Prologue: A New Beginning Part - 1
Bell Cranel lay in his deathbed, the weight of years pressing down on him. His body, frail and worn, no longer carried the strength of the young adventurer he once was. His mind drifted back through the corridors of time, retracing the paths he'd walked, the battles he'd fought, and the bonds he'd forged.
He thought of Orario, the bustling city where it all began. He remembered the first day he met Hestia, his goddess, and the warmth of her encouragement when he was just a beginner. The struggles and triumphs with his comrades—Lili, Mikoto, and the others—came to mind as well, each of them a testament to the friendships that had defined his journey.
Aiz, the sword princess, stood out in his memories too. Her unwavering strength, her silent resolve, and the bond they'd shared, despite the complexities of their feelings. Bell's heart ached when he thought of his battles alongside Asterius, the Black Minotaur, his powerful rival turned friend. Their fight had been one of honor, a clash of wills that pushed Bell to new heights.
The most vivid of all his memories, however, was the battle against the One-Eyed Black Dragon. The creature that had nearly destroyed Orario and ended the lives of many, including his beloved gods. It had been Bell's greatest fight, one that tested every ounce of his strength, will, and determination. Defeating it had come at a great cost, but it was also the moment Bell truly understood the meaning of sacrifice.
But as his life reached its end, Bell's thoughts turned to Artemis. The goddess he had loved, the one he had lost so tragically. His greatest regret was that he never had the chance to say goodbye. His heart longed to see her one more time, to feel her presence and hear her voice again.
And then, as the last moments of his life slipped away, his vision went black. The light of life faded, leaving only darkness.
But then... a light, a soft hum, a murmur. Bell couldn't process it, but something was different. His senses returned, and slowly, painfully, he opened his eyes.
He gasped, his breath sharp and shallow. It wasn't his deathbed. He was... young again? His body felt light, free of the pains of age. He looked down at his hands, his fingers now smooth and youthful. He was twenty-one again, the age when he had been in his prime—before all the wars, before the loss of his friends.
Bell blinked in disbelief. He was back in a familiar place—a field, lush with crops and bathed in the soft light of a setting sun. The scent of earth, the rustle of wind through the grass—it all felt so real, so vivid. His mind raced, but then it calmed, as he recognized the landscape before him. It was the field where he and his grandfather had once worked together, where he had spent his youth, learning the value of hard work and perseverance. The memories of those simpler days flooded back, and for a moment, tears welled in his eyes.
But then, something caught his attention. Two figures stood in the field, working together, sowing seeds into the earth. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the child beside them. The boy was small, no older than six, with white hair and striking red eyes. The boy's face... it was unmistakable. He looked exactly like Bell had at that age.
Could this be? Had he truly gone back in time? Was this the past? He wasn't sure, but one thing was clear—he had been given a second chance. A chance to change something, to prevent the tragedies that had shaped his life.
Bell stood there in stunned silence, trying to process everything, but it felt as though his mind couldn't catch up with the reality before him. His thoughts swirled, trying to find a reason for his sudden return, but one thing was certain: the world he had left behind was gone, and now, the future was his to shape anew.