I stared blankly at the ceiling, my alarm blaring in my ear. Another day, another dollar... or rather, another day, another boring lecture. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My gaze wandered to the poster on my wall – a medieval landscape with dragons soaring through the skies. I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. To be reincarnated into a world like that... now that would be the life.

My alarm continued to shriek, and I reluctantly got out of bed. After a quick shower and dressing in my usual attire, I headed downstairs to grab a bite to eat before school. My aunt had already left for work, but my dad was still in the kitchen, sipping his coffee.

"Morning, kiddo," he said, as I poured myself a bowl of cereal.

"Morning, Dad," I replied, taking a seat at the table.

We chatted briefly about our plans for the day before I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door.

The bus ride to school was uneventful, but I did manage to get a few minutes of gaming in on my phone. As I walked through the school gates, I spotted Christina standing with her friends near the entrance. She caught my eye and flashed me a quick smile, accompanied by a playful jab from her friend. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly and continued on my way.

Christina was a bit of an enigma to me. We'd known each other since middle school, and she'd always been kind to me, even if she did like to tease me occasionally. She was one of those people who seemed to effortlessly balance being kind and being popular. I, on the other hand, was just a nerd who liked fantasy worlds and gaming.

As I approached my friends Chris and Tyron, Christina called out to me, "Hey, Gustin! Still dreaming of being a knight in shining armor?" Her friends giggled, and I chuckled, feeling a bit self-conscious.

Chris, our resident sports enthusiast, clapped me on the back. "Dude, you need to focus on the soccer game this weekend. We're gonna crush it!"

Tyron, our resident pretty boy, smiled lazily. "I'm more concerned about the after-party. Who's going to be there?"

I shook my head, grinning. "You're such a ladies' man, Tyron."

The bell rang, signaling the start of class. We headed to our seats, chatting quietly as we sat down.

As the teacher began to drone on, my mind started to wander. I felt a strange sense of satisfaction with my life. It wasn't perfect, but it was mine. If I were to die tomorrow, I'd be content with the life I'd lived.

But, if I'm being completely honest, there was one thing I'd always dreamed of – being reincarnated into a fantasy world. A world with magic, monsters, and legendary heroes.

As I sat there, lost in thought, a sudden vision flashed before my eyes. I saw a world unlike any I'd ever known. Rolling hills of green stretched out as far as the eye could see, punctuated by towering spires of stone and glittering lakes. The sky was a deep shade of indigo, with stars twinkling like diamonds scattered across the fabric of the universe.

I saw people with abilities that defied explanation – wielding fire and ice with a mere thought, summoning great beasts to do their bidding, and harnessing the power of the elements to perform feats of incredible magic.

The vision faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving me feeling disoriented and confused. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my head.

The teacher's voice cut through the haze, and I realized that class was almost over. As the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

But little did I know, my life was about to take a drastic turn.

As I packed up my things, I noticed Christina walking out of the school gates, alone. I felt a pang of concern – it wasn't safe for her to be walking home by herself, especially with the recent rise in crime.

Without thinking, I jogged after her, calling out her name. "Hey, Christina! Wait up!"

She turned, a look of surprise on her face, and then a hint of a smile played on her lips. "Gustin, what are you doing?"

"I'm walking you home," I said, falling into step beside her. "It's not safe for you to be walking alone."

Christina raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her voice. "And you're my knight in shining armor?"

I chuckled, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Something like that."

As we walked, the silence between us was comfortable, punctuated only by the sound of our footsteps on the pavement. I glanced over at Christina, taking in her profile. She was a bit of an enigma, with a sharp tongue and a quick wit, but also a kind heart and a beautiful smile.

We turned a corner, and the alleyway ahead of us was dimly lit. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I noticed a group of rough-looking guys lurking in the shadows. My instincts told me to steer clear of them, but Christina seemed oblivious to the danger.

As we approached, the guys stepped out of the shadows, their eyes fixed on Christina. I felt a surge of adrenaline as I positioned myself between her and the group.

"Hey, look what we got here," one of the guys sneered, his eyes roving over Christina's body. "You're a pretty little thing, aren't you?"

Christina's face went pale, and she took a step back, her eyes wide with fear. I stood my ground, trying to look braver than I felt.

"Leave her alone," I growled, trying to sound menacing.

The guys just laughed, and one of them took a step closer to me. I raised my fists, ready to defend Christina, but I knew I was no match for these guys.

Suddenly, one of them grabbed Christina, pulling her away from me. I lunged after them, but I was too slow. They dragged Christina into the alleyway, and I was left stumbling after them, my heart racing with fear.

I heard Christina's cry of distress, and then a loud thud. I rounded the corner, and my heart sank. Christina was lying on the ground, her clothes torn and her face bruised. The guys were closing in on her, their eyes filled with a sickening lust.

 I knew I had to act fast. I launched myself at the guys, determined to protect Christina. But I was no match for them. They overpowered me, and I felt a searing pain in my side.

As I lay there, struggling to breathe, I saw Christina's face above me, her eyes filled with tears. I tried to speak, but my voice was barely a whisper.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't protect you..."

Everything went black.

---

I let out a loud wail, my tiny lungs burning from the exertion. I was surrounded by warmth and darkness, and I couldn't understand what was happening.

As I cried, I slowly became aware of my surroundings. I was in a small, cozy room, with a woman sitting beside me. She was smiling at me, her eyes filled with joy and love.

As I stopped crying, I looked up at her in wonder. She was beautiful, with long, flowing hair and piercing green eyes.

I looked at her, and my mind was filled with confusion. Why did she look so familiar?

"Huh... how is my mom... alive?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The woman's smile faltered, and she looked at me with a mixture of sadness and surprise.

"My dear son," she whispered, "you've been given a second chance at life."