When I was planning my escape from my world, I had several different expectations. The first one was that I would be scattered and I would die. Not the worst option. There was nothing good left in my life, no prospects whatsoever, and to suffer for several more years in a frail body, in search of food, remaining alone... This wasn’t something you wanted to hold on to. The second expectation wasn’t the most joyful either. I assumed that I would be thrown into another lifeless world. This option was a little better. Finding out that my idea was a success and that I achieved something that no one had done before was quite satisfying. I would indulge my vanity and die with a giant ego if nothing else. Perhaps I would have made a second attempt, which would have given me an additional chance, but this whole option was unlikely. The second attempt required a body. And if the world was lifeless, I might not have one.

Finally, my last expectation, the one that kept me going, was the belief that everything would work out. I would be transported to another world and live a NORMAL life.

I didn’t want anything more. The peak of my aspirations, when I thought about what kind of life I wanted, was the simplest, quiet, ordinary life. In a normal world. So that I could see greenery and blue skies, and talk to other people, alive and well.

Not to be one of the last ones standing in the ruins.

But… I only thought about what my ordinary life would be like. I never thought about what kind of body I would end up in.

I woke up in a hospital ward. White walls, a soft bed, pillows and blanket, smiling nurses, and serious doctors. Not to mention the three meals a day! Fresh food!

The first thing that surprised me was, of course, the bed. The very fact that I had one and it was sooo soft. I felt like I was drowning in it. Having figured out that I wasn’t in mortal danger, I saw a woman in front of me. For some reason, she looked at me with widened eyes and started shouting something. I didn’t understand what she was saying, because I was busy admiring her clean and intact clothes. It was a sight that made me exhale in relief.

There were no clean clothes in dead worlds. Especially not so snow-white. Which meant... I was afraid to admit it to myself, but the facts spoke for themselves — my plan was a success!

I was unwell. Euphoria and relief flooded me, my nervous system could not stand it, and I passed out. When I woke up, I saw an adult man. An old man with a gray beard. This was another excellent piece of news.

In this world, it was possible to live to an old age and look decent.

They examined me, asked me a few questions, and fed me.

At the back of my mind, there was a thought that this could all be a hoax. It was just too good to be true. I could easily have been lying around in my old world, convulsing and hallucinating. But, could the brain do such a good job of generating such a vivid reality?

Bed, food, and living people were pleasant discoveries. The unpleasant surprises began later.

For starters, I woke up in the body of a small boy! It took a couple of weeks for my soul to absorb his soul. I wasn’t ready to say with certainty that it happened exactly like that. I was able to tap into some parts of the boy’s memory. I “remembered” his name, who his parents were, and was even able to figure out why he, that is, I was in the hospital.

For the previous two weeks, I was in a delirious state. Once I fully came to my senses, joyful nurses were bustling around me. A few hours later my “parents” appeared. The remnants of the past personality rejoiced at their appearance. My own personality became seriously tense. I felt a flash of shame that I had so brazenly occupied the body of their child, but the fear burned much brighter. I was afraid that I would be exposed and killed. If this happened, I would undoubtedly win the prize for the dumbest way to die.

So I feigned weakness and began to figure out what was happening. It turned out that the boy had been in a coma for the last two years. Little remained of his mind and personality, so I didn’t really take much away from him. And his body... Compared to the last days of my life, the difference was small. Only, my environment was much more pleasant.

“My boy.” A woman stroked my cheek. She was the mother of this unlucky boy.

The father stood nearby, reserved.

“When can we take him home?” the father asked the doctor.

“The boy just woke up, sir. We will run some tests, observe him for a while, and, I’ll be able to tell you more in a week. Rehabilitation will take another month or two.”

“Go ahead.” This “sir” nodded.

Could it be that I got lucky and ended up in a noble family?

***

Rehabilitation, as the doctor had promised, took a couple of months. Which I used to my maximum advantage.

I was diagnosed with partial amnesia. The doctors asked me questions, and if I remembered, I answered honestly. And when I didn’t remember, I said so. After being in a coma for so long, my muscles had atrophied, so I had to learn to walk again.

But I didn’t care. There was a huge window in my hospital room. And through the window, I could see the sky. If I opened it, I could breathe in fresh air. It was late autumn outside. It was damp and cold, but I didn’t mind. I was ready to kill for fresh air. The nurses wouldn’t let me anywhere near the window for a long time, so I snuck out of bed to open it at night. I could sleep during the day.

