A cold breeze gently brushed his face, like a soft call from a distant world. Alaric slowly opened his eyes, but the blinding light forced him to shut them again. His body felt heavy, as if chained by invisible burdens. He tried to move his hands, but only a sense of weakness greeted him.
The sound of footsteps approached. Then, a hoarse voice full of anxiety was heard.
"Your Majesty...! You have finally awakened!"
Alaric opened his eyes once more, this time more cautiously. In front of him stood an old man with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles. The man wore worn-out armor, with sword scars marking various parts of it. His eyes radiated joy mixed with a deep sense of relief.
"Who... are you?" Alaric's voice was hoarse, almost a whisper. His throat was dry, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.
The man bowed respectfully. "I am Eldrin, your knight, Your Majesty. You have been in a coma for three months since the last attack on our empire."
Empire? Alaric looked at the man, his brow furrowed. Eldrin's words felt foreign, yet they also sparked something within him. Memories that weren't his flooded his mind—fragments of memories full of destruction.
He saw a grand palace engulfed in flames, heard the screams of the fleeing citizens, and felt the fear of a young man named Alaric von Zephyrion, the crown prince of the now-fallen empire.
"Wait..." Alaric tried to process it all. This body, this name, and this world—none of it felt like his. His own memories, the memories from his past life as the Heavenly Demon God, were blending with the memories of the body's original owner.
Before he could contemplate further, a cold voice echoed in his mind.
[Welcome, user. The Imperial Restoration System is activated.]
[First Mission: Restore your body's strength. Reward: Basic Heavenly Demon Techniques.]
A glowing panel appeared before his eyes. The text appeared foreign, yet somehow he could understand it.
'A system? So, this is how the new world greets me?' Alaric thought, a faint smile crossing his face. This world might be different from Murim, but he wouldn't be intimidated.
Eldrin helped Alaric sit up on a simple straw bed. In the corner of the room, a wooden bowl of clear water sat, with some dry bread on a small table.
"Where are we?" Alaric asked.
"We are in a remote village to the south of the former empire's territory," Eldrin replied. "After the empire fell, I brought you and Princess Seraphina here to seek refuge. This is the only safe place for now."
That name—Seraphina—brought the image of a young girl to Alaric's mind. A girl with long silver hair and soft blue eyes.
"Seraphina..." he murmured softly.
Eldrin nodded. "She is your sister, Your Majesty. Since the empire's fall, she is the only family left with you."
Light footsteps were heard approaching. A girl around fifteen years old appeared at the door, holding a bowl of warm soup. Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight that filtered through the cracks in the walls.
"Brother!" she cried, her voice full of emotion. She dropped the bowl she was holding and immediately ran to hug Alaric.
Alaric froze. He wasn't used to warmth like this, not even in his previous life as the Heavenly Demon God. Yet, the memories of this body made him feel a strange affection for the girl.
"I'm sorry... I couldn't save you," Seraphina whispered through her tears.
Alaric awkwardly patted her back. "It's okay... I will protect you from now on."
Though his words were simple, the determination in his heart was strong. This world might be foreign to him, but he would conquer it.
End of Chapter 1: The Shadow of Danger
Night fell. Outside the cottage, the sound of crickets could be faintly heard. Alaric sat cross-legged on the bed, trying to understand the glowing panel that only he could see. The system was providing mission details, techniques he could learn, and the status of his body, which was currently very weak.
But his mind was troubled. Fragments of Alaric von Zephyrion's memories haunted him, especially the figures of the traitors who had destroyed this empire.
Suddenly, Seraphina's soft voice broke the silence.
"Brother... Do you think Darius is still alive?" she asked, her eyes full of hope.
Darius. Their third brother, who had gone missing when the palace fell. In this body's memories, Alaric didn't know the answer. But his Heavenly Demon God intuition told him that his brother was still out there.
Before he could respond, a loud sound came from outside the cottage. Eldrin rushed in, his expression tense.
"Your Majesty, we must leave now. They've found us!"
In the distance, torchlight became visible. Dozens of mounted figures were approaching the small village, carrying black flags with a skull symbol.
Alaric peered through the window. A cold smile spread across his face.
"So, these are my first enemies in this world," he muttered softly, a demonic aura beginning to rise from his body.