Ozero's eyes fluttered open, his breaths ragged and heavy. The dim light filtering through the small, grimy window revealed the neglect that permeated the room. Dust hung thick in the air, coating every surface with a layer of neglect.
With a disdainful grimace, he muttered to himself, "How long has it been since someone cleaned this place?"
The dust tickled his nose, prompting a fit of coughing as he rose from the dusty bed, the creaking of the old mattress echoing through the desolate room.
Slowly, Ozero made his way to the nearby mirror, his reflection obscured by the accumulated grime. As he peered into the murky glass, he couldn't help but notice the absence of his own expression staring back at him.
"No wonder he didn't show me his face," he murmured to himself, studying the gloomy visage that met his gaze.
"It's not that he is ugly, it's just... he looks gloomy."
With a sigh, Ozero turned away from the mirror, the weight of his own reflection lingering in his mind as he began to assess his surroundings and contemplate his next move.
Ozero's appearance reflected the somber atmosphere, with weary eyes and disheveled black hair.
He wrinkled his nose at the lingering scent of alcohol, muttering to himself, "Ugh... This guy reeks. I need a shower."
He began to explore the room, his footsteps echoing in the empty space.
"Despite the neglect, this mansion is impressively grand," he remarked, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "But one man alone can't maintain a place like this."
Turning to the window, he peered outside, his gaze falling on the desolate landscape.
"Dead trees and dry land... Not exactly a welcoming sight," he muttered
Ozero's weary footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridors as he searched for the elusive shower.
"Finally found it," he muttered to himself with a sigh of relief, pushing open the door to the small bathroom.
The shower area, though not pristine, offered a semblance of cleanliness compared to the neglected state of the rest of the mansion.
"At least this place is relatively clean," Ozero remarked, stepping under the lukewarm water with a sense of gratitude.
As the water washed over him, he closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of respite amidst the chaos of his thoughts.
"Alright," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the sound of the running water. "Time to relax and piece together everything that's happened so far."
Ozero's mind raced as he contemplated his peculiar situation.
"So, technically, I'm dead," he muttered to himself, a wry smile playing on his lips. "And now, here I am, inhabiting this... borrowed body."
He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if testing their newfound strength.
"It's not quite reincarnation," he continued, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "More like... a summoning. A transfer of consciousness, perhaps."
As he tried to recall the details of his host's former life, he found the memories elusive, like scattered puzzle pieces waiting to be assembled.
"Leo... Leo Radiance," he murmured, the name echoing in his mind. "Part of the Radiance family, one of the three great houses of this kingdom."
Ozero's memories began to coalesce, forming a clearer picture of the world he found himself in.
"Five hundred years..." he murmured, his thoughts drifting back to the distant past. "The Great Priestess's prophecy."
He recalled the words spoken centuries ago, etched into the annals of history.
"In a world shrouded in darkness, a child of light shall be born," he recited, the prophecy resonating within him. "Destined to lead humanity onto the path of righteousness, and to vanquish the Demon Lord."
The weight of those words hung heavy in the air, their significance reverberating through the ages. Ozero couldn't shake the feeling that his presence in this world was somehow intertwined with that ancient prophecy.
Ozero reminisced, his thoughts carrying him back to that pivotal moment when the prophecy was expected to unfold.
"The world's gaze fell upon the Radiance family," he reflected inwardly, his mind retracing the events of that day.
"They were the bearers of Light magic, anticipated to bring forth the Child of Prophecy, destined to lead humanity towards righteousness."
"But instead..." he paused, a shadow passing over his mind as he recalled the unexpected turn of events.
"Darkness emerged, defying the hopeful expectations."
"A child, enveloped in an ominous aura, stood in place of the anticipated light."
Turning his attention to the mirror, Ozero confronted his reflection, the weight of his revelation heavy upon him.
"It was me," he acknowledged silently, the weight of destiny settling upon his shoulders like a shroud.
"The cursed child."
In the eerie silence of the mansion's halls, Ozero's mind raced with unsettling thoughts.
