Wind softly caressed his face as his body lay on the grass, damp with the early morning dew. Wrapped in the stillness of the night, he seemed to have been asleep for years.
The body was that of an experienced warrior, strong and robust, dressed only in simple white linen pants. His long red hair fell in disarray down his back, so long that it had become slightly curly and rebellious, as if it hadn't been cut or combed in a long time.
While he still lingered in the world of dreams, his body had already begun to feel sensations: the wet earth and grass beneath his back, the dampness on his skin, and the chill whenever the breeze kissed his exposed flesh.
His awakening was slow, like a fog gradually dissipating. In a slow succession of random blinks, the shadows in his vision faded until his pupils finally beheld the world.
He blinked, dazed, a couple more times until the shadows began to take definition and turn into silhouettes—silhouettes of treetops with golden leaves.
He was lying beneath a starry sky so vast it seemed infinite. Thousands of lights danced above him, reflecting in his golden eyes, both shining like fragments of molten gold.
- So reincarnation really did happen… - he murmured under his breath, as if speaking the words aloud helped him adapt to his new situation.
- This is the most beautiful night sky I've ever seen - even in his disoriented state, he couldn't help but admire the view.
The starry sky above him was a sea of bright stars stretching into the distance. Rocks, or perhaps the souls of ancient beings, adorned the vast firmament.
- Hmm... - an almost inaudible sigh escaped his lips as he realized he had truly returned to life.
- That crazy demon was telling the truth; it wasn't a dream after all... - It didn't happen immediately, but gradually, the memory of the entire fantastical situation—dying, meeting a demon who sent him into the cycle of reincarnation—returned to his mind in perfect detail.
Now that he was awake, he didn't know where to begin. His last memory was of the crazy demon's words, who had dismissed him with a mocking smile before hurling him into the void.
'It was something about points... no... it was a percentage, yes.'
'The demon Morningstar mentioned I would receive 25% of the world's energy in exchange for blocking possible external interventions.'
'I suppose then, if more gods exist... And why not? If he's a demon and I was able to return to life, I have no choice but to accept this reality.'
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable in this upright position, he tucked his arms behind his head to use as a pillow and fell silent again for a few seconds while contemplating the stars.
- So this is the world of Game of Thrones... There were better options, but with my lottery gifts, it's more than enough to survive - he murmured, remembering the roulette spins and the things he had obtained.
Truth be told, he was already bored in his past life from reading about things like this: reincarnation, powers and abilities, conquest, and blah blah. He just hoped he could take it easy.
'Unless something goes wrong, there's nothing to worry about...' he thought naively.
- Shit! - he suddenly exclaimed, noticing a very important detail he had overlooked. He quickly sat up, gently massaging his temple.
- I shouldn't have thought about that, the forbidden phrase. How could I fall for something so basic?
- He was a demon, not an angel or a god; there's definitely going to be a twist at the end, like in those Chinese fanfictions - he murmured with evident resignation.
- Haaaaaaa, a beginner's mistake from someone who thinks he's a veteran, I suppose - letting out a long sigh, he lay back down on the ground, using his crossed arms as a pillow.
In reality, it was more than a simple worry. He already knew he was in the world of ice and fire, but...
Where?
In what year?
As who had he reincarnated?
That specific information was nowhere to be found in his cerebral "hard drive," and worse still, now that he focused on what he didn't know...
'Are the system's lottery integrations already complete or...?'
'Truthfully, I don't feel much different, apart from feeling very comfortable in my own body.'
'Well... at least judging by my hair, I can say I'm not a Targaryen, at least not a pureblood one.'
'A Tully, maybe? But this red is too beautiful for a Tully.'
He was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the situation. He had already imagined it wouldn't be as simple as in the fics, even with his relatively OP abilities.
In the last lottery, he had obtained a summoning system for fantasy worlds or something similar. The best option he could think of was to resort to the old reliable: anything with "system" in the name.
