When I died, I didn't expect... well, anything. One moment I was crossing a busy street, fumbling with my phone. The next, darkness. No light at the end of the tunnel. No pearly gates. Just a blank void, and then I was here.
I woke up gasping, the air so sharp and cold it felt like knives in my lungs. My hands clawed at silk sheets, and when my eyes finally focused, I wasn't in a hospital bed or even the street where I'd been. The ceiling above me was domed, carved with intricate designs of stars and dragons. It looked old. Majestic. A place I didn't belong.
But my body disagreed.
My arms were too thin, my skin too soft, and the way I moved felt... unfamiliar. When I stumbled out of the bed, my legs trembled like I hadn't used them in years. I reached for a nearby mirror, and that's when I saw her. Me. But not me.
Long light brown hair cascaded over pale shoulders, and the face staring back wasn't mine. It was beautiful in a way I never was: high cheekbones, a delicate nose, and eyes so piercingly blue they didn't seem real. I blinked. She blinked. I touched my face, and so did she.
"What the hell…" I muttered. My voice was soft and lilting, not at all the scratchy tone I was used to.
That's when it hit me: this wasn't a dream. I wasn't in my body. I wasn't in my world.
Then a notification popped up, like a hologram in midair.
[Welcome, Karina Goldbrace. You have been granted a second chance.]
I staggered back, nearly tripping over the hem of the velvet robe I hadn't realized I was wearing. "Who the hell is Karina?" I asked aloud.
The notification flickered.
[Karina Goldbrace, Empress of Avugon. Current status: Declining health. Reinstated via Second-Life System.]
It reads like a game interface. A glitchy one. The text jittered and faded out for a moment before stabilizing again.
[Objective: Restore the Kingdom of Avugon to its former glory.]
Oh, great. Not only was I in some strange body, but I was apparently the ruler of a kingdom—and one that sounded like it was on the brink of collapse. My mind raced. Why me? Why now? I wasn't exactly Empress material. My last leadership experience was being voted captain of a trivia team in college.
Before I could process the absurdity of the situation, the door to the room slammed open. A man entered, tall and broad-shouldered, wearing armor that gleamed even in the dim light. His expression was grim as his dark eyes scanned me.
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly. "You're awake." His voice was deep, with just a hint of relief.
I blinked, trying to play along. "Yes. I... am."
He straightened, his gaze hardening. "The Council awaits your presence. They've been restless since your... illness."
Illness? My mind scrambled for context. "Right," I said, buying time. "Of course. Let me just... prepare."
The man nodded curtly. "I'll have the attendants sent in." He paused, his sharp gaze lingering on me. "It's good to see you on your feet, Your Majesty. The kingdom needs you now more than ever." With that, he turned and strode out, leaving me alone with the oppressive weight of those words.
The attendants were quick, their hands efficient as they dressed me in layers of silk and velvet. They didn't speak unless spoken to, which gave me no clues about the kind of person this Karina was supposed to be. The clothes they chose were heavy and regal, the kind of outfit you'd see on the cover of a fantasy novel. When I caught my reflection again, I barely recognized myself.
I needed answers. Fast.
The system interface reappeared when I willed it, like a mental command.
[System Menu: Status, Inventory, Objectives.]
"Status," I murmured under my breath.
[Name: Karina Goldbrace
Age: 23
Health: Stable
Charisma: High
Kingdom Stability: Low
System Status: Unstable (Glitches Detected)]
Perfect. Even the magical interface wasn't reliable. I muttered a curse, earning a curious glance from one of the attendants.
The Council chamber was overwhelming. High ceilings, massive stained-glass windows, and a long table where a dozen men and women in ornate robes sat, their faces varying from worried to outright hostile. The tension in the room was palpable as I entered.
"Your Majesty," an older man with a silver beard said, rising to bow. "It's a relief to see you well."
"Thank you," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I understand there are pressing matters to discuss."
A woman with sharp features and calculating eyes spoke next. "Indeed, Your Majesty. The war with Mitira continues to strain our resources. We've had reports of border skirmishes—"
"Mitira," I interrupted. The name struck a chord. "That's the neighboring kingdom?"
The woman gave me a sharp look but nodded. "Yes. Emperor Damian Frostfeather has been unrelenting in his demands. If we don't address this soon, Avugon's future is... bleak."
Damian Frostfeather. The name sounded like something out of a romance novel. Somehow, I doubted he was the swoon-worthy hero type. I filed the thought away for later.
By the end of the meeting, I was no closer to understanding how to rule a kingdom, but I knew one thing for sure: Avugon was a mess. The treasury was nearly empty, the army was stretched thin, and the people were losing faith in their Empress. Me.
Back in the privacy of my chambers, I paced, the weight of everything pressing down on me. The system had been silent through the entire meeting, no hints, no help.
I called it up again, frustration bubbling to the surface. "What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to fix this?"
The screen flickered.
[System Error. Please try again later.]
I groaned, collapsing onto the bed.