Lucious

'It has been one week since I arrived in this world.' I think as I sit eating breakfast at the table with my so-called father and little sister.

In the beginning, I had a panic attack after waking up and looking around. For some reason, I had woken up in a foreign place.

At first, I thought I was dreaming. Afterward, I thought I had reached heaven or hell. Yet it was neither; I had somehow ended up in somebody's body.

The only thing I share with this individual is the name Lucious.

I think I live in some early medieval time, and it has taken me some time to adjust. I am happy to be a young boy; it made it easier to ask people in my surroundings questions about this place. If I had been my 87-year-old self, asking various stupid questions and acting unnatural, I bet these people would have likely hung me for witchcraft or something.

"Aren't you going to eat Lucious?" My father, Garr Landry, asked in a pique as he put down the meat.

"Ha-ha, brother, I eat more than you." Denise Landry, my sister, joins in.

"Yeah, sorry, I was overthinking. I will eat now."

"You have been acting weird lately, son. Have you caught a cold? Or maybe some witch has placed a curse on you?" My father asked.

'I can't exactly tell you that I am not your son.' I think to myself. "I'm fine, father; I have just been thinking a lot lately."

"You are thinking?" My father snickers. Yes, my father, Garr Landry, is the kind of person I despise the most.

Garr is the King of this tiny kingdom called Harnard; what a terrible name. He is unintelligent, unwise, and a lousy leader. To say his management skills are subpar would be an understatement. It was all clear from day one, as I recall waking up in my bedroom and somehow having access to some system in my head.

I open my system screen.

System of Immortalis:

(Personal) (Territorial) (Magical) (Map)

I think of the 'personal,' and a system interface opens in front of me.

Personal:

Name: Lucious Landry

Race: Human

Age: 12

Title: Prince of Harnard

State: Immortal Status

Status:

Strength: 0.3

Physique: 0.3

Mentality: 3.1

Energy: 0.01

Control: 0.1

I can somehow see my name, race, and even title. However, the last part has me worried, immortal. Do I not age? That would become a problem after a couple of years, and my physical appearance wouldn't change.

I tried to cut my finger, but it heals at an average rate. So, it isn't like the movies either.

And then there is the matter of status; how does the system know these things? And even be able to put it numerically?

So far, my understanding is that once these decimals reach 1.0, that would equal the average status of an adult. My mentality of being 3.1 is understandable to be above average since I quite literally experienced death and rebirth.

And the other stats would be understandable also compared to my age. But this thing called energy & control I do not know of; they are a total mystery to me.

Yet, for some reason, the most vital part is missing… 'intelligence'… My bona fide magnum opus of cultivated knowledge, yet the system does not even categorize me some status of knowledge or intelligence…

And why does it show the human race? Does it mean there are other species? Or does it categorize like birds, humans, horses, etc.?

Afterward, I switch to 'territorial.'

Territorial:

Name: Kingdom of Harvard

Structure: Feudalism

Authority: Garr Landry

Status:

Population: 5.319

Satisfaction: 14%

Crime Rate: 36%

Life Expectancy: 56.3 years

Median Age: 30.1 years

Economy yearly:

Taxation: 65% (6 kg. Silver)

Spendings: 8 kg.

Silver Produce: 3 kg.

Gold Produce 0.1 kg.

Employment:

Knights: 2

Guards: 60

Treasury: 2.3 kg.

Gold: 2.3 kg.

Silver: 36.1kg.

And this is why I despise this person; my so-called father. He is just a greedy pig who only hoards himself at the expense of the populace.

A satisfaction of 14% is abysmally low; no political figure in my previous world would survive. Crime rate at 36%… I feel like getting stabbed just with the thought of stepping outside our estate.

Life expectancy is very low, and the median age is higher than the average, meaning fertility is also on the downside. This means we will have a population decline.

And for some reason, they aren't using coinage. I do not know if it is just here or everywhere, but they haven't even invented coinage yet.

This means they are weighing gold and silver for goods and services. Worst case scenario, they might be bartering amongst each other.

My father might treat my so-called sister and me well and spoil us. However, it is at the expense of the entire populace, what a disgrace.

As I stare at him while unconsciously observing him, I hear, "Ding!"

Personal:

Name: Garr Landry

Race: Human

Title: King of Harnard

Status:

Strength: 1.6

Physique: 1.5

Mentality: 1.8

Energy: 0.7

Control: 0.9

Indeed, my father is no ordinary man, and somehow, he has higher points in energy and control. I need to figure out what it is.

However, the two captains at my father's service are not regular either.

