The first thing I remember was the warmth. Not the kind of warmth that comes from the sun or the feeling of a blanket around your body, but the comfort of being alive—alive in a body that wasn't mine. I had no name, no history, only the sensation of being in an unfamiliar world.
I wasn't sure how it happened—my past life felt like a dream fading away, a memory I could no longer touch. I knew only that I had been Yuki Mitsumu, a college student from the Philippines, and now I was here, in a small room with soft walls and gentle hands lifting me.
I was a baby. A helpless, tiny thing.
At first, I couldn't grasp the full extent of my situation. But as days blurred into one another, I began to understand. I was in an orphanage. The people who looked after me weren't family, but they were kind in their own way—especially Ellie, the woman who spent the most time with me. She would pick me up, feed me, and hum quiet lullabies. There was a warmth to her, a gentleness that made the strange new world feel a little less foreign.
I wasn't sure why I was here. It didn't make sense. But I kept quiet, observing, letting the world unfold around me. My memories from my past life were still fresh in my mind, like a collection of images and sounds I couldn't let go of. I knew things. Things about the world I shouldn't have known at my age. But they were there—unbidden knowledge that guided me as I grew.
The first time I tried to speak, I said "Arius." It wasn't much of a word, just a string of sounds. But somehow, it felt like it was my name. It felt right.
Ellie seemed surprised when I spoke for the first time. "You said your name," she said, her voice full of awe. "Arius...?"
I nodded, though I wasn't sure if that was my true name or if I had just picked it out of the air. But it was mine now, and I would hold onto it.
At the age of three, Ellie taught me about the Empire's noble families and the royal family. (As if an actual toddler would understand that.) I thought to myself while listening to her.
She first told me about the Nyx Family, the Wolves of the north, known for their intelligence and strategic planning, is one of the most powerful, second only to the Imperial family. They were the rulers of the North, feared and respected for their assassins and spies, silent in their movements but deadly when they struck. Their bloodline was as dark and elusive as the shadows they controlled.
To the East, there was the Halcyon Family, the Falcon of the east known for their precision, speed and unmatched swordsmanship. They dominated the eastern reaches of the empire, their warriors seen as the finest in all of Cepheus. Their sharp blades and sharper minds made them formidable opponents, and they had been the backbone of the empire's military for generations. They were as honorable as they were fierce, though their reputation for pride often brought them into conflict with the other houses.
In the South, the Faelcrest Family ruled over all things magical. Known as the Owl of the south that is intelligent yet mysterious, their mages were the most powerful in the empire, their mastery over the arcane sciences allowing them to influence the world in ways no other family could. They controlled the magical currents that ran through the land and were instrumental in both the empire's defense and its diplomacy. The Faelcrest family was often seen as aloof, their focus on the mystical arts distancing them from the more practical matters of the empire.
To the West was the Valmere Family, fierce and unyielding, their reputation tied to the sea. Known as the Bears of the west that are the Vikings of the empire, the Valmere family controlled the trade routes and the vast fleets that sailed the empire's oceans. They were a hardy people, forged in the fires of the sea, and their influence spread far beyond the borders of Cepheus. The Valmere were ruthless traders, cunning in their dealings, and their ships could be found in every port along the empire's coasts.
At the heart of it all, however, was the Seraphel Royal Family. Descendants of dragons, the Seraphel bloodline was said to be as ancient as the stars themselves. The rulers of the empire, they held sway over all four of the noble houses, and their word was law. But they were not simply rulers—they were beings of power, with a mystique and might that commanded both awe and fear. Their connection to dragons, though mostly symbolic now, was deeply ingrained in the empire's history. Legends told of Seraphel monarchs who could command storms, manipulate fire, and even shift between human and dragon forms. While that power had faded over the centuries, the royal family's dominance remained unchallenged. They were seen as both gods and mortals, revered as divine leaders yet wielding the same flaws as any human.
As a normal human being in my past life, that was a lot to take in. I have a lot of questions in my mind. (What the hell?? Magic? Swordsmanship? Royal family? Noble families? Trades?? Assassins?)
I am now certain that this wasn't Earth. It wasn't Japan or the Philippines. This was the Cepheus Empire—a vast, sprawling place filled with power, politics, and intrigue. This is a whole another world.
As I grew, so did my understanding. My body might have been small, but I was mentally mature enough to understand all of this that was happening to me. I began to accept my new reality, even as I questioned how my past life had come to an end.
By the time I was five, I had learned more than most children twice my age. I understood the ways of the empire, the politics that ran beneath the surface. The unique culture that is far more different from where I came from in my past life.
The other day, while I was playing I had heard the older children whispering about the Nyx family, about their bloodline, their assassins, and their legacy. Some of the children spoke of the Duke—the head of the Nyx family—like he was a legend. A shadow that loomed over everyone.
And then, one day, that shadow came to the orphanage.
To be continued.....
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Character(s)
Arius
Age: 5 (Mentally 25)
Appearance: Short silver hair, red eyes, white skin, pointy nose, and an innocent yet calculating gaze.
Characteristic: Bold, cheerful, clever, observant, a bit cold, independent yet lonely, mature, and reflective.
Hobbies: Reading, writing, playing, eavesdropping on conversations.
Dislikes: Being treated like a child, Boredom, Gossip or meaningless conversations, Crowds and noisy places, Betrayal and dishonesty.
Ellie Stewart
Age: 27
Height: 158 cm
Appearance: Long brown hair, brown eyes, white skin, pointy nose, and a gentle demeanor.
Characteristic: Kind, nurturing, helpful, cheerful, optimistic, hardworking, patient, mature, strict, caring, protective and perceptive.
Hobbies: Cleaning, reading, cooking, writing, sewing, taking care of the children, playing with children.
Dislikes: Conflict, Messy or disorganized spaces, Neglect or mistreatment of children, Wasting food.