“Fuck…”

  My eyes slowly open, tiny motes of sunlight glittering through the leaves come into view above me. My head feels like it is going to split open. I can barely think straight and my vision is incredibly blurry. Beneath me I can feel the cold hard dirt as I lay sprawled out on the ground.

  Memories are flooding in, A world devoid of magic, towering buildings, and advanced technology. I am not sure what I am looking at, but it all seems so familiar.

  A small elongated shape burning brightly makes its way down from the sky towards the center of the city. Off in the distance I can just barely see it, any second now it will hit and everything will be over.

  “I never got to see the end, that's a pain.” A short complaining groan escapes my lips as I lean my head against the window. Lamenting the fact that I would not get to find out how my favorite book series ended, I watched the city turn white with a blinding flash.

  Honestly what a dumb reason to start World War 3, but I suppose in the end there would never be any reason to toss around nukes that wasn’t incredibly stupid.

  I guess I managed to survive until the end of the world.

  Hooray!...

  I didn’t expect the world to end when I was only 20 but I guess it can’t be helped.

  As I stare out into the sea of white I can’t help but start getting a bit worried. “Um…. am I not dead or not?” Out of my recent bad habit of talking to myself lately, I question the white void.

  “Oh, don’t worry, you are.“

  And the void answers back.

  “Wha-!”

  Hearing the soft but somehow overpowering sound of a woman's voice behind me I whip my head around to see where it came from, and come face to… uh face? cube? with it. “Uh, hi?” Is all I manage to squeak out in the face of the thing in front of me. Before me in this infinite expanse of nothingness is a massive white organic cube looking thing. Despite it having no eyes that I can recognize, I can feel its scrutinizing gaze boring into me.

  It seemed to be inspecting me deeply. How I knew this, I couldn’t say.

  “Hello Eliza, it is a pleasure to meet you. My condolences on your death.” The powerful and slightly disembodied voice resonating from the cube, as well as everywhere at once, speaks to me.

  “Thanks, it is nice to meet you too.” Nodding along to this incomprehensible situation I do my best to return a polite greeting.

  It is only polite after all.

  The cube thing, which proceeded to call itself a god, tells me that I am getting reincarnated after taking that nuke to the face.

  “It will be an exciting place full of adventure!”

  And it does so with an inappropriately peppy attitude.

  As I try to process all the information being given to me right now, all my stupid brain can think is: Well, I guess that is on me for expecting gods to look remotely human.

  I stare up at the not-ceiling, shaking off such random thoughts to focus myself back on the situation at hand. “Oh, so it is like an isekai situation. I loved those kinds of stories!” Just like any other loner, I was addicted to reading about and imagining myself getting transported to another world.

  The rather chipper god cube thing proceeded to explain the details about the world. Standard fantasy stuff, Magic, Medieval level technology but a bit upgraded in some areas thanks to said magic, some RPG type leveling system, and a bunch of other stuff I am not sure I will remember.

  “And don’t worry about your body, I got a new one picked out just for you!”

  As the god finishes her explanation I ask the most pressing question on my nerdy little mind. “Do I get an OP cheat or anything?” However, something changes before I can get my answer.

  Ignoring my question, the cube god suddenly begins to rush things.

  “O-Oh my it looks like we are out of time, Good luck with your new life! Please try not to die too easily.”

  “Wait, wha-” And before I can even try to retort my body is suddenly wracked with pain and everything goes dark.

  The light is getting stronger, and it hurts…

  Everything is spinning. The towering trees around me look like they are about to crash down on me. A loud buzzing in my ear that I can feel in my bones causes me to slip to and from these strange memories. Blurry forms jump to and fro in my vision and the whole world seemingly cracks.

  My head feels like it just got hit by a truck.

  Truck? What is-

  The pain worsens before I can question these strange new and yet familiar words.

  I am seeing visions of a life training with a sword, parents who never cared about me, and even getting stabbed by my own mother.

  The carriage hits a small bump, and I shake in my seat before internally complaining about the terrible state of our seat cushions. It is a rare occasion that I get to leave the house. So much of my time is spent studying and training in hopes of improving myself for when I finally get my magic that I find it hard to remember what the outside world looks like, aside from the training field, though my memories of that are mostly of the pain from getting hit with a practice sword.

  This rare treat is not a break however, just another part of the strict path my parents have laid out for me. I honestly just wanted to sleep in today, but instead I was woken up extra early this morning, tossed into the family carriage, and swiftly brought to the church. In the end, the amount of time I actually spent outside was rather minimal. But at least I got to look out the window and see some nature on my way to the ceremony.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  The ceremony is not strictly necessary as I will be inducted into The System the second I turn 14 like every other human. My parents just place too much emphasis on tradition rather than, ya know, raising their fucking daughter.

  The carriage stops and I lurch forward in my seat. The door swings open to find my father standing there already rushing me out of the carriage. “Lua Knight, hurry up! We need to get this done quickly and properly so we can begin training your magic.” The gruff faced man in the slightly too shiny and ornamental armor says to me rather sternly.

  I really don’t get that armor, it is pointlessly fancy and it is somehow not even the fanciest one he has. Apparently, his daughter's 14th birthday and induction into The System is not important enough for the nice set of armor.

