1 Prologue

It was one of those stormy days....

Me and bestfriends, Risa and Nicole, forgot our umbrellas so we just stood by the main building's covered patio.

The storm was too strong that day that even peering through the curtains of rain seemed like an impossible task, and all you can hear was the rush of raindrops against the pavements, dropping incessantly and wildly against the howling winds.

The down pouring and relentless rain drops all looked like fog to me, covering the entire view of the campus. Everything was hazy on sight... no, not even hazy— it was more like just a blurred white vision.

"Mom finally answered my call but she said she can't leave out soon. Welp, sorry guys— I tried!" says Risa, as she walked towards us. She just hanged up from her phone. "At least she answered my call, I suppose."

"I doubt my parents will pick me up so might as well wait for your mom," replied Nicole in exasperation.

"Same here!" I said in defeat, thinking how my parents are workaholics. I doubt they will pick me up just because of a storm. Work goes first because it brings food to the table, so it seems! Especially for mom. And it's true though, I thought to myself as I gaze sightlessly at the campus.

Classes ended two hours ago and we've been stranded here ever since. Unlike Risa and Nicole's, my house is just near by. I can actually simply go back home and then return here to bring them umbrellas if I wanted to... that is if I'll head on charge through the storm. Hmm, yeah that's a good plan.

But I doubt they will allow me to set out just like that.

"Umm hey—!" I began, as I turned to look at my best friends, "I'm going in first. I'll be back with umbrellas! Bye guys!" I said with a wave and then took off without looking back. I saw them with a disapproval look on their faces but I sprinted off even before I could hear them object.

In a distance, as I emerged further and further to the vague scenery of the campus before me, I can hear them calling my name.

I didn't wanted to waste more time arguing about staying dry and safe with them rather than just simply admitting the fact that my house is nearby and I could be the sacrificial lamb to get them back umbrellas. They wouldn't want to charge head on through the storm either. But I figured, if we all stayed there, we might be stranded for several more hours, and I don't want that because...

My mind went blank for a moment while I squeezed my eyes shut as I went on running aimlessly.

"...Because, the idle moments we spend together like that will only make us bond closer..."

And I can't.

I just can't do that.

They're my best friends but it's safer to be at arms-length... safer for me. So, if I simply return and get them umbrellas, I'm sure they will forgive me for running off and leaving them just like that!

And so, I went on incessantly running under the merciless weather as the sky rumbles on a groan above the high heavens.

I pass through the gate and out to the streets, the voices of Risa and Nicole calling out to me has finally stopped too. I bet they'll be giving me one heck of a lecture later!

I chuckled at how that would look like later on. They will choir or go on taking turns in to telling me I might get sick and such and yet when I laugh while they do, like I usually do, they will scowl at me but join me in laughing anyways. They're such a worrywart.

I love them.

I'd be sure to get them dry towels and jackets. But for now, I need to hurry up and get back home. It's a usual twenty minute walk but at this rate, I think I can reach the house by fifteen minutes or less.

Yeah, that would do! I thought as the deafening noise of the wind brushing pass my ears, like sounds of plastic being crumpled, flooded my hearing, along with the sound of my panting breath as I gasp for air with open mouth.

I squint my eyes to peer through but it's really hard to see the way. It really feels like I'm walking in Silent Hill, a storm-casted version of Silent Hill, that is! But I'm sure I'm heading to the right direction because I—!

Suddenly a ragging honk emitted on my side.

Instinctively, my feet stopped dead on its tracks as I turned my head to look —yet ended up staring at two bright lights heading toward my way.

The ringing of my heartbeat against my ear races.

My breath snagged and I was frozen in place.

Everything went slow for a second, as though I could count the breaths I take.

And then...

—everything suddenly went black.

All the sounds ended

and all was silent.

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

What... what's happening?

It's dark.

Am I dead? I wonder.

But I'm hyper aware of my breath... I can even feel the rising and falling of my chest as I inhale and exhale on a cycle.

And yet, my body feels so light....

There's this sense of unknowing that leaves me feeling so vulnerable and exposed...

It's agitating.

I crunched my brows and I realized then and there that both my eyes are closed...

—so I opened them.

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

My lids fly open,

and I was left with the realization that I was back to the familiar view of my bedroom with the blue and white canopy that welcomed my sight.

I gasped, a hurried attempt to respirate my body back to life. Have I been holding my breath? It sure felt like it.

I noticed a woman crying by the side of my bed. She had those white blonde locks that shined in a blush of pink when light hits on them.

Is she lost? I wonder who she...

In a flash, something dawned in me.

My head ached and everything suddenly became clear. Everything came flooding back to me.

It felt nauseating, I wanted to bolt up and gag but body feels like lead. I'm so weak... I could just drift off now if I simply roll my lids down and close it but I wanted to stay up, fighting against the heavy feeling that keeps me in a trance-like state.

I turned my head to study woman beside me and realized I do know her. She is the Duchess Leingod of the Dukedom of Greenrun, a Southern Nation.

She lifts her head when she hears me shuffle in my bed. I slowly sat up, lifting my weights up with my one elbow. But she suddenly sprung from her chair, almost throwing herself to me in a tight embrace even before I could have said anything.

She took one deep shaky breath, "my baby..."

She rubs her warm hand against the small of my back; one more gentle squeeze; and finally she releases me. Her hand stroking the side of my face as tears gushed out of her eyes, uncontrollably.

She smiles at me warmly and I can't help but to gingerly smile back.

"Darion!!! She's awake" she yells, turning her head over her shoulder, referring this to a man by the door who wore an elegant sapphire blue suit and kept a dignified stance. He seems like a butler.

At her words, he bowed once and hurried to leave the room.

My eyes sweeps back to the woman and I am left staring at angles of her face. Those familiar, beautiful features of her familiar face.

"M-mama?" I called her. She turned and beamed at me, reaching to me as she sat down and took me on her arms once again.

"Yes, my darling? Mama's here."

That's right... She's my mother

And that makes me— a highborn.

A nobleblood.

But back then— I was only an ordinary high school student.

I'm sure that wasn't just a dream.

And this, right now, isn't one either.

That is when I realized I had the memory of my past life.

All of it— my bestfriends, Risa and Nicole. My school, the storm... and how my life ended then.

I remember everything.

And yet here I am now...

Only an eight year old girl in this entire different world.

Wait...

How did it come to this? I wonder. Before waking up, what was the last thing... Oh yeah! Now I remember, I fell from a tree! I think I hit my head and everything went blank.

I watch the doors fly open as Papa and other servants stormed inside my room. He gave me a tight embrace and tears warned at the corner of his eyes.

"Are you hungry? Do you want anything? Anything at all, my love?" Papa spoke gently as if tempering if his volume with the fragility of my senses.

"Anything?" I echoed his words.

"Anything!" He answered, pressing his lips on my head as Mama caress my hand.

I look at them both and saw a mix of warmth and excitement in their eyes.

By the doorway, I saw a little boy too. I recognize him, he's my brother. He looks like he wanted to see me but too shy too come closer.

"Prepare a grand feast! Today, we will celebrate! Let the entire Dukedom know the young Lady Aerrandria of Greenrun has waken up!"

Now, it feels weird... having this consciousness of an eighteen year old me from back then, inside this young child.

And looking at what I have now compared to the simple life I had before feels so... odd. It's strange and it's like I'm looking at the same familiar things but in a whole new light, a different perspective.

I guess this is what you call a

reincarnation...

---End of Prologue---