Asher, trapped within Prince Xander's frail form, lay still, focusing solely on the System's initial, rudimentary quest. "Maintain stable vital signs. Avoid immediate re-expiration." It was almost mocking in its simplicity, yet his new body was a stranger, a battlefield of weakness.
Every shallow breath was a conscious effort, every beat of his heart a testament to sheer willpower. He pushed against the lingering lethargy, the distant echo of poison still humming in his veins. The image of his younger sibling, so vivid and heartbreaking, burned behind his eyes, a silent, furious vow that he would not fail again.
His gaze drifted from the floating System screen to the opulence around him. Tapestries depicting mythical beasts, heavy drapes of deep crimson and gold, carved wooden furniture that seemed too large, too grand for such a tiny, sickly prince. This wasn't the stark, practical world of his past life. This was a gilded cage, and he was its weakest occupant.
A soft click at the door. Asher stiffened, his S-Rank strategist's mind instantly on high alert. The maid from yesterday, Elara, entered, her movements quiet, almost deferential. She carried a tray with a small, unappetizing bowl of broth and a glass of water. Her face was plain, her eyes a dull grey that betrayed little emotion. No immediate threat, but no warmth either.
"Good morning, Your Highness," she murmured, her voice flat. She set the tray on a small table beside the bed, her back briefly turned.
Asher's Temporal Foresight, still a chaotic mess of flickering images, surged. A jumble of blurry movements, a glint of metal, a fleeting vision of the maid's hand making a subtle gesture towards the glass of water. It was too fast, too indistinct to pinpoint anything, but the feeling was undeniable: danger.
He forced a weak smile, a foreign gesture on Xander's lips. "Good morning. Thank you. I… I feel a little stronger today." He infused his voice with Xander's usual soft, meek tone, though the effort strained his throat.
Elara paused, her back still to him. He saw her shoulders tense, almost imperceptibly. Then, she turned, her expression unchanged. "That is good to hear, Your Highness." Her eyes flickered to the broth, then to the water.
She's watching, Asher concluded, suppressing the urge to react. He knew a direct refusal would only raise suspicion. He had to play this carefully.
"Could… could you perhaps open the window?" Asher asked, forcing a cough. "The air feels rather stale this morning." It was a simple request, a common complaint from the sickly Xander. But it was also a test, and a distraction.
Elara hesitated for a fraction longer than necessary. Then, she dipped her head. "Of course, Your Highness." She moved to a tall, arched window, unfastening the latch. The morning light, filtered through ancient stained glass, immediately brightened the room, chasing away some of the shadows.
While her back was turned, Asher's eyes darted to the tray. The broth looked innocuous. The water, clear. But the Foresight had focused on the water. He needed a closer look. He carefully, painstakingly, slid his hand under the blanket, feeling for the small, ornate goblet. His fingers trembled as he touched its cold surface.
A flash from the System:
QUEST ALERT!
QUEST: IDENTIFY MINOR TOXIN
OBJECTIVE: Confirm presence and nature of the immediate threat in consumable.
REWARD: 20 XP, +1 Foresight Clarity.
Confirm presence and nature, Asher mused. How? He had no equipment. No tools. Then, another flicker, this time not a vision, but a prompt from the System, appearing near the bottom of his visual field:
PERSONAL DIMENSION ACCESS: AVAILABLE
HINT: TOUCH THE INTERFACE TO OPEN.
Asher's eyes widened slightly. The icon he'd seen earlier. He stretched his finger, painstakingly slow, and touched the translucent icon floating mid-air. It felt strangely solid, almost like cool glass.
With a soft, almost inaudible shimmer, a small, dark void, no larger than his fist, materialized a few inches from his palm. It was a perfect sphere of absolute blackness, absorbing all light, utterly silent. It was chilling, yet fascinating. This is it, he realized. The Pocket Dimension.
He slowly, carefully, extended his fingers towards the goblet of water. His hand still trembled, but his mind was sharp, focused. He dipped the tip of his forefinger into the water, just for a moment, then pulled it back out. The System, without him having to activate anything, immediately registered the action.
Another System notification, almost instant:
PRIMARY ACTION: WATER SAMPLE TAKEN.
ANALYZING…
The black sphere of his Pocket Dimension pulsed faintly. He quickly withdrew his hand as Elara turned from the window.
"The air is much fresher, Your Highness," she said, her voice still flat.
"Yes, thank you, Elara," Asher replied, gleaning her name from the name placard on her chest, forcing another weak smile.
"I believe I will rest a little longer." He subtly moved the goblet of water just out of reach, pushing it closer to the edge of the tray.
Elara's gaze lingered on the goblet for a moment, a barely perceptible tightening around her eyes, then she simply nodded. "As Your Highness wishes. I will return at noon with your next meal." She curtsied and exited, the door clicking softly shut behind her.
As soon as the door closed, Asher gasped, the facade of languor dropping instantly. The tension had been immense. He was still incredibly weak; the act of simply sitting up and conversing for a few minutes had drained him. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
He forced his trembling hand to touch the System interface again. The black sphere reappeared.
ANALYSIS COMPLETE.
TOXIN DETECTED: Aconite (Monkshood) - Low Dosage.
EFFECTS: Gradual weakening of vital organs, muscle atrophy, neurological suppression. Designed for prolonged, non-lethal debilitation.
Asher read the report, a cold certainty settling in his gut. Aconite. A slow-acting, insidious poison. Not meant to kill him quickly, but to keep him permanently frail, sickly, and "Rankless." It was horrifying in its precision, its patience. This wasn't some random illness. This was premeditated.
And his Temporal Foresight suddenly flashed with a clearer, undeniable vision: A tall, commanding figure, standing over Xander's bed, holding a small, ornate vial, a chilling smirk on his face. The vision faded, leaving Asher with a cold, righteous fury. His own death was quick, brutal, but this… this slow, torturous decay. This was worse.
QUEST COMPLETE!
QUEST: IDENTIFY MINOR TOXIN
REWARD: 20 XP, +1 Foresight Clarity.
TOTAL XP: 30
The System, oblivious to his simmering rage, continued its mechanical prompts.
NEW QUEST ALERT!
QUEST: AVOID IMMEDIATE RE-POISONING
OBJECTIVE: Ensure no further toxic intake for 24 hours. (Current progress: 0/24)
REWARD: 50 XP, +1 Resilience.
Asher let out a slow, controlled breath. He had been so focused on the poisoning, on his survival, that he hadn't noticed his original quest: "Survive the First Hour."
He checked the Status Screen again.
QUEST COMPLETE!
QUEST: SURVIVE THE FIRST HOUR
REWARD: 10 XP
He gritted his teeth. So, two quests completed. He had 30 XP now. He still felt weak, but the knowledge ignited a spark of hope. This System wasn't just a guide; it was a tool. A weapon. He was no longer just a dying prince. He was a strategist with a plan.
He looked at the goblet of tainted water, then at the System screen. This was a game, a deadly one. And he intended to win. Not just for his own survival, but for the life he'd lost, for the sibling he left behind. The first step was to deal with the immediate threat. He knew he couldn't leave the poisoned water. It was evidence, and it couldn't be found.
He reached for the goblet again. With a flash of insight, he touched the System's "Personal Dimension Access" icon again, the black sphere reappearing. With careful hands, he tipped the goblet. The poisoned water poured into the void, vanishing without a ripple.
The goblet was empty. Clean.
Asher took a deep, steadying breath. "Alright, System," he murmured, a faint, determined glint in Xander's weary eyes. "Let's play."