It was a gloomy day for Nick. No matter how bright the sun shined up there, or how the smiling and the laughter of others caught by his ears and eyes on this city park, couldn’t ease his depression in his heart. 

Just this morning, he wanted to surprise his girlfriend, Anna, on her birthday which is today. He already prepared the gift he bought by his first salary, ready to spend the day with his lover.

Arrived at the front door of her flat, he was about to knock the door when the door was opened from the inside. The pair inside the room made him blank for a second. Yes, the pair inside the room, a girl, which is, of course, Anna, with a guy he didn’t know. He knew Anna was the only child of her family, so this guy wasn’t her brother. Just looking at her panty and a tank-top, it meant they were together in her room since last night doing shady business.

Nick took a deep breath and smiled a little at the girl that opened the door. Anna was a little pale seeing Nick in front of her this early morning.

“I think I came too early. Oh right, happy birthday Anna.”

“Nick, I can explain this! It's not like what you think!”

“Ah? I think I can see better now!”

The thought to ease his feeling with coming to the park didn’t help a bit. He could only go back to his flat and drowning himself in sadness.

He was crossing the street. Maybe his mind was in mess, he didn’t pay attention to the traffic. It was a truck running at high-speed and it happened just like that.

‘Ah, it seems my luck dried out.’

That was his last thought.

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‘What is this warmness?’

‘Hey I can’t speak and move, where is this place? The last thing I remember was that bitch Anna. Oh right, that truck too! I don’t know if she could drive a truck. No, no, no, it was that damn guy. Bastard! By the way, what kind of place is this, so dark but cozy at the same time.’

‘Ah, there was light over there! Damn it, I can’t move my body! If only I can move my limbs, I’m getting bored with this dark place, not I dislike this place though.’

‘Oh, it’s moving toward the light! Finally, I thought I’ll spend forever in this place. Good, I like it! Hm, wait, what is this itchy feeling. Damn, it hurt, slow down dude! FUCK, IT HURTS!’

Those words were he wanted to cry, but the only thing that registered to his vestibulocochlear was his cry like a baby.

“Oh, it was a boy, congratulation to you! That was some cry for a baby!”

Before Nick could tell what or why another strange thing happened inside his head.

You got a blessing from the mysterious energy!

You are absorbing the mysterious energy!

There is not enough concentration of energy! The process is incomplete!

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Five years later.

It was a small hill just outside of the village. Here, many crops that were planted by the farmers. On the side, some fruit trees that grew wild. Under the apple tree, a boy sat with a book in his hand. He engrossed with his read like no other children his age. 

A five-year-old child with fair skin, black eyes, and short black hair. He leaned back on the tree trunk, he closed his feet and raised his knee to his chest level. He held the book on his thigh and an apple on his right hand.

“Ah I feel like Einstein was like this, I just don’t know what kind of enlightenment under this apple tree!”

Laughed a little, Nick ate his apple and continue with his reading.

It had been five years since his birth, or rebirth? Whatever he had already accepted it. At least it was not like he was transported to a foreign world or his soul occupy another dead man’s body. He got buffer time and he grew with it. It’s completely acceptable.

Now the book he read was another fiction story that popular in this world. Right, this world’s name was Enlightened World, the safe world for humanity. Why the world ‘safe’ was used then? Here his father’s words, you are still a kid, don’t need to know adult stuff. Go play! Go play! Go play!

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Well, physically, he was still a child. So he couldn’t argue with that. Not like he cared anyway. He decided to play it like a kid since he was one, but it was hard to do something silly and stupid. He could only pester his parents to bring him some books home to keep him company besides helping them when he was asked.

More than a thousand years ago, a strange portal-like-gate suddenly appeared in the world. That kind of phenomenon attracting humanity to research it. It was found there was mysterious energy leaked and affecting the researchers and people in that area. They immediately felt the same phenomenon that he felt when he was just born. 

After so many years, the research made some breakthroughs with using this portal-like-gate to transfer anything to the other side, including humans. From then on humanity began another new chapter in their civilization. Although he didn’t know what kind of place on another side, but he knew for sure it had a big influence on this side.

