Warmth.
Soft, gentle warmth from sunlight brushed across her skin.
Ariella frowned. How is this possible? I am very sure I died. That pain was real.
She tried to open her eyes, blinking slowly as bright rays reflected off the window and forced her lids shut again.
When she finally managed to crack them open, she realized she was lying on an incredibly soft bed, surrounded by long strands of pink, wavy hair that definitely weren't hers. And then, something twitched behind her. She froze.
A startled gasp left her lips as she twisted slightly, only to see a sapphire-blue tail flick into view. The shock made her attempt to sit up, only for a brutal headache to slam into her skull.
She choked on a breath as memories not her own burst into her mind all at once, crashing through her thoughts like a tidal wave. The feeling of big soft hands holding a little hand, the sharp scent of roasted peanuts, the gentle, booming laughter of three different men all familiar, all strange. A sudden, chilling realization hit her: she had transmigrated into a modern beast world. She was Lyria Snowpelt now.
A gasp came from the doorway, and a cat-beast woman with long silver hair rushed into the room. She was followed by three beast-men, who, from Lyria's rapidly integrating memories, were called Fecunds, each with the ears and tails of a rabbit, lynx, and fox. They were also her daddies: Rowan Snowpelt (rabbit beastman), Thorne Snowpelt (fox beastman), and Cyris Snowpelt (lynx beastman), the original owner's birth father. They surrounded her with relief and tears.
"Lyria, sweetheart, you are awake," said the woman, who was Ariella, now Lyria's mother, Selena Snowpelt.
"Sweetie, you have been unconscious for three days due to a fever. How are you feeling?" she said as her silver-blue eyes shimmered with maternal worry. Gently behind her were Lyria's three siblings: Finn, fifteen, a fox hybrid, lively and mischievous; Orion, twelve, a lynx hybrid, smart and quiet; and Milo, eight, a rabbit hybrid, shy and sweet.
Thorne, the fox father, sniffed dramatically and declared, "I told them you'd be fine! My baby girl is strong!"
Rowan smacked the back of his head. "Stop trying to take credit."
"I'm fine. You don't need to worry," Lyria assured them softly with a smile.
Selena huffed, gently patting her daughter's head. "If you don't want us to worry, you naughty kitten, don't try to swim when you know perfectly well that you can't."
Lyria's fathers and brothers all sighed in relief, her smile enough to ease the worry that had gripped them for days.
After a long, emotional fussing session, they finally left her to rest.
The moment the door clicked shut, Ariella, now Lyria Snowpelt, sprang out of bed and rushed to the mirror.
A stunned gasp escaped her mouth.
A breathtaking cat-beast woman stared back: shimmering silver-blue eyes, a smooth, poreless oval face, full light-pink lips, and a small pale-blue crescent mark on her forehead. Long, wavy pink hair cascaded to her waist. Sapphire-blue cat ears matched a soft, fluffy tail. She spun once in disbelief.
DING!
A sharp, cold chime sliced through her mind.
[APEX GUIDE SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
[Host Detected: Lyria Snowpelt]
[Awakening Moonlight Core… Successful]
[Binding Complete]
A gentle, gender-neutral voice echoed in her mind, smooth as silk yet sharp as steel:
"Welcome, Host. You have been chosen by the Apex Guide System — designed for empire builders, destiny rewriters, and apex conquerors. Please accept your Beginner Gift Package."
Lyria blinked. "...A system? In this world?"
[Gift Package Ready for Retrieval. Open?]
"Open."
APEX GUIDE SYSTEM – BEGINNER GIFT PACKAGE
Moonlight Beast Constitution Upgrade (Rank 1)
Enhances physical strength, reflexes, and stamina.
Allows faster absorption of Elyndor's energy currents.
TradeSense Passive Skill
Instantly evaluates the value of items, deals, and opportunities.
Alerts host when a contract or business deal is in her favor or against her.
Charm Resonance Aura (Minor)
Light charisma boost that affects both beastmen and beastwomen.
Useful for negotiation, encounters, and calming tense situations.
Storage Pocket (10-Slot Dimensional Space)
Small personal storage accessible through thought.
Can hold items, documents, herbs, tools, etc.
Beginner Business Pack
Contains:
LedgerBook Pro (bound in silver moonfur)
5 MoonQuill pens (self-refilling)
1 portable HoloClaw projector (finger-mounted)
Fragment of the MoonPelt Legacy
A mysterious glowing shard tied to host's rare species lineage.
Unlockable only after completing 5 major system missions.
Identity Shield
Prevents anyone or anything from detecting host's transmigration origins.
[Host, would you like to see your status panel?]
"Yes, show me."
[HOST STATUS PANEL]
Name: Lyria Snowpelt (formerly Ariella Vaylor)
Race: Moonlight Nekolet (Rare Variant)
Age: 19
Rank: Low-Tier Moonlight Core
Energy Affinity: Lunar Essence / Cold Element / Emotional Resonance
Beast Form: Snow-furred Nekolet with blue luminescent markings
Strength Level: 3/10
Agility: 5/10
Intelligence: 9/10
Charm: 7/10 (increased by Charm Resonance Aura)
SKILLS
TradeSense (Passive)
Charm Resonance (Minor)
Basic Moonlight Claw
Beginner Beast Instincts
SYSTEM ASSETS
Storage Pocket (10 Slots)
Identity Shield
Fragment of MoonPelt Legacy
Beginner Business Pack
SYSTEM REPUTATION POINTS
0 (New Host)
She stared at the panel and it stared back at her. A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it. She had a family now. A real family.
One that loved her, cherished her, protected her.
Three fathers, each gentle, warm, fiercely protective.
Three brothers, chaotic but devoted.
A mother known for her strength and quiet resilience.
Their faces filled her mind one by one smiling, laughing, scolding gently.
A family unlike anything she'd ever known.
Ps. I will be using Lyria instead of Ariella from the next chapter. And don't forget to add to your libraries 😉.