A Song of Flesh and Blood

He felt like he was floating—drifting in an endless sea, weightless and unbound. The sensation was strangely calming, yet something about it felt... wrong.

He couldn't see. He couldn't move. But he could feel the slow, rhythmic pull of an invisible current.

Then, without warning—

A sharp inhale.

His eyes flew open.

The weightlessness was gone, replaced by the rough, unsteady rise and fall of his own breath. His body felt different—lighter, unfamiliar. The scent of aged wood filled his nose as he pushed himself upright. Beneath him was a large wooden bed, its frame made up of strong black . A thin, soft blanket was draped over him, barely offering any warmth. The mattress beneath him was soft, pressing comfortably against his back.

This wasn't his bed. This wasn't his room.

And as his hands trembled against the coarse fabric of the blanket, a chilling realization crept over him—

This wasn't his body.

He had no time to make sense of the situation before a sudden, searing pain exploded in his skull.

It was agony.

Thousands of hammers pounded against his mind. His head felt like it was splitting apart. A flood of fragmented images, voices, and scenarios crashed over him like a merciless tide.

Memories.

But not his.

"What... is this...?" he rasped, his voice hoarse.

Scattered among the chaos, a name surfaced—repeated, called out by voices he didn't recognize.

Fray Nightshade.

The pain gradually dulled, leaving him gasping for breath. His mind still throbbed, but at least he could think.

Who was he?

His name was—

Oswin Durnvale. A 25-year-old fast-food worker.

But that life... that identity... felt like a distant dream now.

As he gathered himself, he took in his surroundings. The room was small and wooden, dimly lit by the faint glow of the night sky. A simple desk sat beside his bed, littered with books and scattered pages. A nearby bookshelf held a few more books, their spines worn.

Oswin pushed himself to his feet, feeling the unfamiliar strength in his new limbs. This body—Fray's body—was tall, maybe around 5'11?, strong, well-built, He had no way of knowing what he looked like or how tall he actually was.

 There were no mirrors in sight.

Stepping to the window, he peered outside.

The sky was breathtaking. Countless stars twinkled against the vast darkness. But what truly made his breath hitch—

Two moons.

Irregularly shaped, hanging in the night like silent sentinels.

Oswin let out a dry laugh. "So I really transmigrated... just like those cheap Chinese novel protagonists." He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Fuck it... What now?"

Oswin laid down on the bed, pulled the blanket on his body and tried to decipher the memories of the body he was in.

Oswin decoded the memories and found out a lot of information

First of all the body of the person He was currently Inhabiting was called Fray Nightshade

A 20 year old studying to pass the National Talent Test and get a chance to become a Government employee.

Fray also got a specially abled younger sister called Aria Nightshade, Fray seems to love Aria very much. He doted on her, pampered her and spoiled with anything she wanted.

This world he was in also like his old world was surprisingly called…Earth!

Fray's mother died while giving birth to Aria and His father died few months back,

As for how he died Oswin did not, The memories were not complete.

Fray currently was living with his mute sister, he had some money he inherited from his late father, just enough for the siblings to continue living comfortably for years to come without any worry.

Frey's father was a money lender and lended people money at high interest and had quite a bit of fortune. After his father died Fray continued the money lending work beside studying. Oswin did not know much about the world as the memories did not provide enough information, but that was a task for his future self, right now Oswin was more focused on resting than anything else.

With no immediate answers, he flopped back onto the bed, pulling the thin blanket over himself. Right now, rest was his priority. His head still ached, and tomorrow would bring its own battles.

As he drifted into sleep, the remnants of Fray's memories whispered in his mind.

—

Morning came with a faint pounding on the table.

Oswin stirred, blinking groggily. A low grumbling sound followed. He turned his head—

A young girl stood beside his bed, arms crossed, pouting.

She had lush brunette hair tied in a bun, a round face with a flat nose, and a well-defined jawline still carrying traces of baby fat. She wore a light pink dress under a gray apron, Aria was tall for her age nearly reaching Fray's shoulder 

Something inside him... recognized her.

Aria Nightshade.

Fray's younger sister. His mute younger sister.

A sudden wave of emotion struck him—a fierce, protective instinct unlike anything he'd felt before. Was this the lingering attachment of Fray's soul? Or just his own morals bleeding into this new life?

It didn't matter.

Aria knocked on the door and gestured impatiently, urging him to follow.

Oswin, somehow understanding her silent instructions, got up and followed her to the kitchen. She pointed at a cabinet—her expression firm.

He pulled it open.

A slow sigh escaped his lips.

"Well... shit."

Oswin paused for a moment and continued "Seems like we are nearly out for rations. Do you want me to go out and buy more?"

Aria furiously nodded her head.

Oswin hesitantly asked "Do you want to come with me if you need something?"

Aria visibly stunned looked at Oswin and gave him a glaring look as if asking

"Are you serious, is this a joke?" and stormed off to somewhere in the house.

Oswin not understanding what wrong was left speechless 

He looked at the pantry and formulated the grocery list

He gargalled with water as there was no toothpaste got dressed took some money from the safe

One upside of the angushing memory pore of last night was that Oswin got the knowledge of the value of currency in this world and the Identities of a few people close to the Nightshade family.

Oswin set out and looked at his house it was a strong early Edwardian era style brick house with wooden floors and walls inside, Only the Upper middle class people in this world could afford to own fully, consequently it was his Upper middle class status which allowed the original Fray to study as education was a Luxury in the world and only somewhat rich could afford it.

His house was located in the part of the city where the rich lived.

Oswin walked for a bit and entered the Market district.

Oswin was looking around the market. The Architecture and Culture of the people was similar to the Edwardian era of England, with both petrol operated automobile and horse drawn carriages roaming the streets

Oswin was looking around When a middle aged fat man with a large nose and short blonde hair approached him.

"Hey Fray Looking for something"

This person's name he did not know, but he knew the person. This was one of his father's friends… a drinking buddy of some shorts, Not like Oswin cared.

Oswin remained Silent he did not like this person, it seems like the original Fray did not like him too the reason was unknown.

But the next words The man sprouted made it clear why Fray did not like this man.

"Fray you are a hard working man, you will take the National Talent Exam and be elevated to a whole new Status. So why don't you get rid of the parasite you still call sister. She does nothing of value to you and even feeds on your fortune."

Fray remained silent but a bud of hate and anger grew in his soul.

The man continued

"You should sell her as a slave, That thing is still beautiful she will fletch quite the price on slave market you will earn some money as well, Still don't know why you like your old man still pamper that thing. You and your Old man are Educated people you all should know better. Heck even I would purchase that thing"

The bud of hate and anger grew into disgust and hate.

The man was about to say more when a Fist met with his mouth.

The fist belonged to Fay

The man stumbled and fell down Before he could understand the situation a kick landed on his crotch the man after receiving the blow fully laid down on the floor barely conscious.

Oswin did not linger there he walked towards his home filled with disgust, anger and doubt.

Although Aria was not Oswin's sister but she was Fray's sister and thought he only knew her for more than a night, He still loved her as his sister even loving her as much as Fray himself would.

People surrounded the man in the market.

"What happened?"

"It's Fray it seems like this person talked bad about his sister!"

"Ah! Makes sense it's Old Koler's fault for talking bad about Fray's sister in front of that mad man"

"Same old I love my sister, Bullshit!"

"Why does he still call that thing abandoned by spirits, his sister?"