Fluttering his eyes open, Asher's eyes immediately widened in fear. He gazed at his surroundings in a panicked manner, not knowing where he was or how did he get inside the lavish room. The room he was currently occupying appeared to belong to an extremely wealthy person, but Asher had no friends, let alone acquaintances. Where was he exactly?
Finally remembering what had happened to him, his eyes relaxed and held a trace of sadness. The once scrawny and sickly Asher had been transported into a different world. He had no idea whether his parents know about his disappearance and judging from his current situation, there's no way he can go back to his world. There's a specific term that describes what he was currently experiencing, but his mind was currently muddled and he couldn't think clearly enough to remember it.
The small boy sighed in relief as he thought about his original world. Thankfully, Asher had never created meaningful connections with his parents or his fans, making it much easier for him to accept what was happening and to adapt to his new surroundings. Don't get him wrong, he does love and cherishes his parents. They had been exceptional role models and they taught him how to work hard and never give up. His parents were also kind, caring, and warm just like any other family. However, because of how much they needed to work, they barely had any time to spend with their son and teach him about the little things in life.
His fans, on the other hand, served a much greater purpose in Asher's life. They pushed him forward with their warm comments and praises. They pointed out how he could better his game so that others will be able to enjoy it to the fullest. Asher interacted much more with his fans than with his parents. Still, he had never depended on his fans emotionally. They were just people that pushed him to work harder. They were his motivation, but they weren't the reason why he kept on living in that cruel world.
Actually, why did he work so hard? To help his parents? To help himself? To satisfy the players of his games? Asher shook his head in an attempt to dispel the dark thoughts that were constantly wearing him down. He had no will to live; no true meaning in his small world. He worked hard to help his family and please his fans, but what about him? Will his wishes never be fulfilled?
Whenever Asher spoke to his parents, his heart tightened with painful emotions, making it hard for words to come out. However, Andrew and Michelle were not to blame for the pain he constantly felt. The cause of the burning emotions was the harsh reality that he will never be able to do what he wants. That he will never be able to travel with his friends or have a small yet meaningful wedding with the person he loves and wishes to spend the rest of his life with. He barely had time to take a stroll and inhale the sweet scent of the flowers or to relax under a warm blanket with a cup of hot cocoa when it rained heavily.
The sudden change of scenery might be a bit too much to take in at once, but Asher acknowledges the fact that this is a blessing in disguise of an ugly curse. In his previous life, he only knew how to work and exhaust himself to make ends meet. This time, however, his circumstances are completely different. Judging from what the maid had called him, he was now the young master of a wealthy family. Asher can now accomplish his old yet unforgotten wish: being able to fully appreciate and experience a typical childhood.
Asher closed his eyes one last time as his expression softened. Then, he stood up and walked towards the door. His eyes held an unusual warmness and were full of moisture, making his eyes shine under the room's artificial lights. The way he walked was as elegant as an empress yet as relaxed as a koala. His shoulder-length dark hair swayed softly with every step and contrasted greatly against his creamy-like skin. The young boy certainly possessed great beauty.
Half an hour had passed since Asher left the room to fix himself something to eat. However, he now regretted the decision of leaving his room without waiting for Zara. He was currently lost in one of the many halls of the large estate.
"The same vases, the same windows, the same doors... when will I ever get out of this maze?" he whined to himself in a sulky tone, his voice traveling throughout the empty hall. There's also no sign of any maids or butlers. Was Asher's initial assumption wrong? Was this family not that well off as he previously thought?
Asher shook away his thoughts as he kept on pressing forward, hoping he would see someone soon. If the family had such a large estate, then that meant that they had a significant amount of wealth. Consequently, this meant that they needed many maids and butlers to keep everything tidy and clean.
After a few more minutes of aimlessly walking, Asher heard a strangely familiar voice. His sullen expression immediately brightened up as he picked up his pace. Finally! He will be able to escape this maze!
At the end of the long hall, there was an intersection that connected three other halls. Two teenagers were walking down one of the corridors while discussing what attributes they should train the very next day.
One of the teenagers was a seventeen-year-old male with curly, scarlet-colored hair. His body was slightly tanned due to being exposed to the sun's rays and he possessed well-defined muscles. His eyes were an intense dark blue color like Asher's with a small hint of an electrifying yellow. The way he carried himself resembled a person that was on the top of the world and his aura oozed out never-ending confidence. There was no denying the fact that this young man attractive, however, the disdain that was poorly hidden in his eyes greatly diminished his handsome appearance. This young man was Ian Pierce, Asher's eldest brother.
The boy that was walking alongside Ian appeared to be much level headed than his older brother. His straight, vermilion hair swayed softly with every step he took. His complexion was lighter than his elder brother, but his skin was not as pale as Asher's. His emerald green eyes resembled ones of a cat-- sharp and intelligent. The fifteen-year-old boy seemed to be unapproachable with his sharp and aloof gaze. He let out a cold and powerful aura, not giving people the chance to try and get closer to him. However, unlike Ian, there were no ill feelings hidden in his gaze.
