Somewhere in Elysiam, the sprawling and opulent estate of the Vestron Duchy in the Hestia Empire was bustling with excitement and anxiety. Maids darted in and out of a grand chamber, their faces reflecting the tension and anticipation in the air. Security around the estate was unusually tight, the day marking a monumental occasion for the Vestron family—one of the most prestigious houses in the Desmond Kingdom.
Inside the grandly adorned room, the best attendants and healers hovered around Duchess Lilith, who lay in labor. The air was thick with both worry and hope as hours passed. Suddenly, the sharp, piercing cries of a newborn echoed throughout the chamber. The relief was palpable—outside the room, those waiting anxiously exhaled in unison.
Duke Lucius Vestron, standing nearby, felt the weight lift from his chest the moment he heard his child's cry. With permission granted, he entered the chamber with hurried steps, his usually stern face softening with concern as he approached his wife.
"Are you alright, my love?" Lucius asked, his deep voice full of emotion he rarely let others see.
Lilith, though visibly exhausted, smiled at her husband. "I am fine," she whispered, turning her gaze to the tiny figure swaddled beside her. "Look at him… our baby."
The baby boy lay quietly, his small, delicate features reflecting the nobility of his lineage. Though he did not cry anymore, both Lilith and Lucius sensed, through their magical abilities, that the child was healthy and strong.
"He looks just like you," Lilith said softly, her eyes glowing with affection. "Shall we give him a name?"
Lucius, for all his commanding presence, had a rare moment of tenderness. He looked at his newborn son, and after a brief pause, declared, "His name will be… Noah. Noah Vestron."
The room buzzed with the quiet activity of the attendants, but at that moment, all that mattered to Lilith and Lucius was the small, new life they had brought into the world. For Lilith, who often found herself lonely in her husband's pursuit of power and duty, their son was a ray of light. She vowed to pour every ounce of her love into Noah, hoping to fill the gaps Lucius could not.
Yet, neither Lilith nor Lucius could have known the deeper mystery held within their child's soul.
Alex's POV
#&#^•^&??&...*
What?
I heard muffled noises, a strange mix of sounds that made no sense to me. It took a moment for my consciousness to catch up, and when it did, confusion hit me like a tidal wave. Where am I? The last thing I remembered was talking to God—Yama, the God of Death. His voice was the final thing I heard before everything faded away.
As I started piecing together the fragments of my memory, it hit me. Wait, if this isn't a hallucination, I must be... Realization dawned. I'm in Elysiam!
The excitement of it all washed over me. This was the world I had dreamed of living in, a world filled with magic, adventure, and possibilities beyond anything Earth could offer. The dull, monotonous life I had left behind seemed so far away now. In this new life, I could do anything—I could live the adventure I had always craved.
Just as I was getting lost in these thoughts, I felt myself being lifted. Instinctively, I tried to open my eyes, but the light was too harsh, blinding after being in the darkness for so long. Wait… I can't see anything yet!
After some time, I gave it another try, and this time the light wasn't so bad. Slowly, I blinked, and a figure came into view. What I saw stunned me. Standing before me was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on—her hair flowing like silk, her features gentle yet regal. Her eyes, filled with warmth and love, were locked onto me.
Is she my mother? I wondered, but as soon as I thought it, I felt her arms wrap around me in a soft, protective embrace. The warmth of her body made me feel so safe. I could barely think—just the comfort of being held lulled me into a peaceful state.
But that peace didn't last long.
Suddenly, I was lifted again, taken out of her arms. Whoa! What's happening? Why am I in the air? Confusion bubbled up again, and then I saw the face of a man, looming over me. He had a stern expression, and though his features were sharp, there was something gentle in his eyes.
Is he my father?
He said something, but to me, it sounded like gibberish. I don't understand a word he's saying, I thought, trying to make sense of this new world. He smiled at me, his stern expression softening, but then… he rubbed his face against mine, and the prickly sensation of his beard scratched my soft, delicate skin.
The discomfort was too much—I began to cry, the wailing sounds echoing in the room.
The woman—my mother—quickly stepped forward, gently taking me back into her arms. She spoke sharply to the man, who left the room looking like a scolded child. His earlier strength and composure had vanished, replaced by an almost comical sadness.
Once I was back in my mother's embrace, the crying stopped, and a sense of calm washed over me again. Her warmth was soothing, her presence reassuring.
I had been reborn.
As I drifted off into sleep once more, the full weight of what had happened started to sink in. I wasn't Alex anymore—at least, not fully. I was Noah Vestron, born into a noble family, in a world full of magic and adventure.
And this time, I would live a life worth remembering.