Death.
I've always wondered what it would feel like to die, but now I guess I have my answer.
It's not pain, not fear, not even relief; it's simply absence. The moment it happened, everything faded: sound, color, sensation. A heartbeat stopped mid-beat, a faint echo that dissolved into silence, marking the threshold between existence and void. I don't remember the last thought I had, only the sudden, silent unraveling of everything I'd ever been.
Now, I am nowhere. I drift in a white void, suspended in endless nothingness. There's no up or down, no sense of time passing, no body to move or voice to call out. The emptiness is total, and I feel both weightless and heavy, as if every part of me has dissolved except for the awareness that I am here—if 'here' is even the right word. Thoughts echo in the silence, growing fainter with each passing moment, until even memory itself threatens to vanish.
On the bright side, at least I don't have to worry about embarrassing myself anymore. No more awkward small talk, no more forgetting people's names at parties—there are no parties here, unless you count the existential dread. And let me tell you, the dress code is strictly "nothing." White void chic, I suppose.
Suddenly, the white void ripples like a badly tuned TV, and from the swirling shadows steps a figure—tall, mysterious, and looking suspiciously like they shop exclusively at the "Eternal Darkness" aisle. Shadows cling to them like they're auditioning for the role of "Grim but Make It Fashion."
The god of shadows clears their throat, which is surprising since I didn't think shadows had throats. "Welcome," they boom, though it comes out more like the sound of a vacuum cleaner sucking up a sock.
I try to look casual, which is hard when you don't have a body. I wave an arm anyway—at least, I think it's an arm. "Hey! I'd normally get you a drink, but for the life of me, I can't find the fridge. Or the kitchen. Or, you know, my hands."
The god blinks (I think?), and the void fills with the faint scent of cosmic awkwardness. So much for making a good first impression.
The god recovers first, brushing off the silence with a regal wave. "No need for refreshments. I have a different offer for you." Their voice echoes, somehow both dramatic and slightly bored, like they've given this speech a thousand times.
"I'm sending you to a new world," the god intones. "Specifically, the world of the Frith Chronicles. You will be reincarnated as Volke and Lilia's adopted sibling. Congratulations! You're about to become canon—try not to break too many plotlines."
I blink (if that's possible), struggling to process this. "The Frith Chronicles? Wait, really? Are you sure, because I already know how everything in that world works."
The god grins, shadows wriggling in amusement. "Why not? It would be fun to watch."
Suddenly, the void feels a lot less empty and a lot more... interesting—a fitting mood shift for what follows.
If you're unfamiliar, the Frith Chronicles is a young adult fantasy adventure series by Shami Stovall, set in a world where humans gain magical powers by bonding with mystical creatures called "eldrin."
In this world, individuals can only access magic by passing a "Trial of Worth" and bonding with a single mystical creature. The human partner becomes an "arcanist," and their creature partner becomes an "eldrin." Each type of creature bestows different abilities (e.g., phoenixes grant healing and fire powers, leviathans give storm abilities), and the arcanist's power grows as they train and master their magic. Bonding with more than one creature is deadly.
The story primarily follows Volke Savan, an outcast from his village who dreams of becoming a legendary magical swashbuckler like his hero, Master Arcanist Gregory Ruma. Volke is a gravedigger with a tragic backstory who seeks to rise above his circumstances.
His journey takes an unexpected turn when he bonds with a knightmare, a creature of shadow and terror, which gives him power over shadows. (whose name is Luthair). This Eldrin reveals a terrible secret: Volke's hero, Gregory Ruma, is a murderer who spreads corrupted magic.
Volke joins an arcanist guild with his newly bonded friends, only to discover a sinister plot unfolding from within. Together, they embark on a world-changing adventure to confront the corruption and protect their island nation.
The series is a progressive fantasy that includes classic fantasy tropes like:
* Good heroes versus evil villains
* Found families and strong friendships
* High adventure, pirates, and murder plots
* Competition and duels
* World-building inspired by popular series like Pokémon, Percy Jackson, and How to Train Your Dragon.
The narrative moves swiftly, blending nostalgia for classic fantasy with a rich, immersive world and captivating characters.
I've always loved immersing myself in that world. Becoming lost in Volke's adventures.
The god of shadows suddenly claps their hands, a sound like two pillows colliding in a dark closet. "Alright, enough exposition! Time for you to make your debut. Hold on tight—well, as tight as you can without hands."
Before I can protest, the shadows swirl around me like a caffeinated tornado. I feel myself being stretched, squished, and possibly folded into a paper crane. The god chants something that sounds suspiciously like the chorus to a 1980s pop song, but in reverse.
Stars burst behind my nonexistent eyelids, and my thoughts get shaken up like dice in a cup. My last coherent idea is, "Please don't let me reincarnate as a background goat."
With a final whoosh and a sensation like unplugging a cosmic vacuum, everything goes dark—and then, just as suddenly, it begins again.
I awaken, confusion thick as blood pressing in from all sides. There is no air—only a warm, viscous darkness, slick and yielding. My body is weightless, suspended in a place both suffocating and strange. The walls pulse gently around me. Their texture is soft, yet alive, and everything glistens with a wetness that seeps into my skin. I reach out, my hands pressing against the enclosing flesh, and a realization dawns, cold and absolute: I am curled within a womb. This is not a metaphor, not a dream. This is my new mother's womb—my world, for now, is nothing but living, breathing darkness.
