For a moment, my eyelids refused to open, but they soon gave way, revealing my surroundings: a sort of dark tent. I tried to move, but my body was too weak. I could only turn my head to the left and right.

To my left was a travel bag, and to my right, the edge of the mattress I was lying on. Despite the dim lighting that cast a cold, bluish-gray tone over the room, a genuine satisfaction at having escaped that empty realm filled my first impressions of this world.

I had been with that tree, and suddenly, I was thrust into this new body with two choices: to end my life for good or to 'live until the very end.' Everything I ever truly wanted is within my reach. I can finally rest, forever.

All the time I spent going back and forth from that dark place will be forgotten by everyone, and I will achieve true freedom: non-existence.

Happiness enveloped me just thinking that I would never again witness a post-death realm or feel the sensation of death wearing away at my sanity over and over. It was comforting to know this. I began to notice my body and feel its parts, from childish limbs like my arm to more subjective things like the skin touching the fabric, the weight of my limbs, the cold temperature of the place... And also the sound of my breathing.

The sensation of air filling my lungs.

I have an idea of how to end this cycle...

Stop breathing.

With a clear decision and objective in mind, I sighed one last time before holding my breath.

Any thought would be irrelevant once this was over, I thought.

At the 7th second, a tightening sensation in my chest began.

The tightness in my chest intensified in the next few seconds, as if my body were fighting against the lack of air, crying out for an end to this madness.

The desperate need to breathe grew more palpable as my vision blurred and my senses faltered. It felt like two parts of me were battling each other: my soul trying to overpower the bodily consciousness that was struggling to stay alive, sending every possible signal to stop this nonsense. My nervous system moved severely, trying at all costs to prevent it, either by knocking me into unconsciousness or making me feel excruciating pain and fear until I stopped.

My survival instinct told me something was very wrong, that I should stop. Although I denied it, it grew to the point of making me question this madness, becoming agonizing and desperate. Then, I released the lock and inhaled the air with insatiable voracity—as if I were in a scorching desert facing a glass of cold water, draining it desperately to avoid death by unbearable thirst.

"Cough! Cough..." I coughed uncontrollably as the air entered my body and soothed my flesh, while my mind filled with a bittersweet sensation.

My failure was glaring; I could have ended it all! I would never have to face anything like this again; everything could have simply vanished, and I would have achieved eternal rest. A crushing confusion invaded my mind as my body stubbornly fought for survival, preventing me from continuing. My will should have been stronger. Frustration engulfed me, mixed with a profound sense of guilt. Meanwhile, the air returned to my blood, restoring normal bodily functions.

In mental conflict, I reasoned.

This was what I wanted most...

So why? Why?

Why couldn't I do it? The doubts tormented me, throwing me into a whirlwind of self-directed anger for failing. The feeling of defeat was overwhelming, a heavy shadow hovering over my consciousness. I desperately longed for the peace that non-existence promised, but now, faced with my own failure, all I was left with was the bitter reality of continued survival. How could I face the next moment knowing I had even failed to reach the end I so ardently desired?

My doubts were interrupted when the fabric that separated the interior of the place where I was from the outside began to open slowly, revealing the silhouette of a young woman, pale as silver. Her joyful face, smiling at me, was almost invisible, obscured by the intense light that quickly flooded the room, blinding my sensitive vision. Before I could see clearly, she reached out and picked me up.

Like an angel, she rescued me from that deplorable situation I was in, making me forget, even if only for a moment, the loneliness that weighed down my heart. Her arms wrapped around me with comforting tenderness, at a moment when I so desperately needed it, even though she was a stranger, I needed that at that moment.

My body took over my reason, relaxing in the strong, cold wind blowing in my ears from outside.

As she carried me in her arms, I hid, keeping my eyes closed to prevent her from seeing my tears. I avoided looking at her face and just listened to her gentle and kind singing, absorbing the comforting sound of her voice and feeling the gentle rhythm of her steps for a few seconds.

I finally decided to pull myself together and look.

To be surprised by the magnificent sight.

The planet’s skies were a spectacle: a myriad of blue gases spread across the expanse of the atmosphere of this world I had been brought to, while cosmic dust tried to obscure a giant gas planet with three moons orbiting it, so close it seemed within reach, evoking an air of power and grandeur. Yet what truly captured my attention were the woman’s eyes, fixed on mine.

“I can finally look you in the eyes, my son,” said the woman with her beautiful sky-blue eyes, their irises gleaming, showing hypnotic white stars amidst a cosmic blue texture. However, her words were incomprehensible to me; I didn’t understand her language.

Shifting my gaze back to the sky, I observed more closely, from the stars to the dense gas layers, on a night that was surprisingly well-lit. Yet, despite this enviable sky, something was missing…

There were no stars.

For as far back as my memory of reincarnations could recall, they were always there, even on the darkest nights. Their absence now leaves me uneasy, wondering about the meaning behind it. Still, this view is unforgettable.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said with great contentment, her voice again intangible to my reasoning.

She was sitting with me on her lap. Am I her baby? If so, this life is truly different in that aspect.

The child of a sentient being? This is new.

