"Am I dead?"
That was the question that popped up in Simon's mind as he found himself floating in the middle of black empty space. There was nothing to see other than darkness itself. He couldn't even feel his limbs or any part of his body.
Is this hell?
Another question popped up in his head. No this wasn't hell according to the references he had read. There's no pits of fire where the souls roared in anguish. This is also not a heaven either as certainly it's not dark there.
So where was he? Is this the end of life? To be floating in the middle of darkness?
As he was questioning the philosophy of death, he heard a sound.
"Brother!"
"Brother?" he repeated the words he had heard. It came from a woman and based on the tone, it seemed to be in her teens.
"Brother, wake up!"
"What's happening?" Simon questioned himself in his thoughts. Where are those voices coming from?
Then, he could feel himself being tugged upward by an invisible force. It took ten seconds and…
"Brother!"
He saw a bright blue sky with beautiful cloud formations. And someone blocked the view.
"Brother! Are you okay! Say something please!"
She was in her teens with long lustrous black hair cascading down to his face with the ends of it tickling his cheeks. She has a charming face with round lips and a straight nose.
But why was she calling him a brother? Has she mistaken him for another person? As far as he knows, he doesn't have a sibling.
But as he looked around, he noticed that there were people around inquisitive looking at them with concern. And also he noticed the road, it wasn't asphalt but brick road. There was also a wooden carriage, one that is often seen in historical drama. Wait…what is this?
He jolted his upper body upright, causing the girl that had been calling him brother ever since to collapse on her haunches. The people's appearance looked odd, their outfits were outdated like medieval ages and the housing as well look antiquated.
Where was he?
And to add more to the confusion, an holographic interface appeared before his eyes.
[Good day Mr. Simon Riley! What do you want to know today?]
Is that Jarvis?
[Yes, I'm Jarvis. Your personal chatbot and assistant! If you want to know something, all you have to do is formulate the question in your mind.]
"Brother..?"
His attention returned to the girl. She's so persistent, he doesn't even know her…wait, he knows her.
Her name was Anna Riley, his doting little sister. Though it was from a memory he didn't know existed. And little by little, the strange situation was starting to make sense.
It seems that he had mysteriously reincarnated inside the body of Simon Riley, conveniently of the same name, in a world filled with…magic and fantasy creatures…the world's name is Altrea, and the country they are in is called Lagendia, specifically, in its capital city Haven.
Perhaps this is his second chance? If so, how come Jarvis was with him? Shouldn't it be left in his original body? Somehow he still has it and it is functioning.
He looked at the face of Anna, his supposed little sister in this new life of his. Her eyes were filled with tears. Maybe it's time that he acknowledged her existence.
"I'm fine…what happened?" Simon asked.
Hearing those words, Anna's eyes lit up with relief.
"Thank the heavens you are fine brother," she said softly and then her tone took a sudden turn. "That stupid driver! He was going too fast! Everyone told him to slow down because the road is crowded today, but he wouldn't listen!"
"He swerved around that cart—" she gestured at a vegetable cart that had been pushed aside, cabbages scattered "—and the wheel slipped on the edge of the bricks!"
Simon's gaze shifted.
"You were walking beside me," Anna continued, her voice rising in frustration. "And then the carriage turned suddenly. You pushed me out of the way, but—"
She pressed her hands against his forehead gently.
"It hit you here! Right here!"
Simon touched his forehead.
There was dried blood near his hairline.
"Loss of consciousness duration?" he asked quietly.
Anna blinked. "W-What?"
"How long was I out?"
She sniffed, trying to compose herself. "A few minutes… maybe five? You weren't moving. I thought—" Her lips trembled slightly before she huffed. "I thought you were dead, idiot."
"I'm fine," Simon said evenly.
Anna narrowed her eyes at him.
"You're not fine! You just flew like a sack of potatoes and hit the ground! That driver should pay for your medical expenses!"
Before he could even reply again, Anna snapped.
"Hey you driver! How dare you hit my brother like that!" Anna shouted, scrambling to her feet.
She marched toward the carriage, fists clenched, but one of the bystanders quickly stepped in front of her.
"Calm down, young miss—"
"Don't tell me to calm down!" she snapped, pointing an accusing finger at the red-faced driver. "You were speeding like you owned the road! If my brother didn't push me, I would've been the one lying there!"
The driver scowled. "The wheel slipped—"
"Because you were going too fast!" Anna cut in sharply. "This isn't the noble district! People actually walk here!"
Simon pushed himself to his feet, there was a momentary lapse in his balance but he regained it seconds after.
Anna immediately rushed back to his side.
"Why are you standing up?!" she demanded, grabbing his arm. "Sit down! What if you faint again? Do you want to scare me to death twice in one day?"
"I'm fine," Simon repeated.
She glared at him.
"You always say that! You said that when you burned your hand last winter too! And then you couldn't even hold a spoon properly!"
Her grip tightened slightly on his sleeve.
"You're terrible at taking care of yourself. If I don't watch you, you'll probably walk into a river next."
It seems that Anna loved his brother very much. He's fine now but he can't be too certain. It had hit his head and what if there was internal bleeding? That would be the end of his life.
"Driver!" Anna shouted again. "At least pay us so that I can take my brother to the hospital! And a travel expense too! It's your fault!"
"I will… I will…" the driver muttered, clearly intimidated by the growing crowd.
A city guard stepped between them, hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"That's enough shouting. You," he pointed at the driver, "reckless driving within the market district carries a fine. You will compensate the injured party."
Anna folded her arms, chin lifted.
"And don't think a few copper coins will fix this! My brother hit his head! What if he forgets how to read? Or worse, forgets me?"
Simon blinked.
"I'm not going to forget you."
"You don't know that!" she shot back. "You were unconscious! Your eyes were closed and you weren't breathing properly!"
Simon focused inward.
"Jarvis, scan cranial region."
A faint warmth spread behind his eyes as the Retina engaged low-energy surface mapping.
[ Scalp laceration superficial.]
[ Hematoma localized.]
[ No palpable skull depression.]
[ No neurological deficit detected in motor coordination or speech pattern.]
He flexed his fingers deliberately.
"Any risk of epidural or subdural bleeding?" he asked internally.
[Based on observable indicators: low probability.]
[No anisocoria detected.]
[No focal neurological impairment.]
[Continue monitoring for nausea, vomiting, severe headache, confusion.]
Good.
He looked at Anna, who was still glaring at the driver like she was ready to bite him.
The guard cleared his throat.
"Young miss, the driver has agreed to pay. Let us handle the rest."
Anna huffed but stepped back.
"Make sure you do," she muttered.
The driver pulled out a small leather pouch and counted coins with trembling fingers. He handed them to the guard, who then passed them to Anna.
She took the coins, inspected them briefly, then looked at Simon.
"This should cover the hospital," she said firmly. "And if it doesn't, I'll come back for more."
Simon almost smiled.
She's fierce too.