Arch Mage’s Stress Free Life after Reincarnation

Marduk's senses returned to him in a cascade of unfamiliar sensations. The softness of the bed beneath him, the crisp scent of linen, the warmth of the sun bathing his face—these were things he hadn't felt in centuries. His chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm, but it was not the mighty force of the archmage he had been. No, this was weaker and fragile. He opened his eyes, the brightness of the light nearly overwhelming him.

Where am I?

His surroundings were vastly different from the grand halls of the Galactic Academy of Magic. Gone were the towering marble columns and intricate arcane symbols etched into every surface. Instead, he found himself in a lavish bedroom, filled with ornate furniture carved from polished wood, deep red curtains billowing softly in the breeze from an open window. A large mirror stood in the corner, reflecting the unfamiliar face staring back at him.

He moved to sit up but felt an odd heaviness in his limbs. His body was light, yes, but sluggish, as though it had been unused for far too long. A bedridden body, he thought. This was a body unaccustomed to movement, yet his spirit, his soul—the powerful essence of the Archmage Marduk—still pulsed within him, barely restrained by the frailty of this new vessel.

With effort, Marduk swung his legs over the side of the bed and forced himself to stand, his knees trembling under the unfamiliar weight. He crossed the room slowly, each step deliberate and cautious as he approached the window. When he reached it, he leaned on the sill, peering out at the world below.

What he saw astounded him.

The world stretched out beneath him, teeming with life and color. Buildings rose high into the sky, sleek and metallic, a combination of architectural elegance and technology. Vehicles hovered just above the ground, moving smoothly down pristine streets, while people—humans, from the look of them—moved about their daily lives in what appeared to be a vibrant, bustling city.

Marduk's gaze wandered, taking in the lush gardens below, with trees and plants that hummed faintly with magic. He could feel it, the energy of the planet itself—powerful and raw, woven seamlessly with the technology of this world. It was a curious balance, something he had never seen in his centuries of study. His mind raced to comprehend the magnitude of what he was witnessing.

Where am I? What is this world?

And then, like a wave crashing over him, memories came flooding back—his experiments with dark and light magic, the reckless attempt to merge the magic of souls and the magic of reincarnation. He had succeeded in opening a rift, a black hole of his own making right inside his lab, one that had swallowed him whole before he could react. He remembered the sensation of being pulled into the void, his soul torn from his body, spiraling through time and space until…

This.

He gazed down at his hands, no longer the hands of a wizened, thousand-year-old archmage, but those of a young boy. Thin fingers, sickly pale skin, delicate and unblemished. The soul of the boy whose body he had taken over was gone—too weak to handle the strain of his physical form, extinguished just before Marduk's soul had entered. He had taken over the body with ease, but now came the greater challenge—adapting to it, and to this new world.

The door to the bedroom creaked open, pulling Marduk from his thoughts. A young woman, dressed in a simple maid's uniform, entered with a cloth and basin, likely intending to tend to the boy she thought still lay in bed. Her eyes were downcast as she approached, clearly used to her routine of tending to the sickly young master.

As she reached the bed, she gasped, her eyes flying to the empty space where Nolan Anderson should have been. Panic spread across her face, and she whirled around, only to freeze as she caught sight of Marduk—Nolan—standing at the window, observing her with dazed eyes as if forcefully woken from a deep slumber.

"Young Master…!" she shrieked, dropping the basin with a clatter. "You're… you're awake!"

Before Marduk could speak, the maid darted toward the door, her voice rising in panic. "The young master is awake! Bring the Duke! Bring the family! Someone get the doctor!"

The commotion sent a ripple through the household, and the chaos could be heard like wave washing over the whole mansion. Marduk could hear the hurried footsteps approaching from all directions, a flood of voices echoing through the halls. He stood still, watching the chaotic scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.

In moments, the door burst open again, this time revealing a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair streaked with silver. His presence was commanding, the air of authority unmistakable. Marduk's eyes narrowed as he recognized the man as Duke Alpheus Anderson—Nolan's father. Following close behind him were two young women, one shy and reserved, the other radiating energy, and a third, older man who must have been the family doctor.

The Duke's eyes locked onto Marduk, wide with disbelief. He strode forward quickly, followed by the rest of the family.

"Nolan…?" Duke Alpheus's voice was low, tinged with both hope and uncertainty. He knelt before Marduk, his strong hands gripping his son's frail shoulders. "You're… you're awake, my son."

Marduk, now fully inhabiting the body of Nolan Anderson, studied the man before him—the father of this body. He could see the emotion in the Duke's eyes, the weight of the past weeks, months even, spent watching his son waste away. And now, here he stood, alive and well, albeit with a very different soul.

So, this is the boy's family, Marduk mused. He had dealt with nobles before, though not from a world quite like this one. He would have to play along, at least for now, until he could assess his situation further.

Marduk offered a small, awkward nod. "Yes… Father."

The word felt foreign on his tongue, but it seemed to be the right response, judging by the sudden outburst of emotion from the Duke and his daughters. The older twin, Elspeth, rushed forward and threw her arms around him, nearly knocking him over in her excitement. "Nolan! You're really awake! I can't believe it!"

Her twin sister, Eloise, hung back, her hands trembling as she covered her mouth in disbelief, tears welling in her eyes. "We thought… we thought we'd lost you…"

The doctor stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning Marduk carefully. "This is a miracle," he muttered, shaking his head in amazement. "I need to check him, of course, but… to awaken after so long… it's nothing short of miraculous."

Marduk allowed the man to take his hand, feeling the subtle hum of magic as the doctor conducted a preliminary examination. It was odd, letting someone else probe his body—especially a body that wasn't truly his—but he allowed it for now.

As the family celebrated around him, Marduk's thoughts wandered back to his previous life, to the moment he had made that fateful decision to experiment with magic far beyond the boundaries of what was considered safe. He had been tired, so very tired, of the life he'd led. A thousand years of mastering the arcane arts, only to be shackled by responsibilities he hadn't wanted. Becoming the dean of the Galactic Academy had been a mistake, one that had left him even more disillusioned. And so, he had sought out a new challenge—something to excite him, to reinvigorate his existence.

And now, here he was, in the body of a noble's son, in a world both familiar and foreign. A new life, a new chance. Perhaps this was what he had been searching for all along.

But one thing was certain—this time, he would live for himself.

No duties, no endless teaching of students, no responsibilities. He would find his own path, and perhaps, even the love he had never had the chance to experience in his previous life.

As the family continued to celebrate, Marduk—now Nolan—allowed a small smile to creep onto his face. Although looking week and frail his was packing a punch to face this new world.

Let the adventure begin.