As Asher reached the intersection of the halls, he turned to look to his side. There, he saw his two elder brothers, a thin layer of sweat covering them both. As soon as Ian saw his little brother, his confident gaze turned into a mocking one. On the other hand, Kio's expression remained the same; cold and sharp. The only slight change could be seen in his eyes that now contained a bit of shock and confusion.
Immediately after seeing his elder brother's, Asher walked as quickly as he could towards them. "Hello, elder brothers. I was heading towards the kitchen but I got lost. Could one of you take me to the kitchen," he said in a pleading tone, his short arms grasping his protesting stomach.
Seeing the little boy suffer, Ian burst out laughing before walking towards him. His eyes held a tinge of malice as he bent down to whisper into his ear, "Why don't you just starve?"
Ian then kept walking forwards, not bothering to glance at the little boy he hated so much.
Asher was mentally a 26 year old, however, seeing as he is now a young child he was now extra sensitive. He couldn't contain the tears that filled his eyes and they were soon rolling down the pale cheeks of the young boy. Asher sniffled softly as he clumsily wiped away the tears before looking towards Kio.
Kio wasn't able to hear what Ian had said to the young boy. Ian had always resorted to saying mean things to the young boy every time they crossed paths, but Kio had never seen Asher so affected by his elder brother's words. Usually, Asher wouldn't be so affected by the comments that were thrown at him and he would continue to silently pester Ian to get into his good graces while Kio was left all alone and forgotten. Asher had never wanted his help. He always wanted Ian to help him (probably because if he gets Ian to like them then their father would soon follow suit).
Asher's blue eyes had turned into a darker shade because of his tears. Despite this, the young boy forced out a small smile. "Big Brother Kio, will you help me?"
Kio couldn't help but look at Asher coldly. What was he trying to achieve? Was he trying to get into his father's good graces by using him? Was he trying to get closer to him?
Kio sighed but nodded, making a genuine smile appear on Asher's pink lips. Kio couldn't help but marvel at his younger brother's cuteness. They see each other every day, so why was he suddenly noticing this now?
Asher was oblivious to Kio's internal struggle. He followed his elder brother silently while thinking about his eldest brother, Ian. He was able to notice the dislike that was reflected in Ian's clear eyes, and this made his chest tighten up painfully. He was aware that this is the first time meeting him so these feelings are a bit strange, but Asher could only assume that the original Asher's feelings about his family had stayed behind.
However, Asher couldn't imagine why the original Asher could care so much for a person that dislikes and belittles him. While Kio was a spectator that didn't bother helping him in his time of need, he still didn't belittle him like his eldest brother. Something must've happened between the three of them that made Ian dislike him and Kio keep his distance.
After a long and awkward walk towards the kitchen, Asher saw Zara pacing back and forth. She was muttering to herself and was in clear distress. Kio coughed a few times to get her attention, making her quickly turn her head towards the Kio and Asher. Relief flooded through her entire system as she quickly bowed.
"Young Master Kio, thank you for retrieving Young Master Asher. I had gone to his chamber to fetch him for lunch but he had disappeared," she said while still bowing. Her purple-lilac eyes shone with clear happiness as she observed the rare scene that was unfolding right before her eyes. Young Master Kio had helped her Young Master find his way!
Kio waved his hands politely, silently telling her that she could rise. "Is that why Asher wasn't able to eat with us today?
Standing up straight, she nodded respectfully. Asher, who had not been included in the conversation, pulled on Kio's loose and worn-out shirt. Kio was significantly taller than Asher, so the youngest brother had to raise his head to look at his elder brother in the eyes.
"Would it be inconvenient for you to stay with me while I eat?"
After hearing his younger brother's request, Kio had visibly frozen. His thin lips parted in surprise and his eyes widened ever so slightly. If you weren't acquainted with young master Kio, you could only guess that he was calm and collected. However, Zara had known him since he was a child, so she knew that he was shocked beyond words. Asher, on the other hand, didn't think much of his reaction.
The only thing that was currently running through Asher's mind was the fact that he now had a big family. Sure, his eldest brother didn't care for him, but Kio was different. While he may be distant, there was no malice nor contempt in his gaze. The aura he gave off was cold and it made him unapproachable, but this made Asher feel strangely comfortable around him.
In his past life, his parents couldn't care for him and fulfill his needs. This meant that he could never have any brothers or sisters even if he desperately wanted one. One child was enough for the couple. However, in this new life of his, he has been given a chance to accomplish his dreams. He wanted to get closer to his family, Ian was the only exception though. The eldest brother was overly-confident and he completely disregarded Asher's feelings, making him feel uncomfortable.
After a few more minutes of silence, Kio gradually calmed down and hesitantly nodded. His parents were away and Ian had already locked himself away, meaning that the only people that will be witnessing the strange and unusual scene are the maids and butlers of this household.
After seeing Kio agree to her young master's request, Zara's smile brightened as her eyes began to shine. She ushered the young masters to the table while still maintaining her gorgeous smile.
"Young Master Asher, your lunch will be arriving shortly. Young Master Kio, would you like anything to eat or drink?"
Kio shook his head, his sharp eyes picking up Asher's every movement. The tanned maid bowed before heading towards the kitchen to bring out lunch.