Chapter 1: Reborn
Deep within a quiet forest, where ancient trees stood shoulder to shoulder like silent guardians, there was a lone wooden house.
It was not grand, nor was it poor. Built from thick oak logs darkened by age and rain, the house blended naturally with the forest around it, as if it had grown there rather than been constructed. Moss clung to its lower walls, and the scent of damp earth and pine lingered constantly in the air.
On the second floor of the house, at the very end of the narrow corridor, lay the smallest room.
Inside that room sat an eight-year-old boy.
He was seated cross-legged on the wooden floor, his back straight, his posture unnaturally steady for a child of his age. His eyes were closed, his breathing slow and deliberate—inhaling through his nose, exhaling gently through his mouth. Each breath was controlled, calm, as though he were afraid that even the slightest mistake would break something fragile inside him.
Minutes passed.
The forest outside remained silent, save for the distant chirping of birds and the soft rustle of leaves swaying with the wind. Inside the room, nothing moved. The boy did not fidget, did not sway. He simply was.
If someone were to look closely, they would notice something strange—an air of maturity that did not belong to a child. Beneath his peaceful expression lay a depth that felt… old.
Very old.
Suddenly—
Creaaak.
The wooden door was pushed open.
Light from the corridor spilled into the room, breaking the stillness. Almost at the same time, a cheerful and melodious voice rang out, bright enough to chase away the silence.
"Shona!"
The boy's breathing paused for the briefest moment.
Slowly, his eyes opened.
They were clear, sharp, and far too calm for an eight-year-old child.
As he exhaled, a faint sense of awareness settled over him—one that carried memories not meant for this small body, memories of another world, another life.
This was not his first breath.
Nor was this his first beginning.
Thus began the rebirth of a soul destined to rise above mortals…
and claim the world of gods.