Back to the Beginning

Veridin gasped awake. He clutched his throat. He felt like he was suffocating and wanted to vomit at the same time. With a thud he fell out of his bed. There was nothing wrong with his body. Every ache, every sensation was a figment of his imagination. As his fingernails dug into the floor a maid rushed into the room.

"Your highness! Your highness Vern! Can you hear me?!"

He glanced at the freckled girl while gasping for air. Who was this? Did they make it back to the palace? There's no way.

"Who–" He coughed– "Are you? Where am I?"

The maid held her hands up to her mouth, tears glistening in her hazel eyes. She excused herself quickly. As Veridin's breathing eased, more people rushed into the room. Veridin's eyes scanned them. Three knights, a doctor, and two maids; None of their faces were familiar. While he looked them over, his eyes widened. There was a more pressing matter.

Veridin struggled to his feet. He stumbled to the door, ignoring the yelling of the attendants. He struggled against the knights when they grabbed him. "Let go of me! I have to see him! Where is he?! If I came back in this state, who knows what happened to him!"

"Your highness, please calm down! Who are you talking about?"

When he whipped around, his eyes caught a glimpse of the vanity against the wall. His mouth gaped open and his body fell limp. When the knights dragged him back to the bed, he touched his face. He turned to the maid next to him. "Give me a mirror."

Grabbing the mirror, he held it in front of his face. Striking eyes of deep purple stared back at him. Golden hair framed his face. His features were almost the same; Except they weren't. His face was softer. His jawline was rounded and childish. His eyes didn't have the same sharpness they had before. He ran his hand over his chin then looked at his hands. They were smaller, softer; The roughness of his palms from wielding a sword had vanished. He placed the mirror down with a defeated sigh. He ran his hands through his hair, leaning over.

"Tell me… Who am I?"

The attendants looked between themselves before the doctor spoke. "You are his imperial highness, fourth prince Vern Ven Atries."

So I died. The notion tightened his throat again. He had died. He was no longer Veridin Ven Atries, the Hero King. He began to shake. He subconsciously ran his hand over his ring finger, finding a startling lack of a ring. Ah, he was no longer married either.

"All of you get out!"

Veridin shouted. It was a brokenhearted, shaking voice, but intimidating enough to clear the room. The moment the door closed shut, tears poured from his violet eyes. Remorse gnawed at his chest as he choked out sobs.

"What am I supposed to do? You're not here…"

There were so many regrets. Why had he ever suggested they go into the mountains to hunt a dragon? There wasn't a single time that he ever truly said how he felt in a straightforward manner. If he had known this was going to happen, he would have acted so much differently.

He paused. He was alive right now. This may not be his original body, but he's certainly alive. Perhaps the same thing could have happened to someone else? He steadied his breath. If there was even a sliver of a chance, he would chase after it.

"I'll chase you to the end of time, my dear moon." He wiped the tears away solemnly. "You can come back in."

The attendants quietly shuffled into the room. The knights stood at the door awkwardly. The doctor walked up to him nervously. "Are you feeling better, your highness?"

"Much. You're here to do an assessment on me right? Go ahead."

"Eh– Then I will do so. You may feel a bit of discomfort."

The doctor checked his pulse and examined the rest of his body. After the physical examination, he placed his hands on Veridin's shoulders. A squirming sensation spread all over and inside Veridin's body. It was as if he had been submerged in water. He flinched. The mana swirling around inside and out was something he had seen in demon doctors, never humans. When the examination ended he let out his stifled breath.

"You are perfectly healthy," The doctor stumbled over his words.

"Is that so strange?" Veridin's eyes settled on him.

"You… Have been lying in bed for a month now, your highness."

"A month?"

"That's right. You've been very sick for the last month." The doctor avoided his eyes.

That must have been what I felt when I woke up. He's also clearly hiding something from me. Veridin smiled slightly. "I feel much better now, but I cannot remember a thing. Tell me about myself."

The attendants stiffened. Veridin raised an eyebrow. If the attendants are hesitant, it's either terrible or blasphemous; sometimes both. He crossed his arms which caused them to jolt. The freckled maid from before spoke up.

"You, er, you are the fourth prince of his majesty, Vern Ven Atries. You are going to be 16 this year."

"Is that all?"

She flinched. "Y-yes your highness."

"I have no hobbies, no fiance, no friends, and no standing within the palace?"

"That is correct…"

"I see." Veridin leaned on his knee. "It seems I had a hobby of disrespecting my attendants though?"

The maid fell to her knees. "Forgive me your highness!"

Veridin sighed. He didn't care if this body had beaten its servants before or not. This situation was only a hindrance to finding Anaroth. His chest began to ache and a lump formed in his throat. His cold stare wavered when he thought of his past life. So much had happened back then. This time, no matter what, he would protect the things that were precious to him.