Chapter 1: Rebirth

He always knew the day was coming.

Simon had a relatively normal childhood until one day he woke up with a numbness to his arm. There was a lump in his elbow. When the numbness persisted and he continued to feel weak and drained, his family finally took him to the doctor.

Simon had heard of many serious illnesses in the news but never thought they would ever affect him. He was young.

But afterwards, he had to grow up. Fast. His parents promised it would be okay but even at a young age he knew it was going to be tough on his family. As first-generation Chinese immigrants, his parents were already working many jobs to get him a decent life and education. Now they would also have to afford his medication.

He accepted the fact that he would spend his teens in bed or getting treated at the hospital. He accepted the fact that he would see his parents even less than usual, as they took on extra hours of work. At least he lived in the digital age, where he could access entertainment at his fingertips.

Reading science fiction and fantasy series was definitely his favorite past-time. Harry Potter, The Song of Ice and Fire, Marvel comics…the list goes on. The more characters the better. He enjoyed the thrill of meeting so many fascinating and diverse individuals in the bedroom he was confined in. Once those were exhausted, he moved onto fanfiction. It was free and at times, even better than the originals. There were more choices to be made, more alternative paths to be taken. Simon liked having alternatives.

But he knew he was stuck with one fate as his condition worsened. As the world dimmed before him, he wondered if his parents could even make it to the hospital in time. He hoped he was a good son in their eyes.

---

"This one. I think he would be best suited for this."

"Are you certain? We had made many attempts already…few had even made it this far."

"I think he really is the best out of all the candidates we have met. And I think it would work this time. After all, he would be placed in a center of action he is familiar with."

"Agreed."

"Seconded."

"Well then, let us do this."

---

Simon winced as he felt a numbing pain in his head.

Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself in bed. That was not surprising. At least he was not dead yet. But the room looked nothing like the hospital he resided in. Or his bedroom for the matter. His eyes searched for a semblance of familiarity but found nothing.

A metal washbasin lay on his bedside table, with a piece of cloth draped neatly on its side. Maybe he should wash his face at the very least? Reaching out, he picked up the basin and an unfamiliar reflection glanced back at him from the surface of the water.

Another splitting headache took over. He felt like his mind was being ripped apart as memories flooded his mindscape. Memories involving the boy in the reflection. The dark-haired child seemed no older than three or four years old. Simon. Simon Li was the name of the boy. They shared the same name.

Images of playing in the fields near European-looking cottages, discussions of the rise of a "dark lord" and two adults bringing his younger sister and him to a foreign manor in China flashed before him. He remembered flying books, candy with odd flavours, and green fires in the fireplace. This world seemed oddly familiar.

"Oh look, the boy is awake," announced the Chinese painting of a scholar playing chess, stroking his goatee.

Simon blinked as the scholar continued to move, ushering the characters in another painting to pass on his message.

That was when Simon was certain he fainted again.