Three years. That's how long it had been since I cracked the code on omni-state and the whole three omnis thing. Honestly, I deserved a medal—or maybe a nap. But instead of basking in the glory of my genius, I was stuck in this tiny eight-year-old body. It wasn't just awkward; it was limiting. Every time I tried to move the way I used to, my limbs reminded me, Hey, kid, you're not twenty-five anymore.
_____𖤍_____
The sun hung lazily above us, casting a golden glow on the training yard. My dad, Forle—tall, muscular, and grinning like he'd just heard the punchline to a bad joke—was already in his stance, sword raised high above his head. His eyes glinted with amusement. He was enjoying this.
Me? Not so much.
"Ready, Rynan?" he called out, his voice dripping with confidence.
I gave a small nod.
Oh, I was ready. Ready to wipe that smug look off his face.
I shifted my weight forward, mimicking his stance. Sword high, left foot forward. My dagger felt light in my hand, almost too light. In my past life, I could've handled this easily. My body had been conditioned, my movements precise. Now? I was stuck calculating every step, every twitch of muscle, like some amateur.
Dad moved first, stance still solid, his right foot stepped forward, his sword held high above his head. His target? My left temple.
Classic.
I didn't need a manual to figure this one out. The angle, the setup—it was practically telegraphed. As his blade began to descend, I stepped forward with my right foot, dagger aimed directly for his stomach. A clean counter. Quick. Precise.
But Dad wasn't an amateur.
He saw it coming. Of course, he did. And before my blade could connect, he sidestepped to my left, faster than I could adjust.
Bang!
I hit the ground face-first, dirt invading my mouth. Great. Exactly the kind of impression I wanted to make.
"Gah!" I spat out the soil, clutching my nose. It throbbed with pain, probably red as a tomato now.
"Whoops!" Dad's voice was a mix of concern and amusement. He was already walking over, reaching out a hand to help me up. "I exerted a lil' too much power there. Sorry, Ryn."
"Yeah, sure," I mumbled, forcing a smile as I took his hand. My pride hurt more than my face. But a fight was a fight, and I wasn't going to let him off that easy.
Before I could retort, though, my mom's voice cut through the yard. "Rynan!"
I turned just in time to see her rushing toward us, worry plastered across her face. For a moment, I thought she was coming to check on me. Nope. She breezed right past, zeroing in on Dad with a look that could've melted steel.
Smack!
Her hand connected with the back of his head, the sound echoing across the yard.
"Pfft!" I couldn't hold it in. My hand flew to my mouth, but the laughter spilled out anyway. I glanced over at Andrea, our ever-watchful maid, who was sitting on a nearby chair. She was already doubled over, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
"You…" Dad turned to glare at me, his face a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.
"Forle, you idiot!" Mom snapped, smacking him again for good measure. "He's still eight!"
Dad raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin faltering under Mom's fury. "Alright, alright! I get it!"
The scene was too much. The once-proud warrior now reduced to a chastised husband under the wrath of his wife. It was like watching a play unfold, and I was the only audience member who truly appreciated the comedy. Is this how hard being a husband is?
Hah. Just when was the last time I'd laughed like this?
I brushed off the dirt clinging to my clothes, still grinning like an idiot. My nose still hurt, my pride was bruised, but… I didn't mind. Not really. For the first time in a long while, I felt something close to normal.
Dad muttered something under his breath as he picked up his sword, shooting me a look that promised revenge—probably in the form of extra training. Mom was still lecturing him, her hands on her hips.
Andrea finally managed to catch her breath, wiping tears from her eyes. "You okay, Ryn?" she asked, her tone teasing.
"Never better," I said, smiling. "Just another day in training!"
I glanced back at my dad, who was now sheepishly apologizing to Mom. The sight made me chuckle again. For all his strength and skill, he didn't stand a chance against her.
"Alright, let's wrap it up for today," Mom said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Dad nodded, casting one last playful glare in my direction. "We'll continue tomorrow, Rynan. And next time, no holding back."
"Sure thing, Dad," I replied, smirking. "Just try not to get smacked around again."
Andrea snorted, quickly covering her mouth as Mom shot her a warning look.
We made our way back to the house, the warm glow of the setting sun painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers from the nearby fields. It was peaceful, serene.
But my mind was already racing.
Three years. That's how long I'd been here, trapped in this small body, relearning everything from scratch. Every day felt like a battle—not just against my dad or the world, but against myself. Against the memories of who I used to be.
_____𖤍_____
Dinner was quiet—well, as quiet as it could be with Dad at the table. Everyone was busy eating, and I had to admit, the food was ridiculously good. Like, chef-kissed-the-plate-before-serving-it kind of good. Andrea was across from me, shoveling food into her mouth like it might vanish if she slowed down.
The silence broke when Mom cleared her throat. "Ryn, Andrea," she started, her tone a mix of excitement and that mom-seriousness that always made you pay attention. "We'll be moving to Ylza City next week!"
Her smile practically lit up the room, but I barely registered it because—Ylza?
My fork clattered against my plate. Ylza. The city I'd read about in every book I could get my hands on. The largest city on the Plains Continent. The kind of place that felt like it existed just to laugh at small-town folk like us.
"Ylza?!" Andrea was faster to react, nearly toppling her chair as she stood up. "Miss Linia, isn't that the largest city in the entire Plains Continent?"
"Yes," Dad chimed in, grinning like he'd just won a prize. "Because we're rich!"
Smack!
Mom's hand made solid contact with the back of Dad's head, and the satisfaction on her face was undeniable. I couldn't help but stifle a laugh as Dad rubbed his head, mumbling something about being unappreciated.
"We aren't rich," Mom said firmly, giving Dad a pointed look that could have peeled paint off a wall. "A relative invited us to live in their mansion."
Hold up—a mansion?
I froze. My past life had been filled with...well, everything but luxury. Mansions weren't even on the radar. But now? My second chance was throwing me into a life where I could live in one. Dreams really do come true.
Andrea looked as shocked as I felt. Her wide eyes darted between Mom and Dad, like she couldn't decide who to question first.
"And," Mom continued, as if the mansion bombshell wasn't enough, "we're also planning to enroll you in Ylza Academy, Ryn."
The fork I'd just picked up fell again. "Ylza Academy?" My voice cracked. Great. Real smooth.
Dad leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too proud of himself. "Of course," he said, like this was a decision he'd made singlehandedly. "You're already stronger than me, and I can't have my own son showing me up without proper training. Me and Linia agreed it's the best place for you to grow."
"Like a cockroach," Dad added, completely ruining the moment. "Every day, you just get faster and stronger—like there's no limit to it!"
Smack!
Mom didn't miss a beat, smacking him so hard this time I almost felt it.
"Our son is not a cockroach!" she yelled, her voice echoing around the room.
"Alright, alright!" Dad raised his hands defensively, laughing through his pain. "He's not a cockroach!"
Mom gave him a look that could silence a dragon, but then, in the blink of an eye, she leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. Dad turned red. Like, embarrassed middle-schooler caught in a crush red.
Andrea turned her head so fast I thought she might snap her neck. I glanced at her and couldn't hold back a snort.
'Same brain,' I thought as she made a face that screamed, Make it stop.
I coughed, trying to cover my laugh. Sure, our parents were disgustingly in love sometimes, but this? This was next-level cringe.
Still, Ylza Academy, a mansion, and a city I'd only dreamed about? The future was looking bright.