So… This is how it ends.

Those were my thoughts as I lay in a puddle of my own blood, staring up at the rain as it fell on my face. Rain… wet and cold, soaking the meager clothing I wore as I heard someone scream near me. I closed my eyes, surprised I could still feel annoyed. Couldn’t I at least die in peace?

In all my years, I always thought it would be my mother who finally killed me. The woman had done everything she could to villainize me to my own family and after my father left, I was worse than dirt to her. Of course, I had left home as soon as I could, but I just couldn’t seem to cut her completely out of my life. 

Nothing I did was ever good enough. She never let me forget that, and when I was forced to move back home after becoming homeless, she reminded me even more. Even though my brother didn’t work and barely left his room, my mother made me spend the money I earned on him. I was forced to work longer and longer shifts to cover the rent she demanded and all the other expenses she would force out of me. I was just a bank to her and she wasn’t even grateful for that. 

“I… I think she's dying! Someone call a doctor!”

Of course I am. How many people survive falling headfirst from a four story window?

“Should we move her?”

“How long before they get here?”

A part of me wanted to open my mouth, to tell them to shut up and let me die in peace but I merely remained silent. Even if I could still talk, I was tired of arguing. Tired of fighting. Even if it was only an accident, in a way, I was happy I fell.

My day started normally enough. I had finally managed to hide away enough money from my mother so that I could get my own place again and I was simply viewing a potential apartment. As soon as I was done with the leasing agent however, my mother called, furious that I was “enjoying” myself instead of getting my brother's latest pay card.

As usual, our conversation spiraled into another argument and in my anger, I let it slip that I was moving out. This only enraged the woman more and I had closed my eyes, holding the phone away from my ear. 

I never saw it coming. I'm not even sure what it was, maybe a runaway janitor’s cart, maybe an errant moving skid. But, regardless, I was struck by something moving fast and heavy down the hallway. I stumbled and collided into the floor to ceiling glass, and well, 

Now I was dying on the ground.

“Clear the way! Emergency services!”

Why bother? I can’t even feel my body anymore. 

Everything was just… numb. Even the voices of the crowd and paramedics felt miles away. Just white noise in the background of my fading life. All I could think about was the freedom I craved and the love I so desperately wanted. Why had it been so hard for my mother to love me, even as I gave into her time and time again.

{Useless thoughts to have now, Asai Webb. You’ll never know, and even if you did, would it change anything?}

No. I guess it wouldn't. 

After a while, I couldn't hear anything and I simply existed in a dark void. Bodiless, voiceless, but I could still think. Was this the death everyone was so scared of? In my mind, this was bliss. Quiet, peaceful and devoid of the pain of life. In this nothingness, maybe everything could be okay.

{Would you like another chance?}

Another chance at life? No thank you.

{Not this life. A new life, somewhere where things can be different.}

What is this, an isekai novel? I scoffed, wishing the voice would leave me alone. There had been times, when I was a child, that I wished I could be whisked away to a world of fantasy, to a life where I had a family that loved me. Siblings that supported me, a father that never left and…

Sure, why not? I finally answered the unknown voice, no longer caring. Either it was real, and I would get a second chance at life, or I was just hallucinating in my final moments and I would fade into peaceful oblivion. A win-win, if you look at it that way.

{Then let the summoning begin.}

“Your Majesty! Please hold on!”

Majesty? What was this voice going on about? I felt even more annoyed as new sounds began to replace the old ones and I could feel my peaceful darkness slipping away. I struggled against the sensations that were coming to my numb body, the prickling sensation making me want to move. They never said coming back to life would be so irritating. Why couldn’t I just wake up in a new body?

“I see a body, it's almost done!”

Was my body being made from scratch? I wondered, more sensations returning to my hands and feet. I felt cold air on my skin as I laid on the ground, aware that there was some sort of breeze or movement around me. I groaned softly as the prickling sensation turned into a mild pain, doing my best to turn my head.

“He’s alive!”

Wait, he?!

“A success m’lord, a true miracle,” the strange voice continued as I felt more pain fill my body and I grunted as I tried to move. My skin felt like it was on fire, but my mouth still refused to open, leaving me unable to scream. “You must finish the binding before he slips away.”

What the hell is a binding? I could barely focus on my own thoughts as the pain seemed to spread inside my body, and I was starting to wish I had simply stayed dead instead of whatever was going on now. Just then, a soothing feeling washed over me and I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. At least that awful pain was gone, and I finally opened my eyes to look around.

The room was expansive and covered in runes, some so old I could barely make out the shapes in the dark stone. There were a few candles about, but other than that, the room was dark. I glanced down at my own body to see my pale skin and that yes, I was definitely a guy now. Long hair brushed against my back as I frowned, examining the body that had been created for me. That mysterious voice had said nothing about being reborn as a man! I looked up as I heard someone step closer to me and I couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped my lips.

In front of me was the most beautiful man I had ever seen, with piercing green eyes and long silky black hair that hung in a thin ponytail over his shoulder. His attire was a spectacle to behold, each piece meticulously crafted to exude an aura of opulence and power. Draped upon his broad shoulders was a cloak of deepest crimson, trimmed with threads of gold that caught the flickering candlelight in a dazzling display. The fabric flowed like liquid velvet as he moved, whispering tales of regal lineage and untold riches. He looked like he had stepped straight out of a romance novel and onto the cold floor in front of me, and my heart pounded as he finally smiled. 

“He seems intelligent enough. Cover him up so we can leave,” the man spoke and I watched as he walked away, another man coming toward me. This one also had green eyes but his hair was blonde, and as soon as he spoke, I recognized him as the first voice I heard. He was handsome as well, but still paled in comparison to the one who had summoned me.

“Your Majesty, shall you name him?” I frowned as I was handed a simple black robe, decorated with swirls and trims of silver. The second man completely ignored me as I slowly got to my feet and I shivered as I stood. I carefully wrapped my body as the first man hummed before turning to face me, a slight smirk on his face. He seemed to be examining me closely, his sharp eyes causing me to look away again.

“Javier matches his new appearance, wouldn’t you say, Darian?”

“Javier sounds perfect, your Majesty,” Darian answered, still ignoring me as he bowed to the first man. “Let us return to the palace so you may rest.”

“Indeed,” I watched as the beautiful man’s smirk turned into a smile and he held his hand out for me to take. I hesitated for a moment before I gently slid my hand into his, my heart pounding in my chest. Just what kind of world had I been sent to?

“Welcome to Aesatia, Javier.”