When I closed my eyes, I felt as if my very soul was being extracted, pulled toward an unknown void. "Wake up, child." The voice was strong, yet oddly heartless. It wasn't a sound heard with the ears; it was a humming vibration that approached the very center of my mind.
I woke with a shock. Standing in front of me was a majestic, fairy-like figure. She glowed with an otherworldly light, her presence filling the empty space around us. Fear clutched at my chest. I opened my mouth and began to pour out questions, my voice trembling. She held up a hand, asking me to relax. "You know you are dead," she said calmly.
"Yes," I replied, my voice a mere whisper. "But... why am I here? What are you doing with me?" I nodded slowly as she looked at me with eyes that seemed to see through my entire existence. "Listen," she continued. "I know you faced hell in your past life. You suffered from a level of kindness and gratitude that nobody deserved. Am I right? Yes or no?"
"Yes," I gasped. The memory of Ryan's betrayal stung more than the death itself. "Then listen carefully. I can offer you a second chance." I froze. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I struggled to control the sudden surge of happiness. "A second chance?"
"But there is an exception," the mysterious figure added, her voice dropping into a darker tone. "What is it?" I asked curiously. "In your next life, you can continue your path of kindness—the kindness that nobody deserved—blah, blah, blah..." She smirked, her expression turning mocking. "Or... you can become someone cruel. Someone ruthless. Someone who plants the seeds of fear in the hearts of your enemies."
I looked at her, confused. "You are an angel... then why do you promote violence? In heaven, shouldn't there be no violence at all?" Hearing this, the Angel let out a cold, cruel laugh. The sound didn't just fill the air; it vibrated through my soul, making me shiver. "There is no place like 'Hell' or 'Heaven' in this universe," she said mockingly. "A person's hell and heaven are in their surroundings. Usually, the people in society are the ones who create Hell or Heaven for others."
She leaned closer. "In your case, you only received 'Hell' treatment in your life. You should remember that showing kindness is not always a solution. I can prove to you how over-showing kindness can destroy a person's life." Before I could respond, she snapped her fingers. My body began to dissolve into glowing particles.
"Young Master Leon..." A soft, familiar voice approached my mind. When I opened my eyes, I saw a maid who looked to be in her teens. Seeing me awake, her eyes filled with tears. She hurriedly ran from the room, shouting as she went. "Miss Veneza! Young Master is awake!"
"Who is 'Young Master'?" I murmured. I struggled out of the bed and walked toward a mirror hanging on the wall. I stood in front of the glass, but I froze instantly at what I saw. The reflection that stared back was not mine. I saw a young man with long, dark hair and eyes like a white mist—haunting and ethereal. He was significantly taller than I had ever been, with a presence that felt imposing even through a mirror.
He was handsome—far more handsome than the most popular guy in my old class—but there was something wrong. His body looked incredibly weak. It was as if his muscles had withered away, leaving him so frail that he struggled even to stand up straight for more than a few seconds. "Who is this person?" I whispered to myself.
Suddenly, my hands began to tremble. A violent shiver racked my frame, and I could barely catch my breath as my body started to seize up. I clutched the edge of the sink, my knuckles turning white. "No way..." I shouted, my voice cracking. "Is that... me?"
Out of nowhere, a wave of dizziness hit me like a physical blow. In an instant, a flood of memories flashed behind my eyes—distorted and rapid. It didn't feel like I was just watching someone else's life; it felt as if he were standing right there, narrating his deepest secrets directly into my soul. The pain, the pride, and the history of this body began to merge with my own. "My name was Leon Lionheart..." ...( To be continued )