Chapter 0 - Prologue

'Pull yourself together, don't stop.'

ーArrows showered down once more. The man swung his sword in a precise manner, blocking some and parrying others. Charging ahead, the man thrusts his sword forward, piercing two enemies and turning the blade to claim another.

'Do not fall. Even if today is Secretia's last, you musn't fall.'

The man rushed forward. Swinging his sword wildly as if taken over by raw instinct as he made his way across the bloody battlefield, towards the enemy. Suddenly, his swing was blocked by a shield and the enemy, who blocked him, spoke up.

"I don't seem to recall who you are. Tell me, what is your name?"

"I've long forgotten."

'I am simply a sword devoted solely to serving the King.'

The man swung his sword with his last remaining hand before the sword shattered into a million pieces at the enemy's gesture.

"Ah.. I remember now. You're Chase's brother. I wanted to meet you."

The man didn't reply as he swung the broken sword hilt at the enemy. However, the enemy didn't evade his attackー instead, a spear of ice shot out from the enemy's hand.

It was too late, he couldn't block it.

ーThunk!

The man could feel his life slowly fade away as it became increasingly difficult and painful with every breath he took.

"I am Arsene Hertz, Commander of the Kyris Mage Battalion: Valkan. Beren, the Blade of Secretia. I will remember you well. You have fought valiantly."

The man barely managed to lift his eyes, gazing into the distance. He sought the place where his brother, the King, might be but he couldn't make out much due to his blurry vision.

"Rest now."

ーThat was his last memory before everything went black.

* * *

When he opened his eyes once again, he found himself precisely a decade ago from when that last memory took place. Who would have thought that he'd wake up in Kyris, the very country that brought ruin to his homeland, Secretia? To make it even worse, he found himself in the body of Kallian, the Third Prince of Kyris.

Kallian.

A feeble prince who was deemed unworthy of the dragon's lineage. He was timid and lacked both influence and the ability to protect himself, he lived his life in constant fearー and then before even reaching the age of 15, he fell victim to an assassination.

That was the impending doom waiting for him.

So now, with the reflection of Kallian or 'his current self' in the mirror staring back at himー he thought to himself,

What will he do?

Of course,

He had to live.