The nanny flinched at Mira's cruel words, but she said nothing. Instead, she turned on her heel and hurried out of the room, her mind set on getting to the hospital as fast as possible.
She had to see Ephyra and make sure she was truly alright.
Mira rolled her eyes as she watched the nanny hurry out of her room. She picked up her phone and took a bite of the snack.
"Hmm, delicious," she said, lying down and taking another bite, acting as if someone's life wasn't in danger because of her.
Eira woke up to see her translucent body floating in a space with darkness and glittering stars. The darkness was comforting but she felt disoriented.
Wasn't she dead? No, she was dead.
Then... this was something like her spirit or was it her soul?
[Master is correct, this is your soul and you're in your soul space.] A soft mechanic voice rang in her mind.
'Who was that? And what the hell are you saying?'
Was she having a post-death hallucination?
[Master, I am your Sole Assistant. A futuristic technology developed by the Administrator to insert your soul into your original body and assist you in every way.]
Eira frowned in confusion, trying to process the robotic voice speaking to her. 'Sole Assistant? Administrator? What the hell are you talking about? And... original body?'
[Correct, Master. You are currently occupying your original body, the one you were born into. Your soul was meant to return to this body on your 18th birthday, as per the Administrator's design. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the process was triggered earlier.]
Eira frowned, trying to make sense of what was happening. 'Are you saying I transmigrated into another person's body and you're like my system, like in web novels?'
[Master, it seems you are misunderstanding. While you did transmigrate, it was not into another person's body. It was into your original body, the one you were born with. I am not a system as you might be familiar with from web novels; I am a highly advanced AI assistant designed solely to help you.]
'Now, that's just stupid. How can someone transmigrate into their own body? You're confusing me.'
'Keep quiet for a minute, let me think.'
Was it the wish? Was she given a second chance at life in another person's body because she wished to find her killer? But wait–
'How long have I died? And are we still in my world? I didn't transmigrate into some dumb world or story, did I?'
[Your body and this body's previous soul died a few hours ago and no, Master, you did not transmigrate into a fictional world or story.]
'Thank God for that.' Eira sighed in relief. 'But... who was this previous soul? And what happens to her soul?'
[The previous soul is dead, Master. It's gone and can't come back. She was Ephyra Allen, a 17-year-old girl and the legitimate daughter of the Allen family. Her mother passed away when she was an infant, and her father remarried. Although Ephyra was the legitimate daughter, she was treated poorly both at home and at school. But rest assured, once you regain consciousness, you will have access to all of Ephyra's memories.]
'Ugh, seriously?! Why didn't I transmigrate into a rich and handsome man's wife or a powerful business woman instead of someone with a tragic backstory ?' Eira groaned in frustration. 'This sounds like the fucking setup for a depressing revenge novel.'
[Master, this is not a story. You have been returned to your body due to unforeseen circumstances. This is your reality.]
Eira sighed, floating silently for a moment, staring out at the glittering stars in the darkness around her. Her mind was racing with all the information she had just been hit with. It didn't make sense—not yet, anyway—but she had to accept it. Somehow, this was real. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovᴇl(F)ɪre.ɴet
'So... what happens now?' she asked after a moment. 'I'm in this body. Ephyra is... gone, I guess. What's next?'
[The primary objective, Master, is to help you stabilize your connection with your body and regain full control. After that, it is up to you. The Administrator had certain plans, but with the early activation of the process, those plans will be delayed.]
'Great,' Eira muttered. 'Whatever the hell it is you're saying.'
She closed her eyes, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her. It was overwhelming—the sudden shift from one life to another, the knowledge that her soul hadn't died and instead entered someone else's body, and now she was going to live another person's life.
But she wasn't the kind of person to wallow. She had always been resilient, adaptable. Even if this situation was bizarre beyond belief, she'd figure it out.
Besides, this was a blessing wasn't it?!
'Okay,' she finally said, her voice firm. 'So what are we still doing here?'
[Stabilization is nearly complete, Master. This will be followed by repairing and returning the body to its original state, which will take up to ten days. Once the process finishes, you will regain consciousness in your physical body. I will be here to guide you every step of the way.]
Eira nodded, feeling a strange sense of calm settle over her. Whatever this was—this new reality, this transmigration, and not-so-system system —she would handle it. She had no other choice.
'Alright then,' she said softly. 'Ready whenever you are.'
'Incredible, all her vital signs, stability, and overall conditions have improved greatly, almost magically. Just like how she came back from the dead.'
'Doctor Liam, does this mean she's permanently out of danger?'
'Yes, she should be moved from the ICU to a step-down unit tomorrow.'
'Oh, young miss, please wake up.'
'I know I failed your mother but I don't want to fail you.'
'Oh my dear, even after hearing the news of your accident, that witch Marianne couldn't even come check up on you; even if she was your stepmother. And your father, that spineless bastard also don't care about you, his only daughter! But would always rant about his mother betraying him as if she didn't suffer herself.'
Eira heard the voices, but they were distant, muffled. Her consciousness was still anchored in the starry void, and the outside world felt like a distant echo.
But then, with a sudden jolt, she felt herself being pulled out of the void.
With a gasp, Eira's eyes flew open. She sucked in a deep breath and found herself staring up at the sterile, white ceiling of the hospital room.
Slowly, she lifted her hand and brought it forward. Her fingers were long, thin, and fair.
Eira curled it, feeling the stiffness which were not only in her fingers.
Then, she placed her hand on her chest, feeling the steady thump of her heartbeat. It was real—she was alive, in this body.
And she was Ephyra Allen now.