Moving through the darkness like a shooting star, Yuto emerged from the void of chaos through a bright light as it pulsed and swirled with life and vitality. He could feel his spirit changing, reshaping itself into something new. Memories of his previous life remained, but something was different. As the light began to dim, he found himself surrounded by people in white coats, with long ears. He heard muffled voices and the beeping of magical machinery, but everything was blurry and indistinct.
A woman in a magical, surgical gown leaned over him, her face filled with joy. Yuto found himself in a cozy hospital room. His new mother was gently rocking him in her arms, completely unaware of the darkness that had brought him into this world. She couldn't believe she'd given birth to such a beautiful baby. Her child's eyes were already open, revealing a striking shade of violet.
As the mother held her newborn, she whispered softly, "Welcome to the world, Ophelia Grovenheart. My precious baby girl." The memories of Yuto's previous life came rushing back to him - or rather, her. She was no longer a boy, but a girl. A girl named Ophelia.
She blinked up at her mother, still adjusting to her new body. The sensation of being a baby was strange and overwhelming, but somehow familiar. She flexed her tiny fingers, marveling at how small and delicate they were.
The doctors and nurses bustled around the room, checking her vitals and cleaning her up. The smell of antiseptic and medicine filled her nostrils, a stark contrast to the darkness of the void she'd just come from.
("I'm… alive…") As the mother gazed at her with adoration, Ophelia's eyes—once filled with hatred and revenge—now held a hint of confusion and uncertainty about her new life as a girl named Ophelia Grovenheart. ("I'm reborn as a girl…? I don't know how to feel about this.") The mother kissed her daughter's forehead tenderly, whispering words of comfort and adoration as Ophelia glanced around the room, noticing how grand and luxurious it was, befitting a royal family.
("Where am I? Some sort of Palace?") She thought internally. There were velvet curtains hung from the windows, and intricate tapestries adorning the walls. The ceiling was high and vaulted, with golden chandeliers casting a warm glow over everything.
Ophelia could sense the magic in the air, different from the dark energy she'd encountered in the void. This magic was gentle and protective, woven into the very fabric of the castle—she seemed to despise it.
Analyzing the room and its every detail, she spotted a large crib near the bed, surrounded by toys and plush animals. A soft rug covered the floor, and a rocking chair sat by the window.
All of a sudden, the door opened, and a middle-aged man with silver hair entered. He wore elegant robes and carried a golden cane; the doctors and nurses bowed in his presence before taking their leave. Ophelia recognized him instantly - this was King Jubilius.
("Huh, King Jubilius? What's that old man doing here?") Baffled by his appearance, she looked at her mother with curious eyes, waiting for an explanation of any kind.
"Oh dear, we have a baby girl!" Sophie exclaimed, excitedly.
("Wait, what?! King Jubilius is my Father?! That damned… Goddess! She reincarnated me as the child of this bastard!?") Ophelia's tiny body tensed as King Jubilius approached the bed. Her violet eyes widened in recognition, and a wave of emotions crashed over her - fear, anger, betrayal. This was the man who had hated her in her past life, and now she was to obey him.
"Uwaaaahhh!" Her tiny fists clenched, and she let out a loud cry. Sophie noticed her daughter's distress and gently rocked her, whispering soothing words.
"There there, sweetie, this is your father!"
("Yeah, I know! That's why I'm crying!!")
Jubilius stopped at the bedside, his expression softening as he gazed at Ophelia.
"My sweet child…" Said the King as he smiled proudly, completely unaware of the turmoil he'd caused in Ophelia's heart. He reached out to touch her cheek, but she instinctively flinched away while crying, causing the King to widen his eyes. "Oh? Pwa haha! It's too early to be scared of your old man."
"Shh, it's okay my little Ophelia," Sophie soothed her daughter, unaware of their hatred. It made matters more frustrating for the newborn baby.
"Allow me to hold her dear." The King reached for his daughter, but Ophelia's small mouth opened, and a deep, feminine voice escaped her lips, surprising her parents. "You will not touch me," she declared firmly, her violet eyes blazing with an unnatural intensity. Her voice carried an otherworldly quality that didn't match her infant body. Even Ophelia herself seemed surprised that she could talk as an infant, but her anger overpowered such bewilderment.
"By the Gods!" Jubilius recoiled as if burned, his face paling dramatically. He stared at Ophelia with a blend of shock and fear, keeping his hand frozen in mid-air.
Sophie gasped, lifting up Ophelia by the waist. "Oh my goodness… our baby can talk?" she stammered, looking from her husband to her daughter in bewilderment.