I honestly admitted to myself that even if I spent the rest of my days in a crippled body, it was worth it. Better than the dead world full of nothingness. I’d get settled here somehow, I wouldn’t be lost. Not after what I’d been through. I was just glad to see life around me.

After a while, I learned to move independently, my hands stopped shaking, and I could draw a simple pattern. It was good to know my abilities were still with me. The magic of my world worked here.

That was the only thing I was afraid of. To lose my powers. Just the thought of it was terrifying.

But everything was intact, which meant that my chances of getting by in this world were a hundred times greater.

There were mages among the locals too. Not like ours. Their magic worked on a different principle. The chief physician was considered a healer. He visited me twice a day and... What he applied on me looked like some kind of radiance. It tickled and cooled my skin, but accelerated the recovery process.

The nurses didn’t do that.

Having discovered the existence of magic, I decided to hide mine for the time being. Perhaps patterns were used here too, but could a boy who had been in a coma for the last two years know them? I doubted it. Well, if there was one thing I had learned, it was how to wait. First I’d get out of here, and then I’d make my move.

***

“Brother!”

What I didn’t expect was having a sister. A sixteen-year-old girl greeted me when my parents brought me home. She ran down the stairs and hugged me tightly.

“Beatrice! Be careful! Your brother has not fully recovered yet!” my mother began to wail and tried to take my body away from my sister’s hands.

Well, hello... home.

***

“How did it feel?” Bella whispered, leaning over me.

“What?”

“What is it like to lie in darkness for two years?”

“Nothing special.”

“Is that all you have to say?” Bella pouted.

“Yeah. Sorry, I’m tired, my thoughts are all jumbled up.”

“Oh, Edgard, have I completely tired you out?” she asked, looking disappointed.

“Yes.”

“What?!” this... unspoiled-by-hardship girl protested.

Unfortunately, I turned out to be utterly ill-equipped to communicate with a teenager. Especially with a girl. Especially an annoying and hyperactive girl.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“I’m really tired, Bella.”

“Do not call me that!” she hissed. “Call me by my full name!”

I closed my eyes, pretending to be completely exhausted. And in a way, I was. I had physical strength, but I was emotionally and psychologically depleted.

***

My discharge from the hospital proved to be an enlightening experience. Or rather, what happened afterward was. My parents led me out of the building and seated me in... a car. I was surprised to see so many cars in the city, and none of them had weapons. They seemed to embody comfort. You wouldn’t put a gas canister in one of these, or throw the corpse of a slain predator in it.

I made a note that the priorities of people in my world and this one were very different. I’d need time... to get used to it.

I couldn’t take my eyes away from the window the whole way. Through the hospital window, the view was always the same: trees, lawns, and houses in the distance. After my discharge, I saw the city. Tall buildings, thousands of people looking peaceful and well-fed. No one was fighting, no one was making bloody sacrifices, and no one was shooting or employing destructive alchemy.

Absolutely perfect.

The journey home took an hour. As I later found out, the family I ended up with lived on the outskirts of the city. Our car was driven by a personal driver who also doubled as a security guard. When he came out to open the door for my mother, I noticed he had a holster hidden under his clothes.

Security, a chauffeur, an expensive car... And I figured that it was expensive by comparing it to the other cars on the road. Elegant clothes, a large house that looked luxurious... This was certainly an unimaginable luxury for me. Three floors, dozens of rooms, halls, a library, and even a swimming pool. In addition, there was household staff to serve the "masters."

I happened to inhabit an aristocrat’s body. I had no complaints about it. In my previous life, I belonged to an ancient lineage of practitioners. I admit that my ancestors put in a lot of effort to destroy our world. As their descendant, I tried to rectify it... and we all know how that turned out.

In addition to my parents, there were more people living in the house — the father’s brother with his wife and children, two grandmothers, one grandfather, and a sister. It didn’t look like a powerful clan, but... They were living relatives! Who were glad to see me back home! But I ran away from them on the very first day... What could I do? Years of loneliness had taken their toll. I had grown unaccustomed to social interaction. It was difficult for me to find the right words, let alone talk for extended periods of time. The attention was simply too overwhelming. In my world, the norm was to shoot anyone you met because there were no friends left. If you encountered someone, they would definitely try to kill you and take your supplies.

