“Ugh…”

I couldn’t open my eyes. The world around me was nothing but darkness. It wasn’t the usual kind of darkness, though. No, it felt deeper like I was sinking into an endless abyss. My body felt weightless, yet heavy at the same time, as if the air itself was pressing against me from all sides.

Was I dead?

That thought floated through my mind. It wasn’t an unfamiliar thought. After all, my life had been anything but easy. I was a genius in a world where being poor meant being worthless. I had outshone the rich, the privileged, the so-called “elite” students of my school. But instead of admiration, all I got in return was hatred. Hatred from teachers who resented my intelligence. Resentment from classmates who couldn't stand the fact that a poor kid like me had surpassed them.

And in the end, that same hatred led to my death.

A sharp pain, the cold steel of a blade, and then darkness.

But now… this darkness felt different. There was something wrong. I wasn’t sure what, but my senses were off. I tried to think, to focus, but the only thing I could feel was a dull pressure, and the sound of my own heartbeat… no, two heartbeats.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

I froze. It was like hearing the pulse of two hearts, beating in sync. I was… alive? But that didn’t make sense. How could I still be alive? I had been killed, hadn’t I?

And yet, as if on cue, I heard voices.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

It was a deep, powerful voice. A voice filled with pride and joy.

“Your son… He’s a fine boy.”

A woman’s voice followed, soft and filled with warmth. “Yes… my precious son. My little Kol.”

Kol?

That name wasn’t mine. I was Kaito Asakura. Or at least, I had been Kaito Asakura. The top student in Japan, the one who excelled despite being poor. How had I ended up here?

As if sensing my confusion, the soft voice continued. "My dear Kol... You will be the future king. I will make sure of it."

The sound of a kiss on a forehead. Wait. My forehead? I tried to move my hands, but they didn’t respond. I couldn’t even turn my head. Everything felt wrong strange. And then it hit me.

I wasn’t just dead. I wasn’t in the afterlife. I was… reborn. The weight of the realization slammed into me. The memories of my past life of my betrayal, my death, and my despair flooded back. But now, they were being replaced with something new. A new life. A new body. A body that wasn’t mine.

I was no longer Kaito Asakura. No, now I was Kol Regalias, a newborn prince of the Kingdom of Valtaris.

I felt the soft fabric of what I assumed was royal bedding beneath me. The warmth of my mother’s arms. The scent of something… regal. Expensive. I could feel the power in the air, the strange magic that hummed just beneath the surface of everything around me.

“Kol…” my mother whispered. “You will be special. I know it. You will grow strong.”

I didn’t understand. None of this made sense. But as my tiny body began to stir, I could already feel something an overwhelming sense of power, like an endless reservoir waiting to be tapped. Magic.

I had been reborn into a world of magic, a kingdom where sorcery was as natural as breathing. And in this world, I was the son of a king. The genius who had been killed for his brilliance was now the heir to a throne.

The sensation of being reborn didn’t just end with the realization of my new life it was overwhelming. There was something almost… surreal about the entire experience. My body felt unfamiliar, and yet, I could feel the wisdom, the memories of my past life, lingering within me. My mind was sharp sharper than it had ever been, despite my current form as a helpless child.

As I lay there, cradled in my mother’s arms, I couldn’t help but notice the gentle hum of magic in the air. It wasn’t just around me; it was within me. Every breath I took seemed to pull more power into my very core. The magic flowed effortlessly through me, as natural as blinking. It was as if I had always belonged to this world, as if I had always been meant to wield this power. Magic.

In my past life, I was a genius at everything I touched math, science, even the piano. But magic? That was something entirely different. My knowledge didn’t help me here. I was still just a newborn with no understanding of how this world worked. But I knew, deep down, that I had an edge. An advantage.

As my mother continued to rock me in her arms, I noticed the room around us soft golden light filtering through tall windows, ornate tapestries hanging on the walls, and the unmistakable air of royalty. I was in a palace. It was a fact I couldn’t deny. I was no longer a poor student in a school that had crushed me underfoot. I was in the lap of luxury, surrounded by wealth and power.

