It was night. The city was illuminated with bright street lights lighting up every path, shops flickering signs, and on the road were different cars. The towering buildings shimmered against the night sky, and the hum of engines echoed faintly through the air.
In one of the black cars sat Albert, a fifteen-year-old boy. Black hair, chubby cheeks, and a pair of glasses rested on his face. Beside him sat his younger sister, Cecilia, while in the front and driver's seat were his parents.
Cecilia smiled. "Big brother, congrats on coming out the best this year in your class."
Albert adjusted his glasses like a professor. "Of course, it's to be expected. I am Isaac Newton after all," he said.
Cecilia glared at him. "What's with that response?"
Albert burst into laughter, and his mother turned back. "Albert, stop laughing at your sister. You'll get her angry."
Albert held his laughter. "Okay, Mum." He stopped laughing.
His father turned back to face them while driving. "What's the matter? Albert is right. He is Isaac Newton after all."
His mother hit his hand. "Concentrate on the road! Do you want to get us killed?"
His father turned to look at her. "Come on, Beatrice, what bad could happen?"
Beatrice turned to face forward. "Ronald, look out!" she screamed.
Ronald turned to look ahead and saw a speeding car. He turned the steering wheel fast, and the tires skidded off the road. The car somersaulted and crashed.
Broken glass scattered on the floor as smoke hissed from the car. People surrounded the place as they tried to drag the bodies out.
Albert opened his eyes slowly; his glasses were broken, shards piercing his eyes—he could hardly see. He saw his parents' bodies being dragged out. He turned and saw his sister lying lifeless beside him. He struggled to move.
He looked down. "I-I can't move… I can't feel my legs," he said slowly.
Albert closed his eyes. "I can't believe this is how I die," he whispered as tears flowed from his eyes. "This is not how I wanted to die. I wanted to grow up and maybe die in my lab or something—but first make an impact in society and in the world, just like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. So why…?"
The car exploded and lit up in flames. The people backed away.
Everywhere went dark. Then light. Albert slowly opened his eyes. "Where am I? Am I in heaven?"
He was floating in the air, golden light filling the place. Floating in front of him was a young boy with white hair and blue eyes, but his body was covered in purple patches that consumed his whole body.
The boy smiled at Albert. "I leave everything up to you," he said.
Albert was shocked. "W-what's going on? Where am I? And who's this guy?"
Then suddenly, a force pulled Albert down. He screamed. Up above, still floating, was the boy, who slowly faded into golden light.
Everywhere went black again.
Albert jumped up from bed, sweating and panting. He held his head. "What a weird dream," he said.
He stood up, still holding his head, and walked past the mirror. He froze and walked back.
He stood in front of the mirror, completely shocked. "What's happening here? What happened to my hair? Did Cecilia do something to my hair? But then wait—my eyes? My body? I've slimmed down," he said as he touched his face, examining his hair and his body.
The boy staring back at him was a stranger—wavy silver hair, icy blue eyes, and a regal presence that sent a shiver down his spine.
His breath hitched.
"What... what is this?" he murmured, his voice foreign yet familiar.
He looked around the room. It was spacious and elegant, with carved wooden furniture, tall glass windows, and velvet curtains that shimmered under the sunlight.
"What happened to my room? If this is a joke, then I won't take it," he said, touching the bedsheet.
Then the door swung open. A young maid entered, balancing a silver tray. Her brown eyes widened in shock.
"M-Master Arthur!" she gasped, nearly dropping the tray.
Albert froze. "Arthur? Who's Arthur? And who are you? What are you doing in my house? Are you a thief? Have you come to steal?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
He picked up a hairbrush, swinging it. "Step back! Don't test me—I'm fluid with any weapon I get hold of!"
She didn't answer. She bolted. "Master Arthur is awake!" her voice echoed down the corridor.
Albert was shocked. "I guess she got scared seeing my threats." Albert walked closer to the door and closed it.
He turned to walk back when footsteps thundered outside. Moments later, the door burst open.
Albert got frightened as he held the hairbrush up. "It looks like you're back for more, huh?!"
An elegant woman swept in—black hair cascading down her back, eyes gleaming with tears. She wore an opulent crimson gown and carried herself like royalty.
"Lucien, my dear! Thank goodness you're awake! We were so worried!" she cried, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
Albert was shocked, his hand still holding the hairbrush tightly. "What's going on here? Who's she? She doesn't seem to look like a thief. And who's this Lucien they keep calling? I think they've mistaken me for someone else. But still, why would Mum and Dad allow them into my room? What were they thinking?"
Albert cleared his throat. "Who're you?"
She pulled back, eyes wide with hurt. "Arthur, you're my son—the firstborn of Duke Aldric Valtoria."
Albert thought to himself. "My hypothesis is right. They truly have mistaken me for someone else. But still, she said Valtoria—it sounds like a strange name."
He looked at her teary eyes. "Honestly, I feel sorry for her. She must have lost her kid and came here looking for him. Mum must have felt emotional looking at her condition and let her in." He smiled. "Mum really is nice."