The King's expression hardened, his initial surprise giving way to a calculating look. He exchanged a meaningful glance with Sophie before speaking in a low voice. "I've lived long enough to see this Kingdom blossom from the very start, and never have I heard of a newborn baby speaking with such clarity."
Sophie nodded almost passionately, smooching Ophelia on the cheek, "She has quite the personality already, doesn't she?" Ophelia continued to stare at him defiantly, her violet eyes unwavering.
Just as the tension in the room reached its peak, the door opened again, and another person entered. Her long blonde hair was braided neatly, and she wore a simple yet elegant gown.
"My baby sister, where is she?" Ophelia immediately recognized this person, it was Alicia, the Princess who brought her here when she was still considered Yuto Alltear.
("Huh?! Princess Alicia? Oh.. that's right! Alicia is the daughter of King Jubilius, I completely forgot!")
Alicia widened her eyes when she saw Ophelia in Sophie's arms, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' of surprise, but her parents reaction caught her off guard, as if they've seen a ghost. "Father? Mother? What's wrong?" she asked, taking in the scene with concern.
Sophie finally managed to find her voice while clutching Ophelia, saying, "Alicia, you must see this. Your new sister... she can speak."
"Um… what?" Alicia, confused, approached the bed with her curiosity piqued. She peered down at Ophelia with genuine interest, completely unaware of their shared past. "Hello there, little sister," she cooed softly. "I'm your big sister Alicia."
Ophelia's eyes lit up as she giggled at Alicia's gentle voice. She remembered everything; Alicia's kindness, her belief in her past life as Yuto, even when everyone else had turned against him. A small smile tugged at the corners of Ophelia's mouth, and she reached out a tiny hand toward Alicia, her violet eyes sparkling with recognition.
"Ah!" Alicia gasped as her eyes filled with joy. She could feel her heart melt after seeing her baby sister's reaction. She gently took Ophelia's hand in hers, marveling at how tiny and perfect it was. "What are you guys talking about? Doesn't seem like she can speak to me, ehehe."
The mother and father share worried glances and decides to drop it. "She seems to like you already," Sophie commented, her earlier concern fading slightly.
Jubilius watched the interaction with a calculating expression, his eyes darting between Alicia and Ophelia. They seemed to have a deep bond already which made the father proud, but he couldn't help but question his child and this otherworldly feeling about them.
"This week has been fantastic! I got to meet the chosen heroes, and now I have a baby sister!" Said Alicia, pulling her little sister closer to her chest.
Jubilius cleared his throat, drawing Alicia's attention away from Ophelia. "Speaking of which, how are our castle guests faring? I trust they're not causing any trouble?"
Alicia straightened up, her expression becoming more formal. "Ah, yes. The heroes are doing well, Father. They've been training diligently for the adventurer's exams. Tanimoto is..." she paused, glancing at Ophelia briefly. "He's been rather... aggressive lately."
Ophelia's tiny body tensed again at the mention of Tanimoto's name. Her grip on Alicia's finger tightened unconsciously, a flash of old pain crossing her face, but there was a hint of anger in her visage.
Jubilius noticed the princess's hesitance and smirked slightly. "Ah, that boy. He does have a temper on him, doesn't he? Keep an eye on him, Alicia. We wouldn't want any incidents before the exams."
("Tanimoto… you'll be the first one on my bucket list, just wait until we meet…")
Alicia nodded, speaking in an orderly fashion. "Yes, Father. They're quite skilled, especially for their age. Though Tanimoto has been... overly confident lately. His competitive nature makes the other heroes worry for the future."
Ophelia's violet eyes darkened at Alicia's words. Memories of Tanimoto's harsh words and mocking laughter flooded her mind. She remembered the way he'd pushed her around, calling her weak and useless, and how he'd enjoyed Yuto's suffering.
("I'll make him suffer… he'll grovel beneath my feet and experience a humiliation one hundred times worse than what he did to me!")
Jubilius leaned forward, a gleam of interest in his eyes. "Perhaps we should test their mettle before the exams. Have them face some... challenges."
Sophie frowned at her husband's suggestion. "Darling, they're still children. Let them focus on their training without unnecessary pressure."
King Jubilius frowned at his wife's comment before sighing. "Very well, but we don't have any time to waste, the Eater of Worlds could be here at any moment, and we need strong heroes." Said the King, anxious in his voice.
"Let us put our trust in Odin and the Sisters of Fate, and hope they chose the right people." Proclaimed Sophie, smiling.