What Vlad had just stated, unheard by anyone but Jormungandr, could be considered his most significant secret. He was what many novels and stories referred to as a Reincarnator, someone from another world who had come to a new one.
Vlad became aware of this fact when he was just three years old. At that moment, waves upon waves of knowledge flooded his mind—so much and so swiftly that he passed out, worrying the nuns at the orphanage where he had lived his entire life.
When Vlad awoke two days later, knowledge about an entirely new world filled his mind. It seemed to be his original world, known as Earth, similar to his current world, Terra.
Earth and Terra were strikingly similar. Both boasted civilized cultures reliant on technologies to satisfy their needs. Even things such as religion and myths were remarkably similar. Aside from geographic compositions, there was essentially no difference.
Unfortunately for Vlad, aside from historical, cultural, and natural knowledge such as language and mathematics, he couldn’t remember much else. Interestingly, there was a lot of military expertise, but that was of very little use for a three-year-old. All personal knowledge related to his previous life, such as his name, what he did, and even what foods he liked, were absent.
Still, the realization that he was a Reincarnator elated Vlad. Like any child, such an identity made him feel special. From that day on, Vlad began to live his life as if he were unique, acting with superiority due to his identity, which he made sure to keep secret.
The knowledge from his past life did help Vlad in many ways, making it easier for him to learn how to read, do math, and participate in other school activities, but that was it.
Only after turning ten and seeing how he was still stuck in that orphanage and how his attitude alienated everyone did Vlad accept the harsh reality.
That realization was hard to bear for a young child so full of dreams and hopes. Yet, it allowed Vlad to take the reins of his fate, and he began to work hard, improving his communication skills and no longer relying on his knowledge from his past life, focusing on his studies. After all, that knowledge would be of little use in college.
Vlad worked hard, and while he remained in the orphanage until he was eighteen, he managed to get a scholarship and enroll in Codia University.
"The world owes you nothing, and you owe nothing to the world."
Vlad repeated those words, which echoed in his mind every day during his youth, reminding him that he could only rely on himself. Only then did he release a long sigh and shake his head, turning to the small yellow cat that continued eating.
Jormungandr was his only friend. He was the cat that visited him all the days in the orphanage and whom he chose to bring to college after leaving that place.
After a few seconds, Vlad shook his head and went to his desk, opening some books. While it was Friday and many were going to party or relax, he didn’t have that luxury since any downgrade in his classification might cost him his scholarship, and that was something he could not afford.
The day was ending, and darkness was starting to set in. He went to the lamp on the side of his desk and was about to turn it on when it burst. The same happened with the light in the ceiling of his room.
It was at that moment that a strange sensation assaulted Vlad’s heart. It was a feeling he couldn’t quite put into words, making him wrathful and fearful at the same time.
Just as those emotions assaulted Vlad’s heart, a massive tremor shook the building where he was. Vlad lived in Constantine Country, not a seismic area, and this was the first time he had experienced such an event in his life.
Yet, all that ceased to matter as an expression of utter and absolute pain assaulted him.
Vlad began to scream in agony as he fell to the ground and began to roll, clutching his head. He felt as if something was growing inside his brain, fearing his head might explode at any moment.
Jormungandr immediately stopped eating as he saw Vlad rolling on the ground. He approached the young man, meowing, but he could do nothing but watch.
Vlad kept rolling on the ground, with blood leaking from his eyes, ears, and nose. Just as he felt he was about to pass out, the pain faded. He was left on the ground, covered in cold sweat, trying to figure out what had happened, when a voice echoed inside his mind.
"MY CHILDREN, HEAR MY VOICE. KILL THE ALIEN AND PURGE THE HERETIC. BURN ALL THE FILTH, AND I WILL REWARD YOU. DO NOT ALLOW THE DESECRATION OF YOUR HOME!"
Vlad had no idea where that voice came from. It seemed to belong to a woman, full of absolute rage with a hint of fear. However, the young man’s shock was far from over, as the next second, a series of numbers and letters appeared in front of his eyes.
[Human interface awakened
Vlad was shocked by the sudden interface; the data displayed were what one would expect to see in a video game.