Leon woke up with a splitting headache. He found himself in a fancy bedroom with a large wooden bed. Sunlight was coming in through the window.
The headache got worse, and new memories flooded his mind. He was now Leon Valerius, a sixteen-year-old boy who somehow had a fragment of his own original soul.
His family was a powerful branch of the Valerius household, which ruled the town of Ashyn, a small town in the kingdom of Aeridor. The town was known for its timber and rare herbs from the nearby Sunwood Forest; however, there was nothing much besides that.
As Leon recollected the various aspects of the Kingdom of Aeridor based on his predecessor's experiences, it felt strangely familiar.
It was a world brimming with magic, much like the one he was born into originally. People with magical talent were the ruling class, while those without were commoners. The cities were bustling with not just humans, but also dwarves who were skilled craftsmen and the occasional, elegant elf who kept to themselves. It was a world of possibilities and wonder, a painful reminder of the life he almost had with Vanessa, full of youthful dreams before they were shattered by the Mana-Seeker Crystal.
His grandfather, Lord Therion Valerius, was the head of the family. He was a stern but respected man. His oldest son, Marcus, was the heir and a powerful light mage with a bright future. Marcus's wife, Isolde, came from another powerful family, and their son, Damian, was already a famous student at the Royal Academy.
Leon's own family was not as successful. His father, Godric, was the second son. He was a good administrator but didn't have much magical talent, so he was always overshadowed by his older brother. His mother, Gracia, came from a less important noble family and was often looked down on by her sister-in-law, Isolde.
His situation made things even worse for his parents. The original Leon had recently been tested for magic, and the results were terrible. The kingdom valued Light, Water, and Earth magic, but Leon had a weak connection to Dark Magic. This was considered taboo and was associated with heretics and demons. The shock from the result made the original Leon faint, which was when the MC took over his body.
As he was thinking about his bad situation, a robotic voice spoke directly inside his head.
[System Integration Commencing… 10%... 50%... 100%.] [Necromancer's Redemption System successfully integrated.]
[Welcome, Host.]
Leon was startled, but after his recent conversation with cosmic beings, a voice in his head was hardly surprising. "What are you?" he thought, directing the question inward.
[Welcome to the Necromancer's Redemption System,] the voice replied flatly.
[This system has been assigned to you by the Overseers to guide your new life.]
"Guide me? To what end?"
[My purpose is to provide you with a path to achieve your ultimate goal: finding the soul of your master.]
The system's words were like a bolt of lightning, immediately striking a nerve.. The apathy he had nurtured for millennia vanished in an instant, replaced by a burning hope.
"Really?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion. "You're not lying? What can I do? Tell me how I can get to her!"
[ Of course, that is the reason for my existence. All you have to do is complete the missions given by the system, and soon, you should be able to find your master.]
"Huh? Missions? You mean like quests that are issued to adventurers?"Leopn asked.
[Correct. There are two types. First, General Missions. These are tasks that will appear in your daily life. Completing them earns you Necromancy Points, or NP.]
"Necromancy Points?" Leon queried. "What are they for?"
[NP is the currency required to fuel your necromancy spells and, more importantly, to unlock the second mission type: Requiem Missions.]
"Requiem Missions?" The name sounded fittingly somber.
[Correct. These are special quests centered around raising the souls of the departed who died with regrets. You must help them fulfill their final wishes. Completing these missions will yield special rewards and, crucially, clues that will lead you closer to the soul you seek.]
"And my own power? My cultivation?"
[Your Divine Titan Body Sutra is currently at the peak of Level 1. Its growth is now tied directly to your progress as a necromancer and cannot be trained independently. Your Sutra level will always be one level higher than your Necromancy Level. To grow stronger, you must embrace this path.]
As the system finished, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes, summarizing his new reality.
[Necromancer's Redemption System]
Host: Leon Valerius
Necromancy Level: 0
Divine Titan Body Sutra: Level 1 (Peak)
Necromancy Points (NP): 0
Missions Available: None
Leon looked at the screen. The Overseers had been serious. His new life was now tied to this system. He looked at the Divine Titan Body Sutra. It was at Level 1. In his past life, it took him ten years of hard training to reach this level. He tried to figure out how strong that was in this new world.
This kingdom ranked its mages from Apprentice to the legendary Grand Magus. Based on the body's memories, Leon knew his current strength at Level 1 was enough to easily beat any Magus, maybe even with a single flick. A Grand Magus would be a much harder fight.
He was much weaker than before, but it did not matter. As long as he had a chance to meet the person whom he yearned to see again, that was enough.
So this is my new goal, he thought, feeling determined again. I have to raise the dead, grant their wishes, and find my master. Sounds simple.
While he was thinking, the door opened. A woman with worried eyes and honey-colored hair walked in. It was his new mother, Gracia.
"Leon! You're awake!" she said, rushing to his bed. She looked relieved and put a hand on his forehead. "Thank goodness. You've been out for a full day. How do you feel?"
Her concern felt real. He hadn't felt anything like it for thousands of years.
"I'm fine, Mother," Leon said. The word 'Mother' felt strange but also familiar. "Just tired."
"Aww. Give mother a hug." His mother, happy that her son had recovered, wrapped her hands around Leon, taking him in for a bear hug.
As Leon hugged his mother, he felt warm and slightly happy. It was a feeling that he had never felt in a long time, something which he wanted to experience and protect forever.
This time, I will live a much better life. No one would be able to take things away from me that I want to protect.