We all are dealt a hand when we are born. I had one of the worse ones.
A second chance cannot fix bad karmic energy in the soul, it seems.
In my second life, I was born into a rich noble family. I was received by maids, who surrounded and took care of my mother who was screaming her lungs out at the pain of birth until I was out.
"Is a girl!" One of the maids yelled when she was holding me in her arms.
I guess reincarnation is a gamble.
My mother was in her early 20s when she had me. Red eyes, long black hair. She was holding me with a soft smile I cannot say I ever remember having seen ever directed at me by anyone ever. I could not talk, I only could reach with my tiny hands.
"She is beautiful..." She said while holding me. She took a moment to think, even when she was visibly tired. "Your name is... Anastasia."
I guess... Axel is truly dead.
The world I was born into was going through a similar stage to the industrial revolution. Machines started to appear and be developed, especially the ones operated by steam. Trains were the main transport system between major cities and the first form of motorized vehicles were starting to appear.
The main difference was the existance of magic. Many machines used a mixture of etherial energy and steam to work, impulsed by magic stones created by mages and engineers.
The other diference was more prominent.
There was a videogame like system in place.
"You look beautiful, Anastacia." My mother said. "Today you finally become 10 years old!"
10 years had passed since I was born in this new world. I was the middle child, I had 10 brothers and sisters in this noble family.
My new parents were busy.
5 were born before me, other 5 were born after. The majority were twins, only three of us were born alone. We all shared the same trait of black hair and red eyes, the same both parents had.
That is how I learned they were cousins.
10 years was a milestone in age in this world.
Not because of the high mortality rate at young age.
It was because that is when a small ceremony was held were you have your potential and assigned class measured and profiled.
Normally, people that were not of noble birth would need to reach community centers and other places to get measured. It was a chance to be discovered for high potential and receive education and riches.
In the case of noble families, they could have them made private in their palaces and houses. The Jerlaine family did this with each of us.
The measurement was simple. It assigned a letter based in your potential that went from F to Us (Ultra S).
Us were rare to the point people believed they were mythical or never existed. While the majority of people were B or lower. Anything higher, you were talented. It meant you were stronger and could even achieve the status of an idol.
The majority of nobles and important people were A or higher. The rest were assigned to work at factories and could not get out of being a paesant and manual labor that made them live a ahorter life.
"Elizabeth got an S last year, right?" I asked her.
I was in a black dress. I had to get used to using dresses, skirts, that sort of stuff. It was a bit easier than I expected, and somehow more comfortable than wearing pants.
"Yes. As you know, we come from a long lineage of wizards and system users, so it is expected we give birth to talented children."
When my older brother, Edward, went through it, also got an S. The rest got A+, which was still remarkable. And my younger siblings were waiting to become 10.
And that is also how I figured out why they married between cousins. It was an attempt to keep the genes flowing through the family.
I swear, if they attempt to marry me to a cousin I am destroying the family line.
And the idea that they could attempt to get me married with a man was giving me the creeps. Marriage only happened after 18, but it was common for noble families to have their children promised before that.
That was mom's luck. She had no say on it.
It made me sad for her. She was a sweet woman, different from my mother on earth. She took time to interact with all of us, to make sure we got enough care, avoiding having favourites. Yes, we all had maids and buttlers to do what we wanted, but she always tried to care for us.
Like right then... She was the one helping me with my dress and my hair. If I didn't insist, I would be looking like a doll. Luckily, she accepted to let me use something not that extreme.
"It is time, let's go."
When we arrived at the hall where the ceremony was being held, I felt a heavy weight in the air.
And sitting in the center row to observe while sitting and holding his head into a fist... Father. He was barely present, I had 0 idea about who he was as we barely ever talked. He only took interest in Edward and Elizabeth when they got their S rank potential found.
The rest... We didn't matter.
"So, the little brat of the middle is getting her potential ranked?" I heard Edward's voice.
Right by the entrance when we went in, he was leaning against the wall, looking smug wih his arms crossed.
"What do you think, brother?" On the other side, Elizabeth spoke. "Another A+?"
They both were in their 13s, and approaching their 14. Edward was older just by seconds, so he is the first heir to the family.
"I am impressed you came, brother. Tired of lifting the poor maids dresses to see their panties?" I answered with my eyes closed. "Is your little sister that important for you now?"
His face went red.
"A-Anastasia! We don't say that sort of stuff!" Mom said. "Behave like the little lady you are!"
Elizabeth started to laugh.
"Hahahaha! She got you there, Edward you pervert!"
"Shut up! Just go and get your A+ so I can return to my training!"
"You two also! Behave!" Mom scolded both.
I gave my older brother a smug smile as I approached the center of the room.
In the middle was a crystal ball and, beside it, a man in a long robe, obscuring his face. He beckoned me to approach.
The rest of my siblings arrived at that moment to the room. We were all in there.
"Come, Anastasia Jerlaine! And put your hand in the crystal ball." The man said.
Ooooh...dramatic.
I got closer and placed my hand against the ball. I felt it vibrating and cold against my fingers. I could tell it was not a simple crystall ball.
"Now, focus your mind into it, and think about how your energy flows within it..." The man said and placed his own hand on it with his eyes closed.
A screen appeared in front of me.
[SEED System initiated...]
[Name: Anastasia Jarleine.]
[Class: Vanguard Mage.]
Vanguard mage? I was wondering what kind of class that was.
[Calculating potential...]
The system took what felt like ages. Everyone was looking at me and the ball, waiting for the potential ranking. I felt every eye on me that day.
And when it appeared it wasn't an A+.
It was not an S.
[Potential calculated!]
[Potential: F]