She was stunned at his silence. "What's going on? Has he lost his memory? Why doesn't he recognize me?"
Albert dropped the hairbrush. "Look, I know you've mistaken me for your son, but I'm not him. My mum must have let you in seeing your teary eyes. But seriously, if we find your son, we'll let you know."
Verona's eyes clouded with tears as she covered her mouth.
Another maid entered and bowed. "Lady Verona, Lord Aldric is waiting."
The woman—Verona—gently cupped his cheeks, crying as she walked away. "Elizabeth, take care of him and remind him of the little things he needs to know. I will be back."
An elder woman looked at Verona. "Leave it to me. I will remind him of everything," Elizabeth said.
Verona nodded. "Thanks, Elizabeth." And she walked out. The other maids followed her and closed the door behind them.
Albert scratched the back of his head. "Maybe I was a little straightforward."
Elizabeth stepped forward. "I am Elizabeth Durk, head of the maids and your personal caretaker."
Albert tried to process everything. "Eh, aren't you with the woman who just left now? Should you leave with her?"
"Young master, that woman is your mother, Lady Verona," Elizabeth said calmly.
Albert sighed. "Look, I told you, this Arthur guy—if I see him, I'll let you all know. You can leave now."
Elizabeth looked at him. "If you aren't Arthur then who're you?"
Albert smiled. "I'm Albert Einstein. Not the real Albert Einstein though—it's a coincidence, 'cause my grand dad's name is Einstein and I was named Albert. So it kind of coincidentally rhymes with the real Albert Einstein."
"Alright, Albert Einstein. If you really aren't the young master, then where is the young master and what have you done with him?"
Albert was confused. "Look, this is my room—although it looks different for some reason—but lately I've been having dreams that look real. I can't even tell if this is a dream or not."
Elizabeth held Albert by the hands and dragged him to the mirror. "If you aren't the young master, then why do you have his hair color, eyes, and also look like him?"
Albert stared at himself in the mirror. "I know my face has changed and even my hair color, but I'm still Albert, right? This must be a dream. If I hurt myself, then I'll wake up from it." He said to himself and pinched his arm. It hurt, but nothing changed.
Albert stared at the mirror, frozen. "Speaking of which… my glasses! I can see properly without them. What's going on? How did my eyes get better without me knowing about it?"
"Do you still think you aren't the young master?" Elizabeth asked. But Albert didn't reply; he just stayed frozen. She dragged him and sat him on the bed.
"It seems he really has lost his memory. I have to make him remember who he is, or Lady Verona will only get more hurt than she already is," Elizabeth thought to herself.
Albert raised his head. "What's going on? Where am I?"
"Listen, I will tell you everything," Elizabeth said.
Albert, who sat dazed, nodded. "Start from the beginning."
"You are in the Kingdom of Eldoria, in the noble realm of Acier. There are three realms—noble, common, and forsaken. And here, strength means everything, especially among the Sword Mages."
"Sword Mages?"
"They manifest magical katanas born from their soul. At age fifteen, all noble children attend the Preliminary Magic Academy to awaken their blade. Those who succeed are admitted into Academia and trained to become true Sword Mages."
"What is she saying? Sword Mages, noble realms, and all that? That can't be true. Is she maybe lying to me?" Albert asked himself.
Albert raised his head to look at her. "This is a dream. I know I pinched myself earlier, but maybe I just need more pain to wake myself up from this." He bit his hand hard, and blood spilled out.
Elizabeth was shocked. "What are you doing, young master? Stop it, you're hurting yourself!"
Albert's blood flowed from his hand as he sunk his teeth in deeper. "Why am I still awake? Why won't I wake up? This is supposed to be a dream, right? So why won't I wake up?"
Elizabeth grabbed Albert's hand and held it tight. "Stop this, young master—that's enough!"
Albert looked at her. "This is a dream. I want to wake up from it, so—"
Elizabeth cut him short. "This isn't a dream, young master. This is real."
The words hit like a bomb. Albert's mind reeled. "If this is real, then…?"
He stood up and ran toward the window. He opened the curtains and was stunned by what he saw. Instead of city roads and neon lights, he saw a vast, starlit landscape. The ground was paved with polished stone, and carriages moved slowly down wide streets.
"If this is real, then that…" he said, his mind flashing back to the accident—his mother, father, and Cecilia's lifeless bodies.
Elizabeth was shocked. "What's wrong, young master?"
Tears flowed down Albert's eyes as he put his hand over his mouth and threw up. Elizabeth rushed toward him and patted his back lightly.
The images of the accident flooded his mind. "That wasn't a dream. It was real. Mum, Dad, and Cecilia are gone," he thought to himself.
He screamed out, and soon his chest started hurting. He began feeling dizzy. He fell to the ground.
Elizabeth squatted down as she rubbed his hand hurriedly.
Albert's eyes dimmed, and everything went blank." Why won't I wake up?"