Tian turned off his laptop and leaned back on his chair. Stretching his arms over his head.
Empty coffee cups lined the desk, he had consumed them during 7 hours straight of studying. He slowly peeked through the curtains…the sun was almost up.
He rubbed his eyes. They stung.
"Geez…" he muttered.
His shoulders dropped. He stood, stretched once, then dragged himself to the bed.
He fell forward on the mattress, arms wrapping around his pillow. The blanket tangled around his legs.
"I'll sleep for ten minutes…then get…ready…"
His eyes closed. The warmth of his bed made him easily fall asleep.
"..."
*****
"Tian… Tian…"
A voice drifted near his ear.
He frowned.
"So noisy…"
"Tian Tian, wake up."
He pulled the pillow over his head. "Go away…"
"Hey. Don't fall back to sleep."
"I need more sleep," Tian mumbled.
"Time's back. Don't sleep."
"No…"
"In the name of God, stop sleeping."
Silence.
"Tian! Please stop sleepingggg!"
His eyes snapped open.
"So noisy. What's your problem?"
Something floated in front of him.
Small. Blonde hair. Two tiny horns curved from its head. Its body was round and fluffy, wrapped in miniature white and gold robes. It hovered at eye level.
Tian blinked twice. He didn't even wonder why the figure looked like that.
"Can you please go away? I need sleep."
The small figure crossed its arms. "Tian. Look around you first."
He sighed and opened his eyes once more.
Tian realized that he wasn't in his room anymore. A wide space stretched in every direction, glowing in deep blue.
His gaze dropped, the ground beneath him shone faintly, and when he looked in every direction, there were floating lights everywhere.
He pushed himself up to sit.
"W-What… where am I?"
The floating figure beamed. "God has granted you a great responsibility in another world."
Tian lay back down.
"Mm. That sounds… fine…" His voice drifted. "Responsibility… another world…"
His eyes opened again.
"What?"
The small creature's smile faded. "You are the reincarnation of His Highness. And now you have come back to our world."
Tian stared at him.
"His Highness?"
He glanced at the empty blue horizon, then back at the creature. A slow grin formed on his lips and decided to play along.
"Am I a king or something? Do I have a kingdom? Magic?" He propped his chin on his palm. "Explain it to me, bunny."
"I'm not a bunny!" The creature puffed up. "Listen carefully. I am Kirin. An almighty being. I was sealed by an evil god for a thousand years. I broke free to find you."
Kirin floated closer.
"I searched through bloodlines and souls. I found you. I brought you back to the Grand Yhang Dynasty to save your people."
Tian let out a low whistle. "Grand Yhang Dynasty…"
He looked around again. The blue light rippled across the ground beneath him.
"What a very detailed..."
Kirin's eyes narrowed. "It took me a year to locate you. A whole year. Now you stand here, and you still think this is a dream."
Tian shrugged. "Just call me Tian."
"Your Highness-"
"Tian."
Kirin inhaled sharply, then exhaled. "Fine. Tian." The name rolled off his tongue with ease.
Tian repeated, "Kirin…"
The sound lingered in Tian's chest. He paused. "Thanks, bunny."
"I said I'm not a bunny!" Kirin stomped in midair. "This is my mini spirit form. My true body is tall and handsome!"
Tian chuckled. "Sure. Show me next time in my next dream."
Kirin tilted his head. "You still think you're dreaming?"
Tian lay flat on the glowing floor. "Obviously."
Kirin's expression turned calm.
"The memories of your past and present are merging."
The blue light around them brightened.
"Come back, Your Royal Highness."
Tian pushed himself upright. Images of many people flashed in his mind all at once. Their faces felt familiar to him. His breath caught, he pressed his hand to his temple.
"Wait. Is this real?"
"Very real, Tian." Kirin murmured then suddenly disappeared.
The blue light started circling Tian..
He felt like there was a hand around his waist, pulling him into a golden portal.
When he opened his eyes, he was standing on a polished red stone floor.
A vast hall stretched before him. Tall crimson pillars lined both sides, carved with coiling dragons.
Gold patterns ran along the beams above. Silk banners hung torn, their edges burned. Candles had fallen from bronze stands. Melted wax spread across the floor.
The scent of blood lingered.
"W-What the heck!"
At the far end stood a raised platform. A throne carved from dark wood and jade sat beneath a large golden emblem of a dragon.
Tian's eyes widened as blood stained the marble steps leading to it. Shouts echoed through the corridors.
"Your Highness!"
Tian turned.
A young man rushed toward him. Black hair tied high. Armor cracked at the shoulder. A sword gripped in his hand, the blade smeared with fresh blood.
He stopped a few steps away and dropped to one knee.
"Your Highness!"
Tian blinked at him.
"Huh… are you Leon?"
The man looked up, startled. "You remember me? I'm delighted."
Tian froze.
'Why do I know his name?'
Memories flashed through his mind...training grounds, Leon as a young boy standing in front of him. Tian felt deja vu while staring down.
His chest tightened.
Kirin's voice echoed faintly.
'The memories of your past and present are merging.'
Leon stood quickly. His expression carried urgency. "All palace gates have been breached. The eastern wall has fallen. Enemies are flooding the inner courtyards."
Tian frowned. The words struck him, yet felt distant.
"What? Where am I? What's happening?"
Leon stepped closer. "Your Highness, I will explain later. We must leave now."
Another crash shook the hall. Dust fell from the ceiling beams, screams rang out outside. Tian took a step back, his gaze fixed on the ceiling in shock.
Leon grabbed Tian's wrist. "Please. Follow me."
Tian hesitated for a second, then his feet moved. They ran across the blood-tinted floor.
Their footsteps echoed between the pillars. Some fallen guards lay at the sides, already dead. Tian's gaze lingered for half a heartbeat before Leon pulled him past.
'What's happening here!'