I floated in a warm, heavy darkness, my body weightless but my mind sharp, sharper than I ever remembered. It was like being submerged in thick, murky water. My thoughts drifted, fragmented, but then something snapped into focus—a question that clawed its way out of the dark.
Where… am I?
The answer came from everywhere and nowhere, a voice that seemed to resonate through the very fibers of my being. "You are in a womb," it said, calm and clear, like the first note of a song played in a silent room.
Panic flared. A womb? The word made no sense in the context of what I felt, what I remembered. "Who are you?" I demanded, my voice a soundless shout in the abyss.
"I am your personal system," the voice replied smoothly, as if expecting the question. "You may call me Ive."
Personal system? I grasped at the term, feeling it slip like water through my fingers. "What… what does that mean? And what do you mean by a womb? Am I… not born yet?"
"Correct," Ive replied without hesitation. "You have yet to be born."
Yet to be born. The words echoed in my mind, almost mocking in their simplicity. But it couldn't be. I wasn't a child—I have memories, thoughts, a past life that felt so real, so painfully vivid. I was… I was…
"I died," I whispered into the darkness. "I remember dying. But I'm still… here. Why?"
There was a pause, a soft hum of hesitation, as if Ive were weighing its answer. "That is a complicated question, Host. You were indeed in a state close to what humans refer to as death. However, your body has gathered mana, the energy that permeates this world, allowing your consciousness and soul to develop far beyond what is typical in your current state. Your memories remain intact because of this unusual gathering of mana, and this is also why I exist."
Mana. The word felt strange on my mental tongue, foreign yet somehow familiar. "Mana? You mean… magic?"
"In a sense," Ive replied, the tone patient, like a teacher with a particularly slow student. "Mana is one of the essence that flows through all things. It is the force that gives life, power, and purpose. Most beings only awaken to its presence later in life, but you… you have begun to harness it even before birth and in your past life."
A strange sensation coursed through me, like a shiver down a spine I couldn't feel. "So, I'm some kind of… anomaly?"
"Yes," Ive agreed. "Your existence is unique. You possess awareness, knowledge, and memories from a previous life, despite not yet being born in this one."
I felt frustration bubbling up. "But how did I die? I remember… some things, but not everything. Can you tell me?"
"I am afraid I do not have the answers to that," Ive responded. "My knowledge is limited to what you perceive and what you remember. Your past life is not fully clear, even to you."
I closed my eyes—or at least, it felt like I did. Fragments of memories floated to the surface like leaves in a dark pond. Cold. Hunger. Pain. Faces blurred by tears, angry voices shouting. I was… an orphan. Alone, abandoned in an alley. I had no family, no name, no place. Just a small, scared child who grew up where nobody wanted him. They called me a freak, a mistake, something that didn't belong.
I remembered being the smallest, the weakest, with a face people couldn't stand to look at. Whenever potential parents came to adopt, I was always the last in line, if I was even in line at all. They took one look and turned away. No one wanted me, and I learned to stop wanting them back.
I was just trying to survive, I thought bitterly. And even then, I failed.
"Why was I reborn?" I asked softly. "Why give me another chance? What's the point?"
"Purpose is something you must discover for yourself, Host," Ive answered. "But your rebirth was not random. You were given this chance for a reason, one that you may uncover in time. For now, you must grow, learn, and become stronger."
"Stronger…?" I echoed, a mix of curiosity and skepticism in my thoughts. "How can I do that if I'm… not even born yet?"
"There are many paths to strength," Ive explained, its tone calm and reassuring. "One such path is through mana cultivation, the process of gathering and refining the mana around you to enhance your body, mind, and spirit. This is something you can begin, even now, within your current state."
A flicker of hope stirred within me. "You mean… I could start using magic?"
"Potentially," Ive replied. "However, there are risks. Your body is fragile. Attempting cultivation at this stage could put you into a deep sleep, or worse, cause damage that could be fatal to the very body and soul."
Fear tightened around my heart. "Wait, you mean… I could die? Again?"
"There is always a risk in the pursuit of strength," Ive answered. "But I am here to guide you and minimize that risk. Your growth is essential, not only for you but for unlocking the full capabilities of your system—me."
I swallowed, or at least I thought I did. The sensation of my old body was slipping away, replaced by this strange, undefined existence. "So, if I get stronger, you get stronger?"
"Correct," Ive confirmed. "As you develop, more of my functions will unlock, and I will be able to provide greater assistance."
"And if I don't?" I challenged.
"Then your progress will be slow, and you may be vulnerable to the dangers of this new world," Ive replied. "There is much you do not yet know including me. Much that could harm you. It's best to prepare and start things early."
I felt a surge of determination. I had been powerless in my old life, a victim of fate. But here… maybe here, I could be something more. "Alright, Ive. Tell me how to start cultivating mana."
"You must first calm your mind and focus on the energy around you," Ive instructed. "Feel the mana currents, let them flow through you, and then draw them in, slowly and carefully."
I tried to concentrate, pushing away my fears, my doubts. I could feel something, a faint hum, like a distant vibration just beyond my senses. Was that the mana?
"You're doing well," Ive encouraged. "But remember, your body is still fragile. Cultivation will put you into a deep sleep as your body is not strong enough to withstand it consciously."
My heart—or what I imagined to be my heart—pounded faster. "Wait, what? You didn't mention sleep before! How long will I be asleep?"
"It is uncertain," Ive replied. "It could be days, months, or even years. I will enter a dormant state as well, monitoring your progress until you awaken."
"Years?" I felt panic rise again. "I don't want to sleep for years! I just started—"
"Beginning cultivation in ten… nine…" Ive began counting down.
"No, stop!" I yelled mentally. "I'm not ready!"
"Five… four… three…"
"Ive, I don't want to do this!"
"Two… one… zero. Initiating sleep mode for host. Shutting down…"
A wave of exhaustion crashed over me, a deep, overwhelming darkness that swallowed my consciousness whole. I fought to stay awake, to resist, but it was like sinking into a warm, endless ocean.
And then, there was nothing.