Turning my gaze from hers, I observed the surroundings through the faint veil of night. I noticed several majestic mountain ranges with snow-capped peaks, divided by a magnificent valley stretching toward a distant plain. To the northeast, at the foot of the mountains, there was a small village, nestled beside a frozen river that wound through the center of the valley. At the base of a colossal black spiral structure, resembling a tower, whose metallic surface reflected the light of the night. Yet it wasn’t only that light shining; turquoise lights traced the surface of the structure, ascending from the base to the top, creating a spiral of luminous points along its path.

Beyond the mountains, behind the structure, lay a desert stretching beyond my sight, resting undisturbed in the silent night where only the wind could be heard, felt, along with the scent of conifers entering my nostrils.

The sound of footsteps behind us caught my attention. I turned to see a blond man with golden eyes carrying wood and wearing a heavy coat, crossing my line of sight.

“Oh, you’re here!” the woman said, excited, in the language I didn’t know, addressing the man who had arrived.

The young man showed a tired expression as he set down the wood, approaching cautiously. His steps were careful, as if he were assessing me. Reaching the edge of the cliff, he knelt and, embracing the woman from behind, spoke tenderly, “He has your eyes, dear.” His voice carried a mix of admiration and emotion, as his golden eyes wandered off into the horizon.

After this affectionate display, the man moved to the pile of wood with short steps and began stacking it. He started with the larger pieces and then placed smaller ones converging toward the center of the largest and thickest, organizing them in a shape that resembled a cone.

Suddenly, as soon as he finished arranging them, a blaze of flames emerged from his hands, illuminating the surroundings and dancing in the strong mountain wind. The fire quickly spread across the sturdy branches in an unmistakably unnatural way, settling into the wood and slowly consuming it. Then, he withdrew his flaming arm, unburned, while extending the other toward the fire, seemingly maintaining the flames.

As I watched the man’s impressive ability to control fire, I realized I was witnessing something extraordinary. That scene, illuminated by the dancing flames, created a magical, almost surreal atmosphere. Surely, this is some kind of power? Magic? Whatever it is, I feel a desire to know more. Ironic that something should spark my interest again—something new after so long.

As I tried to process what was happening before my eyes, the woman continued holding me, emanating an aura of serenity and confidence. Her sky-blue eyes shone with a unique intensity, as if they held secrets I could barely comprehend. At that moment, she seemed to be thinking about something far beyond what her eyes reflected.

Perhaps, just perhaps, living a bit longer to learn more about this world wouldn’t be so bad. But still, I hope it’s brief. This new world is, indeed, quite peculiar.

As the fire crackled, she broke the silence with a smile on her face: “Don’t you want to hold your son, Aidan?”

“Always in a hurry,” he replied joyfully, approaching.

She stood up and carefully handed me to him. He held me right in front of his face, arms extended, with a hint of shyness.

He became more timid and awkward as I looked into his eyes, prompting a silent, awkward laugh from him. It made me break my solid expression, and I wavered, letting out a crooked, soundless smile at the odd, mute moment. Indeed, I found some amusement in a sentient being who hardly knew what his child really was.

“Pfft, haha.”

The soft sound of the woman’s laughter drew my focus, making me turn my head to find her. Her long, almost white lavender-colored hair fluttered in the wind as she tried to stifle her laughter with a delicate hand.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she broke the silence: “I expected more from this introduction between you two.”

He furrowed his brow slightly and retorted, “Forgive me if I didn’t live up to your expectations, Miss Ari,” he said, assuming a cheerful and teasing tone.

She quickly raised her arms toward the man, practically asking for me to be returned to her arms. Once I was handed back, she approached the fire slightly, making me feel the comfortable warmth of the flames penetrating the part of my skin that was exposed, contrasting with the cold wind that engulfed the entire area.

“Shall we sleep?” she said, looking at the man who sat close to the fire.

“I just lit the fire; I’ll come later. Go ahead,” the man responded, brushing his medium blond hair without much expression.

Nodding softly, she walked, holding me with one hand. She stopped and turned, waving her free arm toward him. A few meters from the fire, a camping tent came into view, the place where I had awoken in this world.

Upon reaching it, she crouched and, with her free hand, opened the fabric door, directing some sort of lock or button? Whatever it was, it caused the tent to open when pushed downward.

Entering, she closed it from the inside and sighed, lying down on the sleeping mat and placing me on her stomach.

She looked into my eyes, taking on a tired and melancholic expression, and began stroking my cheek for a moment.

Then she spoke:

“You know that mommy loves you, right?”

“I hope you never grow up and always stay this adorable to me, forever and ever.”

“But I know that won’t happen. Time moves forward, even against our will, but our love will outlast that.”

“I hope the past remains just that: the past. My path to having you, to conceiving you here, was difficult. I’ve been through many trials. So, I want every moment between us to be unforgettable… All the struggle up to this point has led me to this moment. Life is short. I may last a few more millennia, but your father won’t. Still, we are a family. Sooner or later, only you will remain. So let’s enjoy every moment we have left together, okay?”

“Welcome to life, Kiel.”

Leaving behind the palpable sadness in her words, now smiling and looking sincerely into my eyes, she stroked my cheeks again and gently tousled my hair. Though her language was still unfamiliar to me, I listened closely, feeling it to be a confession of sorts. I understood not her words, but her emotions.

“Shall we? Shall we eat, son?” Sounds, still indecipherable to my ears, gave me no clue to her intentions. She held me close, smiling warmly. Stroking my hair with a gentle, motherly tenderness, she lowered her nightgown