[time-skip 15 years]
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Boredom. That's all life is in the end.
Time passes in a blur of nothingness, each moment indistinguishable from the last. There is no sense of day or night, no shift in sensation beyond the ceaseless, slow rhythm of the womb. Then, out of it, nothing outside regular life. Boredom became the shape of my existence—thick, inescapable, as if life itself had been stripped of meaning and reduced to this endless waiting. I drifted in the warmth, then waited in the cold, my mind desperate for anything to grasp onto, but there was nothing. No quests, no monsters, no grand revelations—just silence, darkness, and the monotonous pulse of blood and heartbeat.
Confusion gnaws at me. I try to search for something—anything—that might mark me as special, as chosen. Every isakai tale promises a cheat: a hidden power, a status screen, a guiding voice. But I find nothing. No system whispers, no glowing notifications, no sense of hidden potential. I probe my mind, reaching for a menu that refuses to appear, a skill that never materializes. Am I really in another world, or is this just a cruel joke? The uncertainty coils tighter, and I am left wondering if this is all there is—an eternity of dull, unremarkable existence, alone in the dark.
How can one manage in this ethereal state? The void around me begins to twist and warp, colors swirling like a painter's palette tossed into a windstorm.
There's a rush—a sensation like being pulled through a keyhole—followed by an abrupt halt. I blink, and my surroundings solidify. The emptiness of the void is gone, replaced by warm sunlight streaming through a window, filling a cozy room with a soft glow. I'm back, or rather, I'm somewhere entirely new. The familiar scents of wood and earth surround me, along with a more immediate hunger pang echoing in my nonexistent stomach.
I glance around as I regain my senses. There's a small bed stuffed into a quaint nook. On the wall hangs a tapestry depicting a knight riding a magnificent beast, and the air is infused with the tantalizing smell of something savory wafting in from a nearby kitchen. It's all so vibrant compared to the white void.
With a swift realization, I notice a small mirror hanging next to the bed. My reflection stares back at me, and I'm taken aback. I'm in the form of a child, around the same age as Volke and Lilia, with tousled dark hair and those unmistakable wide eyes full of curiosity. This must be the body of my new self—Volke and Lilia's adopted sibling!
Suddenly, I feel the full weight of my task crashing against me. Breakfast! I have to prepare something for them. I swiftly hop off the bed—or at least I try to. My new legs stumble a bit as I get used to this body, but after a quick shake, I manage to stand. The hunger thrums in my veins, reminding me of the task at hand.
I move toward the kitchen, dodging around low furniture and tripping over limbs that still feel foreign to me. The kitchen greets me with a warm, rustic charm: wooden cupboards packed with ingredients, jars filled with dried herbs, and a stone hearth that holds the promise of warmth and comfort.
I rummage through the pantry, fingers brushing against various bags. Flour, sugar, and some kind of berry jam catch my eye. Pancakes! I remember how Volke and Lilia loved pancakes—light and fluffy with a touch of sweetness. Grabbing the flour, a mix of curiosity and determination fills me; I'm ready for this challenge.
I mix the batter, my heart racing as I hear footsteps padding softly down the hallway. The excitement builds as I pour the batter onto a heated skillet, golden bubbles forming on the surface. The smell of cooking pancakes fills the air, and I can't help but smile.
"Good morning!" Lilia's voice bursts into the kitchen, her bright face lighting up the space. She watches me with wide, amused eyes, taking in my efforts. "What's happening in here?"
"I thought I'd surprise you both with breakfast!" I say, beaming with pride, even if it sounds a little feeble coming from my new self. Right on cue, Volke appears behind her, tousled hair poking out in wild directions, still half-asleep and rubbing his eyes.
"What's that smell?" he mumbles, his gaze catching sight of the pan. I feel a surge of glee seeing their sleepy faces transform into looks of hunger and joy.
"Pancakes!" I cheer, flipping one expertly and managing to keep some semblance of grace, even if it's not a perfect flip. The pancakes slide onto a plate like they're meant to be there, each one fluffing up beautifully.
"Looks amazing," Volke says, still dazed but clearly intrigued. Lilia nods in agreement, and suddenly, I feel like I have cracked open the secrets of the universe with the simplest of things.
Once the last pancake is flipped and plated, I load up the stack, adding a generous dollop of berry jam on top. With my experimentation turning out well, a sense of accomplishment fills me.
"Sit down, sit down!" I gesture with excitement, ushering them toward the wooden table where mismatched chairs await. They both laugh, a melody that warms my heart.
As we gather around the table, I feel a spark of true belonging. Today is just the beginning of my new adventure—a chance to stand side by side with Volke, Lilia, and who knows what else awaits in the mystical world of the Frith Chronicles. With a hearty breakfast to fuel our journeys, I can't wait to dive deeper into the magic and peril that lies ahead.
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[hope you like the first chapter, I'll be trying to get chapters out fast, but I'm still in high school, so "bear" with me!]
NEXT CHAPTER:
WHAT WILL I DO NEXT? AND WHAT THE HELL IS MY NEW NAME!?!?!?!?
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