Chapter 2

It Starts Like This: Part 2

A shooting star streaks the blue sky, painting a bright white trail along the path it took. For a moment, those who could see the dazzling light stopped to witness the ephemeral display. One soul, in particular, found themselves utterly mesmerized by the light, as if the comet was beckoning them.

[Wake up my beloved, it’s time to begin again.]

A foreign voice reverberated inside their head like a bell. Each echo flashed a memory that did not belong to them yet strangely felt familiar. Memories of war, memories of the Celestials, and memories of a maddening ambition.

The rush of memories abruptly stopped as a snowball smacked the side of their head, knocking them off their feet.

“Are you okay, honey?” A small and pudgy woman rushes up to them. Breathing heavily, she turned around and shouted. “Aaron apologizes to your sister!”

A little boy shyly peeks from behind the woman. “I’m… I’m sorry.” The little boy’s voice was so small it was nearly inaudible.

The people before them were strangers, yet somehow, they recognized them.

“Who are you? Where am I?”

“Anna?” The woman worriedly reaches for them. They quickly backed away from their grasp “Anna, are you o-

“Shut up!” They screamed as they ran away towards a house that should’ve been unfamiliar, yet they knew all too well. They threw their shoulders at the door, expecting it to be locked, but it flew open, sending them face-first into the ground.

“Anna?!” The woman screamed as she raced towards them.

“No… that’s… not me…” They said in between wheezes. They only ran a short distance, but their legs were already wobbly, and their lungs felt like it was on fire. They used the remaining of their strength to stumble their way around the house.

“But if that’s not me, then who am I?” They dug through their mind, desperately searching for their identity.

So, call your gods! so that I, Abaddon, may spread my glory to the heavens!” A memory of an emperor declaring war on the gods themselves flooded their minds.

“Abaddon? That’s right; I’m Abaddon, the emperor of The Shatter Realm!” Abaddon proudly shouted. He glances at the open door next to him that he somehow knew led to the bathroom. He could feel his heart beating faster when he saw the mirror. He took a deep breath and stepped into the bathroom to get a better look at himself.

He sighed in relief when he saw his familiar ruby pupils and black hair. Relief quickly gave way to horror as he noticed his unique feature was on someone else’s face. Abaddon jumped back from the mirror. The reflection backs away, too, equally as confusing.

A little girl with sickly pale skin looked back at him through the mirror, mimicking his every move. “What is this?!” Abaddon roared. He quickly covered his mouth, realizing his voice sounded higher pitch.

What’s happening? What kind of spell is this?! Abaddon’s mind raced with questions. His chest tightened as he tried to make sense of the reality in front of him.

“Anna!” The tiny rotund woman busts into the bathroom. Her face pales the moment she looks at Abaddon.

Abaddon tried shooing the woman away, but the words refused to come out. He dropped to one knee, his vision blurry, his mind hazy and distant.

“Oh god! Anna, you need to breathe!” The woman screamed, but even her voice sounded distant. Eventually, everything went dark as Abaddon's consciousness slipped away.

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When Abaddon came to, he found himself in a dark room, fatigue weighing his body down. Light spilled from the hallway into the small crack of the room. A faint whisper came from behind the door, but he paid no attention to it.

“I guess it wasn’t a dream.” Abaddon mumble. He didn’t bother examining himself. Just one look at his tiny hands was enough proof that this wasn’t his body. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m exhausted.” While still looking at his hand, he let out a pitiful laugh. Abaddon knew that he probably would’ve had another panic attack if he had any energy. Unable to move properly, all he could do was analyze his situation.

This body's name is Anna. Abaddon thought to himself, recalling the woman screaming the name. How did this happen? Did someone cast a spell on me? Does such a spell even exist?

Abaddon looked back at the last thing he could remember; his raid on Sedna’s holy land, Adlivun. Typhon rampage on the naval fleet, the battle on the beach, and the arrival of the three celestials. All these memories came back in intricate details, along with something else.

There’ll be another time, my dearly beloved.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Abaddon sat up and franticly looked around the dark room for whoever had just spoken to him, but the only thing he could hear was the creaking of the wood and the howling wind beating on the window.

Was that a voice? Or a memory?

“Sis?” Abaddon's eyes locked onto the bed on the other side of the room. A little boy’s head emerges from underneath a pile of blankets. Abaddon immediately knew the boy’s name was Aaron, and it was this body’s little brother.

“Are you okay?” Aaron’s voice quivered. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Abaddon turns his back towards Aaron wanting nothing to do with the boy. “Don’t you start your military training tomorrow? You should get some sleep.”

“O-okay.” Aaron slips back underneath his cover, embracing the warmth and darkness that was quickly ripped away from his sister.

“Wait, you’re joining the military?!” Abaddon ripped the blanket. Confused and cold, Aaron hugged his body and looked up at his sister, whose crimson eyes pierced through the darkness.

“Y-yea, I don’t want to, but they say mages have no choice but to join the academy.”

“You’re a mage?” Abaddon examined the boy more carefully. An invisible formless energy flowed around his body. A moment after confirming the kid was a mage, it dawned on him that he still could see mana. An ability only his bloodline should have.

Is it because I took possession of this body? Abaddon once again fell deep into thought.

