Aster woke up on his back, staring at the sky.
It was wide and painfully bright, a soft blue mixed with thin streaks of white. For a moment, he didn't move. The wind brushed past his face, and the smell of grass filled his nose. It felt real. Too real.
Then the memories hit him. Endless work. Sleepless nights. Deadlines stacked on top of deadlines. Coffee for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He remembered the quiet wish that slipped out of him before his heart gave out.
"I wish I could rest. Forever."
And yet, here he was. Awake.
He sat up slowly, brushing dirt off his shirt. The place around him looked like a meadow—green hills, scattered flowers, sunlight pouring down from two suns that hung in the sky. Two.
"What the hell…"
Before he could say anything else, a soft ding echoed in his head. A bright blue screen appeared in front of his eyes.
[Mission: Balance the World]
Aster blinked. "No way."
Another window appeared.
[System Name: Celestial System]
He stared blankly at it for a long moment. Then he sighed. "You've got to be kidding me. I worked myself to death and still can't escape getting assignments?"
His voice cracked somewhere between tired and angry. He waved his hand, trying to swipe the screen away, but it followed his eyes like a ghost.
"What even is a Celestial System?"
A calm, genderless voice echoed inside his head. "The Celestial System is a divine program created by the higher order. Its function is to assist you in restoring balance to this world and help you grow in strength."
"Assist me?" Aster muttered. "You sound like my old boss."
He sighed again, leaning back into the grass. The blades were soft and cool. It was peaceful. Too peaceful to be real.
"I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to 'balance' anything. I just wanted to rest. Maybe have a quiet house. Sleep without alarms."
The system spoke again. "You have been selected as the Starborn child."
"Selected?" He laughed softly. "For what? Cosmic slavery?"
"Chosen," the system corrected. "You have been chosen to carry celestial authority and restore the equilibrium between realms. You are the Starborn Heir."
Aster rubbed his face. "Look, I don't even know what 'equilibrium between realms' means. I just got here."
"Refusal will result in immediate termination."
He froze. "...Termination?"
"Yes. Immediate death."
Aster let out a long groan. "Of course. Of course, there's a death penalty. I can't even quit after dying once."
He sat there for a while, staring up at the twin suns again. The warmth was gentle, not harsh. A small breeze passed through, and for a moment, he thought about ignoring the system and lying there forever.
But he couldn't. Not if it meant dying again.
"Fine," he muttered. "I'll listen. For now."
The system remained quiet until he asked, "Why doesn't this body have any memories? I can remember everything from my old life, but nothing about this one."
Silence.
"Figures," he said. "You're one of those secretive types."
He pushed himself to his feet. His body felt lighter and stronger than before. The clothes on him were simple, but new. The air carried no pollution, no city noise. For the first time in years, he felt like he could breathe.
Still, it was strange. No people. No houses. No signs of civilization. Just endless plains under an alien sky.
"Alright," Aster said to himself. "Let's see what else this scam has to offer. Show me my status window."
A faint chime answered him, and another screen appeared.
[Name: Aster]
[Title: Starborn]
[Stats: Locked]
[Skills: Locked]
[Mission: Balance the World]
He stared at it, unimpressed. "Locked, locked, locked. Perfect. A whole RPG and I'm the only one without a tutorial."
"You have one hundred years before world collapse," the system said in the same calm tone. "Failure will result in total destruction of this realm. You will also be erased, permanently. No future reincarnation."
He blinked. "You're saying if I fail, I die again, but this time it's permanent?"
"Correct."
Aster rubbed the back of his neck. "A hundred years, huh? Fine. I'll take my time. If I'm forced to save the world, I might as well enjoy it before it burns."
The system didn't comment.
He sighed. "So who's destroying the world, anyway?"
"Information locked."
"Of course it is."
He looked around, scanning the horizon. "Alright, so what now?"
"You have a beginner package. Please proceed to the designated location."
"And where's that?"
"Calculating… approximately sixty kilometers northwest."