It was like that before. And I would have to get rid of many habits and unlearn many patterns. I could finally have the uneventful life that I always wanted!

With this thought I fell asleep.

***

“A teacher?”

“Yes, my boy. You’re running late, you need to get ready,” my mother ruffled my hair, causing me to relax and spread out.

Oh, gods of all worlds. Yes, I would kill for these touches, let alone attend classes. How easily you can manipulate me, woman.

“When he will come?”

“So you agree?” She narrowed her eyes.

“If you think it’s necessary...” I lowered my gaze, playing out the shy teenager.

My memory worked in a strange way. I remembered part of “my” childhood, in brief fragments, but they were enough to form an impression about myself. I grew up as a loner. Shy, timid, and unsociable. My favorite pastime was sitting alone. No, little Edgard wasn’t bored. He drew, sculpted, did homework, and read books. This was enough for him to live and be happy.

This image suited me just right. In order not to give myself away once again, I portrayed natural modesty. Judging by the fact that no one shouted: “Our child has been captured by a demon!” — my game was working. The only thing that didn’t fit this image was my longing for love.

I, a grown man who had seen death in all its manifestations, melted away in hugs. And this feeling of being at HOME, along with the warmth, comfort, and love... I didn't remember ever feeling so good.

And for this, I was ready to do a lot. Including going to class.

***

The Sokolovs. That was the name of the family whose heir I became. My father was Anton Sokolov. He was the head of the family. Louise Sokolov was my mother. My mother was a Frenchwoman who had married a foreigner and moved to Russia. All these names meant absolutely nothing to me. Countries in my world had long disappeared. They fell victim to a mass war of extermination. Therefore, I doubled my zeal for devouring geography and history textbooks.

My mother couldn’t be happier and she praised me every day. She also willingly answered all the questions that I risked asking. Coming out of a coma had its advantages. I could afford not to know many things.

The rest of the subjects weren’t that interesting. Mathematics, geometry, fine arts, music — everything that was considered mandatory for an aristocrat to study. The logic behind it was clear. Studying these subjects was necessary to prepare for magical disciplines. I hadn’t gotten around to magic lessons yet, but I was sure that if I exhibited some abilities, the topic would definitely come up.

***

Three months after leaving the hospital, I risked placing the first seal of enhancement on my weak body. Nothing special, just a little something to accumulate the energy of the world and use it first to restore and then strengthen the young body. I intended to add more seals in the years to come.

Gradually, life in the house returned to normal. Winter had come, and we celebrated the New Year. It was a local holiday of great importance. I didn’t really understand its essence. Why did the New Year begin in the middle of winter? But I was glad that this world could afford mass celebrations. This meant that it was quite abundant and safe since people behaved so carefreely.

At the end of January, I witnessed my parents’ first quarrel. My father returned home very angry and irritated. My mother approached him, and... I happened to be near the door, which allowed me to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“The Korshunovs have become so audacious! They want to buy our lands!”

“But how...” said mother. Her voice sounded confused.

“Just like that! They want to take advantage of our weakness!”

“Dear...”

“Go away... Just go away.”

It wasn’t really much of an argument. Rather, my father, tired and tense, couldn’t find the energy for conversation. I moved away from the door to avoid running into my mother. She quickly left and retreated to her chambers.

This was how I learned that the family had enemies, the Korshunovs clan.

I didn’t like that at all. I intended to live calmly and peacefully, and not participate in tribal conflicts. I’d had enough of blood and wars.

Rule number one of my previous life was that I could think whatever I wanted, but I should never dismissed any threat. From that moment on, I began to eavesdrop on my parents’ conversations more often. I even created small seals that transmitted sound. I placed them in all the places where important discussions could take place. It was a risky step, but I’d studied the house enough to make sure that there weren’t even the most basic seals in it. Which meant no one would detect mine either.

I soon learned that the conflict was much more serious. My family, as it turned out, was once strong and powerful. So much so that it took full ownership of a vast piece of land. This was where we lived now. Here, we had factories and workshops. The family was involved in textiles, clothing, and supply, both domestically and abroad. It might not have been the most remarkable business, but it all depended on the scale. There was enough money to maintain the estate, lead a comfortable life, hire security, pay for elite education for the children, and... I guess that was it. Looking at it, it was probably quite substantial. I still had a limited understanding of finance, not grasping how this world worked.

