In my previous life, I was Helios Carter.
I lived a pretty normal life like anyone else, and I also had basic educational achievement. Bachelor's in Architecture. Master's in Urban Planning. A minor in Structural Engineering because apparently two degrees weren't enough to fill the void. I had a decent apartment, a respectable salary, and a five-year plan that mostly involved drinking coffee and staring at blueprints until something meaningful happened. Nothing meaningful ever happened.
My life was, in the most generous possible terms, fine. Not bad. Not good. Just fine. The kind of fine that makes you stare at your ceiling at two in the morning wondering if this is really all there is. I had optimized myself into the most boring version of a human being possible and somehow convinced myself that was an achievement.
Then I died.
I don't remember how. One moment I was at my desk, the next I was waking up somewhere that was definitely not my apartment.
The ceiling above me was carved stone, high and vaulted, with dark beams running across it like the ribs of something ancient. Pale morning light filtered through tall windows draped in deep crimson curtains. The bed beneath me was the size of a small country. Everything smelled faintly of smoke and something floral and something else I couldn't name.
I stared at the ceiling for a long moment.
Then I became aware of the warmth.
Specifically, the seven separate sources of warmth pressed against me from every direction.
I turned my head slowly to the left. A woman with silver hair and scales along her collarbone was sleeping with her arm thrown across my chest like she owned it. Her expression was calm and regal even unconscious, like she was dreaming about running a kingdom and doing an excellent job.
I turned my head slowly to the right. A dark elf with white hair and long ears was watching me with half-lidded violet eyes, already awake, saying nothing. Just watching. She smiled when she caught me looking. It was a very calm smile. Something about it made me want to apologize immediately.
Somewhere behind me, someone was curled against my back breathing softly. At the foot of the bed, I could see silver-white hair splayed across the sheets and what appeared to be a tail. Near the left pillow, a woman with deep red eyes and an air of theatrical elegance was still asleep with the expression of someone who had strong opinions about everything. Against the far right edge, barely visible, was a smaller figure with dark robes and ink-black hair who hadn't moved at all.
Seven women were on one bed with zero explanation.
I sat up very carefully so as not to wake anyone and looked around the room. This looked like a castle, it's definitely a castle. My hands were larger than I remembered and my arms had faint markings running up them like old script. When I exhaled, I noticed the air shimmered faintly in front of me.
Suddenly I noticed the dark elf watching me.
"You're awake," she said quietly.
"I am," I said.
"Did you sleep well, my lord?"
'My lord? What was this some type of cosplay?'
I looked at her then at the six other women arranged around me like I was something precious that needed to be kept warm. I looked at my hands again then at the castle ceiling.
"Sure," I said. " I had a great sleep. Very restful. Quick question."
"Yes?"
"What is happening."
She smiled again with an expression that looked unbothered.
"Everything," she said simply, "is exactly as it should be."
I looked at the ceiling again.
In my past life I had two degrees, a master's, and a five year plan.
None of that had prepared me for this.