"Immortality… reincarnation… are these things really real? But how?" Ethan murmured, lying on his back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts were a tangled mess of confusion and awe. The past, the sword, Duy—none of it made sense, and yet everything felt strangely familiar.
Just then, another thought struck him.
"Oh no… Trang! She said she wanted to go to the water park… I haven't messaged or called her all day."
Ethan shot up and reached for the business card she had given him. He hesitated for a second, glancing at the clock—11 p.m.
"Hope she's still awake…"
He dialed her number, heart pounding slightly.
"Alo? Who's this?" Trang's voice came through, a little groggy.
"It's Ethan. Do you still remember me?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Haha, how could I forget your voice?" she giggled lightly. "What's up?"
"I was just thinking… about the water park. Did you still want to go?"
"Tomorrow morning! Is 8 a.m. okay?" she replied cheerfully.
"Yeah, sounds perfect," Ethan said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Great! See you then. I'm going to sleep now, okay?"
"Sleep well," he said softly.
"Thank you…" Trang's voice faded out as she ended the call.
Ethan placed the phone beside him, relieved he'd kept his promise. A gentle calm washed over him, and his thoughts drifted back to Duy. His hand instinctively reached for the katana resting on a stand nearby. He stared at it, the memory of that dream already pulling him under.
Before he knew it, sleep had taken him.
⸻
In the dream, Ethan stood in a sunlit field. A younger Duy—no older than twelve—was training with a wooden sword, sweat on his brow and fire in his eyes. Across from him stood Ethan—not the 24-year-old man of today, but older, stronger… 35, maybe.
"Here," older Ethan said, kneeling and holding out the real katana. "This sword belongs to you now. You're a fire-bearer, just like me. And because I love you, I want to pass everything I have to you."
Duy's eyes lit up as he took the sword in both hands. He leapt into his father's arms, hugging him tightly.
"I love you, Dad."
Ethan held him close, his voice steady. "You're the best, son."
They stood there, father and son, the blade between them glowing softly under the setting sun.
Duy looked up at him, eyes full of hope and trust. "I'll protect your legacy. I promise."
The dream faded, but the warmth remained—etched into Ethan's heart like fire on steel.
He slept soundly, unaware of how deeply the echoes of a forgotten past were beginning to awaken.