The Korshunovs were different. They were strong enough to make my father fear them. His pride didn’t allow him to admit it, but I saw everything quite clearly.

I saw and I prepared, just in case. An old habit of turning the place I lived in into my territory, capable of causing trouble for any enemies.

My preparation didn’t go to waste. They came in early spring. It was raining that day.

***

“Dad...Mom...” I called, entering my parents’ bedroom.

“Son?” Mom woke up.

“Edgard?” Father muttered sleepily. “What are you doing here in this ungodly hour?”

“Someone’s sneaking up on us, Dad. Someone bad.”

“What?” He instantly woke up. “Did you have a nightmare?”

“No. I saw an armed detachment through the window,” I said more directly.

I hoped they wouldn’t remember to ask why wasn’t I in bed and how I knew what an armed detachment was. I didn’t actually see it with my own eyes. They just landed at the edge of our property and were stealthily sneaking towards the house. I had over a month to prepare and I didn’t waste that time.

If only it weren’t for the limitations of my small body... I could create a maximum of one seal per day. And even then I felt sluggish after that. My mother was worried; my pale complexion frightened her. But I couldn’t help it. The slightest hint of danger pushed me to prepare.

One of the seals woke me up and informed me that the perimeter had been violated by a dozen people. Whether they were armed or not, I didn’t know for sure. But it didn’t take a genius to figure out that peaceful guests do not come at night.

“Take him to his room,” the father said. “I’ll go see what’s going on.”

“Be careful.”

There was concern in my mother’s voice. She grabbed my hand and led me to the bedroom. I tried to find words to get out from under her watch. The lights came on in the house. My father contacted the security and asked them what was going on. I heard muffled voices when I entered my room.

At that moment it all began. There was the sound of glass shattering, followed by gunshots. They fired at the first floor. Turning on the lights there wasn’t the smartest idea. The attackers weren’t holding back. The parents’ bedroom was bombarded with dynamite. There was an explosion and flames burst out, lighting up the corridor.

Because of its might, part of the roof sank and the walls collapsed. My room was located at the back of the house, so we weren’t affected in any way.

“Hide!” My mother pushed me... under the bed.

What are you going to do, woman? Despite the attack the house had suffered, I wasn’t worried. I’d been in worse situations. But mother... Her eyes widened in horror, and, without listening to objections, she pushed me under the bed.

“Sit there and keep your head down!”

“Where are you going?”

“To get Bella.”

She said this, running out into the corridor. Unreasonable woman. Downstairs, the firefight was in full swing. I didn’t stay put for too long, I got out from under the bed and followed her into the corridor. War and blood again... It all found me even in another world.

The fire died down too quickly. Flames flared up both downstairs and upstairs. Smoke filled the entire second floor, and I began to cough. Oh, how inconvenient this child’s body was! If I still had my previous powers, the enemies wouldn’t have been able to approach me.

Looking down from the stairs, I saw bodies on the floor. I found my father among them. He was shot, and a bloody stain spread under his body. There were no signs of life.

A group of fighters was climbing the stairway. It was so large and wide, that it was a miracle that they didn’t notice me right away.

I didn’t have much time. Concentrating, I activated the seals. The ones on the wall and stairs exploded, throwing sharp splinters and pieces of stone with such force that they pierced the bodies of the enemies. Three down. Kind of... They fell, clearly wounded, but not killed.

Mom emerged from the smoke, holding my sister. They were coughing and trying to run away from the flames.

What happened next would stay imprinted in my head forever. Behind them, a black figure emerged from the glow of the fire. It aimed the weapon and fired a short burst. Bella was thrown aside, and our mother fell dead. The bullets hit her straight in the head. She didn’t stand a chance.

I roared and slammed the floor. The wooden flooring exploded, and the splinters crashed into the killer. This time it worked better. I avenged my mother’s death.

I didn’t rush towards her. It was useless. The dead could no longer be helped. I would mourn later. There must still be enemies in the house, and I needed to get out... And take care of my sister. So I rushed to her. I tried to lift her, which wasn’t so easy. Bella was terrified and didn’t understand what was happening.

However, I never managed to pick her up. Feeling someone else’s gaze, I turned around and the last thing I saw was a gun flying into my face.

And darkness.