The woman holding me my mother, the queen was a beautiful woman, with long, flowing auburn hair that shimmered like the finest silk. Her eyes were the color of emeralds, warm and full of affection. Her smile, though faint, was filled with love as she gazed at me. But there was something else in her eyes—a kind of determination. She was no ordinary queen. And this was no ordinary kingdom. Valtaris.

The name of this kingdom had been whispered in my mind ever since I had opened my eyes. Valtaris was a place known for its magical prowess and its rich, royal bloodlines. The Regalias family, my family now, had ruled for generations. And I, Kol Regalias, was the heir to this kingdom.

But was I ready for this? Ready for the weight of a crown that I had never asked for? Ready to rule a kingdom? As the thought passed through my mind, my mother spoke again, her voice soft but filled with an intensity I couldn’t quite place.

“Kol… You are special, my son. You are destined for greatness. The magic that courses through you... It’s something I have never seen in anyone else. You will surpass even your father one day.”

I was caught off guard by her words. Surpass my father? The king? Was she serious? I could barely move my fingers, let alone challenge someone who had spent his entire life honing his strength and leadership. But her gaze, filled with conviction, left no room for doubt. She believed in me.

I didn’t know how I felt about this new reality, but one thing was clear I had been given another chance at life. Another chance to make something of myself. Another chance to prove I was worth more than they had ever thought. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. The door creaked open, and a tall man entered my father, King Regalias.

I could feel his presence the moment he stepped into the room. His power was palpable, exuding an aura of strength and authority that seemed to fill every corner of the room. His dark, short-cropped hair framed a stern yet noble face, and his piercing blue eyes cold, calculating locked onto me immediately.

“Is it true?” The king’s voice was deep and commanding.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” my mother responded, her voice unwavering. “Kol is strong. I believe he will exceed our expectations.”

The king remained silent for a moment, staring at me as though appraising me me, a helpless baby in my mother’s arms. His gaze softened ever so slightly, but there was no mistaking the doubt in his eyes.

“Hmm.” He stepped closer, his boots clicking against the marble floor. He bent down, and for a brief moment, I thought he would speak again. But instead, he reached out and lightly brushed a finger against my forehead.

“You are my son, Kol,” he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. “But do not think that the world will bow to you simply because of your blood. Power is earned, not given. Remember that.”

His words were harsh, yet strangely motivating. He wasn’t going to coddle me. He was preparing me for the harsh realities of the world I had been born into. The world of politics, magic, and power.

I would have to earn my place in this kingdom, and that meant proving myself in ways I had never imagined. But I wasn’t afraid. In my past life, I had been betrayed, cast aside, and killed by those I trusted. I had learned the cruel lesson of powerlessness. But now… now I had power.

The king’s hand gently brushed my head, and for a moment, I wondered if he was finally showing me some fatherly affection. But the moment passed, and he straightened up, stepping back.

“Make me proud, Kol,” he said simply, his voice carrying the weight of a command.

I could only nod though it was a small, almost imperceptible movement in my infantile state. But inside, my mind was already racing. I had to learn. I had to grow. And I had to do it quickly. This world wouldn’t wait for me to catch up.

The path ahead was unknown, but one thing was certain: I would never allow myself to be weak again. Not in this life. Not when I had the power to shape my future.

Time passed quickly in my new life. At first, I was just a helpless baby, unable to do anything but sleep, drink milk, and cry when my body demanded it. It was frustrating, to say the least. My mind was sharp I still had all my past-life memories but my body was weak, too small to even lift a finger properly. But I adapted.

I learned the patterns of my new world, the routines of the royal palace, and the people who surrounded me.

The queen my mother, Elara Regalias was as kind as she was intelligent. She had a gentle demeanor, but I could tell that beneath that soft exterior was a woman of great wisdom and strength. Every time she held me, I could feel the warmth of genuine love. She wasn’t just a queen; she was a mother who adored her son.

