The inexplicable nothingness didn't last for long. Noa's eyes snapped open almost instinctively as he embraced the world before him.
'I am back?' he thought. 'What happened? Didn't I just die for the second time?'
To find answers, he tried to regain focus by steadying his vision.
It took time, but he was quick to realize his situation. Noa lay on a soft bed, sunlight streaming down his face as if trying to freshen him up.
It no longer burned his flesh.
The air smelled of polished wood, a stark contrast to the metallic scent he experienced only moments ago.
'What was that all about? Did she play pranks on me? Or is it destiny I have to avoid?'
No matter what it was, Noa saw his death.
Even his bond had abandoned him, leaving him to die alone for betraying his country. However, the situation didn't look so simple. It was more of a feeling as if his demise concealed something tied to the dragons.
Sitting up slowly, Noa sighed.
The pain of the second death still lingered in his head. It hunted him for a while before Noa shook his head and stood up.
'Was it just a vision?' he pondered.
Just then, foreign images flashed through his mind, carrying the memories of his current body's previous owner. It wasn't painful, but digesting them was harder than he expected.
"So… my name is still Noa, and I'm an only child, born into this almost bankrupted barony," he said aloud.
The strange thing was that actual memories never came to him. All he knew was his identity and current location.
Noa still had no answers.
"Could have been worse. But what about my status window?" he wondered.
Immediately, a hovering system panel appeared before him. It covered nearly his entire vision, showing rows of text he was eager to read.
[Name: Noa Ryan Osborn]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 17]
[Bloodline: Dragon]
[Title: Heir of Ashes]
[Talent: Dragon Necromancer]
[Talent Rank: Divine]
[Soul Rank: Unawakened]
[Affinities: — ]
[Abilities: Dragon Resurrection(Locked), Dragon Pact, Dragon Gaze, Dragon's constitution]
[Pet: —]
The system interface was fairly easy to track. It had standard fantasy elements but lacked attributes and overexplanation.
Noa guessed he needed a bond to awaken.
'But where is my egg?' he thought.
Ashe gave him the Weakest Beast Egg, yet he couldn't find it. 'Do I have to wait for the ceremony?'
There was still so much about this world he didn't understand.
The best solution he could think of was to dig deeper into his system panel. Thankfully, his guess proved correct, and he found the explanations he needed.
[Talent: Dragon Necromancer]
[Description:]
[Power to absorb the ashes of fallen dragons to evolve your bonded dragon into a vessel of ancient power. Only after gathering enough power can you revive them with their former glory]
[Abilities:]
[Dragon Resurrection(Locked)]
[Description:]
[Allows you to fully resurrect dragons whose complete ashes you've claimed. The revived dragons are automatically bonded to you]
[Dragon Pact]
[Description:]
[You can only tame dragons. The last dragon bloodline will help you form a divine bond with them]
[Dragon Gaze]
[Description:]
[With this passive ability, your pupils slit like those of a dragon, radiating a subtle glow. It can detect nearby dragon remains and pierce through illusions]
[Dragon's constitution]
[Description:]
[Because of the divine draconic blood coursing through your body, your flesh and bones are no longer fully human. It grants you scale-like tough skin, increased endurance, and regeneration, and grants you full resistance against mana poisoning]
Noa spent quite some time reviewing his abilities.
Only after he was finished did it hit him that he had transmigrated and now he was living in a fantasy world.
It was no longer a dream.
As for his status window, Noa didn't really know how different he was compared to other humans.
The true extent of the dragon bloodline's power or the strength of his skills remained beyond his current understanding of this world.
'It can't be that bad, right? After all, they came from the ancient dragon,' he thought.
As Noa was contemplating his future, the door of his room creaked open and a maid with a modest uniform stepped in.
Her name was Thalia, Noa recognized.
The fragmented memories he received at least helped him that much.
Thalia had her hair neatly tied back, and she carried herself with silent precision. She was a petite young girl, not much older than Noa, and her brown eyes showed her practiced consideration.
"Young Master," she said, bowing. "Master Kaelor is asking for you. He requests your presence in the study immediately."
Noa, however, frowned, still trying to piece things together.
"My father?" he asked skeptically.
It had been ages since he had last used those two words together, which explained his awkwardness.
"Yes, Young Master," Thalia nodded calmly. "Please don't keep him waiting. I think it's something important."
"Okay," Noa agreed and followed her out of his room.
He instinctively knew what path to take, but his steps carried an unfamiliar weight.
After approaching the room, the double doors swung open, revealing a dimly lit chamber where his father sat behind an imposing desk.
"You asked for me, Father?" he asked and eyed the man before him.
Kaelor Osborn was in his forties, with sharp, defined features that demanded both obedience and alertness. His dark hair—free of even a single streak of silver, highlighted his gray eyes.
He wore a tailored coat that boasted a family crest. There was silent tension around him.
Despite his stern demeanor, the moment he locked eyes with Noa, the surrounding coldness melted away.
"Son!" he said, his voice no longer carrying the weight of command.
If before he was a dignified baron facing financial collapse, yet tried to maintain his composure, now he was simply a father speaking to his son.
"The Contract Ceremony will be held in one week. Your mother and I have tried to find a suitable egg for you, and we have a present for you," he began, his voice growing softer with each word.
"Even with the barony struggling, your mother insisted we secure it for you."