Life Beyond End

The room smelled like flowers—real ones, not the chemical crap they spray in department stores. It was soft and calming, like someone bottled up spring and decided to let it loose in this room.

I wasn't fully conscious yet. My thoughts felt distant, like they were coming from some foggy corner of my mind. Hm, reincarnation, huh? Guess it wasn't just some weird fever dream.

And then it hit me—I was here. Alive. Again.

When I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a massive dude holding me. Muscles for days. This guy looked like he could bench-press a horse for fun.

Okay, new dad, noted.

I didn't have much time to process that before another figure caught my attention. My mom—well, I guess my new mom. She was lying on the bed, exhausted but absolutely stunning. She had that "glowing after childbirth" thing going on, and even though I'd never really cared about stuff like that in my old life, I couldn't help but be impressed.

"You have a wonderful, healthy baby boy, Sir Drendel!"

The voice belonged to someone else—a young woman standing nearby. And holy crap, she wasn't just any woman. Pointy ears, flawless skin, sparkling eyes. An elf.

Wait, elves exist here?

I stared at her, probably drooling a little, but hey, I was a baby—it's expected. She was gorgeous, like something out of a fantasy painting.

The house itself was cozy, all wood and warmth. It wasn't a palace or anything, but it had this homey vibe that made me feel... safe. It was simple, practical, and definitely screamed "commoner family," but I wasn't complaining.

"Aww, Flynn, you're so cute!"

Flynn. That was my new name. Okay, Flynn, welcome to your new life. Let's try not to mess this one up.

The big guy—Dad—leaned in with a grin that took up half his face. He started making baby noises in the dumbest voice I'd ever heard.

"Awh, wou shoo cyute!!"

Alright, dude, tone it down.

Still, I figured it wouldn't hurt to play along, so I let out a laugh. Or, well, whatever noise a baby makes when it's trying to fake-laugh.

"Hehe... obbejeuuehh... JEHEGEGGEG."

Nailed it.

Dad's face lit up, and he started tickling me like I was the most hilarious thing he'd ever seen. For the record, I am not ticklish, but my tiny baby body had other ideas.

"Dear, can I hold him?"

That was Mom. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, like she was afraid she'd break me.

"Of course, my love," Dad said, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

Hauugh... Okay, that level of affection was... a lot. It made me think of her—my ex-wife. Not going there. Moving on.

Mom sat up slowly, cradling me in her arms like I was the most precious thing in the world. And when I got a good look at her, my brain short-circuited.

She was beautiful. Not in an intimidating, supermodel way, but in this natural, graceful way that made her feel... real. Warm.

I stared at her, completely mesmerized, and because I had no other options, I let out another random noise.

"Abowepowayboe."

Smooth, Flynn. Real smooth.

"Aww, Flynn," she said, swaying me gently. "You're going to grow up to be a strong mage. I can already tell."

A mage? Like, with magic and stuff? Okay, now we're talking. This life just keeps getting better.

---

Four months later, I was officially a pro crawler. It was like leveling up in a video game—only instead of cool powers, I got the ability to explore the house.

The place was nice. Two stories, sturdy wooden furniture, and a small garden out back. It wasn't fancy, but it felt... right. Like a proper home.

I spent most of my days crawling around, checking out every corner I could find. Of course, that also meant I got into trouble more often than not. Like the time I decided to conquer the stairs.

Yeah. That didn't go well.

I managed to climb one step before my baby strength gave out, and gravity decided to remind me who's boss. I tumbled down with a loud thud, smacking my head against the floor.

"Oww..."

Okay, I couldn't actually say that, but trust me, I was thinking it.

"Flynn, what's wrong?!"

Our babysitter came rushing in, arms full of laundry. She dropped everything the second she saw me lying there, her face a mix of panic and guilt.

"Oh my god!" she gasped, scooping me up like I was a ticking time bomb.

Alright, Babysitter-chan, relax. It's just a bump.

"Pain nullification!" she shouted, her voice full of urgency.

Wait, what?

A blue light burst from her hands, washing over me in an instant. The pain vanished like it had never been there in the first place.

I blinked, staring up at her in awe.

Was that... magic?

Before I could process what just happened, my parents came running in, looking like they'd seen a ghost.

"What happened?!" Mom asked, her voice sharp with worry.

"Flynn fell down the stairs!" Babysitter-chan replied, still holding me tightly.

Way to sugarcoat it, lady.

"Oh no!" Mom crouched beside me, her hands glowing with a soft green light. "Healing magic!"

The light enveloped me, and just like that, I felt completely fine. Better than fine, actually.

Okay, hold up. Magic is real here? Not just real, but something everyone seems to know how to use? Even the babysitter?

This world was blowing my mind, and I'd only been here a few months.

---

The days passed quickly after that, each one filled with something new and exciting. My parents were surprisingly attentive for commoners, always making sure I was happy and safe.

Dad was... a lot. Big, loud, and full of energy, he spent most of his time trying to make me laugh. And, honestly? It worked.

Mom, on the other hand, was the calm, nurturing type. She had this way of making everything feel okay, even when things got chaotic.

And then there was Babysitter-chan. I still didn't know her actual name, but she was cool. A little overdramatic, maybe, but hey, she knew how to use magic, so I wasn't complaining.

Speaking of magic, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The way it felt when that blue light washed over me, the warmth of Mom's healing spell—it was incredible.

I couldn't wait to grow up and try it for myself.

---

One night, as I lay in my crib staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't help but smile.

This life was different. Better. It wasn't perfect, but it had potential. And for the first time in forever, I felt like I actually had a shot at being happy.

This is it, Flynn. Your second chance. Don't screw it up.