NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Chapter One: A New Beginning
The sensation of falling was endless. Weightless and disoriented, he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. Memories of his past life flickered like a broken projector—a heated debate about the strongest characters in anime, a late-night marathon of Fairy Tail, and an impulsive dive into Vinland Saga and One Piece. Then, the abrupt, cold sting of a car accident.
Darkness swallowed him whole until a faint warmth returned, drawing him toward consciousness. He blinked slowly, his vision adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings. The room was small but cozy, with wooden beams on the ceiling and sunlight streaming through an open window. A woman's voice, soft and soothing, spoke in a language he didn't understand at first.
"Isn't he adorable, Paul? He looks just like you."
The words clicked in his mind, as if his brain was rebooting and installing a translation patch. He tried to move but found his limbs unresponsive, his body uncoordinated. Panic set in until he caught sight of tiny, pudgy hands.
"What... am I a baby?!"
He wanted to scream, but all that came out was a gurgling noise. The realization hit him like lightning. He had been reborn.
Over the months that followed, he pieced together his new reality. He was now the eldest son of Paul and Zenith Greyrat, an infant in a medieval fantasy world far removed from the modern conveniences he once knew. His new name was Aedric Greyrat, and judging by the conversations he overheard, his family was of some noble status.
But what truly floored him was the rush of memories and abilities that awakened alongside his new consciousness. He remembered everything—not just his past life, but the skills and combat prowess of Yuri Dreyar, the fiery resolve of Sabo, and the survivalist instincts of Thorfinn. The power to wield lightning, the discipline of martial arts, and the brutal lessons of warfare surged through him as if they were always a part of him.
He experimented in secret, wiggling his tiny fingers to conjure sparks of electricity. The first time he succeeded, the energy fizzled out with a faint crackle, but it was enough to make his heart race. "This world has magic," he thought, exhilarated by the possibilities. "I'm not just a spectator. I'm a part of it."
By the time he was three, Aedric's talents began to show. His younger brother, Rudeus, had been born by then, and their parents were too preoccupied with caring for the infant to notice Aedric's unusual maturity. He practiced swordplay with sticks in the garden, mimicking the forms of Ryusoken from Sabo's memories. When Paul caught him one afternoon, the man's laughter turned to astonishment as Aedric flawlessly executed a series of strikes.
"Zenith, I think our son is a prodigy!" Paul exclaimed.
Zenith peered out from the doorway, balancing Rudeus on her hip. "He's certainly... energetic," she said with a bemused smile.
Aedric grinned innocently, hiding the depth of his understanding. He wasn't ready to reveal the full extent of his abilities yet. There was too much he didn't know about this world, and caution was the better part of survival. He focused instead on building his strength and protecting the family he had grown to love.
The turning point came when he was five. A band of mercenaries, hired by a rival noble family, descended upon their village. Paul rushed to confront them, blade in hand, while Zenith barricaded the house. Fear gnawed at Aedric as he listened to the clash of steel outside. His younger brother wailed in Zenith's arms, the baby's cries cutting through the chaos.
"Stay here," Zenith commanded, her voice trembling.
But Aedric couldn't obey. He wasn't just a child; he was Yuri Dreyar, Sabo, and Thorfinn. He was someone who could make a difference.
Grabbing a kitchen knife, he slipped out the back door and crept toward the commotion. Lightning flickered at his fingertips as he confronted the mercenaries, his heart pounding. The first time he struck—a swift bolt of electricity that left one man convulsing on the ground—he felt a mix of terror and exhilaration.
Paul, bloodied but unbroken, turned to see his son fighting beside him. His expression shifted from shock to pride. "Aedric... you're incredible!"
The battle ended quickly after that, the mercenaries fleeing in disarray. When the dust settled, Paul knelt before Aedric, gripping his shoulders tightly.
"Where did you learn that?" he demanded, his tone a mixture of awe and suspicion.
Aedric hesitated before replying, "I just wanted to help."
Paul stared at him for a long moment before pulling him into a tight embrace. "You're going to be someone great, Aedric. I just know it."
As he hugged his father, Aedric resolved to use his abilities to protect his family and forge a path in this new world. His journey had just begun, and the echoes of Yuri, Sabo, and Thorfinn whispered in his heart, guiding him toward an uncertain but promising future.