In a world where life span averaged around 40, Rayan was lucky enough to have parents take care of all his problems.

By the age of 20, he grew up dependent on them, alas, half his life was over and they were nearing their end.

Yet what truly set the tide for him was their untimely death in an accident.

Having no one to turn to, he relied on alcohol and drugs to numb his pain.

Spending years like that, he soon ran out of all their savings and insurance money, left with nothing but a set of clothes.

Without any other option, he started living off the steets.

The trash cans were his souce of food and clothing while the hooligans were his source of drugs and liquor.

As he spent more time on the streets, he learned the art of deft hands—thievery.

Unable to earn or live by himself, he resorted to looting others.

Just like another day, he had entered a vault to find something to take with.

That's when he noticed there was nothing but a book lying in the center of the fault.

"That's all?"

He stomped his foot in anger and disbelief as he approached the archaic book.

"Could it be that it's precious?"

He asked no one in particular while touching it's hard leather cover that showed the signs of aging.

Unable to hold his curiosity any longer, he opened the book and tried reading it.

"Huh? I can read this..."

He found it hard to believe that something he could read would be ancient book and have some value.

"Gotta read to figure that out, uh," mumbling to himself, he began reading the book.

The book seemed to be written in sinple words, talking about a word where every man's dream was real—

A world of magic.

People could fly with the mystical mana and ride on flying beasts like dragons, summon creatures from spirit world, bond with phoenixes...

The book seemed to draw him in as he didn't even realise how long he spent in reading that book.

*Thump*

"Haa... Finally, read it.."

He closed the book and streched himself as it finally struck him.

"Shit! How long I've been here for!?"

Despite the urgency of the situation, he picked up the book to take with him.

Its value didn't matter, what matterer was he could read it to pass the time.

Maybe I can sell it for a few cents too.

Lifting the book, he used his escape method to leave.

"Hands above your head where we can see 'em!"

The sight awaiting him were of police officers with laser guns aiming at him.

Tsk. I got caught... again.

Not wanting to meet an untimely demise, he complied and raised his hands, dropping the book on the ground.

Seeing him comply, the police walked near him, pointing their guns at him.

Only after cuffing him did they put their guns back into the holsters.

"Yo! What's the date by the way?" Rayan asked, having no idea how long it took him.

"You... It's you again!" The one holding his handcuffs and dragging him exclaimed.

"Yeah! Anyways, today's date?" Rayan asked impatiently but the officer couldn't care less.

"Tsk, tsk, why steal so much... Just how many times... Wasting our precious time..."

Hearing the officer blabber endlessly, Rayan had the urge to punch him in the face, alas, his hands were cuffed.

Thankfully, the officer blabbered about the time he was inside the vault too, shocking Rayan to his core.

"...to think you were inside for seven fucking days and this... this book is all you have!?"

Seven days!? What the fuck!

Rayan had a hard time believing his ears while being dragged out when they appeared in the open.

His face scrunched up due to the sudden appearance of streelight being too much for him.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of his bewilderment as a tall man, no scratch that, a giant man appeared in front of him.

Rayan himself was over 6 ft tall yet he felt that he was tiny in front of the man opposite him.

Even the police next to him were shocked at the sudden presence of the man.

However, the most surprising thing was the man pulled out a gun and pointed it at Rayan's forehead, touching it's exit.

Before the police could react or say anything, the man muttered in a tone only audible to Rayan.

"Don't go offending people you shouldn't in your next life, kid."

*Bang!*

Those were the last words Rayan heard after being shot on his head.

The world turned blank for him, unable to distinguish anything.

Ah... Is this death?

I see... It feels so lonely and cold...

But it also feels relieving...

Mom, Dad, I am sorry...

I couldn't live up to your expectations...

If only I knew what was right earlier...

If only I never did what I did...

If only I had another chance...

In the last moments of his death, he deeply yearned for another chance at life, wanting to live without regrets.

Although he had no idea who he offended or if that was even one person who wanted him dead, he had no interest in any of it.

All he wanted was a chance to repent for wrongdoings and correct all of them.

Of course, he didn't really expect anything like that to happen.

He didn't live in any magical world, after all.

There was no way he would find himself back in time or something like that.

Only...

He found himself awakening to a sudden jolt pf pain.

What...?

What's this pain?

Am I not supposed to be dead?!

He thought that was the end of his life when...

***

A/N

Yosh!

Another day, another try on another novel!

Hope you like it!