The king my father, Alden Regalias was the opposite. A man of few words, but his presence alone commanded respect. He wasn’t cold, but he was distant, like a ruler who saw his child as both a son and a future heir to shape. His words during our first meeting stayed with me:

"Power is earned, not given."

That was the kind of world I had been born into. By the time I was six months old, I had already begun observing everything around me. Servants moved in and out of my chambers, knights patrolled the halls, and nobles occasionally visited to see the “prince with the golden eyes.”

Yes golden eyes. That was something unique about me in this life. While my mother had green eyes and my father had blue, I was born with a rare golden hue, shimmering like molten sunlight. It didn’t take long for me to understand what it meant. Magic.

In this world, magic was everything. And my golden eyes were proof that I possessed immense magical talent.

At first, I thought I was imagining things, but I could feel it the magic in the air, the energy flowing through me. It was different from anything I had known in my previous life. My body was naturally absorbing mana, like a sponge soaking up water.

I experimented when no one was looking. At night, when the room was silent, I would focus on the strange warmth within me, trying to control it. At first, nothing happened. But after weeks of concentration, I managed to make a single spark appear at my fingertip just for a second. That was the moment I knew. I wasn’t just reborn as a prince. I was reborn as something more.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, my mother carried me to the royal garden. The scent of flowers filled the air, and the warm breeze brushed against my skin.

“You’re growing fast, Kol,” she said, smiling as she placed me on her lap. “I can already tell you will be strong.” I simply looked up at her, my infant body incapable of responding.

She chuckled. “You’re so quiet. Most babies cry all the time, but you… You just observe everything.”

Of course. I wasn’t really a baby inside. I was someone who had lived an entire life before this. Then, my mother’s expression softened as she gently placed her hand on my chest.

“…And your magic.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“Even though you are still so young, I can feel it,” she whispered. “Your mana is powerful. Stronger than even your father’s. It flows through you like an untamed river.”

I blinked. So she already noticed? Before I could process this, a voice interrupted us.

“Your Majesty,” an older man spoke, bowing deeply as he approached. He wore elegant robes, and his silver hair was neatly combed back. His deep violet eyes held wisdom beyond his years.

He was the royal court mage Grand Magus Orlan.

“So, this is the young prince,” Orlan said, his gaze sharp as he studied me. “The one with golden eyes.”

I stared at him in return. He knelt before me, lowering himself to my level. “Prince Kol… Even at such a young age, your magic is already forming.”

I remained silent. Not that I had a choice I couldn’t exactly start talking like an adult yet. The mage slowly extended his hand, hovering it just above my forehead. I felt something like a gentle pulse of energy, scanning me. And then, his eyes widened.

“…Unbelievable.”

My mother tensed. “What is it, Orlan?” The mage took a deep breath. “Your son… His magic is not normal.”

She frowned. “Explain.”

Orlan hesitated before speaking. “Most people are born with a single mana core, the source of all their magic. Even the greatest mages only possess one.”

He turned back to me, his expression unreadable.

“But Prince Kol… He has two.”

A heavy silence filled the garden. My mother’s grip on me tightened slightly. “Two mana cores?”

“Yes,” Orlan confirmed. “It is something I have never seen before. His first core is already exceptional stronger than any child his age should possess. But the second one… It is something else entirely. I cannot even measure its full potential.”

I listened carefully, processing the information. Two mana cores? I didn’t fully understand what that meant yet, but I could tell from their reactions that it was a big deal. The mage stood up. “Your Majesty… The prince is a prodigy. No, he is beyond that. He may become the greatest mage this world has ever seen.”

My mother remained silent for a long moment before she finally smiled. “Then we must make sure he is ready for the future.” I could feel it. The expectations. The pressure.

I was no longer just a prince. I was now something far greater. A being with two mana cores. A magic genius in a world that revolved around power.

The days following Grand Magus Orlan’s discovery were anything but ordinary.

The entire palace was buzzing with whispers. Servants exchanged hushed conversations, noblemen cast curious glances during court meetings, and even the knights who patrolled the halls seemed more aware of my presence. It wasn’t every day that a prince was declared a prodigy no, something beyond a prodigy.

