"WAKE UP, MICHAEL!!!"
(Who the hell is calling my name?) Michael thought, his eyes snapping towards the door, anticipating whoever was about to burst through.
Suddenly, the door flew open, and a young blonde-haired girl, around twelve years old, stormed into the room. She was beautiful, but there was an intensity in her expression that made her seem older than her years. Her clothes were worn and dingy—a faded white shirt and old blue jeans that had seen better days. But it was her eyes that caught Michael's attention—one was a striking shade of purple, the other a deep green with a hint of blue. They seemed to pierce right through him.
"Why in the world are you still lying there? How long does it take you to self-awaken, you idiot?" she snapped, her voice loud and abrupt, cutting through the silence of the room.
Michael blinked, taken aback by her sudden appearance and harsh tone. "Um, excuse me, miss, but who are you? And how do you know I've awakened?"
The girl stared at him, her expression shifting from irritation to disbelief. "Wait, are you even more stupid than before you awakened? I'm Alicia, your only friend in the world. How could you forget me? Or are you playing games just to annoy me? Miss Natalie from the orphanage was informed about your awakening and that you needed an extended stay in the hospital. We've been waiting for you to wake up for four weeks already!"
Michael felt a rush of confusion and panic. He didn't remember this girl or anything she was talking about. He was about to respond when he heard Uriel's voice inside his head, cutting through his thoughts.
(Human, do you know the difference between reincarnating and transmigrating?) Uriel's tone was amused, clearly enjoying Michael's current predicament.
(Why are you in my head?! Ask permission next time before you do this!) Michael shot back, his body tensing with the unexpected intrusion. (And no, I don't know the difference.)
Uriel chuckled, a sound that echoed in his mind. (The difference is simple. Reincarnating means being born again, hopefully with your memories intact. Transmigrating, on the other hand, means taking over the body of another human who has recently died. And you, my dear human, have transmigrated. Muwhahahahaa.) Her laughter was a mix of amusement and mischief. (I'm sure I don't have to explain why transmigrating is the less preferred option. Besides inheriting whatever mess your host left behind, your host's situation is now your situation. Reincarnators always get a head start, while transmigrators are basically playing the lottery with their chances at getting a talented or well-off host.)
(Wait, so I'm inhabiting a dead man's body?!) Michael's mind reeled as he tried to process this revelation.
(The former host died when your talents self-awakened. You felt that pain firsthand, remember?)
(What the f—)
Michael's internal rant was cut off by Alicia's exasperated voice. "Michael, stop ignoring me and sitting there like a fool. We need to get out of here before the hospital charges you for your stay. The orphanage won't even try to pay for this hospital trip, even if you have awakened." Her tone was aggressive, but there was an underlying concern that Michael could sense.
"Wait, we aren't paying for my visit?" Michael asked, still trying to piece together everything that was happening.
"NO! The government covered your stay only because you're now considered a genius for self-awakening. They won't be so generous next time, and they definitely won't hesitate to ask for something in return later. So let's leave now!" Alicia's urgency was palpable, and Michael could see she wasn't one to waste time.
Michael looked at Alicia, still processing the barrage of information. He wasn't accustomed to this world, and moving without knowing all the facts didn't sit right with him.
"Do you really have amnesia? We can't afford to sit here and wait for you to figure it out, Mikey." Alicia's voice softened slightly, but the edge of frustration remained. She looked ready to drag him out if he didn't move soon.
(She's right, you need to move. I'll leave with you and explain the world layout along the way, so don't worry about being clueless. My sole purpose here is to assist you, and while I might make fun of you, my job is still to help.) Uriel's tone was more serious now, though the amusement hadn't completely left her voice. She wanted Michael to know he wasn't entirely alone.
Deciding to trust his familiar, Michael sighed and nodded. "Okay, let's go, Alicia. I'll need your help to guide me back to the orphanage."
He started to get out of bed, only to realize too late that he was naked under the hospital gown. Alicia's eyes widened in horror, and she quickly turned her back to him, her face turning a deep shade of red.
"PUT ON SOME CLOTHES FIRST BEFORE YOU MOVE AROUND, YOU FREAK!" she yelled, storming out of the room and slamming the door behind her.
(Hahahahaaaaa!) Uriel rolled around on the window's edge, laughing uncontrollably, nearly tumbling off several times.
(Please, act like a proper angel, Uriel.) Michael groaned, his face burning with embarrassment. He quickly looked around and spotted his clothes neatly folded in a corner. He couldn't believe the amount of humiliation he'd experienced since the moment he died.
As he dressed, Michael felt the weight of his new reality settle over him. He was in a strange world, inhabiting a stranger's body, with no clear path forward. But he wasn't the type to back down from a challenge. And with Uriel's guidance and Alicia's help, he would face whatever came next.
Once dressed, Michael took a deep breath, steeling himself for the journey ahead. The contest had begun, and he was determined to survive—no matter what it took.