The first thing Meer noticed was pressure.
Not pain—just a heavy, heavy weight pressing down on his chest. Then came a sharp voice, the kind that clearly had no intention of letting him sleep in.
Aliya: "Brother! Get up! You're going to be late again!"
A hand grabbed him and shook him hard.
Meer groaned and rolled over—only for his face to smash straight into something scratchy and solid.
Man, this bed was awful.
Seriously, he thought, did someone actually glue this mattress straight onto a rock or something?
He frowned, still half-asleep.
Wait… did I actually fall asleep on the floor?
Aliya: "Brother!"
The voice was way too close now.
Meer's eyes snapped open.
Wood.
A wooden ceiling. Old planks, cracked in places, with sunlight slipping in through a tiny window covered by plain curtains.
"…Huh?"
His heart jumped.
Before his brain could even process anything, his body moved on reflex.
Meer shot upright and immediately shoved one hand down inside his pants.
"…Okay," he muttered.
Relief flooded him.
Phew. Thank God. Crisis completely dodged.
Day one, zero casualties.
Aliya: "WHAT are you doing?!"
Meer froze.
Slowly—very slowly—he turned his head.
A girl stood by the door, maybe thirteen years old. Her arms were crossed tightly, her face bright red with fury. Her dark hair was neatly tied, and her sharp eyes were filled with pure judgment.
Aliya: "You are disgusting! Have you finally lost your mind completely?!"
Meer blinked.
"…Morning?"
The word slipped out way too easily.
Aliya paused, blinking at him.
Aliya: "Why are you talking so strange today?"
Talking strange? Meer thought.
No, I'm just… exceptionally charming today. Yeah. That must be it.
He looked down at himself.
Smaller hands. Thinner arms. A simple linen shirt and worn trousers—nothing like the clothes he owned back home.
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
He rushed to the tiny mirror nailed to the wall.
Messy black hair fell into his eyes—longer than before. His face was younger, softer. Not ugly… just plain. The kind of face people forget quickly.
Yep, he thought. Blend-in mode activated.
Step one: don't scare the villagers.
Step two: figure out whose body I just stole…
"…This isn't me," he whispered.
The realization settled like cold water in his chest.
If I'm here… what happened to the real owner of this body?
Footsteps outside interrupted his thoughts.
Aric: "Brother? Why are you shouting so much?"
Aliya turned instantly.
Aliya: "Father! Brother is acting weird again!"
The door slid open.
A tall man stepped in. Broad shoulders. Calm eyes. Simple training clothes—but his presence made the room feel steady.
Yep, Meer thought, definitely not my dad.
But something clicked.
The voice.
The wooden house.
The clothes.
The atmosphere.
This wasn't just a fantasy world.
It was that story.
Aric Valenford: "You awake now?"
Meer nodded slowly.
Aliya: "He woke up and did something weird! Really weird!"
Meer scratched his cheek.
Meer: "To be fair, waking up alive is a pretty high priority."
Aliya glared.
Aliya: "That does NOT explain where your hands were!"
If anyone asks, Meer thought, I was testing gravity. Very scientific.
Meer: "Hey, if something important disappeared overnight, you'd panic too."
Aric sighed, rubbing his forehead.
Aric: "…Get ready. We're training outside."
Before he left, a gentle voice came from the kitchen.
Lyria Valenford: "Breakfast is ready. Please eat something before you go."
Meer, Aliya, and Aric answered together.
All three: "We'll come later!"
A brief pause.
Lyria: "Very well. Don't come back hungry."
Outside, the morning sun lit up the small village.
Stone-paved paths stretched between wooden houses with thatched roofs. Villagers swept doorsteps, carried baskets, tended gardens.
Meer looked around in awe.
Wow, he thought. Old bread, fresh water, and manure.
Yep. Classic fantasy village smell.
People greeted Aric respectfully.
Villager: "Good morning, Commander!"
Another Villager: "Morning, Commander Valenford!"
Meer blinked.
Commander? That's my dad?!
Aliya puffed out her chest proudly.
Aliya: "Of course! Father is one of the empire's commanders."
Meer: "Empire?"
Aliya stared at him.
Aliya: "Are you serious? You don't know Father protects the empire?"
Meer smirked slightly.
So much to figure out… but maybe I can squeeze in a few pranks first.
They reached a training courtyard filled with wooden targets.
Aric: "Meer, start with the basics. Footwork first."
Meer copied the stance without thinking. His body moved smoothly—too smoothly.
Muscle memory, he realized. This body knows how to fight.
Aliya: "Not bad for someone who just woke up," she teased.
Meer: "I told you. I'm fully awake."
She giggled.
Later, resting under a tree, Aric spoke casually.
Aric: "The Imperial Magic Academy will open soon. You already passed the knowledge test."
Meer froze.
The academy.
That's where Soniya is.
A quiet smile formed.
Wait for me.
This time… I will never let her suffer again.