Distant, muffled sounds, unfamiliar lands, unfamiliar faces, and an unfamiliar life passed by like a fleeting dream he wasn't aware of but something at back of his mind was. Everything looked very familiar, like he had seen and lived these moments but also very unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
He was in a dream like state where everything seemed to last a long while but extremely fleeting. His mind seemed like it was floating. Like he was having a fiver dream.
A while later, sensation started to return. His body felt sweaty and his mind sluggish. He could move his body but moving even a muscle felt like thousands of needles prickling on his entire arm. His joints felt like they haven't been moved in years.
He instinctively tried to open his eyes but the intense light made him shut it again.
Even now, he still felt like he was in that dream like state as those scenes continued to play.
After an unknown amount of time, he felt like he could move again, but his hand still felt numb and shaky when he moved them.
He was laying on a soft mattress, but it felt like he was on wet mattress instead. His even his clothes were soacked in sweat and it made him feel like he ran to enjoy the rain but it stopped and only his clothes got wet. Uncomfortable, weirdly self-conscious.
He breathed out a deep breath. The throbbing in his head was starting to settle. His body was also responding better.
He suddenly face palmed himself.
"Oh my goh bro. I reincarnated didn't I? As Quash Ogmore."
Quash murmured in disbelief and tiredness, his voice was young and crisp. Confirming that he really did die and is in a new body. He could understand that he died after hitting his head. But really? Just because he commented on few chapters in the past about how pitiful Quash was, he was reincarnated as Quash?
What are the odds?
"Sigh~. Damn it. I'm so sweaty."
Quash slowly sat up on the mattress and looked around the room that looked unfamiliar and familiar at the same time.
The room was very normal. With two windows on the east and north, a study table near the north window and a bookshelf in the corner. A mirror and closet on South Wall. His bed was on the south side, at the center. A single bed with a bedside.
Morning sun light poured through the east window. The dust in the air danced under the light in a hypnotic manner. Birds chippering in the tree of his court yard. He could see the lack right out side of his house. The blue lake water undulated between blinding white and deep blue with each wave of the water.
Clear blue sky with distant white clouds slowly drifting towards wherever the wind took them, the mountains, hills and city scale on the other side of the lake mixed in and created a peaceful but lively feeling that calmed Quash's heart. He took a moment to just admire the beauty of the world. Forgetting about everything.
After a while, he regained his bearings, he wasn't averse to his new identity. He easily accepted that he was now Quash Ogmore. Like this is who he is now. He wasn't going to complain about it. He was lucky that he even got a second chance in life after dying once.
He tilted his head and took a deep breath but the smell of his own sweat made him choke. He pinched his nose with a frown and was about to go to the bathroom when he heard something catching flames above his head. He looked up and saw a paper materialised into the air from flames.
The paper slowly fell and Quash caught it. There was something written on foreign language but he could read it perfectly. And up until now, he hadn't even noticed that he was taking in an unfamiliar language as well. He didn't think much of it and started to read the letter sent by the one that sent him here.
[Dear Andrew David,
Or should I call you Quash Ogmore now? Before you star cursing at me for doing such cliché thing, here me out. First is, the reason I asked if you wanted to live in this was because I knew you were gong to die that day. So yeah, I had no hand in your death. It was natural.
Second is, why are you Quash now? You maybe thinking that I reincarnated you as him because you showed sympathy or I'm petty, but no. Your Andrew David from your past life and now your Quash Ogmore. After your death, this is who you were supposed to be. The only thing I did was awaken your memory and preserved yourself from being washed away in the Cycle of Reincarnation. The reason I did this wasn't because I'm some bored God looking for entertainment or your part of some grand plan and nor are You some destined one.
I reincarnated you on my own selfish desires. I value our interaction. I value your advices. You reading my stuff. Supporting me. And praising this world. You didn't say it, but I knew how much you wanted to live in this world, to explore it.
So to return a bit of all the supportive gestures you've made, and the patience you've shown despite how busy you were, this is my gift to you.
So don't worry about anything and enjoy your life. Your free to do what ever. Just don't turn evil okay?
This will probably the last time we will interact. But if situation allows it, we shall meet again, my most loyal reader.
Yours,
Khahum.]
The moment Quash finished reading the letter, it caught it fire and burnt to non existence. Not even ashes were left.
Quash sat there for a moment before he slumped back and closed his eyes. A quiet feeling of relief wahed over him. His heart felt lighter. All the pain and oppressive feeling that always used to weigh on his heart was gone. He felt light and free.
His life as Andrew David was full of bitterness and regret. He was from a humble background. His father left him and his mother for another woman. His mother didn't remarry and raised him alone. Working extra hours to support him. He studied hard. But later his mother was diagnosed with cancer. He desperately needed money. He worked extra hard for it. Tried everything in his power. Poured every bit of money he earned. But he still couldn't save her.
She passed away. He was devastated but still had the strength to look forward to another day because he had someone he loved. But even she left him. She said sweet nonsense before she left. But the message was clear. He was broke.
He vowed to become rich. He studied hard. He gained scholarships and was scouted by a multinational company after they saw his talent. He was desperate and naive at that time, he signed whatever they presented him with because he wanted to prove to the ones who left him because he had no money.
But that decision later came to bite him because it wasn't a contract, but a slave contract with good salary.
He was passionate and worked hard. He was extra interested in physics. And one thing lead to another, he somehow figured out aways to create Fusion Reactor. Suddenly, the world was praising him. He didn't think he did much because people could have done that sooner or later. He felt hyped and also started to work on other things like Warp Gates, Quantum Teleportation, space stations, Dyson Spheres, making traveling through the space as easy as ever.
But even now, he didn't think it was that impressive. But what was impressive, was how he didn't die from the work load. Because of him, the company secretly got hold of the whole world's power. But by that time, he had already lost sense of self, not understanding why he was even living anymore.
Just lived for the sake out it. And right now, awaking up as Quash Ogmore, feeling the freedom from all the responsibilities and constant mental oppression was like a spiritual clarity.
A smile involuntarily appeared on Quash's face. He spread his limbs around the bed lazily and took another deep breath. All this felt too surreal and illogical. His rational mind wanted to deny everything and spiral, but he wanted to enjoy this. Even if this turned out to be a dream and he woke up, he wanted to enjoy this sense of peace and freedom after a long time.