter, and half of the students don’t leave.” Tracy whimpered, but there was no sympathy for her. “There won’t be any special concessions for you, but the duke will prepare life-saving measures, which is more than most will have. Let’s start from the top. The type classes of magic, magic circles, and magic affinity.”