Far from Earth, in a quiet cottage deep in a green valley, a woman screamed in labor.
"M-my love, push! Just a little more!" cried a man, gripping her hand tightly.
She clenched her teeth, sweat dripping down her brow. Her magic surged wildly, shattering a vase nearby.
"I'm not dying here, Lay!" she snapped.
"I know you're not, Reyna! You're the strongest mage in the kingdom!"
With one final push, her scream echoed—and a baby's cry followed. Then another.
The midwife gasped. "It's twins!"
The man—Lay Hayagashi, once a legendary hero—rushed to his wife's side. His silver hair glowed faintly, and his eyes softened as he saw the tiny boys swaddled.
"Heh… both boys. Strong lungs," Lay chuckled.
The first child—Lucas—was wailing loudly. But the second… the second lay still.
Raizo Hayagashi… opened his eyes.
In his newborn mind, Johnrhey's memories stirred. "Wait… is this real? Am I… a baby? They really reincarnated me…"
He turned his head, seeing the woman—his new mother—Reyna, eyes tired but full of love. The man—his new father, Lay—beamed proudly.
"...They're smiling at me," he thought. "At me…"
But he couldn't move. His baby body felt like jelly. He didn't cry. He just stared.
Reyna's smile began to fade.
"L-Lay… he's not crying…"
The midwife moved closer, worried. "He's breathing but… not a sound…"
Panic settled in the room.
"Raizo," Lay said, gently shaking the newborn. "Come on, little warrior. Let us hear your voice…"
Then, the crying of Lucas beside him filled the air again. Instinctively, Raizo turned his head. "I… should cry too… right?"
His little mouth opened—and finally, he cried.
A loud, clear, piercing cry.
The couple gasped. Then smiled, tears in their eyes.
"He's fine," Reyna whispered, relief washing over her. "Our little Raizo…"
Lay kissed her forehead. "He's going to be strong. I know it."
As the two newborns wailed together, in a distant mountain range, the wind howled.
And somewhere… deep beneath the earth…
A sealed darkness stirred.