Closing his room door, Josh gasped a mouthful of air.
" Finally! I am alone!"
Looking around the room, Josh couldn't help but click his tongue in envy.
" Goddamn, the space less than this room as an entire apartment costs more than ten grand per month in San Antis. And you are telling it's my bedroom?"
The opulence of the room was simply magnificent. It was as if he entered some suit of royal suite of a hotel. Decorations, ornamental items, heck, he could see a nice garden outside!
Walking around the room, Josh's eyes fell on the mirror.
Scrawny arms, pale skin, the yee yee ass haircut, Josh felt like he was looking at a natural punching bag.
But the body showed an undeniable truth to Josh.
Josh is dead.
The one currently standing, well and alive, is Rowan. Rowan Von Aurelius, the youngest of Aurelius House.
The information that flooded his mind was none other than Rowan's memories.
' Haah, this isn't a dream. I am…I am really dead.' Josh rubbed his face.
' At least this isn't hell. Whatever this world is, it's my new world.'
Josh sat down on hsi bed, his mind completely muddle headed. He only managed to access some key parts of Rowan's memories. The rest of it was still waiting to be discovered.
Suddenly, the door rang with a soft knock. Josh returned to his senses, answering quickly, " It's open."
" Rowan, I have brought some herbal soup for you."
Elena walked inside, with a maid following behind her. The maid bowed, placing the tray before Rowan.
A delicious aroma drifted into Josh's nose, making him perk up.
" Haah, barely three days in jail, and look at you." Elena sighed when she looked at Rowan.
" I told you not to chase after those harlots. Margot, that wrench! To think she put you in that predicament." Elema gritted her teeth as she muttered.
Suddenly, the maid walked to her and spoke softly, " Lady Elena, Lord Arnold is here."
Elena's expression shifted slightly, assuming her demure appearance.
Josh looked behind her, and saw a man in his late twenties entering. Sharp eyes with a lean stature, with a concerned expression.
" Rowan! My goodness, what happened to you?!" Arnold hurried to Rowan, holding his hands with worry.
" You don't need to scare your elder brother like this! I was almost scared to half death when I heard the news from the jail!"
Josh gulped as he nodded, " I… I am fine right now, Brother."
" No, you are not!" Arnold spoke sternly. " For now, you must rest properly and take medication. Who knows what happened to you in the jail."
" Husband, I think you should let Rowan rest," Elena spoke in a soft tone.
" Rowan, finish your soup and rest. We will talk in the evening."
" Yes, Sister in Law." Josh nodded meekly.
" What Sister in Law?" Elena raised her brows. " Are you really ok?"
" You used to call me sister, though?"
" I… I am fine!" Josh panicked instantly as he feigned headache. " Ugh, my head… I… I really can't think properly."
" Please…Give me some space."
Elena and Arnold looked at each other as they nodded.
As they left, Josh sighed as he looked down, and a distorted reflection of Rowan appeared on the soup.
" Josh is dead. You are now Rowan."
" Think about it, you idiot! What's the point of remaining as Josh? Be Rowan! And inherit all riches!"
With a breath, he blew some smoke from the bowl and took a sip. He never tasted such soup before. But the strange, familiar flavor made his heart ease, unlocking memories in his mind.
This world isn't called Earth, but Terra. And they are currently in the Nation of Traycor, Western City.
Rowan's father, Zarerth Aurelius, was the eldest son of the Aurelius Family. But thanks to his rebellious nature, he cut contact with the main family and established himself here.
But nonetheless, his name still carries weight as an old nobility in the city. Despite his low-key nature, no one dares to mess with Zareth Aurelius.
Arnold Aurelius, despite his surname, wasn't actually Zareth's son.
Zareth and his wife had a love marriage. But unfortunately, she wasn't able to conceive a child. Zareth, a man of love, never ever thought of marrying another woman.
So they adopted Arnold, who was nine years old back then.
But luckily enough, the next year, Rowan was born, spreading joy in the Aurelius Family.
' Alas, the happiness didn't last forever.' Josh sighed as a painful memory resurfaced. ' Mother died five years ago.'
Elena was the wife of Arnold. Despite her cold nature, Josh understood her affection towards Rowan.
When Josh finished the soup, a drop of tears appeared in his eyes. With a sigh, he wiped it.
" From now on, I am Rowan. I don't know how I arrived here, or what happened to the original Rowan. But I won't waste this god given chance."
.
.
.
.
" Huh? Young Master, are you telling the truth?" Butler Spencer was overjoyed when he heard Rowan.
" Wh-What's the matter, Uncle Spencer?" Rowan was a bit dumbfounded. " I just said I am going to live here."
" Of course! I am happy about that." Spencer nodded happily. " I will bring all your stuff from your old house to here."
" My old house? Did I not live here?" Rowan was even more confused till he recalled something.
' What the fuck?' Josh was stunned inside as he understood something. Rowan didn't live in this estate, but in a shabby house downtown.
' Wh-What? WHY? Why did I live there? WHY WOULD I LIVE IN A SHIT STABLE WHEN I GOT THIS LUXURIOUS HOME?' Josh… No, Rowan screamed internally.
At this point, Josh already accepted Rowan, making them one. Still, he felt he got a lot of things to remember.
" Young Master, you…"
Before Spencer could say anything, Rowan interjected. " Haha! Sorry, Uncle Spencer. I just got a bit light headed. But yes, I will stay here from now."
" Haha, wonderful! I will ask the maid to prepare your favorite roasted duck dish. For now, would you like any snacks?"
" No, I am fine. I will be resting in my room." Rowan said with an awkward smile.
Spencer nodded as he turned around and walked away happily.
Spencer is the butler from his Grandfather's side of the family. He followed Zareth from his younger days, and he has an extremely soft spot for Rowan, whom he treated as his grandson.
" Whooo… Let's take a rest. It's been a really long day." Rowan huffed as he looked at his soft and cushioned bed.
" MMMGGHH! This bed…Fuck, it feels like I am sleeping on a cloud." Rowan let out a pleasant groan as he rolled on the bed.
As his eyelids started to feel heavy, a crisp noise echoed in his ears, like tinkling of a chime.
[ Parameters for Karmic Luck have been met. Connecting with Akashic System]
[ Congratulations! You are the first one to connect with the Akashic System in World: Terra!]
[ You have gained an achievement! The Pioneer! As a reward, your stat accumulation will be increased by 500% for 7 days]
[ As a reward, you will have a random skill awakening]
[ For class awakening, please increase all your stats equivalent of Level 10]
Rowan almost had a mini heart attack when he heard the voice. When he opened his eyes, he saw a screen flickering before him.
" Please, give me some rest from surprises already!" Rowan groaned, " Next moment, you will say an apocalypse is coming."
[ Ding! Suggesting the user to strengthen up quickly. The descent of Heavenly Tower is approaching soon]
Rowan stared at the screen speechless.
' Fuck this crow mouth!'