AS THE DARKNESS gradually receded, clarity emerged, unveiling the world as the veil of slumber began to lift. The young man, once known as Lucian but now adopting the name Felrith, began to stir. His mind, rousing from a deep and intense sleep, was ensnared by confusion, preventing him from immediately grasping the threads of his recent experiences.
Yet, a lingering sensation persisted—an intuitive understanding that something of profound significance had unfolded prior to his slumber.
'What transpired?' He silently questioned, feeling the haze that shrouded his thoughts to gradually disperse.
Narrowing his eyes, Felrith observed the emergence of a greenish light, penetrating his retinas and enveloping his senses. His vision underwent gradual calibration, accompanied by a sensation akin to daggers piercing his eyes.
The environment around him slowly transformed, evolving into distinct shapes and forms with increasing clarity that unfolded as seconds stretched into minutes.
Amidst this transition, his body experienced a tingling dance of overstimulated nerves caused by his abrupt movements. He felt an unfamiliar sense of physicality—his proportions seemed altered, a sudden bigness he had never before possessed. In contrast to his once-skinny frame, he grappled with the realization that he had not been overweight, as he had always believed.
Wait... he was always fat right? Or had he always been skinny? Was he going crazy? Had his perception of himself been skewed all along? Just what was going on?
WAIT....!
With a swift motion, Felrith propelled his large form into an upright position, allowing the brightened surroundings to flood his widened eyes.
A cascade of memories surged forward—recollections not only from both of his lives, but also the shockwaves of emotions he had experienced before surrendering to sleep the previous night. And having already embraced his altered reality, deeming it all true, Felrith found his thoughts engulfed in a single sentiment:
'Well... damn.'
In that pivotal moment, the realization dawned upon him that his consciousness now served as a crossroads for two lifetimes, two identities, and two sets of memories. The sensations, emotions, and struggles of both Lucian and Felrith melded into a mosaic of experiences, a rich tapestry woven within him.
The bitterness stemming from the recklessness of his past lives, the tender sweetness of newfound love and the fragile bonds of family, and the subsequent shattering of those delicate connections—all these emotions coalesced, igniting a furious blend of anger and unwavering determination.
This fiery concoction, now etched deep within his very essence, fueled the amalgamation of Lucian and Felrith that he had become.
Lost in introspection, Felrith brushed aside the disheveled covers of the bed and swung his legs over the edge; a seemingly simple action that proved to be embarrassingly challenging due to the unfamiliar and absurd weight of his new body—or perhaps, his old body?
'Ahh, this is utterly perplexing,' Felrith muttered to himself inwardly.
He was caught in a struggle to reconcile his feelings toward both his previous and current lives, and the resulting amalgamation of his identity. While he had come to terms with the reality of the situation and the coexistence of his two lives, the question lingered:
What did this fusion mean for him moving forward?
With this contemplation shaping his perspective, Felrith surveyed the room, tainted by the filth of his past—a past that now stood as a stark reflection of himself.
Oddly, the simplicity and quaintness of the environment appeared both alien and intimately familiar, a duality that triggered a twinge of anger and irritation, a residue of his spoiled existence as a bratty prince.
Suppressing the surge of unwarranted frustration, Felrith fixed his gaze upon the window, through which the emerald-tinted light heralded the arrival of a new day. He found himself captivated by the symbolism of this verdant glow—a hue emblematic of both his former and yet concurrently new life.
This hue acted as a bridge spanning across the chasm between two worlds or, more accurately, between two his identities.
Within Felrith's heart, emotions churned and mingled. Remorse and frustration at his past self's decisions intertwined with fresh determination inspired by Lucian's unyielding spirit. This combination of sensations propelled him toward walking a different course this time around. In that moment, he grasped that he was more than just Lucian and not merely Felrith; he comprehended the weaving of his two lives.
He understood now.
At last, clarity settled within him.
He was an iteration, distinct from the Felrith of the past. But even then, knowing he was Felrith now. He understood that he wasn't confined solely to his present identity; he was a fusion, a creation emerging from the ashes of two distinct lives.
Within him resided a harmonious blend, a synthesis of memories and encounters from both lives. He embodied a seamless convergence, intricately weaving together their most remarkable victories and grievous errors, as well as their virtues and imperfections.
Addressing imperfections, Felrith attempted to rise but ended up plopping back onto the uncomfortable bed. Emitting a grunt of discomfort, he gazed downward, his shirt revealing rolls of fat that triggered a deep sense of shame for his past self's indulgences.
The contrast struck him sharply—Lucian had known the harshness of malnutrition and starvation, while the previous version of Felrith had succumbed to riches and excessive gluttony.
"What a twist of fate," Felrith mumbled bitterly to himself. His voice carried a peculiar quality, both distant and yet oddly familiar, as he adjusted to the timbre.
Several more efforts to stand followed, each met with growing exhaustion. Through the struggle, Felrith's internal dialogue turned vitriolic, cursing his former obese self. 'How overweight am I? Fuck!'
