"Ugh"
Waking up with a groan, I looked at the unfamiliar ceiling, cursing out Ascension.
'Did they really have to send me off like that? The fucker. I mean, I don't even know what world I'm in. They did say I wasn't going anywhere too dangerous, but I could've easily sent me somewhere like Marvel Or DC. While powerful, their not constantly fraught with danger. Hopefully they didn't send me there. I don't want to fight a planetary threat on Monday, cosmic on Tuesday, and multiversal on Wednesday'
"... Right, first things first, figure out who I am, and where I am." I mumbled to myself, it always helped me to focus on a goal when I spoke them out loud.
Sitting up, I brought my hands up to my face trying to get control of my growing migraine. It freaked me out a little out how small, thin and childlike they were.
'Thats cause you're a child now dumbass, get used to it.' I thought to myself. At least Ascension had actually made me a child seemingly around 8. I can't tell cause I haven't fully seen myself yet. 'Thankfully I'm still black, I don't know how I'd feel if I wasn't.'
Getting thoughts of race changing outta my head, I looked around the room trying to discern anything about my living scenario. From the multiple shabby looking metal bunk beds, and the kids with different ages and ethnicities, I surmised that I was probably an orphan again.
'*sigh* Shame. I wonder what happened to them here. It couldn't be wor-' Before I could reminisce about the not so good old days, I got hit by intense pain everywhere. My arms, legs, and torso felt like they were getting the beating of a lifetime, but worst of all, my head felt like it was getting split apart at the seams, then mushed, crushed and smushed together, while each individual cell felt like they were getting stabbed by six needles each.
All I could do was lay there in my bed, spazzing out and experiencing what I can only call a giga-stroke. I had to keep quiet as I didn't want to explain what was going on with me. I'm surprised I didn't either bite my tongue off, faint, or throw up. I'd have rather fainted.
Thankfully, my agony wasn't for nought, as during my brain getting ripped apart and stitched back together, I got the memories of my new bo- the fuck!?.
'Really!? Ascension, where the fuck did you even send me!? I swear to God- no you- no whatever is stronger than you, that when I get strong enough Imma beat yo' ass, you punk ass, bitch ass nigga. Argh!!' I'm royally pissed off. I mean like, why wouldn't I be. The motherfucker threw me into a world where I could be, and am, experimented on as a child.
'Experiment? This is more like torture, the bastards. So much for the goodness of the Church. Change of plans, Imma beat God's ass first and then Ascensions.' A God that can allow such... such atrocities to take place is unfitting. Especially within their own premises. I will have my revenge. First on the Church, then on God.
The thing that makes me even more annoyed, is that this seems Church sanctioned because this whole place seems to be run by some archbishop. They apparently want to create people who can wield some holy sword, or whatever. I couldn't care less about that right now. What I cared about was finding a way to escape this place. I doubt they'll just let me go.
Thinking about that, I turned to look at the rest of the bunks. Bunks filled with kids who have experienced this pain with me from day one. Who have made living in this hell on earth a tad bit better. And who, while only knowing most of them for the couple months we've been here, I wouldn't mind calling family.
I couldn't help but to think of the past couple months. Of the pain we shared, the stories we told to raise our spirits, and of the nights we spent talking about our hopes, our dreams and what we would do once we got out of here. Once we became holy sword wielders.
It's hard not to care about people who've shown nothing but love and care for you. Especially in a place like this.
'I can't just leave them here. I can't just leave them here to suffer such inhuman experiments. But what can I do? I'm just a barely nourished, weak 8 year old being experimented on. And for what, some stupid swords?' Wallowing in the despair of being weak and helpless, I didn't realise my bunk mate crawling up next to me. Worry clear in his eyes.
"Ash, are you ok? I felt the bed shaking and heard you groaning in pain." Isaiah asked. He was my best friend in this whole place, and the person I've known the longest. We came from the same orphanage before getting moved here. He had blonde hair and gray eyes. I could just tell he'd grow up to be a prince charming .i.e very handsome.
'If we grow up.' I thought before sitting up and quickly responding.
"Thanks for worrying Isaiah, but I'm fine. Just a bad dream." I can't just tell him I'm a transmigrator, or reincarnator who just awakened their past memories. He'd think I'm crazy. Thankfully, that seemed to work.
"Ok, that's good. I know that the holy sword training is tough, but hang in there. I believe that we'll soon be able to wield them and be able to help out the lord. So get back to sleep, we've got a long day ahead of us." Looking at him, I realised he was right. At least partially. It was currently late at night, and there was nothing I could do about escaping. It was better for me to get a good nights sleep and think about it in the morning. The 'training' would also be difficult, and I wouldn't be doing myself any favours by being tired. Or as they say 'being lazy'.
"You're right. Thanks Isaiah, I'll get back to sleep. Good night." I said laying back down, while he crawled back to his bunk, giving me back a polite good night as well.
Closing my eyes, I tried to stop thinking about any impending doom coming my way and go to sleep, but before I could do that a flash of purple grabbed my attention. Opening my eyes and sitting up, I looked around the room trying to figure out where it could of come from. Purple lights aren't exactly common in a church facility after all.
Apparently I didn't need to look for the source, as it made itself known to me. A panel, similar to those from those system stories, just purple.
⌜Memory Packet uploaded⌟
⌜System Initialising⌟
⌜1%...11%...42%...69%...84%...⌟
'Strange, aren't they typically blue'
⌜Task Complete⌟
⌜The Panels are purple due to it being your favourite colour⌟
⌜Would you like to change them?⌟
⌜Y/N⌟
'So it can read my thoughts... of course it can, such a dumbass thought. At least it's a thoughtful system.'
⌜Would you like to change them?⌟
⌜Y/N⌟
'No, no. They're fine. I like them just how they are.' They're surprisingly easy on the eyes.
⌜Noted⌟
⌜Proceeding with System Introduction⌟
⌜Welcome to Ascensions Skills and Satisfaction System⌟
⌜Within you'll find all manners of skills and abilities⌟
⌜From the weakest to the strongest⌟
⌜All to satisfy your dreams and make them a reality⌟
⌜So dream big, live ambitiously, and make use of everything you have⌟
⌜The path to the top is filled with struggles far beyond your current comprehension⌟
⌜Are you ready to begin?⌟
________ End of chapter ________
Ash here,
Here's chapter 2. Shorter than the last one at 1.3k words, but this felt like the perfect place to end it. I want to aim for an average of 1.5k words, but I'm more focused on the satisfaction of the chapter. How it feels.
Some of you may have (probably) figured out what world we're in, but shhhhhh 🤫 it doesn't matter right now. You don't know what I have planned.
Given that the MCs name is also Ash (so what if it's a partial s.i, sue me), I'm just gonna call him the MC in these Authors Rants™ of mine.
No little secrets to be exposed right now, but maybe in the next chapter.
QQ, should I keep the word count in the title or not?
Ash out.