Two mana cores.

I still didn’t fully grasp the significance of it, but I could see its weight in the way people reacted. Even my father, King Alden, who rarely expressed emotion, called for a private audience the day after Orlan’s revelation.

I was carried into the grand throne room, the heart of the kingdom’s power. Towering marble pillars lined the hall, and at the far end sat the king himself.

He was clad in regal black and gold robes, his piercing blue eyes locked onto me the moment the guards escorted me in. My mother walked beside me, holding me securely in her arms.

The moment we approached the throne, she gently placed me down on a soft cushion before kneeling herself.

I sat there, trying my best to maintain composure despite being in the body of a literal infant.

King Alden studied me for a long time. His expression was unreadable, but I could sense something behind those sharp eyes curiosity, perhaps even expectation.

“So,” his deep voice rumbled, “this is my son.”

It was a simple statement, yet it carried the weight of a king acknowledging his heir. Mother nodded. “Orlan has confirmed it. Kol possesses two mana cores.”

The king leaned forward slightly, his gaze never leaving me. “What does this mean for him?”

Orlan, who stood at the side, took a deep breath before responding. “Your Majesty, it is difficult to say. No recorded history speaks of someone with two mana cores. But if I were to speculate…”

A brief pause.

“He may surpass all mages before him.”

A heavy silence filled the room. Even the guards standing at attention near the entrance shifted slightly at those words.

King Alden exhaled. His expression remained neutral, but I could tell he was deep in thought.

“Then we have no choice,” he said. “Kol’s training must begin as soon as he is able to walk and speak.”

Mother frowned slightly. “Isn’t it too early? He is still just a baby.”

“No,” Alden said firmly. “If he is to wield great power, he must be shaped into someone who can control it. If left unchecked, it could consume him or worse, make him a target before he even realizes his own potential.”

His words made sense. Even I, in my past life, understood that power without control led to disaster. If I was to survive and thrive in this world, I needed to master my magic before others tried to use it against me.

Mother sighed, looking down at me with a soft expression. “Very well… But I want his training to be supervised carefully.”

Alden nodded. “It will be done.” Then, he turned his attention back to me.

“Kol.”

I blinked. It was the first time he had addressed me directly.

“You will be strong,” he declared. “Stronger than anyone in this kingdom. And when the time comes, you will decide what kind of ruler you wish to be.” His words lingered in the air, settling deep within me.

I clenched my tiny hands into fists. In my past life, I was just a poor student, discarded by those who hated my talent. But in this life… I would carve my own destiny.

The days turned into weeks. I continued experimenting with my magic in secret, testing the strange power that pulsed within me. It was difficult controlling mana was like trying to grab water with my bare hands. It slipped away if I wasn’t careful, but the more I practiced, the more I could grasp.

I learned that my first mana core functioned like a normal one, providing me with elemental magic fire, water, wind, and earth. But the second core… that was different. It felt deeper, more ancient. Every time I tried to tap into it, my body trembled with an unfamiliar force. It wasn’t just magic. It was something more.

I didn’t know what it was yet, but I had time to figure it out. Then, one night, something happened that changed everything.

I was lying in my crib, gazing at the ceiling, when I felt it. A presence. Not the servants, not my mother or father, and not Orlan. Something else. The air grew heavy, and a chilling sensation crawled down my spine. I turned my head slightly and my breath caught.

A shadowy figure stood at the edge of my room. It was barely visible, like a silhouette against the darkness, yet I could feel its gaze locked onto me. A voice, deep and ancient, whispered in the air.

"You… are different."

My heart pounded.

"Two souls. Two cores. A fate not written in the stars."

What was this? The figure didn’t move, but the air around it seemed to distort, as if reality itself struggled to contain its presence.

"Prince Kol… the world will either fear you… or bow before you." The shadow vanished, melting into the darkness like it was never there. I stared at the empty space where it once stood, my mind racing. What had I just witnessed? Was it a hallucination? A warning? Or something else entirely? One thing was certain. My rebirth wasn’t just a second chance at life. It was the beginning of something much, much bigger.