All was dark...
He couldn't perceive light except that which came from his side. It was surreal akin to the light reflected when it permeates through a dark membranous surface. Bright yet ...still dark.
His eyes were weary. Heavy as it would be if weights were attached to his brows. His nerves, shut down and all he could feel was the pertinent moisture which surrounded him like he had been drowned in a river. He felt confined.
'Where am i'. Raiku mused
The last thing he remembered was dying with his best friend's sword stabbed right through his lower abdomen penetrating right though him. For him it had only been a second since he felt death.
'So this is heaven.. Who am I kidding. There's no way in seven lifetimes that I could end up in heaven and I doubt the gods could be so merciful to put me in a hell as peaceful as this, considering my many sins.' For some reason he felt comfort in talking with himself as it bordered him away from losing whatever was left of his sanity considering the fact that the prison he assumed he accommodated bore the same silence as a dragon's graveyard and dead dragons were really quiet things.
As he slowly regained his nervous system, he felt a certain absence. Like a feeling that had suddenly disappeared.
'No, it can't be'
Suddenly he felt a jolt of energy rush through him as he was freed from his minature prison through the smallest hole he had ever seen. Perhaps this was his own hell as he had never undergone such an excruciating pain which was something that bothered him for he believed he had passed through so much pain than any other mortal or immortal.
Who was he?
He was Raiku, the one hailed as the Dragon of tyranny, an existence said to have been the closest to dominating the entire immortal world. For him to be subjected to such woe was simply inconceivable, if he survived this, someone head was sure to roll.
Immediately he exited from his confined torture, he was greeted by a bright ray of light which further intensified as he opened his eyes. The first thing he proceeded to do was feel his head and unfortunately for him his fears stayed true. For the hair which had once graced his head was gone.
'Noooooooooooooooooo' he screamed internally whilst positioning himself for a mighty roar to instill fear into the perpertrators of this dreadful act before he administered the appropriate punishment he deemed best for the bunch of weaklings. But the attempted roar only came out as a baby's cry bewildering him beyond measure.
'What the fuck is going on.'
But that wasn't all that was strange for when he looked around the lit cottage that surrounded him, he saw a bunch of oversized,... Humans. And even he could tell that they were not transformed humans but surprisingly enough when he lifted his own hands and found no scales, reality dawned on him.
He then let out another cry before being lifted up by a huge human donned in a black robe stained with specks of blood.
''Congratulations, it's a boy''. The human said and every other human present burst into an uproar. Particularly the pair stationed at the bedside with one lying down looking like she had just had a ferocious exchange with a wild beast, the other just blabbering out nonsense which he perceived as his way of expressing joy. All that didn't bother Raiku though. He was used to praises as he had garnered a lot before he died ad he had very well grown numb to it considering it as a wasteful endeavor for a mere task for there wasn't a task which posed any difficulty to him but this time it was different.
He had been reincarnated, that much he understood by now, and as a human at that, the very perversion of his might. All that which he had achieved was lost and he was meant to start over, as a weakling. He just couldn't take it. He let out another cry, a painful reminder of all that which he had lost. But that only did as much as to intensify the cheers of the tiny crowd as if the very sound of his agony brought them immense joy.
.. It was infuriating
''He's a loud one isn't he''. The blabbering idiot who stood by the bed said turning everyone silent.
He walked to the human carrying Raiku then rocked him which surprisingly made the baby silent. Little did they know that it wasnt simply because of a fatherly bond, rather, it was simply a pause Raiku made to review his disgust to the red haired mannequin. Although Raiku viewed him as an idiot just like any weakling present in that very room if any lady were to look upon this man they would, no doubt, admit that whoever had spent his time creating him had spent their time well. The women in the room were trying all they could not to fall just by staring at him as that would be an insult to the occasion and may very well pose a threat to him considering the fact that it was the day that his wife had finally given hin a child. Whatever chance they had had been gone.
And this handsome idiot had turned out to be Raiku's father. It irked him to no end. Firstly because, he refused to accept that this was going to be his new father. In comparison to his previous father's strength, even an ant stood a better chance. Secondly, he reminded him of his old self. Loved by all, Charming beyond measure particularly the striking red hair which he currently coveted. It was a reminder for him and a painful one at that.
He had no choice but to just accept fate. There was nothing he could do afterall. He clenched his tiny fist in pure rage hoping to exude a fraction of his plight when he noticed the strangest thing. Right there in his palm, was a tiny red bead barely the size of a bird's eye.
'Are all humans born with this' he pondered
'No the energy emanating from this is very strong almost like.... It can't be...'
Joy brewed inside him as he gazed at the bead utterly confused.
'How could it be that I am reborn with... Dragon essence. Maybe its a sign.'
His hope was restored as he realised that maybe he wasn't fated to be a weakling after all. It would seem that one's greatness could simply not be hindered, not even by the boundless shacles of death, at least not his.
"I still haven't thought of a name yet". The red-haired idiot asked while scratching the back of his head further disgusting the little baby as he portrayed the perfect image of a complete idiot.
The bedridden maiden simply laughed at the scene.
"How about...Arthur".