Daniel felt like he was dreaming and not dreaming at the same time. His movements were sluggish but his mind worked fast. He was in a huge space, filled with all sorts of plants. Plants with similarities back in his world but with a magical touch to them. He walked around in his sluggish state, trying to find signs of life other than the plants. After minutes of walking, he finally heard the sound of steps on the grass from behind him.

“Welcome to Alenor, the Forest Fairy Realm,” a voice said. “The incorporeal one, of course.”

Daniel turned to find golden eyes looking straight at him. He knew immediately who it was. Daniel’s whole person seemed to change. His eyes narrowed, shoulders tensed. He looked like a predator about to pounce on his prey.

The real Kaige paused and gave him an assessing look. “If I didn’t see how you interacted with Cade earlier, I’d think you’d be a completely different person.”

“What do you want?”

“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Kaige said. “This is precisely why I want to make a deal with you.”

Daniel paused. “Details?”

“No beating around the bush, huh?” Kaige nodded with a wry smile. “I want you to save my family and in return, you can live a new life in my body. I don’t care how you do it, as long as in the end, they are safe and happy.”

“What if I just run far away?”

“Please, we chose you specifically. You won’t run away from a kid who needs your help,” Kaige said. “You’ve been around Cade for only a few minutes but you’re ready to destroy anyone who harms him.”

Daniel continued to stare at him with a dangerous glare. “Why can’t you just do it?”

A sad smile appeared on Kaige’s face. “I’ve tried. Three times. But I was never strong or smart enough. Or ruthless enough. It was my damn fate to die before I could do anything.”

Daniel’s jaw dropped, losing his menacing aura.

“But, a year ago, someone approached me. I can’t tell you who. He helped me bring you here—

“Must be a supernatural being like a god,” Daniel interrupted. “There are gods in this world, after all.”

Kaige looked like he choked on his saliva. He looked at Daniel in surprise before looking up at the sky with a helpless look. He looked like he was having a conversation with someone up there. In a short while, he turned his gaze back to Daniel. He neither agreed nor denied his guess.

“By bringing in another soul with a completely different “fate” from me, my family can be saved. I can’t tell you what your fate is though. Knowing one’s fate isn’t good. Me as an example.”

Daniel wanted to shut him up and let him slowly digest all of this. It was way too much. But the man kept going.

“Anyway, we figured you would like this deal,” Kaige said. “Plus, you have nowhere to go since you died.”

There was a long pause. Whatever look Kaige saw on his face, made the man cover his ears just in time.

“What?” Daniel shouted. Out of all the things that came out of the real Kaige’s mouth, this was the worst. It was followed by a string of curses he knew from every language that he learned. They were colorful words.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“One of the many who were squashed under the rubble from a disastrous earthquake, from what I was told. I thought you knew.” He was wrong. This is the worst thing that came out of the guy’s mouth.

Daniel raised his hands in defeat before finding a large rock to sit on. He faced death almost every day for years, which is why he wasn’t as shocked as he should be. He was so desensitized to it. It was honestly alarming. What he was shocked by was how he died. Looks like even he could not escape a natural disaster.

At least he died quickly without knowing the pain. He always imagined that his death wouldn’t be painless.

He sat there in silence. Digesting everything that happened and was happening. “Remember your training. Stay calm. Deep breaths.”

Meanwhile, Kaige removed his hands from his ears when he was sure Daniel wouldn’t shout and curse in the weird languages anymore. He looked kind of hesitant to speak now. Daniel found it funny even though it wasn’t. Kaige was a man who experienced death multiple times, yet he looked at Daniel with pity. Daniel didn’t mind the look. He had already grown used to it when he was younger.

He didn’t have much of a choice if he thought about it. He would not ask them to return his soul to wherever it went after death. It probably took a lot of effort to bring him here. And…if he had to be honest, he still wanted to live. He wanted to do a lot of things he couldn’t do when he was younger. There was danger, with the threat towards the Ammadon family, but it was something he could handle. It was difficult, but he’ll manage like he always did.

After a while, he stood. This was an opportunity to live a new life. Every opportunity he was given, he had taken. In doing so, he made it to a point in his life where he experienced a semblance of peace and safety—and nearly achieved his dream too. Hard-won peace and safety.

“I accept the deal,” he said.

Kaige’s golden eyes immediately lit up. “Thank you!”

“But this seems unfair to you.”

Kaige quickly shook his head. “It’s fair. You get to live a new life. My family will become safe and happy. I will finally rest in peace.” Kaige gave a sad smile. “I think three lifetimes is enough. I don’t want to go completely crazy.”

“You’re not even sure I’ll succeed.”

“After seeing how you are with Cade, I don’t have to worry.”

What does that mean?

“Still…what will happen to you?”

Kaige took a deep breath. “I’m happy with this, Daniel. I’ll be even happier knowing that I’ll finally rest, or maybe lucky enough to be reborn again.” Daniel could only nod. How terrible and tiring must it be to live so many lifetimes and remember everything.

The other man motioned for Daniel to take a walk with him through the garden. There, they talked about the things he should know and how their lives were in general. It was pretty mundane compared to their earlier conversation, but it was relaxing for Daniel. When they neared the place where Daniel first woke up in Aleno, Kaige brought up his dream job.

“I was told that you want to be a teacher?”

Daniel nodded.

“Well, I am one,” Kaige said. “I handled combat classes for the Thean Academy, while I was studying my Botany of Aleno’s Plants degree. I was transferred to Ixivia Academy when I finished it.”

Daniel nearly tripped over an overly grass-green-colored root he failed to see. “Is this for real?”

Kaige chucked. “Yeah. You’re going to be handling Botany of Aleno’s Plants.”

“Looks like I won't have to worry about the lesson plan.”

“You won't. You should be grateful that I wrote it for you.”

“Mind if I make alterations?”

“Your life, your job, not mine now.”

“I feel like I’m going to be dealing with a lot of shit.”

“More surprises are coming your way. It wouldn’t be fun if I told you now.” Kaige laughed. “Time for you to wake up, Daniel—no.”

Kaige’s golden eyes glowed. “Kaige.”

Daniel’s face grew solemn, but one could see the determination in his eyes. He nodded. Little lights started floating around him. Those lights looked like they were taking him away little by little.

“Can you do something for me, Kaige?” the real Kaige called.

“What is it?”

“Be happy enough for the both of us.”

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Dani—Kaige said. “I won’t let this end in tragedy. I’ll get rid of the Underdels if I have to.” More lights were starting to gather around, covering half his body.

Surprise colored the other man’s face. “Where did you learn of the enemy? I only gave you the memories from the start of the first life to not overload you.”

“From the novel.”

“What novel?”

But Kaige had vanished from the spot and had not heard him. When he opened his eyes again, what greeted him was the face of a female version of him. That face smiled at him in relief. “Glad you’re awake, son.”

“…Hello, Mother.”