Prologue

'Don't give up. Don't stop.'

I faced another shower of arrows. I blocked some with my sword and others pierced me. I lunged forward and impaled two enemies. I slashed one more in the same attack.

'I'll not fall. I'll not let this be the end for Secritia.'

Someone charged at me and I instinctively greeted him first with my sword. He blocked it with his shield and said,

"Your face looks familiar. What's your name?"

"I don't remember."

I am only a sword that serves the King.

With my remaining arm, I swung my sword once more. However, the man shattered it.

"Oh. Yes. You must be Chase's younger brother. I wanted to meet you."

Without a word, I attacked him with only the hilt of my broken sword. The man didn't bother to defend himself, but instead shot an ice spear.

Which I couldn't dodge.

— Stab!

The ice spear had pierced my chest. It was hard to breathe…

"I am Arsen Hertz, Commander of Kairis' Mage Corps, Valkan. Prince of Secritia, Berne. I'll remember you. You have fought bravely."

… I raised my gaze and stared into the distance.

I tried to find my dear older brother, His Majesty. However, I could only see a light through my cloudy eyes.

"So now rest."

The light slowly faded.

***

That was my last memory.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized that I had gone back in time. Ten years before that happened.

As incredible as it may seem, I woke up in Kairis, the country that destroyed my homeland, Secritia, in the body of the Third Prince, Callian.

The dragon bloodline was wasted on this weak prince. He was very cowardly, he had no decent backing, let alone the ability to protect himself, so he lived his entire life inconspicuously and was killed before he turned 15.

That was the future that now awaited me.

At that moment, my reflection in the mirror asked me,

'What are you going to do?'

I answered Callian, who was now,

'It's not obvious? I will survive no matter what.'