Herold never did believe in the afterlife, or godly entities, or anything of the sort, but something was different. Herold remembered not being able to think and a feral sense of mind consume him, and then pain, and then more pain, and then nothing… Until now.

Herold opened his eyes, or tried to, it was pitch black, until he remembered things… He remembered things! He remembered everything! Everything in his life before now. Herold could think again.

Herold tried to move his arm, and it responded to his will! He grasped at this face until he found that a piece of cloth had been tied around it. Herold yanked it off to see his ornate bedroom. Herold took stock of himself and found that he was wrapped in bandages. Herold took all of them off and found pristine unblemished white skin underneath; healthy young skin.

Herold looked around for a mirror, couldn’t find one, but found a shiny metal plate. He turned it over and saw a youthful face; maybe 12 or 13 years old. Herold was amazed at what was happening, but he didn’t know how to describe what was happening. It was so unreal.

Herold heard voices calling a name, someone’s name, his name? “Felix, Felix, is that you? Are you awake? Do you need something?”, someone yelled as they ran into the room. Herold looked at her and saw a middle-aged woman will graying tips in her hair and a lithe body in an expensive looking dress.

Herold looked at her and she, practically, screamed, “Felix, don’t strain yourself. You’re sick and need to lie down.”

Herold hadn’t realized that the room was dark, but it seemed that whoever this was couldn’t see him clearly yet. Once she was up closer to him, Herold saw her turn sheet white.

“Felix, why have you taken your bandages off? You know that makes your wounds worse. I’ve told you this. And why have you taken your blindfold off? You know your eyes can’t take the light.”, she said, as she got closer. “Wait, your skin…” she pulls my face closer to hers, “Your eyes” “Can you see?”

Herold, no Felix, nodded his head.

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“And your skin; And you’re standing. Tell me everything that has happened.”

Felix didn’t see the harm in giving a brief version of things to this woman so he retold what he knew, or most of it, at least, “I woke up suddenly, as from a nightmare, and found myself able to move and think again. Next thing I knew you were here.”

“That’s all you remember? What was the last thing you remember… before you were… like this?”, she asked.

“Nothing. I guess I have amnesia.”, Felix lied.

“Hmmm, okay. Let me inform you on what has happened since you became sick and some other important information. First off, I’m your mother. My name is Emma Thorne and this is our house. The kingdom has been at war for years and you volunteered for service in the king’s army. Ours is a small house, but a wealthy house. Your father, the earl, governs and owns this small village. His name is Francis Thorne and he has been an mediocre earl to this town, but people are not happy with him. There has been a rebellion in the surrounding area stirring and the war in the kingdom as well.”, my mother said.

My mother took a deep breath and continued, “Your father, for the good of the kingdom, sent you to the capital to enlist in the king’s army. It was his duty to send someone, and as your brother, Arthur, is already a corporal in the king’s army, it came down to you. As far as I know, you joined the army, got sick somehow, and was returned home. The army said they didn’t want the other soldiers to get whatever you had contracted. You came home escorted by a servant of the king, blind and had black pustules over your entire body. There was even scarring on your skin where some had burst and burned you. Whatever it is we have never seen it before, nor has the kingdom. I brought you inside, as the servant left and gave you a bath and wrapped you in bandages. That was a little over a year ago. You’ve been laying in this bed for that time with me praying to the gods and waiting on you.”

My mother suddenly started crying, “I gave up praying for the gods to save you in some way. It seemed hopeless and you were just getting worse. Your father gave up on you months ago of ever getting better. But here you are, healed and, seemingly, better than ever. It just seems you can’t remember. That seems to be the only effect remaining.”

She continued once her crying abated slightly, “I, We, are just so glad that you are better.”

“Thank you, mother”, Felix said. “If it’s okay with you, can I walk around and try to fill in some blanks?”

“Of course, of course, honey, just don’t stress your body too much. This is your first day walking again for over a year, you’re bound to be weak.”, Emma responded.

What his mother didn’t know was that, as Herold was reincarnated, his body had a transformation back into optimal condition. But his mother didn’t need to know that right now.

“Do we happen to have a library?”, Felix asked.