- System, activate, please - he said with determination, waiting for the miracle to happen.
At first, there was only silence, but then...
[System Section Starting, please wait]
A soft but clear sound penetrated his ears. It was as if someone was whispering his name from inside his mind.
'It's a blessed system, the system voice,' he thought excitedly. He sat up again, cross-legged, and fixed his eyes on the holographic screen before him.
The system's voice was feminine, soft, and serene. It seemed to have a quality that calmed him, or at least attracted him.
[The ability: Master of Music has begun to integrate...]
Looking at the screen, he fell silent as his eyes shone and a torrent of information flooded his mind.
Musical notes and chords, tricks for creating different sounds, techniques for playing various instruments, and even their manufacturing processes.
'This isn't as bad as I thought at first. At least it will be useful for impressing people or charming some girls.'
'If I remember correctly, Rhaegar was supposedly naturally handsome, but his harp skills were a major attraction for the court ladies.'
The Master of Music ability felt amazing to him. He felt as if he could make music even with the natural elements surrounding him.
[The ability: Witcher's Body has been successfully integrated into the host during evolution and rebirth… reporting…]
'A Witcher… right' the ability's name brought him back to his encounter with the demon, specifically when the roulette had stopped on this physical ability.
[The deficiencies of the Witcher's Body have been treated and eradicated thanks to the physical and spiritual rebirth during reincarnation]
It was fortunate that the system wasn't just a tool for acquiring abilities or summoning powers. It was something more profound, something capable of transforming his very existence.
[Integrating knowledge about controlling the new ability]
The system's calm voice continued reporting impassively.
It was very lucky that the system had taken care of eradicating the deficiencies, the most obvious being the inability to reproduce, the infertility. He wouldn't deny that, like most men, he fantasized about having at least one child, even if his life situation before dying wasn't ideal. The advantages of a Witcher's body, with its strength and magic, in a world like Game of Thrones were both a blessing and a curse.
- At least I don't have to worry about being unable to leave an heir - he murmured to himself before getting lost in thought.
'The idea of being the typical conqueror bores me a bit, but it's always one of the best options in this world. GoT isn't exactly known for its good people.'
'I hope I can at least die of old age in this world of vipers.'
- Although now that I think about it... How did the thing with the Signs work? - he wondered aloud, his eyes still fixed on the screen.
Fate was wise, and luckily for him, the information on their uses resonated in his mind with perfect clarity.
'Oh! This is much more advantageous than in the original stories. I guess I at least owe the demon Morningstar a temple.'
When he obtained his third roulette prize, the Demon had apparently wanted to veto this gift—the system—claiming that such abilities or gifts were outside his jurisdiction or something like that in the hierarchy.
'He let me cheat, so I should thank him somehow.'
Anyway, his body, the body he now possessed, was anything but ordinary. After processing the information, his golden eyes shone with renewed intensity.
- Let's test this... - he said, placing his hands on the ground and pushing his body into a leap, landing firmly on his feet with marvelous agility.
Now he felt lighter, as if he had control over every muscle in his body—perfect. Through the curious lens of his new, improved eyes, his surroundings seemed to come alive. He was surrounded by trees with golden, red, and green leaves, creating a scene that seemed lifted from a dream.
His eyes, now much sharper, could see even the smallest details, and his ears caught the faintest whisper of the wind.
Around him, shadows danced among the trees, but his enhanced vision allowed him to discern the nature of the place clearly. He also heard a nearby stream; the sound of running water reached him distinctly, as if the river were calling him.
'This is the best thing that could have happened to me in my entire life, or well... in my death.'
He was more than happy, but curiosity was also killing him. His adventurous side was making his palms itch.
- The river can't be too far - his mind quickly calculated the distance.
Without overthinking it, he headed toward the source of the sound. Each step was sure and decisive, yet carried a supernatural calm and grace. His bare feet were so light they left no prints on the damp earth.
