And then—time stopped.
The wind ceased mid-sway. Children froze in laughter, their mouths open in silent joy. Even the rays of the sun seemed to halt, hanging like suspended threads in the air.
Before him, reality rippled—as if the sky were water, disturbed by an unseen hand.
Then came the crack.
A jagged tear opened across space itself, splitting the fabric of the world like parchment. From the breach stepped a being unlike anything the old man had ever seen.
It was tall—impossibly tall. Vague in shape, shifting like a mirage, yet its presence was undeniable. Its form shimmered with stars. Nebulas twisted within its cloak. Black holes and white dwarfs sparkled across what should have been skin.
The cosmos had taken form.
And it looked at him.
"You are seen, old one. You are known."
The voice bypassed the ears. It was not spoken, but felt—a deep vibration in the marrow of his bones.
"I am a Watcher. A minor god, guardian of a specific star domain. I do not create. I do not destroy. I observe… and sometimes, I intervene."
The old man's throat tightened. His pain and sorrow seemed transparent before the Watcher—every memory, every regret laid bare.
"I bring an offer. One that transcends mortal fate."
A luminous screen materialized beside the Watcher, showing a breathtaking world—Eidryn. It floated among swirling galaxies, filled with vast continents, mighty beasts, cities carved from crystal, and forests pulsing with magic.
"This is your second chance. The world of Eidryn—where magic shapes the land and nobility holds dominion. Among its many continents lies Vicelin. The smallest, yes—but still ten times the size of Earth's combined lands."
The vision zoomed further.
Shattered towns. Starving children. Overgrown roads. Magical beasts roaming wild, while nobles in high castles toasted their fortunes.
"In this world, magic is abundant... and so, progress has stalled. The common people suffer. Disease festers. Transportation is primitive. The wheel turns slowly, if at all."
The Watcher stepped forward, his eyes glowing like twin suns.
"You will be reborn as the seventh prince of Vicelin's royal house. Born into privilege, but ignored by power. You will not rule... but you will be gifted something far more potent."
From the Watcher's palm descended a glowing orb. It spun gently in the air, humming with unfathomable data.
"This is Sylph, an artificial intelligence integrated with knowledge from countless civilizations—some far more advanced than your Earth ever dreamed."
The orb pulsed. Warm. Gentle. Intelligent.
"Sylph will assist you. Strategize with you. Teach you to build, uplift, and possibly conquer. With this, you may forge a society that blends science with sorcery. Tech with tradition."
The man stared at the orb, heart thudding.
"But first," he whispered, "Before I accept… I have one request."
The Watcher waited.
"Show me who brought me down. Let me see their faces—those who conspired against me and destroyed my family. I want to know."
A new screen flickered to life.
A boardroom. Twelve people seated. Familiar faces. Former friends. Business partners. Smiling as they signed papers, laughing over drinks. One mocked him for being too trusting. Another toasted to his downfall.
Then, one by one, the screen revealed what became of them: bankruptcy, imprisonment, ruin, madness, betrayal.
He inhaled sharply. His old heart, heavy with rage and grief, shuddered.
"They were never friends," he whispered. "Only masks... hiding knives."
The Watcher's voice returned, quieter now.
"To be reborn, your soul must be clear. What justice, if any, would you ask for them?"
The man stared at the flickering images. Then spoke coldly.
"Let them lose everything. Let them suffer the pain they brought. And... let them never reincarnate. Let this be their end."
The Watcher paused... then nodded.
"So it shall be. And in return, you shall be offered something far greater—a future to build."
The orb floated closer. The Watcher extended a hand.
"Do you accept rebirth, old one? To forget your name, your past... and begin anew?"
The man looked at the swirling cosmos... and smiled, for the first time in years.
"Yes. I'm ready."