“Um, sis? Can I have my blanket back?”

“Sure.” Abaddon tossed the blanket on Aaron’s face, annoyed the boy broke his train of thought. Abaddon stumbles back to his side of the room, kicking away the toys that littered the floor. Still fatigued, he flops down on his bed. Far too many questions plague Abaddon’s mind. For the sake of his sanity, he decided to focus on one problem at a time. The first is learning where he’s at. The girl’s memories told him he was in a city called Whitehorn. A city with a strong military presence that sat at the edge of Haos. A country that worshipped Eris, the Unfettered.

“Eris?” Abaddon mutter. The thought that the goddess might be alive and be one behind his current form terrified him.

It’s too dangerous to be ignorant about my current situation. I need answers now. Abaddon thought. An academy for mage sounds like the best place to get answers.

Abaddon figured it would be impossible to break in, especially in this body. But thanks to Aaron, he knew that mages could walk through the front door.

Until I figure out what happened to me, I’ll have to blend in for now. Content with his current plans, Anna closes her eyes, finally allowing her exhausted mind to rest.

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“Stop moving!” Anna barked at Aaron, who continued to squirm awkwardly.

“B-but it feels tight,” Aaron whined.

“Have you taken a look outside?” Anna points towards the single window in their room. Ice covered the surface of the glass, making it impossible to see outside.

“If you don’t dress properly, you’ll get sick.”

“B-but I can’t breathe,” Aaron whined as he reached for the scarf. Growing more agitated, Anna smacks his hand away.

I can’t believe I have to do a maid’s job. Anna clenches her teeth, barely able to hold back her growing anger.

“Is he ready, Anna?”

“Check for yourself.” Anna quickly shut her mouth, realizing she had let out some of her anger out. When Abaddon woke up this morning, he decided to pretend to be Anna. Thankfully, their personalities were quite similar.

Anna took a deep breath to quell her rage. A short and plump woman steps into the room. Anna knew the woman’s name was Olive, and she was Anna and Aaron's mother.

Anna looked at the incredibly plain woman, disgusted she had to pretend to be her daughter.

Unaware of her daughter’s thoughts. Olive beamed with joy when she looked at her son. Aaron wore a dark green sweater and black pants, the colors of the academy. “Oh, you looked so adorable!” Olive squeezed Aaron hard enough that Anna started to think she was trying to crush the kid.

“Mom,” Aaron pushed his mother away. He kept his eyes on the floor as he spoke. “Do I really have to go to the academy?”

The question wiped the joy off Olive’s face. As much as she wanted to say, ‘No, you can stay.’ She couldn’t. The room fell silent as Olive searched for a way to cheer her son up. While Olive continues to ponder, Anna places her hand on Aaron’s shoulder.

“I’ll come with you.”

“Really?!” Aaron's eyes lit up. Still deep in thought, Olive looks at her daughter, just now realizing she had her winter coat on. Instantly, she snaps out of her stupor.

“Anna, you can’t go.”

“Why not? I’m a mage too.”

“But…” Olive paused, searching for the right words. Anna knew she would talk about the ailment that plagues her body and how she blacked out yesterday.

“It won’t happen again.” Anna proudly bumps her chest causing her to cough. “I’m fine.” Anna manages to squeeze in between coughs.

“Why did you have to be so cute?!” Olive lunged at her daughter, hugging her before she could react. “I want to say no, but I just can’t.” Frustrated, Olive squeezed Anna like she was a stressed doll.

“So, sis, can come to school with me!” Aaron hopped around the room excitedly. It was hard to believe that just a moment ago, he was depressed about going to the academy.

“I’m afraid that’s not for me to decide. That decision belongs to your father.”

Aaron froze in place. His cheery expression instantly darkens, and the room seems to grow colder. Anna took advantage of the sudden tonal change and slipped from the grasp of the woman who nearly suffocated her.

The sound of the front door opening and slamming shut caused everyone in the room to flinch.

“Oh, that must be him.” Olive quickly hopped to her feet. “I’ll see if he’ll let you go. Just make sure your brother is fully prepped. Your dad doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” Olive rushed out of the room with such desperate energy that for a moment, Anna thought she was about to confront a robber.

Anna knew very little about her father. What she did know was that his name was Aiden, he was a high-ranking mage, and he rarely came home.

“Anna, you think dad will let you attend the academy?” Aaron looks up at his sister. A mixture of hope and fear was evident in his eyes. Reflexively, Anna pats Aaron’s head.

“Don’t worry; he’ll have no choice but to let me go.” Learning from her past mistake, she smiles at him instead of bumping into her chest.

“Go where?” Both Aaron and Anna jump at the sound of the voice.

A man in an olive-green winter coat steps into the room. Anna stared blankly at the man's short black hair and eyes, which glowed a deep crimson. It was like she was looking at a mirror.

“I heard you black out again.” The man’s voice was dry and monotone. “Didn’t the doctor tell you not to overexert yourself?” The man steps closer to the two children, allowing her to get a better look.

After Abaddon calmed down, he quickly noticed the difference. The man's smooth face lacks the withered skin and scars that come from conquering nations for decades.

Then that means… Abaddon trembled at the realization he came to. He tried to find another reason, but in the end, there was only one answer to the mystery before her.

This man is my son.