Chương 2: Log-on

??? P.O.V

I died in a fire?

Wait! Let me rephrase that: I died in a fire, and it wasn't my fault?

What a waste.

Especially since death by fire is a horrible thing. Well, that's wrong, at least half wrong since the fire doesn't kill most of the time.

The victims of fire are usually already dead due to suffocating from smoke, sparing them a far worse fate. But if they're unlucky enough not to be killed by smoke, the heat of the flame is enough to cause excruciating torment before death.

Well, since there was a 9:1 chance I was going to die this way, it's better I learned how bad it was, right? It's still worse experiencing it, though.

I'm not really religious, and although I don't really consider myself atheist, being sent to an afterlife would be a welcome surprise. Although I'm definitely going below if that's the case.

Maybe it's just darkness and there's actually no afterlife; "how grim."

But wouldn't that be a welcome surprise.

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'REGISTERING

AVATAR...TRANSFERRING DATA....'

DATA TRANSFER 10% 27% 49%

FAILURE. DATA COMPROMISED

RECONFIGURING 1% 20% 70% 100%

RECONFIGURATION COMPLETE

DATA TRANSFER COMPLETE

WELCOME PH1RE

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Ph1re's P.O.V

'It hurts. Wait! Why does it hurt?'

I try to open my eyes, but the effort is difficult—very difficult, actually. But after succeeding, I find my vision filled with the color green.

My vision eventually settles, and I find myself staring at a lady who appears to be in her late twenties and wearing a nurse's attire. Her hand is placed over me, and she has her eyes closed.

At that exact moment, the agony I felt slowly recedes as a tingling sensation spreads across my body. I feel my burns begin to heal and vitality return to my body.

"Ah! You startled me," exclaims the nurse as she opens her eyes and finds me staring.

I hadn't noticed when she did because of how shocked I was with the current development.

"Is this your first time seeing a spell?" she asks, as she starts to remove the bandages from my body.

"Yeah," I respond, my own voice sounding foreign to me.

"So, how are you feeling?" she asks me, removing the bandages. I gingerly touch my cheek—smooth, flawless skin greets my fingertips. No more painful burns.

"I feel great, actually. What happened to me?" I decide to ask.

"You were in an accident, you're lucky to be alive. Honestly, someone needs to get rid of those bandits"

"Bandits?" I inquired as the situation was starting to make sense–or not make sense depending on how you perceive it.

Although, It doesn't take a genius to connect bandits and magic to figure out my current situation.

"You don't recall?"

"Yes. I would really appreciate it if you could tell me. Who am I?"

My question seemed to cause her to be rooted to the spot in shock.

"Damnit! It's never that easy"

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I honestly don't understand what's happening, one moment I die in a fire then the next I wake up covered head to toe in bandages and suffering from burns.

I would have believed that I survived the fire if it wasn't for the hospital I was currently in, it looked quite rudimentary when compared to modern day hospitals.

And there's also the fact that I'm currently in the body of a nine year old, so there's that.

"There's no doubt about it, I've been reincarnated" I stated as I stared at myself in the mirror that was provided to me analyzing my new face.

I had full orange hair and amber eyes, I was quite handsome in this new world. Or is everyone just this good looking and I'm average once again.

I slammed back into the bed as I started to think through my current situation, "I've been reincarnated, into another world. A dangerous one considering a nine year old died so violently, this isn't even a case of can I get back. I'm dead in my world, my life is over"

"Damnit!" he screamed as he began to tear up a little, he eventually calmed down and took a few breaths.

"Okay, it's all right. Don't be sad that it's over, be glad it happened.... Yeah! That's BS, how am I not meant to be angry" he accepted.

"Onto other matters, I have no memories about the original owner of the body so it's going to get awkward later. Clearly, no one can find out I'm someone else so amnesia it is. Either they don't believe me and I'm locked up, or they believe me and I'm locked up"

I was in the middle of talking to myself when someone walked in. Looking to the door it appeared to be a man.

As I observed him I could only describe him in one word; "professional". From his clothing that looked freshly ironed to his meticulously groomed hair everything was neat about him, the way he also stepped up to me basically screamed elegant. It was borderline intimidating.

"Loid Herrett, I presume?" he inquired, his voice clipped and formal.

Before I could stammer out a response, seriously this dude was far too intimidating. The nurse walked in;

"That's him Mr. Thorne, but I'm afraid he's lost his memories due to the accident"

Yeah! I told the nurse I didn't have any memories. I just got out of some accident so it seemed like the best course of action, believable and convenient.

The man in front of me raised an eyebrow, "No recollection, of anything?"

I shook my head slowly, "No sir"

Sighing he continued, "I see, that complicates things a bit. My name is Gideon Thorne, I was the lawyer to your parents. Do you remember them?*

"No" I responded shaking my head.

"Well, it pains me to say that your parents perished due to the bandit attacks. It would appear that even the adventurers they hired perished as well" he said solemnly.

Despite not having any memories of these parents my body seemed to react as I felt a sharp pain in my chest. It was brief but still it wasn't negligible.

"And to makes matters worse you do not have any living relatives" he added with a pensive attitude.

