ORPHIC

THE cold, murky water enveloped us, swallowing us whole.

I clung tightly to her lifeless hand as my consciousness began to slip away. Her face bore a serene expression, as if she were merely asleep.

I tried to speak, but all that escaped my lips was a mouthful of salty seawater.

'I'm sorry, my love.' A searing pain constricted my throat, as if my chest were ablaze.

Our bodies descended slowly, sinking deeper into the ocean's abyss.

My lungs filled with water, and the ability to draw breath slipped away.

Before I succumbed to unconsciousness, I reached out to touch her beloved face.

"I'll find you again, Lai," were the last words I managed to utter before finally closing my eyes.

----

"The young master is awake! Quick, fetch the healer!"

I opened my eyes to a blinding light.

'Where am I?' I glanced around, finding myself in an unfamiliar room, surrounded by people in outfits resembling maid uniforms.

"Young Master Nikolas, are you all right? How do you feel?" A man with long, dark green hair, dressed in peculiar attire, inquired.

"Who are you?" I asked warily.

"Young Master Nikolas, I am Ibrahim, a healer sent by the Imperial Family." The man slowly inclined his head, as if bowing.

"Imperial Family? What are you talking about? Where's Lai? Where is she?" Anxiety coursed through me as I worried for Lai.

"Who is Lai, Young Master? I have no recollection of anyone by that name." This time, a man dressed in a black suit spoke.

"What? She was with me when I drowned!"

"Young Master, you did not drown. The carriage you and your family were traveling in had an accident on your way to the Sol's Hearth. You were attacked by stray beasts." The man wore a concerned expression.

"What? My family?"

"The Knights of Solaris were intercepted by numerous stray beasts and couldn't reach your location in time. The Duke and Duchess did not survive, my lord. I am truly sorry."

I was momentarily stunned. I tried to absorb the information, but it didn't make sense.

Then, a sharp pain gripped my chest. It wasn't like the pain I'd felt when I drowned.

I lifted my unfamiliar white shirt, revealing my torso wrapped in stained white cloth.

I released my shirt and clutched my head with both hands in agony. A torrent of events, memories not my own, forcibly inundated my mind.

One memory after another.

It was like watching a series of events on a screen.

Excruciating yet strangely beautiful.

I understood and yet didn't.

Before I lost consciousness, a young boy's voice echoed in my mind.

["Take care of my brothers for me."]

----

It's been two years.

I've learned to adapt to this new world by drawing upon the memories of the body's original owner—Nikolas Helios Zorana. Sharing the same name as this original body's owner made the transition into my new life considerably smoother.

I fulfilled his final wish before his soul faded away: caring for his three younger brothers, Nikolov, Nikael, and the youngest, Nikolai.

I had the privilege of naming the youngest since the Duke and Duchess passed away before they could. I chose Nikolai, a blend of my name and my beloved Lai's. It may have been foolish, but everyone, even the High Priest, loved the name.

I tended to the boys as if they were my own siblings. I stayed up through their sickness, let them sleep in my room during thunderstorms, and taught them the things their real older brother would have wanted them to learn.

But I never claimed them as my own. It felt disrespectful to Nikolas, who had sacrificed his life to protect his siblings. I had stolen Nikolas' body, robbed him of the chance to live and care for his orphaned brothers. The least I could do was care for those he left behind.

I let out a sigh as I stared at a mountain of documents before me.

Over the past two years, I'd been embroiled in an inheritance battle with branch families and some nobles.

The sudden deaths of the Duke and Duchess of Zorana, along with their children being too young to inherit their titles, had many nobles eyeing the Dukedom. Some attempted to bribe me, to become my proxies, or even demanded that the Emperor of Sol divide Zorana's wealth among the nobles, despite the presence of an official heir and three spares.

I worked tirelessly, studying day and night to become a worthy heir, despite my age. Not out of greed, but to ensure the three young boys could live comfortably.

I intended to pass on the Dukedom to Nikolov when he came of age.

As I was on the verge of resuming my work, a soft knock echoed, and the office door creaked open, revealing a boy with crimson eyes and light azure hair that concealed his right eye.

"Kael, what brings you here?" I inquired, a smile gracing my lips.

He responded with a shy smile, saying, "Look who's with me!" He pushed the door wider, revealing a smaller child with vibrant sapphire eyes and golden hair.

"Heli!" The child giggled and dashed towards me. I knelt down, extending my arms to welcome him.

I cradled him in my embrace and planted a tender kiss on his forehead. "I see you've just woken from your afternoon nap, Nikolai."

"Lai wanted to see you. I told him you were busy, but he couldn't wait," Nikael admitted, scratching his cheek bashfully.

"It's alright. Where's Nikki?"

"Sword practice."

"I see. Go on and play. I can look after Nikolai." Kael lowered his head, whispering, "It's okay. I'll stay here for now."

I smiled with a touch of melancholy. During the strayed beasts incident that befell the Zorana family, each of the boys earned scars on our bodies as we fought to survive. On my body were the three substantial scars running from my right shoulder down to my left rib. Nikolov bore a scar on his back, long but not as deep as the ones on my chest.

In contrast, Nikael's scar could not be concealed by clothing; it was situated on his right eye. It hadn't impaired his vision, but it had dealt a heavy blow to his self-esteem.

Nikael had become acutely aware of his appearance, often deeming himself unattractive. Once a cheerful child, he had grown reticent, seldom wearing a genuine smile. His head remained bowed, his hair grown long enough to mask his right eye.

Despite summoning the most skilled healers from the Empire of Sol, none could erase the scar.

We had done our utmost to support Nikael, but for now, all we could do was hope that he would eventually come to accept it.

I spent more time with the boys than I had intended, reluctantly setting aside my work for the moment.

That evening, as I put the youngest to bed, I pondered the world I had left behind, the family I'd abandoned, and the love of my life who had died holding my hand.

So many unanswered questions remained.

I made a solemn vow that once I had rightfully earned the title of Duke of Zorana, I would embark on a journey through this world in search of answers.

Answers that would lead me to her.

I couldn't help but wonder if she, too, was searching for me.

Everything that had transpired remained an enigma beyond my comprehension.

----

[NOTE:]

Hello! Allow me to introduce the inaugural installment from my collection of fantasy novels, "Children of the Gods," which will soon make its debut. While all these tales are intricately woven within the same fantastical world, fear not, for I shall tread lightly to avoid revealing any spoilers. The spotlight in this story falls upon the enthralling romance between our formidable leading lady and the captivating male lead.

Thank you for your support!