Chapter 2: Reincarnation
A boy, no older than sixteen, lay sprawled across a lush, grassy clearing. His golden blonde hair shimmered faintly under the glow of the blue moon above, and his tall body rested on the soft grass beneath him.
His pale white skin, flawless and radiant, complemented the sharp contours of his face: a straight nose, high cheekbones, and a small mole delicately placed under his right eye.
His beauty could overshadow even the most handsome person throughout the whole human history. Sadly, it wasn't the time to admire his beauty.
Faint breathing could be heard from his body, showing that he was alive, for now at least. It was nighttime, and the blue moon shone brightly over the starry sky, illuminating the darkness with its mesmerizing moonlight.
Twitch
A faint movement broke the tranquility. The boy's fingers curled slightly, his lips quivered, and his eyelids fluttered. Slowly, his golden eyes flickered open, catching the moonlight and reflecting its brilliance.
"ughh..."
A low groan escaped his lips, shattering the heavy silence. He pressed his hand into the soft earth beneath him, struggling to sit upright. His body felt foreign, and heavy, like wearing a suit of armor for the first time.
Confusion marred his otherwise perfect features as his gaze darted around, observing the alien surroundings. Towering trees, their trunks wider than houses, loomed over his vision. They swayed silently, rustling their leaves over him.
"Where... am I?"
A hoarse voice escaped his lips, further increasing his confusion. Gazing around, his eyes pierced through the darkness as he found himself inside the middle of a massive forest.
He stood, albeit shakily, leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree for support. The rough bark pressed into his palm, grounding him. A chilling breeze swept through the clearing, raising goosebumps on his pale skin.
Memories surged faintly in his mind—fleeting images of a car, a truck, a scream, and... Lily. His eyes widened, the weight of realization hitting him like a crashing wave.
"I… I died," he murmured, his golden eyes clouding over as fragmented flashes of his previous life forced their way to the surface.
But this body—this forest—none of it was familiar. The boy pressed his trembling hand against his chest. The heartbeat he felt there was steady, alive, but it wasn't his.
"argh.."
Clutching his head tightly, he screamed a desperate roar, begging for it to be a dream, a nightmare if nothing else.
"Why?...why?.." His lifeless gaze fell on his outstretched pale white palm, a stark contrast to his usual rough palm full of calluses. He clenched his fist tightly until his knuckles turned white.
"Sorry..I..I.." He slammed his tightened fist against the thick bark.
Tears fell, leaves fell, but it didn't matter.
"I..failed to protect..you."
He kneeled, staring at the starry sky with a desolate gaze, a gaze of a broken man.
Suddenly, fragmented memories gushed inside his mind, causing an intense migraine.
The memories were alien, unknown but, Luke understood them. Slowly, his vacant eyes regained clarity, witnessing the memories.
—
A child with golden hair and golden eyes stood next to a middle-aged woman. She was beautiful, on par with a goddess's divine grace. A gentle smile was visible on her face despite her sickly appearance. The child feeling scared, clutched the helm of her dress tightly. She. understanding his fear, patted his head lightly and whispered something,
The same child has grown into a handsome young boy. He stood outside a room with his head bowed down, tears trickling down his face. His trembling hands betrayed the hidden fear, he desperately attempted to hide before her. He rested his forehead against the door, his voice barely audible as he choked out a single word: "Mom…"
The young man gazed forward, his unwavering resolve shining beneath his golden eyes. Before him rooted a massive forest spanning millions of miles. The forest looked ordinary, with tall green trees, wild animals, some dangerous while others carefree, flourishing vegetation, etc. However, beneath its ordinary nature was something incredibly dark, something dangerous and devastating. The man strode forward and entered the forest, naive yet determined.
—
The boy gasped as the memories subsided, leaving him trembling and drenched in cold sweat.
"Who… was that?" he muttered, the fragments of a life not his own swirling in his mind.
"Cassian…" A name subconsciously appeared on his lips.
A faint rustle in the distance drew the man's attention, dragging him back to the present. He flinched, his heightened senses caught the sound instantly, as though his ears had sharpened beyond human capability. The rustling grew louder, deliberate as if something large was approaching.
"The true nature of the Mournshade Forest…I see.."
The boy turned, his body tensing instinctively. His gaze fixed on the darkness ahead, where two glowing, predatory eyes emerged from the shadows. A guttural growl echoed, reverberating through the forest.
Cold sweat trickled down his back, goosebumps arising and sending tingles down his spine.
He clenched his fists, his heart pounding in his chest.
"God…" he murmured, his voice shaking. "Why are you playing with my broken soul?"
Before him lay a massive creature towering over him, tens of meters high. Its soft blue fur danced wildly under the moonlight reflecting its beauty as well as its ferociousness. Its fangs, sharp and menacing, barred itself against the boy. Its crimson eyes shone under the darkness with ruthless light.
The boy subconsciously took a step back, feeling the intense bloodthirst from those eyes.
'A bloodeye wolf.' He whispered, staring at its blood-like eyes with countless emotions. Fear reigned supreme among them, evident from his trembling hands. It was a beast, unlike anything he'd seen or heard before.
A majestic wolf with dark blue fur, crimson eyes, and sharp, pointy fangs was staring at him with its piercing gaze, like a predator on a hunt.
An invisible pressure descended on his shoulders, displaying the gravity of his current predicament.
This was no dream. This was no nightmare.
This was his new reality.
This world, wherever he was, did not feel safe.