He blinked. "You're joking."
"Walking will suffice."
Aster groaned. "You're seriously sending me hiking on day one."
No answer.
He started walking anyway. The system's marker pointed toward the distant mountains. The sun was hot, the ground uneven, and there was no path. He walked for hours, stopping only when his legs ached.
"Almost there," the system said each time he slowed down.
"Yeah, sure," Aster muttered. "You've been saying that since morning."
By nightfall, he was exhausted. He found a few berries and nearly cried from hunger. Still, he pushed on. The system refused to let him rest until he reached the destination.
When the sun rose again, he finally saw light ahead—a valley surrounded by forests and rivers, glowing under the morning sun.
"You have arrived," the system said.
[Mission Complete: Reach Designated Location]
[Reward: Beginner Package – Open? Yes / No]
Aster didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Aster blinked as light began to form in front of him. It started with faint sparks that danced above the grass, then grew brighter until the whole area shone like sunrise. The air vibrated. Shapes emerged, lines connecting, color filling in.
When the light faded, a small piece of paradise stood before him.
A white wooden fence surrounded a patch of land. Flowers of every color grew along the gate, and a cobblestone path led to a house that looked like it came straight out of a painting. The walls were smooth stone, the roof tiled in deep blue, and the windows reflected the sun like polished glass. A pond rippled near the entrance, tiny fish darting below the surface. A single tree stood beside it, its petals glowing faintly gold.
Aster stood there, speechless. He rubbed his eyes once, twice. The place didn't vanish.
"This… this is the beginner package?"
"Yes," the system replied calmly.
He let out a low whistle. "I was expecting a sword or some cheap armor. Not… real estate."
Walking closer, the air felt different—cleaner, softer, almost welcoming. When he pushed open the gate, a faint scent of flowers drifted out. Grass brushed his ankles as he walked up the path. Every sound seemed distant except for the soft splash of the pond and the wind swaying the petals.
Inside, the house looked bigger than it should. The outside looked small, maybe a few rooms, but once he stepped through the door, space expanded like a dream. The ceiling stretched high, light shimmered through translucent walls, and hallways seemed to go on forever.
He turned slowly in place, whispering, "It's like walking into another world inside a world."
"The Celestial House," the system explained, "is connected to your essence. It will grow as you grow. It cannot be destroyed. It can self-repair using the energy points you earn."
Aster only half-heard the explanation. His attention was caught by the kitchen. A long table waited for him, covered with steaming dishes—bread, soup, roasted meat, fruit, things he hadn't tasted in years.
His stomach growled so loud it echoed.
He sat down and didn't bother with manners. He ate in silence, piece after piece, the warmth of the food spreading through him like comfort he had forgotten existed. Halfway through, he leaned back in the chair, eyes half-open, letting the quiet fill the room.
"So this is what peace tastes like," he murmured. "Didn't think I'd ever get that again."
When he finished, he found a staircase leading to the second floor. Every step he took was light, like the house itself supported him. He opened one door and froze.
The bedroom was perfect. Large bed. Soft blankets. A window overlooking the hills. Light filtered through thin curtains, painting the room in gold.
He didn't think twice. He kicked off his boots, let himself fall on the bed, and sank deep into it.
For the first time since waking in this world, the tension in his chest began to fade.
He stared at the ceiling, voice barely above a whisper. "You know, System, if this is a trap, it's a good one. I might die here happy."
No reply.
He smiled faintly. "Good. Stay quiet."
The bed felt warm. The faint sound of wind outside mixed with the chirping of night insects. His eyelids grew heavy.
"This time," he said softly, "no alarms. No deadlines. No phones." He paused, a small laugh escaping him. "Don't wake me until the world ends."
Within minutes, his breathing slowed. The glow from the window dimmed, and the stars reflected in his half-open eyes before they closed completely.
The Celestial House went silent. Only the quiet hum of magic remained, keeping the promise of rest that his old world never gave him.
And Aster, for the first time in two lives, slept without fear.