My first days in this new world felt strange. I, once an adult on Earth, was now trapped in the body of a tiny baby. My hands were tiny, my voice was only a cry, and my body was weak.
However, there was one thing that made me realize: I wasn't really alone.
"Partner, don't sulk. Cry as much as you like, it's just a baby's nature. Hahaha!"
That was the voice of Ddraig, the red dragon who resided within the Boosted Gear. Since the day I was born, he had never truly left my side.
Sometimes he teases me, sometimes he teaches me something, and sometimes he just laughs at how much of a hassle life as a baby is.
Time skip
My first years in this world were filled with the warmth of family.
My mother, Elena , was a gentle woman with long brown hair that was always neatly tied back. My father, Darius , was a tall man with a broad smile. They lived in a small village not far from Magnolia, the city where the famous magic guild was based.
They weren't mage. Just simple merchants. But to me, they were loving parents.
However, since the 3 years old, I started to notice something different.
While other kids were just playing with wooden balls or running around the village streets, I could sometimes feel a strange energy flowing through my body. It wasn't just strength or stamina. It was like a constant flow of heat through my veins.
One day, as I sat by a small river, I plucked up the courage to ask Ddraig.
"Ddraig… what is this I feel?"
"That's magic, partner. The natural energy that flows within every human in this world. However, unlike them, you have me—Boosted Gear—which can multiply that energy."
I fell silent. So this is a world filled with magic. I am no longer an ordinary human like on Earth.
"Hahaha, you'd better learn to control that energy early on. Because when the time comes, you'll need it to protect yourself... and your family."
Ddraig's words gave me goosebumps. It was as if he knew something about the future.
—
I started practicing secretly.
At first, I just tried to feel the flow of magic in my body. I sat still, closed my eyes, felt the pulse in my stomach, and then channeled it into my hands.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it even makes me pass out from pushing myself too hard.
But every time I fail, Ddraig's voice always echoes:
"Don't give up, partner. You're no longer a human. You're the host of the Boosted Gear. I will guide you."
The days were tough, but also fun.
5 years old.
While the other kids were playing catch, I unconsciously activated a small amount of energy from my Boosted Gear. My left hand turned red, as if enveloped in a faint glow. The wooden ball I threw flew so hard that it pierced through the neighbor's fence.
"Wow! How can you be so strong?!" the other kids exclaimed, their eyes sparkling.
I just grinned. "Hehe… maybe I ate too much."
In my heart, I panicked.
If people knew I had strange powers, they might think I was a monster.
"Calm down, partner. Don't use your powers carelessly. This world may know magic, but Boosted Gear is something foreign. If your secret is discovered, they will hunt you down."
I gritted my teeth. "So… I have to keep this a secret from everyone?"
"Yes. At least until you're strong enough to protect those you love. Remember, this secret is your life."
I swallowed hard. It was hard, but I knew Ddraig was right.
—
That night, I woke up. The moon was shining brightly through my bedroom window. I looked at my left hand and whispered:
"Ddraig… do you think I can become strong?"
"Partner, as long as you believe in yourself and keep going, you will surpass human limits. One day, the world will know you as the Scarlet Dragon. Believe in that."
I held my little hand tightly.
I don't know what awaits me in the future, but one thing is certain: I will no longer live a boring life like on Earth.
I have a new goal—to become strong, and to find meaning in my second life in the Fairy Tail world.
And that's just the beginning