After a few minutes, he reached a clearing and approached the stream—though it wasn't a simple stream as he had believed, but a proper river, and a very large one. The crystalline water shimmered in the moonlight, reflecting the twinkling stars above. He knelt by the bank, careful not to disturb the water's flow.
- Blessed... demon - he whispered, seeing his new face for the first time.
The reflection staring back at him was completely new. His face had a different shape now. It was beautiful, inhuman in its perfection. Bright red hair cascaded over his shoulders, golden eyes that seemed to glow with their own inner light, and most surprisingly...
A pair of pointed ears that betrayed his, apparently, new nature.
- Are these damned elf ears?! - despite his new blended personalities, he couldn't help but shout in surprise.
It seemed he wasn't a simple human as he had thought since waking up. An elf—one of those beautiful and powerful beings.
- Mother of all gods, this changes everything - he commented, still in shock, examining himself from different angles in the water's reflection.
It wasn't just his ears. Now, being more self-aware, he finally realized his height surpassed two meters—an imposing presence that made him look like a legendary figure from the epic tales of his dear Planet Earth.
- What am I supposed to do now? - he asked himself in self-reflection.
- At least I'm strong enough that they won't burn me alive for witchcraft or something like that. Haaaaaaa, I really need to figure out where the hell I am.
In this world, it was no secret that people greatly rejected the supernatural beyond their gods—at least in Westeros; it was more common in Essos.
- I suppose Essos will be the best place to live, then. Maybe follow the old reliable "Daenerys Tour" - his thoughts were so intense he couldn't help but voice them aloud.
He stared at his reflection in silence for another moment, marveling at what he had become. The body was robust and strong, a warrior through and through, yet possessed a grace only mythological beings could claim.
He wasn't just a man, nor a common elf. He was a fusion of warrior and legend, a being forged to face the darkest battles.
'This is a bit frustrating. I suppose I'll get used to it in time.'
In his moment of greatest weakness, something fortunately appeared to distract him.
[The system is ready for use. The reading function will disappear from now on, except in special cases.]
[Please review the system's operating instructions and utilities.]
[Lord Morningstar wishes the host an excellent life and personally hopes my functions will be useful to you.]
[The host appears to require assistance once more... "scanning" and "education" process will begin shortly.]
[Processing... 1%]
- Scanning and education? I hope that means integrated background knowledge. I'm completely blank here.
[Processing... 7%]
- At least it's relatively fast. Now we wait - he murmured, glancing again at his reflection in the crystalline water.
[Processing... 48%]
The system's loading bar was barely past the halfway point almost a minute later. Anticipation grew within him. He wanted to be "educated" already. Maybe it would be useful, or maybe just a waste of time, but it wasn't like he had anything more urgent to do.
Just then, a spark of curiosity shot through him. The Witchers' magical abilities—of course! He'd overlooked them in the shock of being an elf and all that. Now that he remembered, he couldn't wait to test his powers.
The most famous was the Sign of Aard, the air wave. He closed his eyes, raised his hand, and concentrated all his energy into a single point. He imagined a wave of air—something simple, something he could control easily. A whisper in the wind heralded what was to come.
With a flick of his wrist, a gust of air exploded from his hand, disintegrating some nearby leaves. The force of the wind cut through the air with deadly precision. The echo of power resonated through the valley.
- Now this is what I call true power. The sensation is intoxicating - he repeated the gesture, more focused this time.
A second pulse of energy shot out, this time with more force. A nearby rock, the size of his torso, was pushed back several meters, fragments turning to dust from the concentrated blast's force.
- Hahahaha, this is awesome! - He couldn't help but let out a joyful laugh. He truly had power at his fingertips. He smiled, feeling profound satisfaction.
- This new beginning isn't so bad after all...
- Who am I kidding? It's a fabulous start. Hahaha, screw the anti-OP crowd; they're just jealous nothing like this ever happened to them.
He shifted his attention back to the system screen, minimized in a corner of his vision.
