Noah was betrayed by everyone. He had no one left. They called him "The Fool," laughing at how stupid he'd been to trust them.
But it didn't matter anymore.
Noah couldn't die. While everyone around him grew old and weak, he stayed the same. He didn't age. He didn't fade. He only grew stronger.
A hundred years passed. Then a thousand. Then ten thousand.
By the end of it, he was unstoppable — his strength rivaled the gods themselves.
But the gods feared him. So they joined forces and struck him down. Not even immortality could save him from them.
Yet that wasn't the end.
The fool always comes back.
When Noah opened his eyes again, the world felt different — smaller, colder. A faint light flickered nearby. A little girl stood before him, clutching a staff.
He looked down at his hands. Still human. That was a relief.
Then he turned to her. "What's your name?" he asked.
The girl hesitated before whispering, "My name is Ari."
Noah looked at her with interest. "Well, little Ari," he said, "do you know who you just revived?"
Ari's voice was so quiet it was almost swallowed by the air. "I don't," she whispered.
Noah glanced around again. Now that his eyes had adjusted, he noticed the room was large — filled with strange objects and expensive-looking decorations. A noble's home, he thought. Or at least someone close to one.
He stepped closer to Ari, studying her face, trying to confirm his suspicion. But before he could say anything, she blurted out, "Get away!"
Noah's body moved on its own. His feet dragged him backward, putting distance between them before he even realized it.