Reaper's Resurgence: A System Reset

Alexia Knight

Ten years ago

A loud smacking sound echoes in the hallway of the orphanage as Astrid is sent flying into the wall.

"Astrid!" I scream, only for the orphanage director, a fat man in his late sixties, to turn his anger on me instead.

He walks up to me before grabbing me by the throat and lifting me into the air, showcasing his enhanced strength despite his level being low for his age, "You will learn to keep your mouth shut when a noble is here, got it? Otherwise you'll both be sent to the-"

"Sent where, exactly?" a calm voice asks, their even but dangerous sounding tone filling the hallway as I feel the director's grip on my throat immediately slacken, making me fall to the ground in a coughing fit before I rush over to Astrid and pivot her behind me, putting me in-between her and the director.

When I quickly look to the entrance of the hallway, I find a man who is most likely a noble considering his clothes standing there in full magical armor, a cold look plastered on his young looking face.

"Oh, to the laundromats, of course! It's a common punishment here for breaking the house rules, needing to go there to help out in washing everyone's clothes," the director lies while visibly shaking slightly before he turns to me with a sickening smile on his face and adds, "Right, girls?"

The most-likely-noble turns to me, his gaze softening. And right when I'm wondering if I should lie or not, just like the director, a kind and gentle voice enters my head, clearly not having been spoken out loud, "It's alright, little one. Just speak the truth. I can get you out of here."

My eyes widen at that, and I quickly look at Astrid to find her looking frightened between the two men while hiding behind me. Then I look between the two adults and come to a decision.

"He's lying," I state plainly and simply, the director's eyes widening in shock at my words before I even finish, "he always sends the kids who interfere in any way with his-"

I feel a large pain bloom on my face as my head is send flying towards the wall before I hit it, making the pain grow even worse.

"Insolent-" the director shouts, but everything feels fuzzy as I try to pick myself up off the ground, only for Astrid to help me and pull me away. Then I look up to find why the director had cut off.

The most-likely-noble is holding him in the air by his throat.

I fight through the dizziness I'm feeling to hear their words, "By my order, the Knight of the Crimson Score, I sentence you to death for illegal child trafficking and abuse of children with B or higher mana affinities."

Both my and the director's eyes widen in shock at that, but the dizziness is growing stronger, and soon enough everything goes dark.

Alexia Knight

The present

My eyes shoot open as I quickly move forwards into a sitting position before looking around at my surroundings, only sighing in relief after finding that I'm alone in the hidden area.

Good. At least that's still the same.

Nothing else can enter a hidden area when someone is inside.

Despite that relief, I can't help but frown as I lie back down on the ground.

That dream… it was when Astrid and I first met gramps. But why am I dreaming about it now?

Actually, for that matter, how long was I out cold?

I stare up at the ceiling for a few seconds before opening my status.