My name is Liron. I am the prince of Jeraldine. And it seems that, today, I will die.

The demon has me by the throat, and I feel like the life is draining from me as I choke. The guardsmen couldn't stop it, it seems. My knight, Wayne, died getting me and father here. Father is now pinned down as well. No... he's probably dead.

Hah... If only I had actually taken my fencing lessons seriously. I am regretting my foolishness.

But it wasn't good for my foolish pride that my little sister would constantly beat me up. So I came up with the excuse that I needed to study to become a quality heir to skip out on the physical training.

And maybe it wouldn't have been any use anyway. After all, we were betrayed from within, again.

Everything starts to black out.

...

...

...

Ah. I can see my own body. That's not a good sign, is it?

Big sister Melody is crying over me.

The demon is dead now. Dried right out to almost a husk. Right... sister was actually a scary powerful water mage, wasn't she? You'd think with how casual and lazy she was, she wouldn't be good at anything, but if she could be bothered with something, and put her mind to it, she could be a far greater genius than me or Cadence.

Sometimes I was truly envious. Everyone praised me for my ability, but honestly, it was just because I put in twenty times the effort, and I was lucky enough to have great books and quality tutors.

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Honestly... I was truly distraught when big sister Cadence passed away due to that betrayer. She too was similar to me. Melody was just naturally a genius with numbers, and Aria naturally a master at fighting, so I couldn't really relate to them at all.

Still, it pains me to see her cry... strange... I guess she is still my family after all...

Time is strange for me at the moment. I swear she was just crying over my body but now she's shouting at someone who's just come in accompanied by a green haired man in armour. Ah, that is Kane Arnas, isn't it?

I look away, and back at my body. My knowledge of medicine and light magic isn't good, but I don't think I am salvageable.

Sister is suddenly over my body again, and she closes my eyes. Ah. Right. Maybe hanging around here is bad? It sucks that all my studying and effort all came to nothing, but why bear a grudge? At least I can actually relax now. And maybe me and Cadence can have one of our little chats again? That would be nice.

As I think that... I am no longer hovering in the inner palace.

Here, everything is strangely coloured. Garish. I never had much of a natural eye for art, but even I can tell this is unpleasant. Green skies and shifting black and purple ground.

Come to think of it... right... there was a book that described this. This is what the Void is supposed to be like for most people. Those having near death experiences see it. I guess really dead ones do too, like me, its just they don't return to tell the tale.

I have no body. I guess my soul or what-not has made its way here.

Some experimentation allows me to float around quite adroitly. That's pretty awesome.

I pick a direction and go.

Bizarrely, despite the fact that I can fly like a bird... there is very little to see here. When you are dead... well doesn't the church of Sendervil claim you'll see some kind of ideals, then be reborn into the cycle?

That certainly hasn't happened. I wonder why? Can I not even die properly? Sounds typical for me, though.

After awhile, I come across a strange maelstrom of energy. I pause to inspect it.

"Hmm... I thought as much. You do not belong here."

What?

Someone is talking in my head?

"But how interesting. He will be pleased to hear of this."

Suddenly, an insectoid creature is in front of me. Instinctively, I recoil.

"Young prince of Jeraldine. How about I offer you a deal?"