Chapter 005: System, Shapeshifting and Palace Recruitment

Her wish had been granted, her whole being shifted and molded. Preserved within the fortress of her room, she'd remained a N.E.E.T., never venturing beyond her flat-screened world. Now, she was the walking, breathing embodiment of her wishes. Her metamorphosed form was now that of an enchanting beauty, set apart by unrivaled strength, and she was prepared to step back into the world and its ever-spinning narratives. Lumina, the gamer turned goddess, was now ready for what life had in store.

Resuming control over her body, Lumina unsummoned her soul-borne treasure, the relics which granted her this inordinate power. Her mind centered on the life of a tragic seven-year-old princess whose emperor father, deposed and executed, left her alone in this world. To Lumina, the sole similarity between her and the little princess was isolation.

Her thoughts streamlined, she felt the void once occupied by her wishful relics fill with something new, something alive. She called out, "System, activate," and soon enough, she was met with a soothing, masculine voice. The system was equipped with the responsibility of acquiring the knowledge of this world and would serve as her eyes and ears, keeping her notified and alert. She named the system Sabastian.

Reliable Sabastian buzzed to life, alerting her of a recruitment drive by the royal family. Lumina was caught on the heels of her first escapade. The life of a servant to the characters she had read about made her excited and it could be an opportunity for Lumina to navigate the terrain of her true identity. She immediately rummaged through her scant belongings and in a frenzy, found a clean green shirt, a pair of whitewashed pants, and worn-out black shoes.

she decided to proceed in disguise a shimmering veil wrapped around her as the transformative power turned her into a small, adorable boy with purple hair and silver eyes. With its layered newspaper bed and a three-legged stool, the once-barren shack was now a place of gratitude, a sanctuary from which she'd emerge anew.

Her heart throbbing in her chest, she stroked the walls of her humble abode, whispering a muted thank-you before stepping into the cold air outside. She navigated through the narrow, twisted alleyways, leaving behind the slums that had been her life.

The alluring whispers of grandeur echoed in her ears, and her silver eyes widened in anticipation as she neared the palace.

Each knock of her worn-out shoes against the cobblestone was a drum-roll, marking the beginning of a new song, her song. The journey of Lumina, an enchantress in the guise of a homeless boy, was about to commence. She was no longer just an otaku, but the protagonist of the tales which she had once yearned to be a part of.

With a firm determination, she walked towards the palace, her heart filled with a resolve that promised to withstand all trials. The world — and its stories — held its breath as she took her first steps towards her mesmerizing future.