A few hours ago, before the prince's birth at sunrise...
Elaraion Vance's wandering soul and its companion ring arrived at their destination. Yet, this new location held an uncanny resemblance to the swirling, star-dusted void of the wormhole channel – a vast, silent expanse dotted with majestic moons and colorful star lights.
As his translucent wisp form floated in the darkness, a silent question echoed within him: 'Is this where my soul is supposed to be?' Drifting further, he realized this wasn't a place of gloom. The pervasive darkness wasn't empty or cold; instead, it wrapped him in a profound sense of warmth. Above, the stars and moons poured down their majestic light, bathing him in their glow. 'From the number of moons and the sheer beauty of this sky,' he mused, 'I can definitely tell that I'm no longer on Earth.'
A sudden weariness settled over him, a profound need for rest that his soul instinctively recognized. 'This must be some kind of resting place for souls,' he thought, the urge to sleep becoming overwhelming. Following his instincts, he allowed his consciousness to fade and blend into the comforting darkness around him. The moons and starlight above poured their light upon him, a gentle cascade that felt like a mother's embrace. This wasn't just rest; it was a fundamental process he couldn't yet comprehend.
Without knowledge or expertise in transmigration and rebirth, Elaraion Vance wasn't aware that the same dark, star-dusted expanse was actually Dayang Iskra's womb. His sudden need to rest and sleep was his soul's instinctual response, a protective measure against any unexpected accident or rejection during the process of merging with his new body.
During this crucial merging process, the ring accompanying his soul trembled. It released an imperceptible light, seemingly utilizing the essence of the starlight and moons in an attempt to merge itself with both Elaraion Vance's soul and body, without his conscious knowledge.
Elaraion Vance was jolted awake by a sudden cacophony of noise around him. Bright lights assaulted his eyes, and the world swayed gently. 'Is this my new body?' he wondered, flexing tiny limbs he didn't recognize. 'Are newborn babies in this world truly this large right after birth?' He was surprised by his physical size, equivalent to a one or two-year-old toddler from his previous life.
He was being carried by a woman, secured in what looked like a car seat designed for infants, meant for safety during travel in a vehicle. Noticing her child was awake, she looked down, her expression apologetic. Her eyes, resolute and filled with a fierce, protective light, also held a deep reservoir of sorrow.
Elaraion Vance recognized that look. He could only assume this was his mother in this new life. 'What are we running from? Is someone chasing us?' These questions flooded his mind as he realized they were fleeing through a forest.
By the weary lines on her face and the sweat glistening on her brow, it was clear they had been running for quite some time. She was obviously tired, panting with effort, but she never stopped, not even for a moment's rest.
'Run. Keep running. Don't ever stop.' These thoughts were the woman's only mantra, the fuel pushing her body beyond its limits. It was a mad dash forward, leaves rustling wildly, branches snapping underfoot. The relentless escape only came to a sudden halt when the woman's gaze darted upwards, spotting a flying drone hovering above the trees.
Unfortunately, it was already too late. The drone had spotted them before she noticed it. As it aimed to her, a laser pointed towards her chest. Then a man suddenly leaped in front of Elaraion Vance and the woman.
"Nooooo!" the woman screamed, a sound ripped from the depths of heartbreak and helplessness.
In the next instant, from the point of impact outwards, the man slowly disintegrated, crumbling into dust. He twisted back towards his wife and son, a final message on his lips, "Run away now, my love. Take care of our son." With his remaining strength, he raised his right hand, aiming a gun towards the drone.
Crackle! Boom!
The drone, never anticipating such a counterattack in his condition, failed to evade in time.
Wasting not a single second, the woman bolted forward, clinging to the chance and the sacrifice her husband had just made. She would survive, and she would make them pay in the future. Her eyes blazing furiously with hatred and vengeance, she ran resolutely without pausing.
Elaraion Vance was utterly shocked. He hadn't known they were alone, nor the true gravity of their situation. It seemed his father had been scouting ahead, while his mother and he followed behind. That's why he hadn't seen him earlier. 'Was my father just killed in front of me? He sacrificed his life so we could escape?' disbelief warred with the horrific reality.
Whoever or whatever was chasing them clearly had no intention of keeping them alive once caught. Before he could fully contemplate their dire situation, the woman suddenly stopped beside a waterfall cascading over huge rocks. She carefully placed the car seat carrying Elaraion Vance between two large boulders.
With trembling hands, she took a ring and slipped it onto a chain, making a necklace for him, as it was too large for his tiny fingers. "It is now your turn," she whispered, fighting back tears, "to protect the ring and keep it hidden." Tears streamed down her face as she continued, "Your Father and I would love to see you grow and be with you always. I hope that you can forgive us." She held his tiny hand, her voice thick with emotion, "I will lure them away so you can live. Your Father and I love you so much." She kissed his forehead one last time. Then, moving quickly, she disassembled the car seat, taking the outer frame to send it flowing down the river as a potential distraction for their pursuers.
She pressed a button hidden near the remains of the car seat, and Elaraion saw a shimmering barrier form in front of him. It immediately camouflaged itself, appearing as just another rock, while ensuring his safety within.
After securing her son, she ran towards another direction, firing her weapon at the approaching sounds to draw the pursuers' attention. The drone, the weapons, their clothes, the technology, the ring...
It dawned on Elaraion Vance with stunning clarity. What he was seeing was not just a supposed new life in a new world. The people who had willingly sacrificed themselves for him were the parents he had been searching for his entire previous life!
After a few seconds, he heard voices rushing from where they had come. "General, our scout noticed the child's car seat floating down the river while the mother ran further into the forest. Your instructions, Sir?" The group's leader considered for a moment before barking his command.
"We cannot tell for sure which one is the decoy, so divide the team into two groups and continue the pursuit. We must get that item and ensure their death to prevent anything from getting traced back to us. Is that clear?" The leader's voice was utterly ruthless.
"Yes, General!" one of the men saluted before relaying the orders to the pursuing group.
Overhearing their conversation, Elaraion Vance pieced together a crucial piece of intelligence. They were after a certain item. He was inclined to think it was the ring, but he'd been with this ring for sixteen years and found nothing special about it at all. An item that would drive people to such inhumane acts couldn't be just a simple ring. Or did they even have it to begin with? What if it wasn't with his parents at all?
He had thought he would find peace after getting answers about his parents and origins. But the truth he received only led to more questions. They hadn't abandoned him; they had saved him. They had died so he could live. A fact that would forever haunt him.
This devastating revelation ignited a chilling inferno within Elaraion's soul. His toddler eyes, dark as the abyss, filled not with a child's innocence, but with a terrifying, cold rage.
Elaraion Vance committed the mission of his second life to heart: 'I will make those people who killed my parents pay in blood. I will need a power strong enough to bend time and space so I can travel back to Earth. And if power is the price, absolute power is what I will claim!'