Humanity became united under one government, Federation. It was not something he would find on Earth with their politics and whatever stuff like that. Even he didn’t understand, it was something amazing. Too bad his curiosity was limited by his chibi-like body.

The day was getting late, the sunset started to show its warm color. Even he wanted to appreciate its beauty, he knew better what awaited him was scolding father. It wasn’t like he afraid of him, he just didn’t want his mother to worry. You know, a boy was a soft spot in his mother's heart, vice versa. So he picked himself up, carried his book, and towed his short-legs back to the village. Damn it! When will you grow long, legs?

It was a little village, called Greenhill Village. It was a very peaceful village, there were several villages nearby, around Springfield Town. The villagers were very friendly, their condition was very good economically or socially. It didn’t mean they were some rich people, but they were not lacking anything. There were farmers, merchants, or some that work in the town.

He met his parents on his way back home. His father’s name was Huang Wei. He didn’t know if this world there were some ethnic like Asian or not, well it didn’t matter anyway. His was pretty average, not too handsome or too ugly with black hair, black eyes, and a bit facial hair, but not too much. He was about thirty when his mother conceived him, so thirty-five this year. And his mother, she was Helena, golden hair and tender skin. Even if she was already thirty, she was like a mature beautiful big sister in your neighborhood that brings solace to your shitty life.

Both of them just returned from the public transportation station that usually used by the villagers to go to another village or town nearby. His father and mother worked for the big family in the Springfield Town, Roberts Family. Both of them manage one of their business, so they always went back and forth together. I thought it was quite a hassle and waste too much time on the road, but both of them it was quite nice to live in the village. Although they said that, I understood that it would make our financial situation quite tight.

“Dad, Mom! How is business?”

“That is not something that should ask, you kid!” Huang Wei berated him, flicked his finger to his forehead.

“It’s quite good, the weather is quite nice today. Let’s go inside, I’ll make something good for dinner!” Helena smiled, stroking his head lightly.

“You’re the best mom!” Nick hugged his mom and immediately took several things from her hands, it seems these are our dinner. He ran inside, put them in the kitchen, and ran to the bathroom to clean himself.

Dinner that night was quite sumptuous, with several dishes laid on the table. As expected of mom, they are very delicious.

“Son, tomorrow you will follow us to the town. There are a few things that I need to bring to Roberts Family, you will help me with that, okay?”

Looking at his serious father this time, Nick nodded his head.

“Good, remember to watch your manner, don’t be rude, don’t be naughty, make sure you smile to everyone you see, don’t make…”

Watching his father spewed several words all at once like a nagging woman, he was a little helpless to stop him. He turned his gaze at his mother, seeking her help. Watching both of them acting like that, Helena giggled amuse by their antics.

“Alright dear, you have told him enough. Our boy was smart, he will know how to behave himself.”

Huang Wei could only stop after Helena told him that, but still mumbling in a small voice. Because he was too smart for a kid his age so I couldn’t help but worry.

Feeling freedom from his father’s nagging, he immediately became a diligent kid, sweeping the plates on the table to the washing board. After saying ‘good night’ to his parent, he quickly disappeared to his room without waiting for their reply before being held by his father and listening to his discontinued nagging. 

Helena couldn’t help but laugh at her son's antics, while Huang Wei was snorting lightly and continued reading the book on his hand. Sometimes his parents always thought he was different. He had much curiosity in anything that was not supposed to for a kid his age. It was good actually, it’s just as a parent they wanted their kid had a good childhood.

Clueless about his parent’s thoughts, Nick leaned on the headboard. He was about to continue reading when a thought suddenly crossed his mind. With a little thought, he checked the imaginary display.

Personal Information (Incomplete)

Name

Nicholas Huang

Gender

Male

Age

5 years old

N/A

“It doesn’t change, whatever!”

It seems waiting is the only option. Nick put the thought to the back of his mind and kept himself busy with his book.