After spending some time absorbing everything the Void System had revealed about this world, I finally turned my attention to the quests. The interface blinked in my mind, simple but clear.
[Quest]
[Main Quest: Become the Strongest
Time Limit: Infinite
Penalty: Do not proceed to the second world and remain in this world for the rest of your life
Reward: Unlock the second world + one week in your original world]
[Secondary Quest: Find Elera
Time Limit: 5 years
Penalty: Death
Reward: Communication between systems]
I frowned. "So the system knows about Elera… and communication between systems?" I muttered. That explained why the Void System had emphasized her importance from the start. She wasn't just anyone—she was central to this world and my mission.
Even after my awakening, my new body still felt weak. Limbs heavy, muscles sore, senses only partially sharpened. I reminded myself that I had a 500% training boost from my Magicswordsman class. In time, I would surpass almost anyone here. But for now, I had to adjust, to build strength, and to understand the world around me.
I browsed through all available options: inventory, skills, status… still no shop or map. I would gain those eventually, I hoped. For now, survival and information were more urgent.
I stood and walked to the door, pushing it open into the bright sunlight. The streets of the capital were alive. Merchants shouted their wares. Children ran through the square, laughing, chasing each other without a care. Restaurants lined the cobblestone roads. Stalls sold fresh fruit, rare herbs, and trinkets I didn't recognize. In the middle of the city, on a mountain that rose above everything else, stood the palace—a monument of white marble and gold, gleaming in the sun like it had fallen from the heavens.
So this is Ariana, I thought. The capital of the Aetheric Kingdom.
First, I needed a job. The previous owner of this body had been a servant at a restaurant, overworked and underpaid. I couldn't repeat that. I walked to a nearby restaurant and introduced myself. The owner, an older woman named Ema, and her granddaughter, Aria, welcomed me. They taught me to cook, to serve, and to manage a restaurant. Aria was only a year younger than me, and I naturally started treating her like a younger sister. In a world where I had no family, that bond became precious. My first month passed quietly, giving me time to recover, observe the city, and train my body in small ways.
One month later, a loud knock shook my door.
"Yes, you may enter," I said, expecting a delivery or a neighbor.
A royal guard stepped inside, his armor gleaming in the morning sun. Authority radiated from him, and I instinctively straightened.
"Is there a boy named Aestra here? You are summoned to the palace by order of His Majesty," he announced.
I froze. "Summoned? I haven't done anything."
"Your compliance is not optional. Come with me, or we will enforce it," he said, voice firm.
I can't afford to defy royalty, I thought. Whatever this was, I had no choice.
"Fine. Take me with you," I said.
We mounted horses and rode through the bustling streets. From a distance, the palace towered above the city, its white and gold spires catching the sunlight. My heart pounded. So this is the home of the king… and I'm about to enter.
The gates opened, revealing halls adorned with priceless art, golden chandeliers, and polished marble floors. I followed the guard in silence, careful to remain unobtrusive. Every step reminded me that I was a stranger in a world built for those born into privilege.
Finally, we arrived at a massive door. It swung open to reveal a corridor that seemed impossibly long and majestic, stretching like a pathway to another world. At the far end stood two figures: a man sitting on a golden throne and a girl standing beside him.
The man's voice carried authority but warmth. "Hello, Your Highness. It is an honor to meet you," I said, bowing slightly, unsure what to say.
"Come on. You're my daughter's friend. No need to be so formal," the king said.
I froze. Friend of the princess? I had no memories of such a relationship in this life. How could a commoner like me, with no family, be friends with royalty?
Then the girl spoke. Her voice was soft but carried a nostalgic tone, like a memory remembered from another life.
"It's been a long time, Aestra," she said.
I blinked. The sound of her voice, the tilt of her head, the golden light in her eyes—it all felt familiar, almost like destiny. Her hair was long and white, shimmering like freshly fallen snow. Her eyes were the color of sunlight itself. She radiated perfection, beauty beyond human comprehension. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.
It hit me like a thunderclap. The secondary quest—Find Elera—was complete. She was here. In front of me. The girl I had been searching for. And she was not just anyone. She was the daughter of the king, the very royal bloodline I had glimpsed in my research of this world.
[Ding]
[Quest Completed: Find Elera]
I staggered slightly, overwhelmed by the sudden realization. The system confirmed it immediately. The girl I had been tasked to find—the center of my mission in this world—stood before me. Everything I had prepared for, all the paths I had been tracing, had led to this exact moment.
The king gestured toward her. "This is the friend I was telling you about. She has accompanied you here for reasons only fate understands."
I focused, trying to steady myself. The significance of her identity, the weight of the system, and the responsibilities of my main quest pressed down on me all at once.
I met her gaze. She smiled faintly, a calm recognition in her eyes. So she knows me, too. Even though we had just met in this life, the threads of destiny, past lives, and reincarnation tied us together.
The Void System's words echoed in my mind. Elera was central to my growth. Finding her wasn't just a step in my quest—it was the first major milestone. She wasn't just the daughter of a king. She was a key to the worlds beyond, a companion I couldn't afford to lose.
And with that realization, everything became clear. My journey had truly begun. From this moment forward, every step I took, every battle I fought, and every choice I made would revolve around becoming stronger, protecting her, and preparing for the worlds that awaited.
For the first time in this new life, I felt the weight and the thrill of purpose. My new life had officially begun.