The Hero Awakens!

“Oh!”

Without warning Mathias was shoved off the bed and flopped onto the floor with a startled shout, though the exclamation of “oh” was not his. I lied on my back shuddering and bleeding. A stinging sensation ripped through my lower region and reverberated into my mind, as one thing broke so did another. My chest pounded and my head throbbed.

A torrent of voices and memories poured into my consciousness, it was a maddening torrent of at once both familiar and unfamiliar moments. I couldn’t help but become dizzy at the onslaught. The stinging sensation dulled under the deluge of past and present.

“What’s wrong?!? Did I do something? Are you okay? Oh my god, so much blood!”

I took a deep breath and attempted to bring my attention to my panicking prince.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Calm, please. Calm. I am fine… a lady is told to expect this, but perhaps it would be best to postpone going any further till tomorrow or the day after. I’m suddenly feeling a bit light headed.”

“I’m so sorry, so, so sorry!”

“Mathias! My prince,” I needed the prissy prince to calm down, “As I said, I’m am not in any danger, It would be most helpful at the present if you would fetch Tanjir and tell her bring some warm towels. Would you do that? I promise I am not dying, though you seem to be on the verge keeling over.”

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

“Good.” I gave him a feigned smile and caressed him hand.

“Right.” He returned the smile and rushed out of the room with his pants still halfway to his ankles.

I slid out of bed and approached the mirror on the other side of the room. Swaddling myself and my “wound” by wrapping my sheets around my body.

This once familiar body and room were now somehow foreign to me. In mere seconds my cozy world had been inverted. I had awakened to memories of my past lives. Not just one but six. In each of them I was a hero who pulled himself up from poverty, went on a journey with his chosen companions, and slayed the Demon Lord before dying thereafter. I vaguely remember being taught about these remarkable heroes in my history texts and courses.

If I was truly the reincarnated hero then I would have to leave this place of safety and comfort and embrace the dirt and grime and injuries that pervaded my previous lives.

I approached the mirror and shuddered. In previous lives I would have awakened to my memories and Core Skills at age 5 or 6 and began brutal training. I would endure mockery and mud. I would even be stoned by town bullies in two of my lives. Nobles would scorn me, guild members would ignore me and steal from me, my parents would either disown me or even be dead before my awakening. There was nothing but trauma to look forward to if I took the hero’s path.

I’d made many friends, yes. I had allies, brave traveling companions, and grateful citizens who supported me and cheered me on my way. Now, though, for whatever reason I am so far removed from that path.

I was now 20 years old, married, a woman, and a noble. Not just any noble either, I am a princess: Princess Lumi Sephora Armas of the Armasette Kingdom.

I started at myself in the mirror and at my surroundings. I lived a life of luxury my previous selves could only dream of. Maybe they could have attained something like this if they’d lived through their battle with the Demon Lord but I would die inexplicably once the battle was concluded.

I remember the hovels I used to take shelter in and this room could fit three to four of them inside. I ate using silverware and fine porcelain. My comforter was thicker than any jacket I’d ever owned, and the sheets could have bought and sold my previous selves ten times over. I was obscenely wealthy as a princess should be and extremely beautiful as a princess should be.

Finely spun gold hair weaved past my shoulder and down to the middle of my back, my eyes seemed to glow like a lush green forest at dawn, and my skin was warm ivory. Many people said I looked like my mother, the queen, and I tended to agree, though her skin was much fairer and her hair was the color of an angels robe, even without her iridescent white hair she was always the tallest person in the room.

I truly respected my mother. My father was a bit of a weaker man but he was much kinder to me than any father I’d had before now. I loved both my parents. And I loved that I could look at myself and see them in me.

I’d gotten lost in thought when my maid Tanjir appeared in the doorway opposite the mirror.

“Was it that disappointing?” She asked without any hint of implication or consideration.

“Ha! No, well perhaps. I’m not quite feeling up to it tonight. I realize it’s tradition and I wanted to get it out of the way. Mathias was eager and I had no objections, however I may not have been as ready as I thought.”

Mathias jogged into the room, slightly out of breath, “I tried to… I didn’t… she…” He suddenly looked to his left and noticed the maid he’d been running around the castle attempting to locate.

“We’ll continue some other time Mathias. I hope you don’t think badly of me. I know men are typically fairly gung-ho about these things and rebuke women who hold out. And being royalty-”

“No, I’m not that kind of person, I’d never think badly of you.”

“Good. Will you excuse us then, Mathias?”

“Yes, I, uh, sure” He mumbled as Tanjir shooed him out and closed the door.

“You needed something milady?”

Tanjir was a slave brought to us as a gift from a ruler of country on another continent. My father gratefully accepted then hiked up the import and export tariffs to and from that country. As it turned Tanjir was blessed with a convenient Core Skill. We taught her our language and eventually hired her on as a maid/bodyguard for me.

She stood in front of the door waiting for me to give her orders. She had short dark hair, caramel skin, and striking silver eyes which were a rarity in her home country and here.

“Would you draw me a bath and pick out some more modest sleepwear than was originally planned. I’m going to bed early” I glanced at my bed and remembered the sheet I was wearing, “Get a change of sheets as well.”

“Very well. Anything else?”

My mind was turning. There was much that needed to be done. I was not planning on dying this time around. I wanted to protect this lifestyle and the people and palace I called home. I would not be a hero this time around. The Demon Lord was still an impending threat that would eventually find it’s way here if nothing was done.

Someone would have to face him and die in my place.

“Actually, I’m thinking of going on a day trip tomorrow.”

“To where?”

“I’ll know when I get there.”

“And for what purpose, may I ask?”

A mischievous smile perched itself on my lips, “I’m going hero hunting.”

END CHAPTER ONE