"I found a body!" a man shouted,
just as a vampire gracefully stepped out of a carriage packed by the side of the shore.
It was the wee hours of the morning and while many others were still catching their beauty sleep, they were already at work.
The vampire who stepped out of the carriage had a strong aura and his face was expressionless as he walked over to where the body lay.
He stared down at the body, it was that of a female. She wore a dress that was supposedly familiar with blood donors which confirmed his suspicion she must be from the palace. The dress was wet and clung to her body like a second skin. Her wet hair stuck to her scalp while her complexion was pale with her lips blue. She looked dead.
"She seemed to have floated downstream," the vampire's accent was thick as he observed her body. His brows were furrowed, deep in thought when he finally stared across the river.
"Is she dead?" asked the other man who first found her.
"No, her heart is still beating, however faintly. Although that doesn't guarantee she would live, she's still coming with us especially if she's the reason for the commotion in the palace last night," He answered.
The vampire then leaned down, waving his hand over her and when the rings in his finger didn't light up, he knew she wasn't a threat.
However, that made him more perplexed, if she wasn't a witch, why had they chased intently after her. Moreover, his Intel had said so as well. Was he mistaken or were her powers much higher than his ring could detect?
"Get her in my cart and do it quickly. Soon enough the king's men would swarm this place like bees after figuring out the wave took her downstream. We should get our hands on her and know her worth before the others do," He commanded, getting into the carriage.
"Of course, sire," The man who was no other than the coachman said, making signs to the footman who had been watching all this while without a word to give him a hand.
So the both of them hoisted Dehlia who was much heavier than usual, putting her on the footman's shoulder who carried her into the inside of the carriage and placed her on one of the luxurious seats before the door was shut.
The vampire didn't mind her dirtied state considering that seat was expensive. He sat opposite of her and stared at Dehlia with scrutiny mixed with curiosity. The strange young girl had turned the palace upside down. There had to be something special about her.
Meanwhile, Dehlia didn't know where she was. It was like she was stuck in complete darkness and the silence scared her. She didn't like it one bit.
"Hello?" She said, the sound echoing back to her, "Hello system? Am I dead yet?"
[No, you're not]
That electronic voice sounded in her heart and before she could say a word, a bright light exploded before her, and Dehlia had to shield her eyes with her arm.
When she reopened her eyes, Dehlia found herself in an unfamiliar place, and beside her was a strange beautiful woman.
"Who are....?"
[Hello host, I'm the busybody system]
Dehlia watched as she struck a pose and that made her jaw almost drop, "You're human?"
[Of course not, host, I'm an Ai robot and just took on an appearance most acceptable to you. Perhaps, you would love the opposite gender]
Just as she was still speaking, Dehlia watched as the system's appearance suddenly altered, and standing right in front of her was a man with godlike features, like those she saw in those Asian soap operas she watched - and he even winked at her.
"Oh God, no," Dehlia groaned, rubbing her temple. This system was much more annoying than she thought.
[It seems you're not satisfied with my choice of appearance. Perhaps, you prefer something more sizzling]
Again, the robot changed and this time, it was a man once again. However, he was bare from his waist upward and a chain dangling from his neck. Dehlia's eyes almost popped out of her socket. What the hell is this?
[You don't seem to like this as well, host. Perhaps, you would like -]
"Please, stop!" Dehlia halted her at once, "Just reverse to your former appearance,"
[As you wish, host]
Dehlia was relieved, but it was too soon. The system was back to the appearance of the first man she took on.
"Oh God, no! I said to your former appearance,"
[This was my former appearance, host]
Dehlia gestured desperately, "I mean your first appearance, the woman"
[As you wish, host]
Her appearance altered and it was the woman.
"Thank God," Dehlia was grateful.
[Congratulations host, you've successfully escaped from the palace and gained 10,000 credit points]
Dehlia was taking a deep breath when the system announced that. She stood up, concentrating on the screen that appeared right in front of her out of nowhere. It was some sort of a control panel that showed off her details in the game.
[Loan debt: 22,000 credit points]
[10,000 credit points debited to pay off outstanding loan]
[Loan balance: 12,000 credit points]
"Seriously," Dehlia groaned when that notification popped up. She had forgotten she was indebted to the system.
However, on the bright side, she now had a permanent skill and though it wasn't much, it would help sustain her life enough for her to escape when in danger.
"By the way, where am I? I thought I was dead judging from the fact that the last thing I saw was that damn vampire bringing down a wave on me," Dehlia still shivered remembering that scene. That asshole!
[Your body is safe somewhere and recuperating from the wounds you suffered during your escape. This is your consciousness I had pulled here]
"Oh," Dehlia nodded in understanding. No wonder she felt weightless as if all her problems have vanished.
"So," She shrugged, "What happens next now?"
[The beginning of your story]