[MC's POV]
The first time I gained any consciousness, I only felt faint ripples that woke me up from... I don't even know what.
Was I unconscious? Dead? Reincarnated?
Some of these words; I don't even know how I know them, they just appeared in my mind, already carrying their meaning.
It was strange… being in limbo. No breathing. No vision. Just a faint feeling that I was floating somewhere or someplace.
I was running mental gymnastics in my mind, oh, another one! 'Gymnastics.' That word just popped into my brain, and somehow I also knew its meaning.
While I was still processing this, I felt a slight tug in this existential or maybe non-existential space around me.
Then, as if the very plane I was in was pushing me out, I felt pressure. Not the painful kind, but the 'it's time to leave' kind.
And in that all-black presence, a tunnel of light appeared before me or at least, I felt that it did, because for some reason I couldn't even open my eyes yet.
The tunnel gradually widened, and it felt as if my entire body was being pulled through.
After I emerged from that Schrödinger's box, wait, Schrödinger? What the hell is that? oh, I see… what kind of memories are these, and why are they coming in fragments?
I tried moving my body; I hadn't been able to move in that schro-whatever place.
But, Voila, I could feel my hands and legs now. I should probably open my eyes. Maybe then I can figure out what kind of box I'm in this time.
Before I could open them, a sharp sound struck my ears, followed by pain, and then… a cry escaped my mouth.
The sound was high-pitched, like that of a child.
Wait, that was me.
When I tried to speak again, only strange noises came out, incoherent sounds, and the faint voices of people talking nearby, though I couldn't understand a single word.
Panic set in, I even forgot to open my eyes. My thoughts kept forming words, but my mouth only produced the cries of a newborn.
Then, a memory surfaced.
Was I reincarnated? It didn't feel like transmigration; that happens into someone else's body.
Maybe regression? But no, that didn't feel right either.
Those fragmented memories at least helped calm me down a little.
I took a deep breath or tried to and focused to open my eyes. Let's see where I am.
The moment I opened them, blinding light flooded my vision. My hands instinctively moved to shield my eyes.
Slowly, as I adjusted, I looked up, tiny baby-like hands greeted me.
Reality finally set in.
I really did reincarnate... or maybe regress.
As my eyes shifted as a man's face came into view, golden hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and a mature expression. He was holding me.
Our eyes met, and I felt a strange sensation, as if he was expecting something from me. Like I was a lamp, and he was waiting for a genie to appear.
Before I could think further, all my backlogged memories slammed into my mind like a tidal wave.
Pain exploded in my head, and I cried loudly and painfully, the first cry since being reborn.
After a minute or two, exhaustion took over, and I drifted into sleep.
When I woke again minutes, hours, who knows, I felt more… whole.
The jumble of random words had turned into actual, organized memories.
I lay there quietly, eyes still closed, processing everything.
Once I'd stabilized my thoughts, I finally opened my eyes again.
A beautifully crafted crib surrounded me, figures of birds and animals carved on its sides, polished to perfection. It looked expensive.
A small smile formed in my heart. At least I reincarnated into a rich or royal family.
I looked back up at the ceiling and let my memories play again.
I remembered living in a city… with parents and a sibling.
But I couldn't recall their faces, or even how I interacted with them.
It was an ordinary, happy, and admittedly boring life.
I read novels, manga, manhwa, comics, and watched endless sci-fi and action movies.
So, besides the most important thing, my identity, I remembered almost everything.
Oh yes… I also don't remember how I died.
I lifted my tiny hand, clenched it into the best baby fist I could make, and screamed inwardly:
"Whoever is handling this reincarnation business, you're doing a terrible job! You left out the most important thing, my identity! What should I even call myself? Daniel? Alex? Rambo? Who the hell am I!?"
My voice or rather, my thoughts echoed inside my head, and the silence that followed was worse. For the first time, I truly felt empty.
It wasn't just confusion anymore, I was doubting myself.
What if I wasn't meant to exist here? What if this world had no place for me?
Every story I'd ever read made reincarnation sound exciting; new powers, a new chance but right now, all I felt was loss.
I didn't even know who I was, or who I was supposed to become.
Was I still me? Or just the echoes of someone else, wearing a new life like a mask?
The thought dug deep into me. If I can't remember who I was, then what makes me real?
The word "identity" kept looping in my mind, like a broken record.
I realized that knowing everything else, the words, the logic, even the stories, meant nothing if I couldn't answer one question: Who am I?
After resting my little hands, I focused on my last memory before this impromptu rebirth.
I remembered sitting and reading a novel when a blinding light engulfed me. The next thing I knew, I was in that Schrödinger's box.
So… maybe I died because of the light and ended up here?
Am I the protagonist? The villain? Or just some random extra?
Then, out of habit, I yelled in my mind, "System! Hello, System!"
…Nothing.
No response. No screen. No robotic voice.
I tried again: "Status!"
Still nothing, no ripple in air.
I racked my brain for every possible phrase: "Profile! Personal Info! Player Profile! Arise! Supreme System! Reincarnation System!"
Still no familiar blue screen. No glowing angel. No ethereal voice. Nothing.
Frustration began creeping in, but I stopped myself.
Maybe it just needs a trigger, I thought. Some kind of awakening event. Yeah… that's it. No need to panic yet. Maybe this world isn't like the others I've read about. Maybe it's modern… or something else entirely.
First thing's first, I need to figure out where I am. That golden-haired man seemed to be examining me. Hopefully, they don't realize I'm a reincarnated soul. I should stay cautious and play my role as a normal baby.
Just as I resolved myself, my stomach growled loudly.
Well, I thought, this part won't be hard. I'm already a baby.
So, I did the only thing I could, I started crying and shouting, hoping someone would come feed me.
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[AN: If you read till now, please support the chapters via Powerstones. It is the motivation for new writer like me]