When Franz woke up, he was surprised to find himself feeling good. It was a special feeling, almost as if a blanket had been draped over him on a cold night. He looked down at his arms, wondering where the good feeling came from.
Eh, arms?
Fair white arms chiseled into perfect shape after years of training. A body that was completely free of pain. Vision that was perfect. The world that was full of colors. Hearing that was without obstruction—much clearer than his past life.
My new body? It was all real?
Franz turned to the side to find himself staring at a mirror. He must be around 16 years old or so; with a naked body that had been maxxed out in stats already.
It was uncannily attractive even to himself, shockingly so.
Where am I? Where is mom and Liora?
Franz looked around.
He was in a small room with a king sized bed and wide windows, and on the bed sat two stunningly good looking women—both staring at him with intrigued gazes. They seemed to have been awake since a while ago.
Franz hesitated.
Is that…
"Is that really you, Franz?" The shorter woman of the two asked, her short black hair bobbing with the tilt of her head. She looked tense. "Did we really not die?"
Franz just stared dumbfoundedly at the woman.
Then asked speechlessly: "…Mom?"
The taller woman left the bed and stared intensely at the mirror herself.
She seemed pale, shocked.
"Is this… me?" She asked. "Franz, tell me!"
Liora?
He stared at the woman and nodded in confusion. Liora was naked, so sculpted she barely seemed like his chubby sister. But the resemblance was there, she did look like herself at the core. If her body had been trained and genetically enhanced, she would probably look like this model standing meters away from him.
Damn…
He couldn't even be shocked at this point.
He was just numb to some things.
At least they are alive and well.
Franz just stared at the wall in silent shock, not knowing how his life had shifted so much after such a short time.
What was this folly?
Suddenly, his mom exclaimed from the side: "There are clothes and documents in this wardrobe!"
Franz and Liora went to check and sure enough. Identity documents with their photos, clothes that fit them, and even a cheap looking watch had been arranged for them in the wardrobe.
There was also documentation for the house they were in.
And even though it was all written in an unknown language, all three of them could understand the papers easily.
Magic, again?
Teaching whole new languages didn't sound as scary as giving new bodies.
Liora and their mother were just shocked and full of awe, but Franz himself frowned.
The language in the papers, wasn't it Malayalam from India?
Or is it Tamil?
He had seen this language from a classmate before. It was so familiar.
That's wrong.
Since the game told him they would be sent to planet Weyzen, why did it have an Earth language?
Even in his shock, his logical self refused to let clues slip his grasp.
Where am I?
"Hey Fran, there is a letter here," Liora said. "Should I open it?"
He turned to look at it with a grave expression. "Yeah."
The game team truly was considerate of all his worries.
Soon, Liora picked up a small letter and read it with half trepidation and half excitement.
"Due to an unforeseen condition in Planet Weyzen, your team could not be placed there and we have decided to return you to your home planet for now. After the Second Game, you will be promptly brought into the prior decided planet."
"As an apology for the inconvenience, we have solved the initial difficulties for your team: identity documentation for the new body and housing. We apologize for the unprofessionalism.
"Good luck on all your future endeavors."
The trio looked at each other until Franz went to the windows and pulled it open.
Whooshing sounds of wind, rickshaws flying past with horns, and the sound of urban hustle rang through the crowded evening.
They were back on Earth.
Is this… India?
Liora jumped onto the bed, screaming all the pent up emotions, her face full of excitement. His mother slumped against the wall, all her energy leaving her.
Franz felt the wind buffet his chest, stared up at the sky with his dark eyes, then closed the windows.
The sun dipped into the horizons, turning everything dark.