  “Yes father.” I repeat back on instinct, long since knowing better than to waste my time with any retorts about how we could practice my magic faster if we skipped the ceremony or how bribing the church to have my ceremony in private at this ungodly hour is already pushing what could be considered “proper.” Apparently my parents' love of tradition only applies to getting it done, and done quickly.

  Sigh.

  Having been ushered into the church I find myself kneeling before the priest as the wrinkly old man blathers on about duty, honor, and glory as well as the boring responsibilities that come with a noble being given their magic by The System. I tune all of this out, naturally, as my parents already made me memorize the information when I was like five years old. One of my least favorite bedtime stories.

  Finally, finishing the speech and having me recite my own acceptance to the duties, the time comes and I receive the long awaited system message.

  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

  [Congratulations -Lua Knight- You are now being inducted into the World Order System!]

  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

  As the message flashes in my mind, I feel a sudden surge of energy flow through my body as well as a dull pain in my head.

  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

  [Your Magic has been determined and your starting Skill has been granted.]

  [Your Magic is -Light- and your starting skill is -Light Beam-]

  [Congratulations on your induction into the System!]

  [Just think the word “status” to view your own information at any time.]

  [May your path to ascension be a fruitful one!]

  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

  After the bright and exclamation point heavy messages finally clear from my mind and the pain fades I stand up and look towards my parents. My father with a stern but expecting look on his face, and my mother simply uncaring, which is to be expected from them. I am, after all, just something to continue their legacy, not a child, or cherished daughter, just a tool.

  “Well then, tell us what magic you got.” My father grunts out rather impatiently while I just stand there and try to get my bearings.

  Weird, I have been taught about many types of magic but I don’t think father has ever mentioned Light Magic? Accessing the information from The System with my mind, I look over my magic and skills but none of it makes sense so I just go ahead and answer. “It says my magic is ‘Light’ which I have never heard of before.” Responding in a rather absentminded way, I am still trying to shake off the weird pressure I have been feeling since I was inducted into The System.

  I am not sure why but it just feels a bit hard to move, almost like there is a weight pressing down on my shoulders or like I'm slightly underwater. As I contemplate my weird feeling, I realize a bit late that the room is silent. My father not having said anything in response or tried to rush me out the door to start training like I would have expected.

  Looking up I notice both my parents with rather serious and almost angry expressions on their faces. Scratch that, my mother looks furious. The stale air of the church now feels like you could cut the tension with a mithril knife under the withering gazes of the only two other people in the room with me. The Priest had apparently disappeared at some point without my noticing.

  “Father what is wr-” I try to ask just what in the world is going on, and just as I am about to finish my sentence, everything starts going dark and I collapse on to the cold tile floor.

  “What should we do dear? Our child ending up with Light Magic of all things… We can’t let this get out, we would be shamed having such a useless child!” A piercing, angry and high pitched voice questions my father… I always hated my mothers voice, I never heard anything other than how inadequate I was from her. Now once again I am being called useless.

  I don’t know why I can’t see or why I can’t move, but I am certain it was that woman's doing.

  “I am not sure, anyone who has ever gotten Light Magic has never been able to acquire new skills or reach higher classes. We can’t let her succeed the family now. I think our best option is to get rid of her.” I feel my heart sink. If I wasn’t already on the floor I am sure I would have collapsed. My parents have already written me off, and are planning to kill me.

  Despite the awful situation I am now in, the only thought in my mind is resigned. I am surprised it took them this long to want to kill me.

  “I think we should just kill her now and throw her body into the usual dumping site, we can’t let others know what magic she got or they will realize we killed her.” Always the practical one, my mother. I bet she had this plan ready for ages.

  “Hmm, I have to agree. I will leave that to you dear while I find a suitable explanation for her disappearance.” As I hear those last words sealing my fate, my fathers footsteps fade away as he exits the church.

  After a few seconds the clicking of my mothers heels against the church floor make their way over to me. “Tsk, I always knew you were useless, but to get Light Magic of all things. You truly were trash all along.” Her shrill voice pierces me right next to my ears, I am completely immobile but I still feel a shiver run across my body.

  I want to cry but I can’t even bring myself to do that.

  I don’t want to die.

  My mother, no, this bitch has never liked me. I do not know why but from my earliest memories I know she has always hated me. She must have intentionally made me immobile instead of unconscious just so she could revel in the fact that I had to listen to them planning my murder.

  If I manage to survive this… and even if I don’t, I will stop at nothing to make her suffer like she is making me suffer.

  Just as my vision starts to return, all I get is a glimpse of her awful smiling face before I feel a sharp pain run through my stomach. Agony both burning hot and freezing cold. I want to scream! But whatever spell she placed on me won’t let me. All I can do is droop my head and see the silver knife jammed into me, blood rapidly draining from the wound.

  “Goodbye, you waste of a daughter.” And those are the last words I hear before everything goes black for real.

  I don’t want to die.

  I will do anything for a second chance.

  If there is a god or anything out there listening, please, help me.

  And as the darkness creeps into my very soul, I hear a faint voice ripple through my mind.

  “Hmm, you will do.”

  The light hits me again and brings me back to reality.

  Everything is blending together. I am not sure who I am, the name Eliza is floating around but that name does not feel like it fits me. I also have the name Lua which I feel fits me better despite the odd disconnect with that name as well.

  As the confusion begins to peak in my jumbled mess of a mind. A System message appears in front of my face.