Chapter 1 - Arrival
I opened my eyes and woke up startled. My mind was a bit messy. The floor beneath me was smooth marble and cold to the touch. A soft white mist drifted across the surface throughout the place. The place was quiet, or rather too quiet. It was not the sort of silence you get in an empty room but the kind that makes you feel sound does not exists.
I realised that this was not my house, definitely not.
I sat up slowly, my head still spinning and took in the sight before me.
A house, specifically a hall in a house. And no, not just any house. It seemed to be an impossible house. The corridors stretched farther than my eyes could see and doors lined up along both sides of it. Each door was different. Some wooden, others shining like steel and a couple of them seemed to be made entirely of glass that shimmered with light. Above me, the ceiling opened into a black void sprinkled with stars that looked close enough to touch.
But I understood one fact at that moment that I wasn't on Earth anymore. It made me to panic a bit. I also could not remember any thing about myself from my past. A profound feeling of despair rose from within.
Then, a voice which was like a calm whisper filled the air around me.
"Welcome, Master, to The House Outside Time."
I froze. "Master?" I muttered. "What do you mean? I am pretty sure I didn't apply for that job."
I got no answer directly but it felt like the house itself was listening and it answered me in a different way.
The information just gradually appeared in my mind, like I had always known it. Bit by bit, I started understanding what this place was which calmed me down.
The House Outside Time, or The House, as it called itself, was a space between worlds and outside the effects of Time. Here, time didn't move. No hunger, no thirst, no aging.
Furthermore, every door in the House Corridor led to a different world. My objective was that I have to go visit those worlds and then gain the companionship of important female characters from that world. I will also get a new power or skills from each new union. And these powers will then be mine and will remain with me in each world.
In other worlds, in each later world, I will start as an OP character, except for the first one.
Also, each door will open only after it has absorbed enough time which meant I have to survive long enough in the world.
For starters, I was provided with Teleportation power and the Language pack. The house itself could be used as a storage space as there is no restriction on travelling to it. So, it will function as a refuge and a mobile storage space.
Now, I was ready, or so the House thought. Because apparently, the first door had already appeared.
At the far end of the hall, one of the doors shimmered with light. Words glowed above it, floating in the air like fireflies forming letters.
PLANETOS
I did not need to think more than a moment to understand what that meant. I had read A Song of Ice and Fire and binge watched Game of Thrones enough times to know it.
Westeros. Essos. Dragons, Swords, Magic, and a lot of people who didn't live long enough to regret their bad decisions.
I laughed under my breath, with a little fear, "Out of all the world, it had to be this one."
Still, I walked toward the door as I did not have any other option. As I got closer, the runes on the doorframe lit up in soft blue light. The handle felt warm against my fingers as I held it.
"Alright, House," I said quietly. "Let's see what we've got."
I pushed the door open but could see nothing inside it. I took a deep breath and with all the resolve, stepped in.
There was no flash of light, no sound. Just a blink, a step and suddenly I was somewhere else.
I was standing on rough ground dusted with snow.
The cold hit me first. It was sharp and real, cutting through the light clothes I had woken up in. I looked around to check the environment. Hills rolled out into the distance, white and gray colour dominating the land. A thin trail of smoke rose far off to the south. Pine trees swayed in the wind and from somewhere close, I could hear a wolf's distant howl.
Then the knowledge came again. The House fed it straight into my head.
I was in the North in the continent of Westeros. Specifically, near Winterfell. The timeline was around 289 after Aegon's conquest. Eddard Stark has just returned from putting down Balon Greyjoy's rebellion and Theon Greyjoy was now living as his ward, or a hostage.
'So I have landed before the story even began. Perfect. I have now time to prepare before all the madness starts. After all, it was still a few years before Robert's visit to Winterfell and the start of the Game of Thrones.
"Thanks for the timing, House," I muttered, rubbing my arms.
My clothes were adjusted to be like the normal from this world when passing through the gate. But it still felt cold. So I tried my luck, "House, if you could also send me a coat, that would be great."
A moment later, a faint glow appeared near my feet. It was a dark brown, fur-lined cloak, neatly folded on the snow. I grinned, "You have my thanks."
Pulling it around my shoulders, I looked north, toward the faint shape of Winterfell's towers rising through the fog. I was going to survive this world, gain a lot of wives and maybe rule the world one day. And I will start the journey from there.
And with that resolve, I began walking towards Winterfell.
End of Chapter 1 - Arrival