A young man laid still and unmoving like a rock. So still that it was hard to tell if he was alive or not. His body lay half submerged under water and half floating. His facial expression was calm and serene, the most peaceful it had ever been in his 32 years of life. There were no wrinkles from old age or blemishes present, just a clear face and physique that held traces of early youth. His skin soft and dewy as if he had been molded from the most expensive clay. The mere sight of him just laying there in the pond amongst the lily pads was like a setting straight out of a painting.
A faint glow began to slowly materialized around the body. A light so bright that it was almost blinding as it took quite some time for it to settled down and disappear. But once the light had completely vanish, it was only then that the young man's body had started to exhibit any signs of life.
A chest rose and fell steadily, while a pair of slender hands slightly shook with vitality.
*BA-DUM!*
*BA-DUM!*
*BA-DUM!*
A heart began to beat and a pair of eyes slowly opened.
"Haah.." The young man exhaled a long breath of air from his lungs. He suddenly stared upward at a clear blue sky with eyes full of confusion.
"Am I dreaming?" he whispered, so softly that it was hard for him to even hear his own voice.
Right now he should be dead. It didn't make any sense as to why the current situation was the opposite. As he could recall, one minute he was fighting for his life and the next he dying with a dagger plunged through his heart. A fatal attack that took away his life.
Yet at this very moment, he was alive and well.
'Did I survive then?'
He slowly put his right hand over his chest and felt for a wound. Vividly remembering the excruciating pain he felt from there not too long ago. The feeling imprinted so deep within his mind that it still felt like the dagger was still there.
But what now replaced the pain of a melting heart, was the rhythm of a steady one. Beating powerfully and fiercely. As if it had never been pierced in the first place. The wound that was supposed to be hovering over his chest was completely gone.
He couldn't help but frown. 'How is this possible?'
He quickly sat up and looked around at his surroundings. Only a pond, a sea of flowers, and forever-green trees could be found. Not a single street nor alleyway in sight.
It was clear to him that he was no longer in the city. But where was he now? And why was he still alive?
"Eh...?"
Feeling something suddenly push past his leg, he looked down and saw two beautiful koi fish swimming around him. One black and the other white.
Amazed, Roan reached a finger out and gently touched one. He had heard stories but he had never seen one in person before.
This set of Koi fish were rare as they were the symbol of Yin and Yang. A representation of light and darkness, death and life. As rare as the sight was Roan was lucky enough to witness it firsthand.
While he played with the fish he also took in his reflection and saw a face that did not resemble his in the slightest. His brown eyes were replaced with orbs the color of blood and his hair was long and golden as the sun. His skin was fair and ghostly pale as if he was sick or dead. And in the corner under his left eye was a red tear drop mole.
From this, Roan could vaguely understand two things at the moment. The first was that he had reincarnated, he didn't know how but he did. And the second was that he was no longer on Earth.
Instead of panicking, Roan was rather relaxed when he came to this sudden conclusion. As shocking as it was, he chose to accept it all. And chose to explore his new settings.
He stood up, moved to the end of the pond, and quickly climbed out. And to his surprise there was not a single drop of water on him. His clothes completely dry as if he had been bathing under the sun all day. Roan was amazed by this as he readily walked away from the pond to organize his thoughts.
•`•`•`•`•
With a new body came a new set of memories.
This world that Roan now resided in was far from the world of the 21st century. It wasn't a place called Earth but a place called Aether. A world of pure fantasy, inhabiting beings who were only thought to be fictitious. Elves, beastmen, fairies, and rare mystical creatures all existed. Governing over their civilizations and huge territories.
There were also humans called Espers that took up 1/3 of the population. They were humans gifted with unique abilities. That ranged from an Elementalist to Alchemist, Divine Priest, and Swordmaster. However, such gifts were mainly found in the blood of nobles.
And the body that Roan now possessed was a young noble named Roan Clyde Rosemore. The youngest son of The Prime Minister . An Aristocratic family with decades of pure Esper blood running through their veins. Everyone there excluding Roan, specialized in the power of the sword. Birthing years of talented Swordman one after the other. They were undoubtedly one of the top families in the Orrin Empire.
And Roan, a direct descendent of the Rosemore's was born with a weak physique that resulted in him bearing zero attributes for swordsmanship. Unknowingly singling him out from every talented member in his family.
But even so, as the youngest, he was the most doted on and the one that was the most spoiled out of the bunch. But that wasn't enough, not when everyone seemed to constantly look down on him. He needed more, more attention, more everything!
The nobles laughed and smiled in his face, treating him with softness and pity. But he knew the truth, they looked down on him and ridiculed him behind his back, even the commoners did the same.
They feared and respected his father but that never stopped anyone from talking about the talentless child that wasn't blessed by the gods.
He heard it all.
The godforsaken one, the degenerate, the omen that would be the downfall of the fourth Duke. The rumors were spread everywhere. No one who knew the Rosemores did not know that their youngest son was an ungifted child.
Even the King and Queen knew.
It was just awful.
And to top it off his disposition was nasty. Because of the judgemental eyes and the rude treatment. Roan developed an arrogant personality with a clipped poisonous tongue. He figured at a young age that he would no longer take their insults lying down. Before they could hurt him he'd hurt them first. He became vicious and conceited, using his family's power to take whatever he liked.
He picked fights with those his age and bullied those weaker than him. Gaining an even worse reputation than he had in the beginning.
And finally his family decided to discipline him and tried sending him off to the military. But Roan refused and acted out in rage, feeling humiliated and betrayed. Even his own family now thought lowly of him.
And so he'd just run away. Run away from the hate, his responsibilities, and his family. He'd run so far, far, away that he'd erase his existence and become a forgetful memory.
Unfortunately for Roan, once he ran away and entered The Forest Of Souls he ate a strange fruit that began his awakening. This of course would have been a blessing, if only he didn't die during the process.
'What a pitiful child....'
Roan sympathized with the original. He was just a boy that was scared and naïve. A person who acted tough on the outside but was fragile on the inside. He only did what he felt was best to protect himself. He didn't have any ability to shield himself so he used the only thing that could protect him and give himself value. His nobility.
But even that didn't work at times. When surrounded by vultures he could only run away.
Roan exhaled a deep breath of acceptance. With this new life, he'd live it to the fullest. Living day by day the way he wanted as best as he could. To live a life with fewer regrets. A decent life worth living for, where he lives for himself only.