—EIGHT MONTHS LATER—
I don't understand why it had to end like this. Despite all the bad I've been through, I never wanted my life to finish this way.
Who said these words?
Albert or Elisa?
Or was it someone from my past?
I don't remember any of this. Why does everything have to be so confusing?
But before anything else… where am I?
I looked around, but I saw nothing except a white landscape, like a huge blank canvas. Only this canvas surrounded me completely. There was nothing. I couldn't feel or hear anything at all.
Am I in a dream? Or maybe in a nightmare? I can't think of anything logical right now.
I kept trying to move, though I couldn't tell if I even still had a body. I could see this strange place but… do I even have eyes to see?
I closed my eyes, thinking that maybe—just maybe—this would end if I fell asleep. I focused with all my strength on trying to get out of that space.
That's when the white canvas slowly began to paint itself black. A black so deep it devoured the bright light from before.
I thought maybe I had done something… or that someone had arrived.
And it seemed my thoughts came true: a glowing figure in gold, with grayish tones almost black, stood in front of me. It crouched right before me, even though there was no floor to do so.
Can it walk on… air?
Its presence was such that I felt…
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not a trace of fear, joy, or surprise.
But it didn't seem the same for that figure. Even without eyes, a mouth, or human features, it was as if I could feel its emotions reflected in me.
I tried with all my might to form a word, a movement—anything to communicate.
Just when I thought something was about to come out of me, the figure spoke:
—You're quite strange. You're the first one I've felt this unique vibe from. What were you in your past life?
I couldn't say a word.
—Anyway, since you're here, I can see why you were chosen.
—A triple-bearer with no elemental restrictions… I'm a bit surprised, even if I don't look it, you know?
—You're not the best to have arrived, but having no restrictions already puts you above 60%. I just hope everything goes as planned.
—The King expects much from you, Liam Miller.
The figure touched where my forehead should be with its imaginary finger—or at least that's how it felt.
The black space turned once again into the bright white from before, and then came a sensation of traveling at high speed—like those times you're in a fast car and all the scenery blurs away.
I woke up abruptly. I was in my bed, at home.
Everything was so confusing and strange. Maybe it was because I was still so small, but I couldn't control my emotions or my body as I wanted. So I started crying.
My mother came into the room to see what was wrong. Seeing me cry, she held me in her arms and began to calm me with a soft lullaby.
It was so strange. My mind and my body felt like two separate parts, not a single organism. While my body cried, my mind was somewhere else.
My thoughts were clear, almost as if the dream I had—if it even was one—had never happened or I had simply forgotten it. It was so odd… but it only made my curiosity grow even more.
How did it know my previous name?
One of the chosen? No restrictions? Triple-bearer?
What did that being mean by all of that?
I didn't have the brain or the body to find answers. I had to wait until I grew a bit more to do something for myself.
Until that moment comes… I'll enjoy these moments I have now.
Perhaps the future won't be as simple as I thought.
———
The next day, when I woke up, I found my parents' faces very close to mine. I gave a little jump in fright the moment I opened my eyes.
They both stepped back slightly and, right after, threw something like confetti and shouted in unison:
—Kael, happy birthday!
Father lifted me up, and they both hugged me. That feeling was something I had forgotten and hadn't felt in a long time.
Once in the living room and more awake, it hit me: today was my first birthday.
One year living in this completely new world. Honestly, I stopped thinking about time when I was seven months old—until yesterday's incident.
That's when I became aware of time again… and of how maybe someone was holding the strings of my life without me knowing.
But today is not a day to think about that. Today I should focus on having fun with my family.
Apparently, my parents had planned everything for weeks. They spent the whole morning preparing the party. They invited many people from the village.
I wasn't surprised: my parents were very popular throughout town.
In past months, I had met about a dozen families. But today, I could easily count triple that.
Around three in the afternoon, the preparations were finished.
My parents asked for everyone's attention.
—Today we've invited you to a very special celebration—Albert said.
—Today my son Kael turns one year old. I didn't think my little boy would grow so fast, but that doesn't matter. I only hope he becomes someone I can be proud of… though I already am. Haha.
—Today I want it to be a day full of joy, laughter, and above all, moments we will never forget.
—Kael, even if you might not understand me, I want to thank you for being here with us.
—From the moment you were born, I knew you'd be the most precious thing for your mother and me.
—I want you to know we will always be here with you, when you need us most… and even when you don't.
—Thank you, my little one.
Albert's words pierced straight into my heart.
To think I could have someone like this in my life… it was something I thought would never happen again.
In my past life, my parents died in a car accident when I was ten. Since then, my aunt, my mother's sister, took care of me and raised me alongside her daughter. She, like Albert and Elisa, meant everything to me.
But when she was gone too… I didn't know where to go… or what to do.
Then I wonder… why did it have to end like that?
Ah… now I remember.
Those words… I said them before my own death.
The lights of a car approached at great speed while I wandered aimlessly.
Now I remember everything.
I was quite pathetic and stupid for letting it all end that way.
But…
I won't let all those memories devour me. I won't fall back into that miserable state again.
Now I have a second chance. And I don't plan on wasting it.
I will do everything I can so that this life doesn't end in a nightmare like the last one.
I'm tired of running away.
This life will be better.
I promise this not only to you, Mom, Dad…
I also promise it to myself.
I will take everything within my reach to make it happen.