I was in a black void. Empty. Lonely. Nonexistent. It reminded me of my past life, the one that ended with a sudden accident—nothing spectacular, just a twist of fate. Now, here I was, floating in this void like some lost soul, with nothing but my thoughts.

Damn, this is a nostalgic sight.

I shook my head, trying to forget. But then, something weird happened. I wasn't alone anymore. Suddenly, flashes of death started bombarding my mind, like I was watching the end of everything—the universe collapsing, people screaming, worlds crumbling. And it felt like... I was the cause of it all. My chest tightened, a sense of guilt I couldn't shake. Like I was responsible for everything terrible that had ever happened.

It was disgusting. It made me realize something important though— I wasn't the only one who had a shit life. There were others out there, struggling, fighting to survive in their own messed-up realities. Hell, maybe they'd never even get the chance to escape it.

The vision faded, and I was left alone in the darkness once again, trying to come to terms with what I just saw.

Three years had passed. And things were... better, I guess. Sort of.

I had gotten used to this world—gotten used to my new family. Sherlea, my mother, was still as beautiful and elegant as ever. My dad, Sir Drendel, was the typical warrior, tough as nails but with a soft side for me. And Andrea, my babysitter-turned-mentor, had become a pretty good friend. We spent a lot of time talking about magic, how it worked, and how I was, apparently, a "special case" with my strange affinities.

Anyway, this morning was no different from any other. We were all sitting around the table, having breakfast. My parents were in a good mood, and Andrea was being her usual talkative self. All the little normal details that made my life here somewhat okay.

Then, out of nowhere, my dad dropped a bomb.

"Flynn!" he said, his eyes lighting up. "I'm giving ya' special permission to explore the village!"

Hold up. What?

I froze, mouth full of food, like I just heard some insane announcement. Permission? For what?

"Wait, what?" I mumbled, not sure I heard him right.

"Yeah, go check out the village. You've been cooped up long enough!" My dad laughed, taking another bite of his eggs.

I swear, for a second, I thought my heart stopped. Explore the village? I'd only been here for five years, and I had barely seen anything outside of our house and the fields around it. But this was my shot. My chance to actually step out, stretch my legs, and see the world a little.

"Thanks, Dad!" I said, jumping up from my chair. I didn't even bother finishing my food. I was outta here.

I rushed out of the house like a man on a mission. And damn, was it beautiful. The sun was shining, the fields were green, and the villagers were going about their day. People waved at me, greeted me, and I couldn't help but feel like some kind of celebrity. Sure, I was the kid of the local big-shot warrior, but it felt nice to be noticed for once.

I wandered through the village, soaking it all in. The streets were lined with cute little houses, and the air smelled like fresh bread and flowers. Everyone seemed so... alive.

Then, out of nowhere, I saw them. Two kids, a boy and a girl, playing in the street. I couldn't help but stare. The way they were laughing and running around reminded me of the times when I was a kid in my past life—before everything went to hell.

I wanted to join in. And I knew this was my shot. I took a deep breath and walked over.

"Hey, uh, hello! Uhm, can guys I join you?" I said, messing up the most simplest shit of my life.

The boy stopped and looked up, giving me a grin. "Of course ya' can!"

The girl looked excited too. "Yeah, yeah! Come play with us!" she said, her voice high-pitched and full of energy.

I had to laugh. She was cute. Too cute. I was almost nervous, but I pushed it aside. I needed this. I needed to be a kid again, to forget about all the heavy stuff that was constantly weighing on my shoulders.

"I'm Flynn," I introduced myself. "Flynn Neworld."

The boy pointed at himself. "I'm Daniel Forle!"

"And I'm Fareé Gophan!" the girl said, her voice bubbly.

We ran around for hours. Just played. And for a while, it felt like nothing else mattered. No past life, no crazy magic powers, no responsibilities. Just pure fun. I had forgotten what it felt like to enjoy life without any strings attached. To feel... free.

Eventually, though, Daniel had to head home. "Bye Flynn! I've got to go now!" he called out, waving as he ran off.

And then it was just me and Fareé. Standing there, in the middle of the street, looking awkward as hell.

Shit, I had no idea what to say. I hadn't talked to a girl outside of my mom and Andrea in... well, a long time. I wasn't great at this.

But Fareé spoke first, and I swear it was the cutest thing ever.

"F-Flynn, could you teach me magic?" she asked, her voice hesitant but hopeful. "I've been watching you practice at your backyard..."

Wait. What? She had been watching me? I didn't even realize.

My mind went blank for a second. "Uh... sure!" I finally said, trying to sound calm, though inside I was freaking out.

We went to a secluded grassland just outside the village, where no one would bother us. It was perfect for magic practice—quiet, empty, and peaceful.

I pulled out the book I'd been reading, the one with all the magic stuff. And I taught her everything I knew. From the basics to some of the more advanced stuff. Of course, I couldn't teach her any of the advanced magic I'd been experimenting with (not yet, anyway), but she didn't seem to mind. She was soaking up everything I said like a sponge.

"Woah... Flynn, you're a really good teacher!" Fareé said, her eyes wide in admiration.

Damn, that felt good. I never realized how much I liked being praised. It was like a boost to my confidence that I didn't even know I needed.

We kept practicing for a while, and that's when it hit me—Fareé was... well, cute. Her orange hair shined in the sunlight, like it was made of fire, and her eyes sparkled every time she laughed. She had this innocence about her, this genuine, sweet vibe that made everything feel so easy and natural.

Without thinking, I blurted out, "Cute..."

She froze, her face turning bright red. My brain hit the brakes, but it was too late.

Shit, what did I just say? I hadn't meant to—damn it.

"I—I'm sorry, Fareé," I stammered, trying to backtrack. "I didn't mean—"

But before I could finish, she reached out and grabbed my hand, placing it on her cheek. "I-it's okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "If it's you... then I'm fine with it..."

Holy shit. I couldn't breathe. My heart was pounding like crazy, and my brain was short-circuiting.

All I could think was—Cute. She's cute. No, she's more than that. She's perfect.

By the time I got home, I was still smiling like an idiot. I couldn't stop. I had spent the day having fun with some new friends, and Fareé... damn, she had me messed up.

Dinner came, and I was still grinning. My parents noticed, of course.

"Flynn, did something good happen?" my mom asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Hehe, nothing!" I said, trying to play it cool. But inside, I was still riding that high.

It was the best day I'd had in a long time. And I was determined to keep it that way.