"Hmm? You got something to say, boy?"

"Yes, no, father, I didn't have anything, in particular, to say"

"Come out with it; you have been acting weird lately; what is it?" He asks before taking another bite.

"Father, I wanted to ask if I could go out of the estate, view the fields or something,"

"Hmm, that's fine, take Andrew with you. However, you are also getting old enough to train, so I will also have Andrew train you with the sword."

"Can I also go outside?" Denise asks.

"No, you may not."

"But…"

"Silence, that is final."

'Yep, this guy is most definitely not my favorite. But now, I will at least get to see the circumstance outside our estate.'

As I walk through the estate, getting ready to leave, I look over my system; this section called magic has my utmost attention. However, I am unable to access it for some reason. I do not know what it entails, but I need to figure out how to access it.

I met up with Andrew outside the estate; he even prepared my steed beforehand. The gates of our estate are just two large, well-made wooden doors.

As I am walking towards him, I observe.

Personal:

Name: Andrew

Race: Human

Title: Knight

Status:

Strength: 2.4

Physique: 2.1

Mentality: 2.4

Energy: 0.9

Control: 1.7

Yep, the captains are something different.

"Hello Lucious, your father told me you wanted to go outside for a stroll."

"Yes, it has been a while; I have almost forgotten how it was outside." I lie as I have zero memories from the previous owner of this body.

"It's a bit unlike you, but let's not wait forever; I got our horses ready."

No wonder it is unlike me; I stole someone else's body! Oh, wait… I have no experience riding a horse!

"Come, I will lift you on the horse."

He lifts me and places me quite well before I can react.

"Alright, let's go."

Before I knew it, we were strolling outside. But How come it feels so natural for me to ride a horse? I have never ridden a horse before. Now that I think of it, how come I understand these people? We aren't speaking any English.

Do I retain some muscle memory and language capability of the previous owner of this body?

As we stroll outside the estate, I get to see the wretched state of our city; it's not a pleasant sight to behold. The houses are in poor condition, dirt roads, and some people look malnourished. The system backs up my claim once I observe them.

And people avoid making eye contact with me; it is somewhat uncomfortable.

"Andrew, I have always wondered why people avoid making eye contact with me; why is that?" I ask, pretending to have experienced it multiple times before.

"You are the lord's son; they do not wish to offend you and receive punishment. So, it is better to avoid contact than to cause trouble, even if it were to be by accident."

"Hmm, that does make sense."

"But many of these are just thieves and beggars, and it is why I am with you, so none of them gets any ideas." He scuffs

"I have always thought they looked retched. Is there any particular reason for that?"

"Yeah, many of these people are migrating here from the north. They are fleeing the tyranny and barbarism of the barbarians. Also, at the same time, your father must pay the barbarians their demanded tribute, or they will start harassing us too. That is also a reason why the populace suffers."

"Yeah, that's right, I forgot exactly how it was."

"You have been forgetting a lot lately; just don't forget how to use the sword; it might save your life one day."

It looks like it's a more complicated issue than I initially thought. I need to stop comparing this place to my previous world or life. I thought I was in some medieval times. However, the fact that these people haven't invented coinage yet means I am in ancient times. The equivalent of 600-700 b.c. where I am from. At least I should be happy being born to the closest thing resembling a monarchy.

As we walk, we come to the outer proximity of the city. We start seeing fields, cattle, and other produce. There are even three smithies, yet they do not sound like they are being very active.

In the distance, approximately 500 meters away, I see a forest covering quite a vast stretch of land; I even see some shack or house.

"Can we go take a look at the forest?" I ask.

"I wouldn't recommend it; I don't find it safe."

"Is it okay if we just walk along the proximity?" I ask again, almost pleading.

After some deliberating, Andrew says okay.

As we approach the house, we see a person's back facing us, and as we get closer, it falls and thuds on the ground. Another person we didn't notice before, who was obscured by the one who fell, had a bloodied blade in his hand.

I was shocked and too perplexed to have any reaction at all. However, Andrew immediately pulls out his sword and shouts, and with it, I could feel my senses sharpening as if my life was on the line.

"What are you doing!? Why did you kill that man!?"

"Stay back, Lucious; it is dangerous," he talks to me, the volume too low for the perpetrator to hear.

I do as Andrew says, and I keep a distance, and at that time, I decide to observe the murderer.

Personal:

Name: Brutus

Race: Human

Title: Outcast

Status:

Strength: 2.5

Physique: 2.2

Mentality: 5.8

Energy: 2.4

Control: 2.9

What the hell is this shit! Fuck me sideways!