In the dimly lit basement of a small house, Valor Kenji sat huddled on the ground, his fingers dancing across the controls of his physio manipulation machine as he screwed the last few knots into the base of the device.
"Sqik... sqik... sqik..."
The device whirred with incremental sounds, turning one part over the other. Valor stood up—his tall, bright stature unfolding like a majestic spectacle. His cloaked black hair cascaded down to his shoulders, and his earrings suggested that of a noble.
He took a deep breath, his hands reaching for the sky.
"Finally,"
he whispered, a sense of anticipation and fulfillment building within him.
With no one around, Valor shed his clothes, preparing for the first test of his invention on his own body. He stepped into a bioconcave steel frame, flipped a switch, and turned around to maintain a straight view in front of him—showing no caution in his actions. The machine began to gather current, just as he had designed, but somehow, his results were not accountable for.
Earth 2
Meanwhile, in a parallel Earth, a doppelganger of Valor Kenji stood in the center of a spring, concentrating massive aura behind him. His goal: to freeze the entire river, attempting to conjure an unforeseen technique.
Suddenly, a full eclipse occurred in the middle of the day, casting the umbra region directly over the Eldradora Kingdom. The young ice magic wielder pressed forward, oblivious to the celestial event—his eyes closed tight like a mother hen about to lay an egg, pushing his strength to its limits.
The moon's presence amplified his aura capacity, transforming his icy essence into quantum entanglement, which began slicing into a wormhole that widened as he channeled more energy.
The warm temperature behind him proved he was not making quite the progress he desired. Frowning in frustration, Kiato let gravity take hold of him as he fell backward—into the wormhole he had unintentionally created.
Back in the basement, Valor's machine roared to life, enveloping him in a bright blue light within the bioconcave test tube. Loud sounds shot out from his invention, blowing out all the resistors and surging current through the test tube. Electricity coursed around him like spikes of lightning, and matter condensed into his bloodstream, putting him in brief agony.
Unbeknownst to Valor, a small dragon formed on his shoulder. As the energy reached its peak, Valor shrunk into the course of space—at the same day, hour, minute, and second as his doppelganger Kiato.
Seconds later, Valor landed in the stream, replacing his double ganger. He stumbled, unbalanced in the flowing water. Without hesitation, he struggled to get up. Jumping to his feet, eyes fluttered open as he took in his surroundings.
He found himself in a stream that strictly resembled one he had seen before, yet bore obvious differences. So many questions raced through his mind:
"What just happened?!"
"How did I get here?!"
"Where am I?"
he muttered in great confusion, his heart pounding against his ribs.
Suddenly, Valor began hearing the sound of running footsteps approaching from a distance. He quickly adjusted his thinking—realizing he was still naked. Scanning his environment, he spotted a noble attire by the shore of the stream and quickly reacted, dashing toward it and dressing himself in haste.
Just as he adjusted his belt, a group of knights, led by a blue-frost-haired commander, approached.
"Lord Kiato..."
the knight said as his group bowed in unison.
"My lord, your father seeks your immediate presence at the Kenji residence."
Valor masked his confusion, replying with a soft, friendly tone:
"Go. I'll be there in a few minutes."
The knights departed at his command, leaving Kiato to ponder his new identity.
"So my new name is Kiato... and I regain my nobility,"
he thought to himself. As he began piecing together what had occurred, he finally paid attention to the dragon perched on his shoulder.
"What could this be?"
he murmured, though his reaction bore neither fear nor disgust.
As he slowly walked through the forest—partially familiar, yet still alien—clarity began to seep into his thoughts, little by little.
"It seems I and my doppelganger exchanged planet's, just hopes he likes it here."
At the Kenji Residence
Kiato pushed open the large door of the mansion, tears welling in his eyes as the sight evoked treasured and traumatic memories alike. The mansion—a near replica of the one he once possessed on his native planet—brought his emotions to the surface. The frames on the wall stirred his soul.
Then, his father's message echoed in his mind. Then he masked his emotions manning up, wiped his tears, and approached the man who sat in a corner at the far end of the room.
On seeing him, Gundrick Kenji gave a quick, curious reaction:
"What's that on your shoulder?"
Gundrick asked, pointing toward the small dragon.
Kiato smiled.
"It formed during training today. I still haven't been able to talk to it." He sound in a lively but respective tune.
Gundrick's expression turned thoughtful as he handed Kiato a letter.
"This came from the Gallus Blade Academy."
As Kiato read the letter, his expression hardened with determination.
"I will not disappoint you, Father,"
he said, bowing on one knee. Gundrick patted his head.
"Just as expected from the son of a captain",
"You have two weeks to prepare. Use the first week to train yourself—and I'll train you through the second."
Kiato nodded in gratitude and headed to his room.
Upon entering, his gaze fell upon a book on the table beside his royal bed. It was his doppelganger's diary. Reading through it with curiosity, he gained insight into the life he was about to assume.
He sat at the edge of his bed finally letting his emotions out in complete freedom, tears rolling down his cheek as he gratefully embraced the second chance life had given him—to carve his destiny into his dream of having a seat at the table if nobles as one of the head captains
Renewed determination coursed through his veins as he clenched his fist.
"I will become strong... to protect my family."