I woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling in an unfamiliar bed. Looking around, I saw translucent cloth draping down from the bed's canopy, and sat up, a silk blanket sliding off me. I parted the curtain with my hand.

A room ripped straight from a medieval palace - that was my first impression. Soft light streamed in through large windows illuminating white walls inlaid with a squared, golden pattern. A glittering chandelier hung from the ceiling, but there were no candles. Instead, tear-drop shaped crystals filled with globules of light took their place, as if someone had trapped slivers of the sun for human amusement.

Across the bed was a doorway, and adjacent to it, an oval mirror hung over a polished wooden desk. I stumbled over to look at my reflection.

I stared with shock. That.. that was me? A chiseled jawline, perfectly spaced features, and a tousle of messy blond hair framing sharp, charcoal eyes. With all humility, I was handsome. Then, I saw a yellow exclamation point bouncing above me.

Ah. The past sequence of events came rushing into my head: death, a sadistic goddess, cats, and a floating blue screen. I couldn't see it now, but if my theory was correct, then..

"Status?"

The status window popped up in front of me, seeming lengthier than before.

[System calibrated.]

[Name: Alexander Luncan]

[Titles: Heir to the Luncan Ducal House, Little Bastard, and Animal Beater]

[Age: 15]

[Talents: Mana Sensitivity(S) - LOCKED, Light(S) - LOCKED, Magic(EX) - LOCKED]

[Mana: C - LOCKED]

[Vitality: D - LOCKED]

[Strength: D - LOCKED]

[Agility: D(-) - LOCKED]

[Will: E(-) - LOCKED]

[Aura: E - LOCKED]

[Skills: Mana Circulation(D) - LOCKED, Infusion(E) - LOCKED, Spell Formation(E) - LOCKED]

[Welcome to your new world of friendship and adventure! Like I promised, you'll be quite rich and have access to the most powerful of magicks! However, it'd be cheating if you had access to everything immediately, right? Don't worry, everything will be revealed in time. But, in the meanwhile, please struggle your very hardest to forge your own path! The more pathetic, the more entertaining! I'll be watching :-) ]

[P.S: Revealing the System's secrets will result in eternal torture via yours truly. Have fun!!]

That fucking goddess. I shook my head. Dwelling on her words was pointless, and I could already imagine her giggling while I stamped around angrily.

I focused on the glowing window. Before, I hadn't had time to read it properly, but looking at it now - it was like a game screen. Skills, attributes, and talents, each with their own rankings.

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Still, I noticed a constantly reappearing word next to my supposed abilities.

"What is LOCKED?" I asked.

"I'm not sure what you mean, Young Master,'' a baritone voice responded.

My head snapped sideways. A man bigger than the doorway stood in front of it, wearing a black butler uniform. Legs the size of tree trunks connected the floor to a broad frame that was like a dark, castle rampart. His shoulders stuck out like corner towers, with arms hanging downwards like catapults. At the same time, his face was delicately honed, set with obsidian eyes and covered with hair the color of stone.

"Are you alright?" he questioned.

I cleared my head. That was me, right? My eyes slid to the status window, reminding me of my identity. Alexander Luncan, a noble heir. I purposefully glossed over the other titles.

"Yes, sorry. I was just talking to myself."

"It is good to exercise the mind. How are you feeling, Young Master?"

I remembered the blast of light, and winced. "I'll be alright. How long have I been out?"

"Just over three days. The family doctor was fearful you had sustained severe injuries."

Three days? My eyebrows furrowed. I hadn't ever slept that long before in my past life, and I didn't feel particularly hurt anywhere.

"Well.." Ah, I forgot!

I puffed out my chest. "I appreciate your concern. Is that why you have come to this noble one's lauded chambers?"

He bowed partly, his hand to his chest. "I also bear a message from your father."

I had tried to imitate the haughty nobles from popular media, and thankfully, it seemed to have worked. The two words, 'eternal torture', gleamed from the corner of my eye.

"What does my Lord Father require of his humble offspring?"

He straightened his posture. "Then, I shall repeat back what he has told me."

I felt a sudden chill run down my spine.

"I have overlooked your childish antics for far too long, and this time, your disturbing actions have sown great conflict. Our household has gone into lockdown. Alan has been imprisoned, and the Princess, along with her guards, will remain in one of the guest rooms until this ordeal is over."

His words carried an invisible pressure, ringing out in my head and pricking my skin like frozen needles.

"You are to remain confined inside your room until told otherwise, with meals brought to you directly from the kitchen. If there is any more disobedience, you will be barred from attending the Academy, and sent to your relatives in the Holy Capital for reformation. I am disappointed, Alex."

I felt a soft mattress beneath me. Huh. I had stumbled back to the bed without noticing.

"That is the message your Lord Father tasked me to convey." His face was expressionless, the earlier vitriol gone; it was like he was an actor finished reciting his lines.

"Do you have any questions?"

"I.." I tried to form a thought, but my head was mush.

"I will be taking my leave then, Young Master." He bowed, and turned to exit.

I reached my hand out. "Wait!"

I was in a stranger's body, in an unknown world, and judging by what I just heard, I wasn't in the best situation either.

Come on. My thoughts jostled.

Calm down. Collect yourself.

The buzz faded slightly. Good, I could think. Considering my circumstances, I needed every scrap of information I could get. And, from the message's contents, I could assume that the Princess was the black-haired girl, and her guards were the knights. Perhaps Alan was the blond butler by my side. But.. someone was missing.

"The.. the red-haired girl." I stood from the bed. "Where is she?"

The butler turned towards me, showing the first sign of emotion since I had met him.

"Lady Sera, your half-sister." His eyes pierced into me. "Is currently under Royal supervision."

"Royal supervi-"

"If that's all, Young Master." Without bowing, the man turned and left.

I stared at where he had been. A cracked, sapphire sheet of ice spread out in a small circle, the floor's original appearance only visible through empty shoeprints. Huh, mountain-like wizards were a problem I never thought I'd have to deal with.

I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding and went back to the mirror. My muscles relaxed and I leaned forwards, my hands on the desk.

A handsome face stared back at me, but my earlier joy was gone. "Just what did you do, you blond bastard?" I paused, as if waiting for a response, and looked towards the sky. "You damn goddess.."

[Ding! Keyword, 'Damn Goddess' has been recognized! Initiating system quest..]

The exclamation point above my head disappeared, and a new, yellow screen replaced the status window.

[Task: Save Sera Luncan!]

[Description: Due to your cruel machinations, your half-sister has fallen into quite the rut! Utilize your meager wits, unsightly stubbornness, and paltry ability to save her!]

[Reward: Access to Soul Assimilation, and other System features!]

[Penalty: Loss of System.]

I stared dumbfounded. What the fuck?