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Chapter 2 - The One Who Should Have Lived

[Cold, That was the first thing he felt.]

[Then rain. Heavy. Endless. Piercing through his skin like needles. His fingers twitched. Mud. Wet ground. Weak.]

Tirvan Godran-"…I'm… alive?"

[His voice came out wrong.]

[Lighter. Younger. Fragile.]

[Before he could move. A blade pressed against his throat.]

Prince Vaelric— "Abaksa… my poor younger brother."

[Tirvan's eyes snapped open.]

[A young man stood over him, drenched in rain, silver hair clinging to his face, eyes filled with something far colder than anger.]

Prince Vaelric- "Fate really is cruel, isn't it?"

[The sword dug deeper into his skin.]

Prince Vaelric-"Born into a dying dukedom… powerless… worthless…"

[Lightning cracked across the sky.]

Prince Vaelric- "…and now, about to die like a stray dog."

[Tirvan's breath hitched."…Abaksa…?"]

[The name echoed in his mind. Something felt wrong. Very wrong.]

Prince Vaelric- "Any last words?"

[The blade lifted slightly.]

Tirvan Godran- " I !"

[His body moved with the Instinct he had gain from experience. He twisted, grabbing the prince's wrist mid-strike.]

Prince Vaelric- "…What?"

[The movement was clumsy.]

[Weak.Nothing like before.]

[But enough.Tirvan shoved him back.]

Prince Vaelric- "You Dare!"

[The prince staggered. That single moment was all Tirvan needed as he ran.His legs screamed.His body felt like it would collapse at any second.]

"…Why… am I so… slow—?!"

[Rain blurred his vision.]

[His breath came out uneven.This wasn't his body.This wasn't his strength.]

Prince Vaelric- "AFTER HIM!"

[Shouts echoed behind him.Guards.Boots slammed against stone.]

[Tirvan forced himself forward.]

[The castle loomed ahead.]

[Massive doors.]

[Half-open.]

"Just a little more !"

[He stumbled.]

[Nearly fell.]

[His hand slammed against the door.He slipped inside.]

[The doors creaked shut behind him.]

[Silence.]

[Darkness.]

[Only the sound of rain echoing faintly outside.]

[Tirvan collapsed against the wall.]

"…What is happening…?"

[His breath shook.]

[His hands trembled.]

[Not physical.]

[Something deeper.]

[His head throbbed.]

Tirvan Godran-"AGH!"

[Memories flooded in but these were not his memories he was never son of the Duke he was a holy swordsman]

"…Duke…?"

[Tirvan's breathing stopped.]

"…This…"

[His eyes widened.]

"…is his life…"

[Abaksa Einsro.]

[The supporter. Who Lay dead beside him.]

"…I…"

[His voice cracked.]

"…became him…?"

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