It was dark. Very dark around me — and yet, it felt warm.
Maybe that doesn't make sense, but… it felt warm. Comforting.
I didn't know where I was or what led me here, but whatever it was — I was grateful.The darkness almost felt like it was guiding me somewhere, drifting around me in slow circles.
At first, it was mild.Then the drift turned into a spin. It began to spiral rapidly, left and right. It didn't hurt… but it felt nostalgic.
I don't know what happened after that.The next thing I knew, I was staring up at the vast, moonlit night sky.
It looked beautiful — glimmering with distant stars.I was surprised. You never see stars like this in the city. Too much light pollution.
The moon was a crescent — and it shone blue.Rare. Unreal. Like something out of a painting.
I tried getting up, but my shoulder screamed in pain.
At first, I figured it was from sitting at my office desk for too long, but then—
'Office desk... That's right. I was reviewing that newbie's résumé. 'Did I pass out? 'Wait... that sky's too clean. Too clear. Where am I—'
"Roy! Roy, are you alright?! I didn't think they'd do this to you at this hour!"
A young, feminine voice — trembling with fear.
I turned my head toward it and saw a seven-year-old girl, eyes glassy with tears, staring straight at me.
"Why aren't you saying anything? I told you not to go out! You never listen to me or Anna!"
At that point, I realized she was talking to me.
Was this a dream? It felt too real for that.
"I'm... alright," I managed.
She stared at me for a second, then helped me up.
'Augh. 'The pain wasn't just in my shoulder. It was everywhere.
Despite her small frame, she lifted me with surprising ease and began dragging me somewhere.
My thoughts were foggy. Nothing made sense. But one thing I was certain of:
I was not in my house. Definitely not in Earth. And my name... wasn't Ram. It was Roy.
Which meant... I was in some other world. Maybe even a better one.
Strangely, I didn't panic.
In fact, something about this… felt right.
I was tired of that old life. No goals. No purpose. Just back-to-back misery. Honestly? I didn't even want to remember it.
'Wait—previous life?'
The thought hit me like a nail to the skull. Did I really just say "previous life"? Had I died? Was this a dream? A hallucination from ten cups of coffee in two hours?
As she pulled me along, I realized we were surrounded by tall, dense trees. I could hear frogs and crickets — expected.
What surprised me was the path we walked on. It wasn't wild. It was… smooth. Almost too smooth. Like a carefully packed dirt road. Manmade. Like someone had flattened a path through the jungle.
I wanted to ask where we were going, but instead—
"Alice," I whispered.
That was her name. Alice. My memories were still jammed, but something was clicking into place.
"Don't speak to me," she snapped. "I don't want to hear your excuses. Whatever you want to say, tell Anna."
Yeah…She was mad.
Or rather — she was mad at the previous owner of this body.
That's right. I had reincarnated into someone named Roy.
Probably, this Anna woman was my mother.
I couldn't fully understand this kid's past, but it didn't seem good.
His — no, my — body was skinny, borderline frail. Not malnourished, but clearly poor. My clothes were a mess — a torn shirt and weird pants stained with what I assumed was my own blood.
My skin was a brownish tone — not dark, not fair. Somewhere in between. From what I could tell, I was around Alice's age. Maybe a year older or younger.
At first glance, I assumed she was my sister, but...Her bright red hair and pale skin stood out too much.
We continued walking. The path widened. The trees thinned.
And then — I saw huts. Or... shelters.
They looked like wartime barracks. Nothing fancy. Just survival.
It didn't take long for me to understand:
We were in the slums.
But to my surprise — it wasn't filthy. No heaps of garbage. No stench. It looked... normal.
But the people?
They looked starved.
As we entered the main gate, I noticed other kids around my age glaring at me.
"Don't worry about them," Alice said, tightening her grip on my hand. "I'm here for you."
She was scared. But trying to stay strong for me.
That kind of maturity...Only the slums could forge that.
We passed through a wide street, filled with people. Only here — many wore armor. Swords hung from their waists.
Warriors. But not like any knights I knew from stories.
"Roy! How many times have I told you?!"
A sharp female voice cut through the noise.
"Why do you always wander off on your own?! I know what the other kids do to you. But you have to stay strong, you idiot! Running away only makes it worse!"
Her presence was intense — like a gust of cold wind.
She was pale. Her long blue hair shimmered under the moonlight. Even while scolding me, she looked...
Beautiful.
"I'm sorry, Anna," I said.
Anna. Now I knew for sure.
She didn't look like she belonged in the slums. Her skin, her hair — way too clean, too noble-looking.
She caught my gaze and gave me a confused look.
"What's with you today? I thought you'd start crying again and run into her arms."
Another voice chimed in — rougher, cockier.
A tall, warrior-like woman walked up. She wore armor and an eyepatch, and her skin was dark, her build strong.
A fighter.
"Nara, shut up! I hate you!" Alice pouted.
"Hate me? Should I tickle you again?" Nara grinned, grabbing Alice and lifting her into the air.
Her brown hair and battle-worn armor made her look like a barbarian.
I suddenly felt a hand on my head.
Anna again.
"Roy… let's go in. I'll treat your injuries, then we can eat something. "After that… I want you to open up."
She smiled — warm, but tired.
I felt a pang of guilt. These people clearly weren't from the slums. And this place... it felt too strange. Too organized.
Yet—
"I'm sorry, Anna," I said.
It was time to stop pretending.
Time to face the truth.
Time to...
Accept my reality.