Malik floated in darkness.
No pain.
No sound.
Just calm, endless black.
Peaceful. Too peaceful.
Then—
A faint purple glow appeared in the distance.
"…huh?"
It pulsed softly, like it was alive.
Malik reached toward it.
The moment his fingers touched the light—
WHOOSHHH.
The world spun.
Memories that weren't his slammed into his mind.
A boy.
A small home.
A tired mother.
A different sky.
A different life.
Then—
His eyes snapped open.
"Vael? Are you alright?"
Malik—no… Vael—looked toward the voice.
A woman stood beside the bed, worry on her face.
And a name surfaced in his head.
Jessica Soryn.
His mother.
"I'm okay," he said quickly.
"I just gotta use the bathroom."
He stood up fast and walked out, trying not to look panicked.
He entered the bathroom and activated the rune light.
Soft golden light filled the room.
Vael looked into the mirror.
"…what the fuck."
A mocha-skinned elf stared back at him.
Pointed ears.
Dreads.
One gold eye.
One purple.
He looked about fifteen.
Slim. Maybe 5'6.
"This gotta be a dream…"
He rushed to the window.
Outside, the city glowed under rune lamps.
He saw:
Beastkin walking streets
Elves chatting
A dwarf closing a shop
Strange carriages powered by glowing runes
"This ain't Miami…"
He stepped back, breathing slow.
"Okay… calm down."
He sorted through the new memories.
Name: Vael Soryn
Age: 15
Race: Half-elf
Location: Human kingdom city
School student
Poor household
Then—
Knock knock.
"Baby, it's time to blow out your candles. And get ready for school tomorrow."
Right.
His birthday.
More memories surfaced.
Yesterday at school.
Asking out a busty beastkin girl.
Getting rejected.
Publicly.
Vael facepalmed.
"Damn… jit had no game."
He stepped into the kitchen.
The house was small.
Simple.
Worn but clean.
His mom worked as a nurse.
Double shifts.
She retired from adventuring after getting pregnant with him.
Vael frowned slightly.
Hustler mindset activated.
"No money… no power… same struggle, different world."
His mother smiled and sang a birthday song in her native tongue.
He blew out the candles.
He made a quiet wish.
Power… and a chance to change my life.
He hugged her, skipped the cake, and went to bed early.
Too much to process.
That night—
Something changed.
In his dreams, he stood in a dark space.
A figure appeared.
It looked like him…
But taller.
More handsome.
Eyes glowing.
"Who are you?" Vael asked.
The figure smiled faintly.
A wave of warmth hit him.
Then heat.
Then overwhelming pleasure.
"What the hell is—"
His eyes shot open.
He was drenched in sweat.
"Huh… did I—"
He threw off the covers.
His body felt… different.
Stronger.
He stood up and nearly stumbled.
He looked in the mirror.
"…nah."
He wasn't 5'6 anymore.
He was tall.
Broad shoulders.
Defined muscle.
Sharper face.
Dreads slightly longer.
Presence heavier.
At least 6'1.
His eyes glowed faintly.
Vael stared at his reflection.
"…yo what the fuck just happened to me?"
Somewhere deep in his blood—
Something ancient stirred.
His incubus bloodline had awakened.
And this was only the beginning.