"People in this world believe that the Cursed Child is the reincarnation of a demon," he muttered, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
A sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"Wait... Could it be that I was once a demon, reincarnated into this form?" he pondered aloud, his eyes widening with disbelief.
"I may have toyed with lives in the past," he admitted reluctantly. "But it was always for the greater good... Mostly,"
He added with a wry chuckle, scratching the back of his head as he grappled with the implications of his newfound identity.
As he wandered through the mansion, Ozero continued to reflect.
"Well, that's a topic for another day," he muttered. "So where was I?"
He paused, thinking.
"Yeah, that's how I, Leo Radiance, came into this world. The people's hope started to wane the moment they saw me, their supposed savior, born with dark hair and a foreboding aura."
Ozero's expression darkened.
"Their hopes faded. They saw me as a cursed child, a sign of doom."
He sighed, then his tone lightened slightly.
"But amidst that despair, there was a glimmer of hope. Raylan, my twin, was born soon after me. Raylan Radiance—their beacon of light in a world drowning in darkness."
Ozero's eyes narrowed as he recalled the stark contrast between himself and his twin.
"While I was the embodiment of their fears, Raylan was their hope, their light against the looming shadow."
Leo mused to himself, "Raylan and I were like night and day. Raylan basked in everyone's love, while I was shunned."
He continued, "In this world, cursed children are usually killed or abandoned at birth. But being royalty, they couldn't just dispose of me without tarnishing the family name."
As he strolled past a window, he noticed a horse-drawn carriage arriving at the gate.
"Looks like it's time," he muttered.
As he approached the carriage, Ozero couldn't help but scrutinize it suspiciously, his gaze darting around for any sign of movement.
"Hmm... No one in sight," he muttered, eyeing the empty seats.
He reached out to pat the horse's mane, a perplexed frown creasing his brow.
"Are these horses unusually well-trained or is it magic?" he pondered aloud.
Suddenly, he hesitated, withdrawing his hand as if stung.
"Odd..." he murmured, a sense of unease creeping over him. "Maybe I'm just overthinking it."
With a shrug, he clambered into the carriage, deciding, "Well, answers can wait."
As he settled in, the carriage lurched forward, beginning its journey without any visible command.
As the carriage trundled down the desolate road, Ozero's eyes traced the barren trees passing by.
"Leo's been stuck in that mansion for nearly three years," he mused aloud. "Banished and isolated."
He sighed, reflecting on the memories flooding back to him.
"That dark aura of his attracts monsters like moths to a flame. They had to erect a massive barrier around the mansion to keep the creatures at bay, to ensure his aura didn't draw them all in."
Ozero grinned widely as he surveyed the desolate landscape outside.
"His aura couldn't roam freely, so it ended up affecting all these trees and plants," he chuckled to himself, noting the eerie stillness of the deadened surroundings.
Leaning back comfortably, he allowed himself a moment's rest, reflecting on the peculiar circumstances of his recent liberation.
"It's been a whole month since they lifted his banishment, yet Leo chose to remain," he remarked, his voice tinged with both relief and amusement.
He shifted eagerly, thinking about the empire's summons that had finally forced him out of seclusion.
"Now, because of the empire's orders, I have no choice but to show myself," he added, his tone bright with anticipation.
Thinking ahead to the event that awaited him, he chuckled with excitement,
"They've called me back for the Birthday of Emperor's Daughter"
Suddenly, Ozero felt a tremor beneath him and quickly glanced to his side. His eyes widened as he saw a giant green creature sprinting towards him.
Startled by the approaching giant green creature, Ozero leaped out of the carriage just as it plowed through, splintering the wood.
"What on earth...?" he muttered, eyes wide with surprise, as he faced the towering beast.
The creature halted abruptly, fixing its gaze on Ozero, who stood before it with a nervous grin.
Recalling Leo's words about tapping into dark magic, Ozero smirked and raised his hand confidently.
"Alright, let's see what you've got," he muttered to himself.
Moments stretched into tense silence, the creature looking as bewildered as Ozero felt.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he focused, expecting a surge of power.
When nothing happened, frustration laced his voice.
"Leo, you son of a Bitch," he muttered, his disappointment palpable as he realized the magic hadn't responded as expected.