A soft rustle of fabric broke the stillness of the room, as the maid entered, her eyes widening in surprise.

  "Ahh, young master, you’re awake!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with shock.

  blinked, confusion clouding his features. "Yeah, I guess," he replied slowly. "Can you explain to me what happened?"

  The maid took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "You were training with your mentor when you suddenly started feeling dizzy. He thought you were just exhausted and suggested you rest. When you reached the stairs, I asked if you needed help, but you declined, saying you could do it on your own. Then… you fell. You were in a coma for five months, and today, on the 5th of July, you finally woke up."

  Before could process this overwhelming information, the door creaked open again, and the doctor entered, carrying a small, gleaming stone in his hand.

  "What is that?" asked, eyeing the mysterious object with curiosity and apprehension.

  The doctor approached, his expression serious. "It's a . This was used on you to extract all your memories. Now, we are going to give your memories back."

  felt a mixture of fear and anticipation as the doctor placed the stone near his head. A sudden jolt coursed through him, and in that instant, his mind was flooded with memories. They came rushing in like a torrential wave—some bright and joyous, others dark and painful.

  Among the chaos, one vision stood out. A girl with luscious blue hair and striking jade blue eyes swam into focus. A flicker of recognition ignited within him.

  “Was that ?” he thought, his heart racing as the name echoed in his mind.

  As the memories continued to surge, he felt a deeper connection with this girl, a bond that transcended the fog of lost time. Who was she? What had he shared with her? The questions swirled in his mind as the flood of memories began to settle.

  "Young master," the maid’s voice broke through his reverie, pulling him back to the present. "Are you alright?"

  turned to her, eyes wide with realization. "I... I think I remember her. But who is she? Why can’t I recall anything else?"

  The doctor nodded, his gaze serious yet understanding. "It may take time for everything to return fully, but it’s a start. You have a journey ahead of you, . One of rediscovery."

  As the weight of his situation settled in, felt a flicker of determination ignite within him. He would uncover the truth about and the memories that defined him. He would reclaim his past, piece by piece, until he could finally understand the story of his life.

  After the whirlwind of memories settled, turned to the maid, a question burning in his mind. "What can you tell me about the girl?"

  The maid hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice soft yet steady. "She was the daughter of a noble merchant. When she came to you, she seemed genuinely concerned, saying something like, 'Oh my God, you’re in this place too!' But you ignored her. When she touched your shoulder, you pushed her away and said, 'I don’t know who you are, so don’t come near me.' That’s all I saw."

  furrowed his brow, absorbing the information. "And how do you know this much?"

  "I was told to keep an eye on you by your father," she replied, her expression serious.

  sighed, the weight of his lineage pressing down on him. "Oh, yeah, my father."

  "Yes, the previous king," she confirmed, her gaze unwavering.

  's curiosity piqued. "Who’s the king now?"

  "It’s the king’s firstborn," she replied before turning to leave.

  As the door clicked shut behind her, felt a strange mixture of nostalgia and anxiety. The shadows of his past loomed large in his mind, but there was still so much he needed to uncover.

  Later That Night

  In the stillness of the night, a voice pierced the silence, pulling from the depths of sleep. He jolted awake, heart racing. "Who’s there?" he called out, scanning the dimly lit room.

  "I am in your head," the voice replied, eerily calm.

  "What?" stammered, bewildered.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  "I am a being not known by many, but I know who you are, ."

  Surprise washed over him. "How do you know my name?"

  "I am a deity of sorts; you can call me... well, you can call me , I guess."

  blinked, still trying to process this strange encounter. "Okay, ," he replied, a mix of confusion and intrigue swirling within him.

  Before he could ask more, fatigue hit him like a tidal wave. His vision blurred, and the world around him began to fade. Unable to fight it any longer, succumbed to the darkness, the name "" echoing in his mind as he passed out.

  The morning sun streamed through the window, casting beams of light across 's room. He stirred awake, the events of the previous day still lingering in his mind. Today was a new beginning; he would go to the .

  After getting ready, took a deep breath and prepared himself for whatever awaited him. As he approached the academy, the imposing structure loomed above him, a constant reminder of his responsibilities and expectations.

  Once inside, 's eyes scanned the familiar faces of his fellow students. Among them stood his brother, the 5th prince of the kingdom. Just by the look in his eyes, could sense the disdain emanating from him. "He despises me," thought bitterly, feeling the weight of his exile pressing down. "But who cares? I'm just a worthless exile."

  With a heavy heart, made his way to his class, sitting in a corner where he felt least visible. Yet, he could feel the stares piercing through him, daggers of judgment and curiosity. He shrugged it off; what else could he do?

  As the class began, his mind wandered until a familiar figure caught his attention. A girl with long blue hair and jade blue eyes—it was . "She probably doesn’t know that I’m now, not that bratty child who sat on a high, nonexistent throne," he mused, a mix of nostalgia and longing washing over him.

  Despite the cold atmosphere, ’s presence brought a flicker of warmth. She smiled brightly as she sat beside him, her joyful demeanor stark against the weight of his thoughts.

  "Hey, !" she greeted, her voice cheerful as she tried to initiate a conversation. But this time, surprised himself by responding.

  "I want to talk to you in a place where there’s no one else. It’s important." There was a hint of sadness in his voice, a vulnerability he rarely allowed others to see.

  raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden seriousness. "Okay, but where were you these last few months?"

  's gaze dropped as he replied, "I was in a ."

  At his words, 's expression shifted to shock. She recalled her own memories, fragmented yet vivid, of being in a before waking in this world. The realization hit her like a wave.

  "You too?" she whispered, astonished.

  As their connection deepened, the classes drifted by like a gentle breeze, each moment charged with unspoken questions and shared experiences.

  When the bell rang for recess, stood to leave, feeling a mix of urgency and nervousness. , sensing his need to talk, quickly followed him out of the classroom, her heart racing with curiosity about what he had to share.

  In the dim light of the storage room, the air felt thick with unspoken emotions. and stood facing each other, the world outside forgotten. Suddenly, a familiar presence surged within , and before he realized it, he embraced .

  Without warning, he pulled her into a heartfelt hug.

  "Ah! Wha ... what are you doing?" exclaimed, taken aback by the unexpected gesture.

  Holding her tightly, 's voice trembled with raw emotion. "I... I missed you."

  's shock quickly turned to joy. She wrapped her arms around , tears brimming in her eyes as the weight of their shared past pressed upon them. They both began to tear up, the floodgates of emotions crashing down as they clung to each other, their hearts reconnecting after so long.

  After a few moments, they settled down on the cold, wooden floor, their breaths still shaky from the overwhelming surge of feelings. The silence hung heavy before broke it, his voice soft yet urgent. "How are you in this world? Did something happen to you?"

  hesitated, her gaze dropping as she prepared to reveal her darkest memories. "I... After you died, I was depressed. I couldn't get the thought of the love of my life dying in front of me because of me out of my mind. It was too hard to bear, so I committed . A few moments later, I awoke in this world."

  's heart sank, the weight of her words crashing down upon him. "So that’s the reason... Because of me," he murmured, the realization settling like a heavy stone in his chest.

  looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "But the past is the past. It can’t be changed. The bright thing is that I am with you now."

  felt a flicker of hope ignite within him, a warmth that spread through the coldness of their past. "Yeah, that we are," he replied, a small smile breaking through his sorrow.

  With their hearts open and vulnerabilities laid bare, the two sat together in the dim light, the shadows of their past fading just a little, making room for the possibility of a brighter future.