Frustration surged within him, and he ultimately found himself remaining seated at the bed's edge. Realizing he needed to take a step back, he slowly began the task of shifting his heavy arms, feeling the strain and burn of their weight.
He then directed his attention to his legs, observing how his chubby calves quivered even with the slightest motion; all in hopes of grappling with the challenge of commanding his now-unfamiliar body to obey his wishes.
While the experience was degrading and carried humiliation, it also carried a profound sense of renewal. It illuminated Felrith's reality—he was alive, truly alive! This realization, borrowed from Lucian's unyielding survival instincts after enduring the torment of being cast out of heaven, propelled him forward.
Fueled by this newfound motivation and determination, Felrith persevered, each effort a testament to his will to move beyond his limitations. Slowly, he gained—by his best estimate—approximately 25% mastery over his unruly body, an incremental progress he didn't take for granted.
He held onto the belief that the following days would bring improvements, as his soul and consciousness settled into his 'new' form.
And so, guided by this optimism and bolstered by his increasing control, Felrith maneuvered himself into a standing position. Each movement was an unfamiliar sensation, despite the presence of memories that informed him of what his body felt like.
The weight, the dimensions, and the array of sensations that accompanied his newfound bulkiness were simultaneously disorienting and subtly empowering. Even with the excess weight, Felrith perceived a marked contrast in his constitution compared to Lucian's frail form.
An unfamiliar yet undeniable sense of strength coursed through him, not merely physical but a deeper, resolute fortitude. And thus, in that moment, as he grappled with the simple act of standing upright without leaning, he sensed an overwhelming strength to transform, endeavor, and pursue redemption.
Perhaps, in a surge of possibility, even to enact retribution!
Though those distant dreams made him conscious of the gaps in his understanding—his incomplete exploration of memories, his current circumstances, and available resources—Felrith shook his head. While he was aware of his location, his exile, and his granted lordship over this remote settlement, he recognized the need for a more detailed assessment.
What condition was the town in now?
How had his past actions, which now disgusted him even if they were partly remnants of his old personality, impacted his potential avenues?
And, above all, how in hell was he to navigate this new existence?
These questions swirled within, demanding consideration. Contemplating the way forward, Felrith decided to postpone his ventures beyond his quarters until nightfall, should such a need arise. For now, he engaged in thoughtful introspection as he ambled around the room, his weight causing objects to shift, a physical manifestation of the echoes of his two lives resonating within him.
Moving toward the window, his gaze fixed upon the glistening light that adorned the barren expanse, Felrith acknowledged the gift of a second chance—one he was determined not to squander.
His thoughts surged, racing through his mind as he transitioned his attention from the distant horizon to his own reflection within the windowpane. The visage that stared back at him appeared different—somewhat distant, yeah, but uniquely his own, for he perceived a fusion of traits.
He saw a synthesis of Lucian's unwavering resolve, evident in the deep hues of his frosted purple and red-flickering eyes, and Felrith's defiant nature, even manifest in the plumpness that rounded his features. Meanwhile, that same plumpness, present in his ample body, encased both his physical form and his inner essence, epitomizing the harmonious fusion of his two identities—ushering in the rebirth of Felrith, 'The Forsaken Prince'.
Felrith anew, felt the light not of a sun but of Drak'Moria's so-called day moon brush across his skin and paint the world beyond. Rising in warmth, Felrith felt the touch of heat match the flaming blaze of conviction within himself.
Felrith knew of the challenges that lay ahead, acknowledging the arduous journey before him. Yet, it didn't change the fact that it was a journey that belonged solely to him—a road carved from the convergence of two lives, two histories, and two sets of aspirations.
Now, as one.
A tremulous breath escaped him, for in this moment of finalized acceptance, Felrith felt a change in the way his memories and mind worked. It felt like they were before attached by strings, and now they were stitched and interwoven.
Before it was a bridge under a combined current, but now it is an island in the sea of completion. Consequently, a quiet yet unwavering resolution settled deep within him. Fully embracing the emergence of his reborn self, calmness washed over him. Thus, Felrith found himself pondering the uncertainty that loomed ahead.
What lies beyond destiny's horizon?
What did fate have in store?
Though the specifics eluded him, his determination to uncover what awaited him remained unyielding. He had slumbered for ages in one life, and frittered away the days in drunken stupors in another.
The time for stagnation had come to an end.
The moment had arrived...
The moment to truly live.
His name was Felrith, and he stood poised to redeem himself in the eyes of the world. Lucian he had been, Felrith he had faltered as, and Cael he had pretended to be. Yet, now he had emerged as someone different.
Felrith Caelithor Sil'Avaris had awakened...
And he was eager to seize the reins of power!
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A/N: I'd like to express my gratitude for your journey thus far. I understand that I might have extended the introductory chapters, but I believed it was essential. I didn't want the pace to be overly hurried, risking the story's realism, as can happen in some novels. And now, without further ado, let's delve into the real storyline... *Sinister Grin,* Haha.... XD!