I couldn’t stop myself from looking around, curls flying wildly, which made the woman opposite me wrinkle her brow.

I must look crazy.

Hell. Recent events had me half-convinced I was losing it, spots dancing, a ringing in my ear, and the voice.

It was that voice again. I didn’t have the right words to describe it. It had no personality and lacked the fluctuations a living person would have.

I looked at the viscountess, but she didn’t react. I was the only one hearing it. Fear spiked through me.

What price would it demand for its boon? I already knew there was a hidden cost waiting for me. My days were too idyllic. Anything that seemed too good to be true was never to be trusted.

Rebirth seemed costly, and I had nothing to offer.

Would a soul satisfy it?

Some people lived without their souls, but it was questionable if you could call their existence living. It all depended on how you lost it, but every religion frowned on it, souls being a gift from the gods, though they could never agree on which one.

“When will our lessons start?” The words were sharp as I tried to calm my racing heart. I wiped wet palms against my dress. “We usually only meet once a week, and that doesn’t seem to be enough time.” My foot bounced.

“Tomorrow, I will speak to Melaine about increasing the frequency of your lessons. I will say it is for appearance's sake because of your engagement. Your behavior won’t improve, and their scorn for you will increase. If anything other than that happens, I assure you the information you are lording over me will become useless. Melaine will destroy us both.”

I agreed. I’d never seen or heard of the duchess targeting anyone, yet terrible things magically happened to the people who crossed her.

“How will you deal with your maid?” she asked.

I didn’t want to have this conversation now. A soft ticking sound in my head, and I didn’t know what it meant. I was vibrating, and there was no way she didn’t notice.

Was I going to die again?

That terrified me. I laughed. The words about not caring whether I lived or died were bullshit.

I wanted to live.

Enough. Finish this first and then deal with that.

“I’ll handle her,” I said with confidence that I didn’t feel. Catherine would sit in on some of my lessons with the viscountess, but she didn’t attend all of them. If I threw enough things at her, the frequency of her attending classes would also drop.

“You do that,” she said, disbelief thick in her voice. Viscountess Rintour stood, doing a half bow, every bone in her body screaming arrogance. “It seems your mind is elsewhere. I will send you a calling card with the updated lesson times. Good day to you.” With a steady pace, she left the room, and I was never more glad to see the back of her.

The second the door closed, I called out, “hello?”

There was no reply.

Had I imagined it again?

It was the second time I’d heard that cold, lifeless voice.

It didn’t sound like the choir of a thousand angels you should hear when the Goddess Avea spoke to her daughters. Nor the wail of the damned from the voice of Lankos, the God of Death.

Could it be the voice of the god whose temple I died in?

“Speak to me. Your servant listens.” I knelt, something in me breaking at my subservience to preserve my life. Back bent, always cowering to the person stronger than me.

Still no answer.

I stayed there, sweat beading on my forehead, my knees aching against the cold stone floor. I bit my lip till blood flooded my mouth and trickled down my chin.

Were they watching and laughing as the toy they gave life was struggling to escape its cursed fate?

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Answer me!” I screamed.

I saw my reflection in the mirror, crimson eyes, blood-soaked saliva dripping down my chin, positively demonic. I stood, something heavy pressing on my back, trying to keep me on my knees. My reflection in the glass showed jerky movements, a puppet with free will, all the strings attached.

Suddenly, I wanted it to be a demon calling out to me. Anything it offered, I would accept. I’d step out of the hold of fate, and no god’s voice or blessing would ever reach me again. No ascending to Hyeruu to be comforted by angels or Astine to pay for past sins.

There would be powers that would corrupt me until I was nothing more than a wandering wraith constantly trying to steal life. However, while I still held on to my consciousness, I could imagine how much chaos and suffering I could cause.

Ding. Registering user 5462.

Yes. Anything it offered, I would accept.

Demons didn’t need you to bow. Deference meant nothing to them. I returned to my seat, waiting.

Minutes passed, and there was no sign of Catherine or that voice.

I was about to return to my room when I heard it again.

User 5462, please confirm your identity is Skyler Ross.

I stared in fascination as a blue, transparent film appeared. It was like looking into a clear lake. The words [Yes/No] hovered in front of me.

My fingers touched the edge and found it to be solid but soft. I pushed, and my finger passed through the jelly-like substance. It had the chill of water, but my skin was dry as I pulled it through.

Steeling myself, I pressed no.

A row of dots started circling. It reminded me of a painting I’d seen in the capital of the giant snake god, Dusame, swallowing its tail. It was fitting. Dusame represented the flow of time and the balance between renewal and destruction in equal measures.

Please reconfirm. [Yes/No]

I pressed no again.

To verify you are not a bot, select all squares with flowers.

I blinked.

Bot?

Why did I need to confirm I wasn’t a fly larva?

Also, what were the strange objects in some images? I’d never seen magic like this, and if demons ran around granting this type of power, the war would have looked very different in my last life.

Was this a higher demon that needed a sacrifice of millions of lives to summon?

I don’t think such a being would come to me.

Please speak your name out loud.

“Jal,” I said, hesitating before adding, “Amber. My name is Jal Amber.” I didn’t like either name, but they were mine.

Jal Amber appeared on the screen. Confirm. [Yes/No]

With my hand raised, the door burst open. I jumped up to see a haggard Catherine running into the room, three books clutched in her hands.

Not Now! I wanted to scream, to tell her to get out. I watched the dots circling, knowing in my gut that whatever happened next would change everything.

“What?” I asked, harsher than I should.

“Did something happen while you were with the Viscountess?” She put the three thick books on the table.

I scoffed, not wanting to play this game with her. I knew how I looked. It was the picture of a wronged child.

That was comforting…

Not at all.

While maintaining my image was necessary, I didn’t want to miss this opportunity. “Leave.” I picked up the biggest book from the pile she took an hour to get and threw it at her.

Catherine dodged with a squeak. “My lady?”

“Get out.” One after the other, I threw books at her and then moved to the pillows from the chair I was sitting on. She dashed out of the room.

I looked down, sighing. It was still there.

I pressed yes, my hand shaking so badly I had to use the other to steady it.

Legs giving out, I flopped into the chair.

Welcome, User 5462, Jal Amber. System 621 of the Revenge Series is online.

I knew all the words separately, but together they made no sense.

Scanning User.

It emitted a blue light that swept over my body. My skin tingled as it passed, leaving a faint heat beneath the surface. It didn’t feel bad, but it was strange.

Health Report:

* Minor concussion

* Minor subdural hematoma

* Contusion on the right cheek

* Malnutrition

We advise the user to seek immediate medical assistance.

I didn’t understand the words except for the last one on the list. I knew I wasn’t healthy, and I lived the last time, so it would have to wait until I left the castle to visit the apothecary. If this system were a demon, it wouldn’t do to visit the temple on the castle grounds.

Father Micheal was also more for show than a priest of any skill.

“I will do that later,” I said, trying to communicate with it again.

Understood, continuing the scan. Estimating martial talent.

* Dual Ice and water root

* Superior Skeletal Structure

* Superior Meridians

* Traces of Qi in Dantian.

User 5462 can practice martial arts.