The sound of screeg tires. The fsh of headlights.

  Pain—sharp and sudden—before everything faded to bck.

  Then, light.

  Warm sunlight spilled through a nearby window, bathing the room in a soft goldehe st of aged wood, dried flowers, and something faintly nostalgic tickled my nose.

  I blinked. My head throbbed like I'd downed aire bottle of cheap whiskey. My thoughts felt sluggish, tangled, as if I had just surfaced from the depths of a murky dream.

  I was walking home just moments ago, wasn’t I?

  My body moved before my brain caught up, and as I sat up abruptly, the unfamiliar weight of a cloak slipped from my shoulders.

  Wait… what?

  I looked down. Instead of my usual t-shirt and jeans, I was draped in a beige cloak, a deep blue tunid a white belt. The fabric felt… real. Too real. My fingers curled into the cloth instinctively.

  A slow, creeping unease crawled up my spine.

  This… isn’t mine.

  Heart pounding, I forced my legs over the side of the bed and stood—only to stumble slightly. My body felt off.

  My legs were a bit longer. My stanaturally steady. My hands—rger, calloused in a way I didn’t remember.

  A bad feeling coiled in my gut. My gaze shot toward the mirror standing atop a dresser across the room.

  I took a step forward. Then another.

  And then—I saw him.

  Blue hair. Light blue eyes. A sharp, defined jawlih a faint mole uhe left eye.

  A man stood in the refle.

  I raised my hand.

  So did he.

  I ched my jaw.

  So did he.

  …No.

  Nononono—

  I staggered back, hitting the edge of the dresser. My breath came short and fast, panic g at my ribs.

  That’s not me.

  That’s Himmel.

  Himmel the Hero. The legendary warrior. The one who had fought alongside Frieren and—

  Died.

  A shiver ran through me. My mind screamed at me to deny it, to rationalize it, but the undeniable truth stht in front of me.

  I wasn’t in my body anymore.

  I was in Himmel’s.

  “…What the hell is going on?” I muttered under my breath.

  And then, like a floodgate bursting open, the memories came.

  Himmel’s memories.

  His adventures. His battles. His ughter, his victories, his regrets. I could feel them, slipping seamlessly into my sciousness, as if they had always been there.

  For a brief, terrifying moment, I wasn’t sure where he ended and I began.

  But ohing was certain—I wasn’t just Alen anymore.

  I was Himmel.

  I gripped the edge of the dresser, taking slow, deep breaths.

  Alright. Calm down. Think.

  Panic wasn’t going to help me. I o uand the situation, and fast.

  If I was in Himmel’s body, then… when was I?

  My gaze flickered to the room—the familiar wooden furniture, the sword propped ly against the wall. The small, worn-down inn room was simple, but well-maintained.

  The Demon King had already beeed.

  This was after the war.

  A soft knock at the door made me freeze.

  "Himmel?"

  My breath hitched.

  That voice—calm, measured, and unmistakable.

  Frieren.

  The door creaked open, and there she stood.

  Frieren the Mage. The elven legend. The one who had outlived them all.

  Her long, white hair fell in two high pigtails, draping over her back. Her sharp green eyes, framed by thick brows, studied me with quiet curiosity.

  She was exactly as I remembered from the anime. A—seeing her in person made it feel real in a way I never expected.

  Her gaze lingered for a moment longer before she spoke.

  "You're usually up first."

  I swallowed hard, f my voice to stay steady. "Guess I… overslept."

  A slight frown crossed her face.

  "That's rare."

  Her eyes swept over me, sing for anything unusual. I knew Friereiced things.

  I have to act like Himmel.

  I am Himmel now.

  "We're leaving after breakfast," she said, turning her gaze toward the window. "Eisen aer are waiting downstairs."

  My fingers curled slightly.

  Eiseer.

  More hat felt familiar yet distant, like echoes of a past that wasn’t fully mine.

  "Got it," I said smoothly.

  Frieren studied me for a sed lohen nodded slightly.

  "I'll let them know you're ing."

  She turned a, the soft click of the drounding me bato the silence.

  I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples.

  Okay. This is real.

  Whatever happeo me—reination, possession, divine prank—I was here now. And I had to keep up the act.

  I straightened, squared my shoulders, and gave the mirror o look.

  "Alright, Himmel," I muttered to myself. "Let's see if I pull this off."

  —

  The wooden stairs creaked softly as I made my way down to the inn’s main hall. The st of roasted meat and fresh bread hit me first, followed by the low murmur of voices.

  Two figures sat he hearth, exactly as I remembered.

  Eisetle-hardened dwarf. Broad shoulders, thick brown hair flowing past his back, a long beard hiding most of his face. His horned helmet sat oable beside him, and his massive double-headed axe leaned against his chair.

  Theer—casual, rexed, swirling a tankard in his hand. His slicked-back green hair gleamed in the m light, two loose strands falling over his forehead. His long bck robe, trimmed with gold, gave him the air of a priest who had seen way too much.

  Both of them turned as I approached.

  "Himmel!" Heiter grinned. "You're finally awake. I thought Frieren would have t you down."

  I let out an easy chuckle. "Guess I needed a little more sleep."

  Eisen, however, watched me more closely. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

  "You look different."

  My heart skipped.

  "Different how?"

  Eisen frowned. "'t expin it. Just a feeling."

  Shit.

  I forced a smile. "Must be the sleep."

  Heiter smirked, tilting his chair back. "Eisen suspects his own refle sometimes. Don't take it personally."

  Eisen huffed but didn’t press further.

  I rexed slightly. But before I could think further—

  A soft chime echoed in my mind.

  [gratutions, Host, for Awakening the Mage System.]

  I froze.

  A sultry, honeyed voice purred directly into my ear—smooth as silk, dripping with sinful allure.

  Mmm~ I’ve been waiting for you, Master~

  Goosebumps shot down my spine.

  The hell kind of system is this?!

  —

  End of Chapter 1

  ---

  [Feeling ge, mee too lol. If you like it support me.]