"So...orphanage?" I whispered to myself.

"By law you'll be placed in an orphanage until you are of age. I have already contacted one but I deemed it necessary to inform you myself" he finally added.

"Mr. Thorne," the nurse interjected, "perhaps we could give him some time to adjust before…"

"I understand your concern," he interrupted her gently, "but the orphanage has already been notified. The sooner Loid settles in, the better."

He gave me a curt nod and turned to leave. "Rest well, I'll visit again soon. Hopefully you're feeling better by then" With that, he exited the room, leaving a suffocating silence in his wake.

"Honestly, some people just don't know how to talk to children" said the nurse with a sigh.

"Don't worry. The orphanage isn't so bad, they have kind people there and you'll make new friends" she said turning to me with a smile on her face.

I decided to return a smile back and then slowly collapsed on the bed.

'I'm an orphan...again"

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PH1RE'S P.O.V

I took a bite from one of the cookies that the nurse gave me before my departure, that woman should be taken by now with how amazing she was. Are guys blind?

Anyway, the cookie served as a distraction for the awkward atmosphere in the carriage right now. Across from me sat Gideon and to say this man didn't give a fuck would be incredibly accurate.

I was half in awe and half intimidated by him and he wasn't even doing anything, just sitting down and watching me.

"Ouch!" I said as I moved around, it hurt sitting for this long. I think my ADHD is acting up now that I'm 9 years old again.

"Are you okay" asked Gideon as his eyes made contact with mine.

"Yes sir, I'm fine" I responded finally getting into a proper sitting position.

'why did I say "sir"'

"Bear with it a little longer, we'll be there soon" he added after noticing my discomfort.

"Yes sir"

'I did it again. WHY'

It didn't take long for awkward silence to commence once more and as choking as it was for me, he didn't seem to notice. Before long it got too much for me so I decided to say something.

"So, you were my parents' lawyer"

"Yes" he replied matter of factly.

"I've been meaning to ask" I said getting his attention, "since I don't remember them and all. What were they like"

"Oh! Your parents were Merchants, moderately successful ones too. They were on a trip to another capital when the accident happened, if you're worried about your inheritance i can assure you that–"

"I just want to know what they were like as people" I quickly interjected.

"Oh! Well, they were great people. Incredible actually" he said as a fond smile came over his face.

"How so?"

"When I started my practice no one would accept that a beastkin could be a successful lawyer. We're just mindless, uncivilized animals who have no idea how to handle things such as law"

"You're a beastkin" I asked to which he parted his dark hair to the side showing two dark horns.

"You remember what those are?"

"It rung a bell. You were saying something" I reminded him trying to divert his attention.

"Anyway, despite knowing that. Your parents still hired me based off my qualifications, I was so happy. They were my first clients, I became so indebted to them that no matter how much my clientele list rose in number, wealth and power I always put them first. Above and beyond, they were more than just business to me" he said as a sad smile appeared on his face.

"Even though they're gone," he continued, his eyes locking with mine, "I'm hoping I can at least do something for their son."

I decided to drop the questions, I had already gotten enough.

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PH1RE'S P.O.V

We dropped out of the carriage and walked through the orphanage, numerous kids filled the halls of the building all looking at me and some pointing. Honestly, no one can make you as self conscious as little kids.

"Welcome" said a woman wearing nun attire; "We've been expecting you" she continued to address us with a smile.

'I won't lie it's kind of creepy but thankfully she's really pretty so that reduces the creep factor'

"What's your name dear?" she asked, kneeling down to my eye level.

"Loid" I responded after a while.

"It's nice to meet you, Loid," she chirped, offering a piece of candy.

"He's already had his fill with cookies" interrupted Gideon causing the nun to pout.

"Candy goes to a different part of the stomach though" I said as I took the candy causing her to giggle at my antics.

"Where is the headmistress" asked Gideon after a sigh.

"In her office, let's go there" she said extending her hand for me to take.

I took it and she brought us to a door; "Give me a moment" he said before entering the door.

The door clicked shut behind Gideon, leaving me standing awkwardly with the ever–smiling nun. I shuffled my feet, unsure what to say. The orphanage seemed lively, with muffled sounds of children playing filtering through the walls. The orphanage staff also moved around occasionally, giving a quick bow to the nun beside me before passing by.

After a little while Gideon emerged from the room; "You're all set" he announced as he turned to the nun, "Thank you for your time, sister.....forgive me I didn't get your name"

"Claire, sister Claire" she replied with a warm smile.

"Very well. It was a pleasure Sister Claire" he said, already turning to leave. "Loid." He paused, his gaze finding me. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a pen and a small piece of paper.

"Here," he said, handing it to me. It was a note with his information neatly written on it. "Write to me if you need anything. And," he paused, a hint of something uncharacteristic flickering across his face, "when you turn fifteen, make your way to the capital."

"See you later, then, I suppose." He turned once more, waving goodbye as he slowly disappeared down the hallway.

He paused for a moment, as if reconsidering something, then turned back to me. His expression softened slightly. "Take care of yourself, Loid." And with that, he was gone.

"No promises"