"This is the end for me."
Calvin felt the sense of helplessness as he drifted in a vast, endless void. Yet the silence creates an eerie sensation interrupted by the muffled sound of his heartbeat. He felt an extreme coldness pierce his skin, freezing his muscles and bones.
There is nothing he could do, the weightlessness is what makes him floating in the deep darkness. His chest is desperate for air but what it found is full of water. His instinct wanted to survive but he refused, accepting his fate.
"I deserved this," he thought to himself, his eyes weaker. "I'm a worthless loser."
The diffused light from the surface appears distant, like his fading hope. In this suspended state, all his thoughts were filled with regret and reflection on life's moment. Blaming everything on himself, Calvin is thankful that his loved ones don't have to be burdened by him.
A small amount of water entered his lungs unnoticed, more and more until the burning sensation overwhelmed him, causing him to move frantically before he became motionless and lifeless. But then a strange sound echoed through his mind, almost convincing Calvin it was from the Angel of Death.
"Is he still breathing?" The voice sounded feminine.
"Yes, hold on!" a man's voice replied, startled when Calvin felt his chest being touched. He should have guessed what the man would do, but he's too confused right now to even think.
With firm pressure, the man performed CPR until Calvin expelled a large volume of water, coughing so hard as he struggled to catch his breath. The entire experience felt like he had been brought back to life.
"Wasn't I supposed to be dead?"
"Wait... is this some kind of shit I've read in novels? A transmigration trope?"
"No, it can't be real, right? I mean, it's all fiction... but still, I have to find out!"
Calvin opened his eyes, only to be blinded by the sunlight. This struck him as odd, considering that the day he had surrendered himself to the currents, it was winter. Blinking repeatedly to adjust to the brightness, his gaze settled on a woman beside him.
She leaned forward, her brown-reddish hair falling in soft strands around her face. Her attire caught his attention—a black, long-sleeved dress with a modest yet sophisticated design. The bodice was tailored to accentuate her figure, adorned with delicate white lace and a small black ribbon at the collar. It was a style he'd ever seen in historical depictions.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with remorse and regret. "I'm so sorry for my carelessness!"
Calvin, still too disoriented to form a coherent response, murmured, "Is this the afterlife? Are you an Angel?"
The woman was shocked, unable to say anything, while Calvin continued to observe her, unaware of his surroundings, which were filled with onlookers. All of them were dressed in the same thematic attire as the woman, which Calvin recalled resembled the fashion of the Victorian era.
However, there was a distinction in their accessories. Pocket watches filled their vests with chains and various appliances. Some even wore bowler hats that completed their vintage aesthetic. Moments later, as Calvin's consciousness regained, he could hear the commotion around him.
"Ma'am, do you have a license? Because as a witness, this incident could have been avoided," said the mature man with a thick mustache, the one who had saved Calvin, turning to the woman.
"Of course I do! I wouldn't be driving on the street otherwise!" she retorted in defense. But guilt soon washed over her, softening her tone. "It was an accident, and I know I'm at fault here."
"How about you, Mister? Got better?"
Calvin didn't respond to the man's question. He was still trying to piece together what had happened to him. The location was different from where he had last been when he decided to end his life. Not only that, but the architecture surrounding him bore no resemblance to modern buildings. The designs were ancient.
"Where the hell is the snow?" he mumbled, noticing the warmth of the sunlight on his face. His words caused the man and woman to exchange dumbfounded glances.
As soon as he tried to remember everything, an inexplicable heaviness overcame his head, followed by a headache more excruciating than anything he'd ever felt before. It felt as though his mind was being stabbed, the pain so overwhelming that Calvin screamed, clutching his black hair in desperation.
In that single, agonizing moment, his brain was flooded with a cascade of someone else's memories. Since the birth to the present, it was unbearable for someone like Calvin to experience the real and tangible events in a matter of seconds, almost bringing him to the brink of unconsciousness.
However, in an instant, his head healed, and he seemed to snap out of it, even though he had been awake the entire time. The woman wanted to make a move but hesitated, unsure of what to do as she watched Calvin freeze in the spot, wide-eyed, and summarized the memories that weighed on him.
"The realm of Eleftheria. So, this is the world I live in now."
"This transmigration... it's real, huh? I never thought it would happen to me, but here I am."
"For someone who wanted to die, God decided to make me alive again. He must be trolling me."
"Take him to the hospital to know what damage he had," the man with the mustache called out, his suggestion agreed upon by the brown-haired woman.
"No, I'm fine," Calvin replied, attempting to stand, but he almost fell as he realized his legs were sprained.
Quickly, the woman caught him, stabilizing his balance with the help of the mature man on the other side. "I don't think so. Let's head to my car!"
Calvin couldn't protest, as he could barely walk. Together, they climbed a small hill where an old model car awaited them. It was a classic coupe with a sleek black metallic finish that gleamed under the sunlight. Its round headlights and ornate hood ornament exuded an air of timeless luxury.
"Please don't refuse," she pleaded as they stood in front of the vehicle. "It's the least I can do since I'm responsible for this incident."
Calvin complied, not out of curiosity about what it might feel like to ride in an ancient car, but because he was captivated by the world around him. Steam is everywhere. Giant clockwork, brass material, and most fascinating of all were the automatons he caught through the window.
"So, we haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Clandestine," she said from behind the wheel.
Calvin, after he had inherited his new self, responded, "I'm Hermaeus. Hermaeus Claude."