Kael's alarm buzzed at 7:00 AM, pulling him from his dreams and into the cold reality of a Monday morning. He groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The familiar routine began—shower, brush teeth, and wearing his school uniform. His mother had breakfast ready when he arrived in the kitchen, the smell of eggs and toast filling the small room.
"Morning, Mom," he mumbled, still half-asleep as he took a seat at the table.
"Morning, Kael. You're up late again. his mother asked " Did you finish that project?" And she placing a plate in front of him.
Kael nodded between bites of toast. "Yeah, stayed up till midnight, but it's done. I'll just be glad when this week is over."
His mother smiled warmly. "You're always working so hard. Just make sure you take care of yourself, okay?"
He gave her a small smile in return. "I will, Mom."
After finishing his breakfast, Kael grabbed his bag and headed out the door, the familiar weight of schoolwork hanging on his shoulders. The day seemed ordinary enough—the sun was shining, the streets were quiet, and the routine of life was comforting in its normalcy. Kael couldn't have known that today would be the last day of his life.
As he walked down the street towards school, he noticed a little girl, no more than five years old, running after a stray dog. The girl's laughter echoed in the quiet morning, and she paid no attention to where she was going. But what she didn't see—and what made Kael's blood run cold—was the large truck barreling down the street towards her.
Time seemed to slow. Kael's mind raced. If he didn't act now, the girl would be hit, and she will die, He couldn't let that happen. Without thinking, he sprinted forward, adrenaline surging through his veins.
Kael shouted, "Hey! Get out of the way!" but the girl didn't hear him.
In a split second, Kael reached her. He grabbed her small body and shoved her out of the truck's path. The last thing he saw was the look of surprise on her face as she stumbled to safety. Then, pain exploded through his body as the truck slammed into him.
The impact was immense. He can't felt his legs and arms, world spun, colors blurred together, and all he could hear was the deafening roar of the truck's brakes and the screams of people. Kael's vision darkened as he lay on the asphalt, blood pooling beneath him. Every breath was a struggle, every heartbeat a painful reminder that his time was running out.
Through the haze of pain, he saw people rushing towards him, their faces twisted in horror. Someone was shouting for an ambulance, but Kael knew it was too late. He could feel his life slipping away, like sand through his fingers. The cold began to seep into his bones, and the sounds around him faded into a dull hum.
As the darkness closed in, Kael thought of his mother, all of the things he still wanted to do in future, But those thoughts were distant, fading just as quickly as his consciousness. He tried to hold on, but eventually, everything went black.
---
When Kael awoke, he expected to see nothing—perhaps a continuation of the darkness that had claimed him. Instead, he found himself lying in a bed, the soft rustle of fabric and the scent of herbs filling the air. His body felt... whole. The pain was gone. For a moment, he wondered if it had all been a bad dream.
But when he opened his eyes, he realized he was somewhere entirely unfamiliar. He wondered again and said, "Maybe I'm in heaven."
The room around him was dimly lit by a small fire in the hearth, its flickering light casting long shadows on the stone walls. The bed he lay in was soft, covered in furs, and the air was warm. Confusion clouded his mind as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. This wasn't a hospital. This wasn't anywhere he recognized.
He pushed himself up, expecting to feel the sharp pain of broken bones, but to his surprise, his body responded easily. He stared at his hands, turning them over, seeing no sign of injury. No scars, no blood—nothing to indicate the horrific accident that had ended his life.
"Where... where am I?" Kael whispered to himself, his voice trembling.
Before he could gather his thoughts, the door to the room creaked open. A young and beautiful woman entered, carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming soup. Her long, silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes—an unusual shade of violet—watched him with a mix of curiosity and relief.
she said softly, " You're awake," setting the tray down on a small table beside the bed. "I was worried you wouldn't wake up at all."
Kael blinked at her, trying to find the words. "Who... who are you? Where am I?"
The woman smiled gently. "My name is Elara. You're in the village of Elarion. We found you unconscious in the forest, badly injured, but... somehow you healed overnight. It's quite miraculous."
Kael stared at her, his mind reeling. The last thing he remembered was the truck, the little girl, and the cold asphalt beneath him. How had he ended up here, in this strange place? He tried to recall anything that might explain what had happened, but his memories felt distant, like fragments of a dream he couldn't quite piece together.
"I don't understand…" Kael murmured, pressing a hand to his forehead. "I was… I was supposed to be dead."
Elara tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Perhaps it's fate. The goddess works in mysterious ways."
"The goddess?" Kael repeated, confusion deepening.
Elara nodded. "In this world, the goddess of light watches over us all. You must be blessed by her, to have survived such wounds. And... you're different, Kael. There's something about you."
"How do you know my name?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of suspicion and desperation.
Elara smiled again, this time with a hint of amusement. "You were unconscious, but you kept muttering your name. Kael… it suits you."
Kael shook his head, trying to make sense of everything. "This world... What do you mean, this world?"
Elara looked at him curiously. "You must be disoriented. You're in Elarion, a land blessed by the goddess. Magic has all but disappeared from our world, and no one remembers how to wield a sword like in the old days. Yet… when we found you, you had a sword at your side. And something tells me you're not like anyone else here."
Kael glanced at the table where a simple sword lay. He didn't remember carrying it, yet it felt oddly familiar. He reached out, gripping the hilt, and felt a surge of power course through him. It was as if the sword resonated with his very soul.
"I… I don't know how I got here," Kael admitted, his voice shaky. "But I feel… different. Like I'm meant to be here."
Elara nodded slowly, her violet eyes meeting his. "Perhaps you are. But if that's the case, Kael, then you have a destiny to fulfill. This world needs heroes—someone who can stand against the darkness. Maybe that's why you were brought here."
Kael felt a strange sense of purpose rising within him. The memories of his past life were fading, becoming less important compared to the reality of this new world. Maybe he didn't have all the answers yet, but one thing was certain: his life had been given back to him for a reason.
Kael decided to become a hero for the people of this world and also seeking a way to come back his world. With determination hardening his voice, Kael said, "I'll do whatever it takes to protect this world, and I will be your hero
Elara smiled warmly, her expression full of hope. "Welcome to Elarion, Hero. Your journey is just beginning.
End of Chapter 1