PROLOGUE

  Unicus stirs as the golden light shifts, dust motes swirling like stars around him.

  His head lifts slowly from folded arms, a faint crease pressed into his cheek. Blinking groggily, he watches the lace curtains ripple in the morning breeze, as if the room itself were breathing.

  The warmth of sleep lingers, thoughts drifting between dream and waking. A deep breath, a slow stretch, the whisper of rustling paper—then, with a quiet sigh, he returns fully to the world.

  His lips mumbles, “Mellona? … What happened?” his palms naturally gravitate to his forehead as he tries to remember what happened.

  As the memories slowly return one by one, only few question remains: How? Why? Where is he?

  Unicus blinks a few times, “Wait… this place.” he thinks for a moment as he finds the answer, “Isn't this my college? … No more, like the college where I used to study as orzic.”

  He examines his appearance, “I'm still a three year old Unicus … then what is happening to me? Why am I back on Earth?” Then he finds something unusual, “Wait? Was my classroom always like this? Has someone rubbed vaseline all over my face? Why does everything look so hazy?”

  He rubs his eyes but the haziness doesn't go away, “Guess it must be … some kind of magic? I believe” he starts wandering around.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  He walks on the corridor, the people are busily moving left and right. Unicus walks among them, his childish frame constantly getting tossed around.

  “Come on, the least you can do is … not push me around.”

  He spits out complaints as he walks out of the college. But he has made an interesting observation,

  “This is definitely the college where I used to study. But the time period seems off? Like is this the past? …”

  He scratches his cheeks, “It must be am I right? Otherwise nothing makes sense here …”

  He descends multiple stairs to reach the ground floor. When he reached the parking lot, it didn't have his car in there.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Obviously my car isn't parked here. So guess I'll use public transport”

  Then starts walking to the nearest bus stop. The moment he saw a bus, he got inside and took a seat. But for some reason the bus conductor didn't ask for him to buy a ticket and Unicus rolled with it.

  “It's not like I have money anyways.”

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Unicus arrives at his former home, the home he used to grow up in.

  “Man, this is so nostalgic. I wish I could just stay here …”

  He takes steps towards his home, opening the gate and heads inside. As he walks the first thing that his gaze lands on is the fountain near the gate.

  “I've always used to play here as a kid, didn't I?...” He goes in close and grabs a palm full of water and drinks it.

  “Hmm. It still tastes like it should. It didn't change at all?”

  His attention next shifts to the garden nearby surrounding the front yard of his home. He goes to each plant and tree, crouching down to get a better look.

  His gentle touch gazes at each of them. Rose, Lilly, Lotus, and all kinds of beautiful flowers in bloom.

  “How I long for them … how much I've missed them… ”

  Unicus trembles, shoulders heaving with every ragged breath. Tears stream down his face, unchecked, as choked sobs escape his lips. His fingers clutch at his chest, as if trying to hold together something shattered deep inside.

  His cries are raw, unrestrained, echoing in the empty space around him. Knees give way, and he collapses, hands pressing into the floor as grief overtakes him. Each breath is a struggle, each sob a plea, until his voice breaks, leaving only the hollow sound of gasping silence.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Unicus now heads to his room, his face is puffed, his eyes are slightly moist, below them runs a faint trail of tears, his hair slightly messy.

  As he opens the door, he finds someone else already sleeping in his bed. He goes closer to examine who that might be.

  As he gets closer and closer to the sleeping person, a doubt creeps into his mind.

  I'm the only son of Noah, so who else could be sleeping in my room?

  He gently removes the blanket covering his face. Bit by bit the face of the sleeping person becomes clearer. Then Unicus takes a few steps backwards.

  He stands frozen, breath caught in his throat, as if the air itself refuses to move. His eyes are wide, darting, unblinking—struggling to make sense of what lies before him.

  A cold shiver crawls up his spine, goosebumps rising on his skin. His heart pounds violently, its frantic rhythm echoing in his ears. His hands twitch, uncertain whether to reach out or recoil.

  Fear coils in his gut, a suffocating weight, yet his legs refuse to move. His mouth opens, but no words come—just a shallow, trembling gasp as reality crashes in all at once.

  A faint mutter escapes his lips, “That can't be! …”

  The person he found to be sleeping in his room is himself, exactly Orzic who is 12 years old.

  Unicus, still in a state of denial, shouts,“I'm Orzic!!! There is no way another Orzic could exist in my presence… no way … this is impossible… Kira help me.”

  As Unicus was experiencing something disorienting, someone opened the door to the room. He gently closes the door with infinite care and walks inside, ignoring Unicus even though he is there, he stops at the other side of the bed away from Unicus.

  Unicus lips gasp at the sight of the man, “Father? … Why doesn't he notice me?” his palm clutches his chest tightly grip tightening every second in frustration.

  Noah for his part gently starts speaking, “Orzic … my sweet child”, he takes a moment to study his breathing and says, “I have decided to abandon your mother. It's been 2 months of non-stop arguments between us…” his lips quivering in sadness, “No matter how much I've protested, she is adamant about getting divorced from me. I've tried everything to keep her around, … I know … I know just how much you love your mother. How much she means to you. How much her absence will affect you going forward. But I'm… your father is powerless to change it.”

  Tears uncontrollably fell from Noah's eyes as he delivered a heartbreaking message to Orzic. He gently places his palms over Orzic, “But you have nothing to worry about … I will love you more … way more than your mother will ever love you. Orzic, my sweet child … all I wish is for you to stay strong, stay kind, stay yourself no matter what.”

  Hearing his father say all that, Unicus also starts weeping at Noah's sentimental speech. “I understand father. Even in my second life … even if I'm reincarnated in a fantasy world full of swords and magic … I'll be myself, just as you wished… I'll stay strong. Father please look at me when you talk to me … please I'm begging you. Don't ignore me … even through I'm here”

  But Noah continues on, “In 2 weeks. I'll be attending the court for the divorce. I want you to send me off with a smile, …”