[Processing... 99%]
'Hmph, almost there.'
In the blink of an eye, the system completed its process.
The 100% symbol appeared before his eyes, and the system's voice resonated in his mind before he could even react.
[Territory scanning completed successfully... Preparing...]
[Initiating world "Education" for host Necter... Error...]
[New identity detected... Cause: Host evolution... Soul Clash...]
[Error resolved...]
[Name designated: Eruhaben Ilúvatar, Elven Lord]
[Initiating "Education" for the host...]
The name resonated in his mind like a divine echo, even before he could form a coherent thought.
Eruhaben Ilúvatar.
It felt imposed, but the truth was, it sounded right. It reminded him of the name of the creator god of the elves in the world of The Lord of the Rings. He hadn't chosen it, but hearing it, he felt as if it had always belonged to him. It was really that simple.
- Aghhh… - he groaned, clutching his temples as a sharp pain pierced his head.
In that instant, Eruhaben received thousands of images and memories that flashed through his mind like lightning: battlefields, burning trees, ice-covered skies, shadows moving through snow, and strange creatures.
Memories of a life that wasn't his… but now belonged to him.
With the simple act of knowing and feeling his past in this world, Eruhaben had received not just a name, but a new purpose.
[The "Education" process has concluded successfully... Congratulations.]
In mere seconds, as quickly as it came, the pain vanished, replaced by understanding.
The face of Necter, now known as Eruhaben Ilúvatar, lit up with a captivating smile.
Eruhaben remembered. He remembered not only who he was now, but also who he had been—and wow, who he had been before his soul reincarnated and evolved into a new species for this world.
Necter. The leader of the surviving Children of the Forest who fought in the Long Night. The one who helped seal the fate of the White Walkers, leading his people alongside the First Men and the Giants.
The King of the South, of Middle-earth, the last refuge for the Children and the Giants who survived the Battle for the Dawn.
- Demons... - he whispered, dismayed, delving deeper into his ancient memories.
- This "Middle-earth" beyond Dorne and the Reach shouldn't even exist...
Eruhaben, when he was still Necter of the Children of the Forest, had isolated himself in this land with the other Children, Giants, and even a handful of human groups who simply wanted to live out their remaining days in peace. Nearly 500 years later, he finally died—not from old age or in battle, but from the scars and wounds that slowly consumed him after the devastating war.
When Necter felt his time was near, he refused to die on a bed of leaves like a simple, wounded elder. He left even his family behind and wandered his forests, living among them until he had no strength left to continue. There, just as he fell lifeless, a soul from another world merged with his, giving birth to something new.
The World's First Elf. Eruhaben Ilúvatar, King of the South, The Lord of the Golden Forests.
- This is even more unreal than I ever imagined it could be...
- I was hoping to be from a Noble House or something, but this is on another level entirely...
Eruhaben, still disoriented, stared at his reflection in the water. Instinctively, he looked toward the horizon, and within seconds, the first rays of sun began to appear.
Dawn began to paint the sky in hues of orange and pink.
The river water reflected the nascent light, and for a moment, the world seemed to pay tribute to his vigil and defiance against the darkness.
- It's all very complicated, but the truth is, I love this backstory...
- And to think there are still a few thousand years until the original plot begins.
Eruhaben smiled, now with a measure of serenity after acceptance.
The system was active, his power was awakening, his memories were complete.
The past had also given him a purpose for the future.
- Well then… - he said, rising to his feet and gazing at the distant mountains.
- I suppose this is where my eternal watch begins.
- Hahahaha, I guess I'm the full-fledged protagonist of this world.
The wind blew fiercely, lifting his red hair like a living flame.
The Middle-earth of Westeros breathed around him, and with it, the passing of a lost era and the dawn of a new one.
....
Hello, I apologize if there are any grammatical errors. I write in Spanish and then translate into English.
P.S.: I don't really know much English, but it's the broadest audience.