When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Or so they say, but what if someone told you that their identity is the same as their previous life? What do you do with that kind of information? Be in awe as you witness and embrace his highness’ presence? 

I mean, what are the odds? Wait—If reincarnation is based on karma, then his claim definitely has some merit on it however, there’s no way I would believe that.

Bull, it is absolute bullcrap. 

A descendant of the great king of England? There’s no way in hell I’ll believe that.

Disbelief and denial were my mind to his obnoxious and ridiculous revelation.

Even though I entertained the idea that he was one, it was merely just a sarcastic thought born out of mild annoyance. 

Fuck. I hate jinxing myself...

Seriously, what atrocities did I commit in my past life to have to deal with this trainwreck of an altercation?! I know it’s not yet certain but fucking hell! 

I knew that my reincarnation was too good to be true, it’s a good idea I had that doubt in mind but not to this extent! I could already see my future going down the drain now. 

All I wanted was to live peacefully in this life or at least live in mundane!

That’s got to be a record. A useless fucking record that will be the reminder of the start of my downfall.

With my brows furrowed deeply, I let out a huge and long sigh then clasped my hand togethers on the table leaning against my forehead. 

I just went through all stages of grief in just a single moment.

“That’s…not what I was expecting, I was hoping for a more opposite reaction to say the least.” He says as he sips back on his tea.

“It’s not every day I hear something so bizarre like that.” Still despite my inner turmoil, I managed to keep my act together.

“I guess props to you for taking it so well.” Like an actual noble that is of royal descent, he gracefully placed the tea back on its platter in what seems to be a practiced manner.

“Although I have no proof to claim that right now, the fact of the matter is that we came from the same world. As such, it’d be best if we don’t pry from each other's past. I’ve already revealed a part of mine, but I won’t ask nor force you, it is a decision you will have to make.”

How considerate of him but that won’t stop me from finding out who you really are. Descendant of the Pendragons or not, I already have a way to get the truth out of your mouth.

All I need is an opportunity, that’s why I’ll act to create one.

Then he stood up and grabbed a book just nearby but stopped halfway through. Why did he pull it like a lever—The shelf on the wall retracted apart and a small opening showed itself answering my own question.

Looking further inside, it seems to be a hidden room. There was a small round table, a shelf and a statue that resembled a standard Leotopian swordsman that was brandishing a sword; it positioned itself in a guarded stance. 

“If you want to know the truth behind our reincarnation then it’d be best if you follow me.” That certainly caught my attention, and my plan was paused for a bit.

Ever since I was an infant, I’ve always wondered about it and even now, there was that urge to find out why. Maybe it was curiosity that drove that question up to this point but nonetheless, I was very eager to know.

What exactly happened after I died? What or who brought me here in this world and how did they do so? 

Still, there was that reluctance as I reminded myself to ponder more about it. This could simply be a trap but based on his actions and mannerisms, I’d have to digress on that assumption.

He never expressed any intent to harm me and although what he said on our icebreaker was alarming, it didn’t warrant that much of a suspicion. In fact, we were both doing the same thing, trying to find out each other's identity piece by piece.

…for now, I’ll let things pan out and see how things go.

If something happens, I’m sure that I could handle what’s coming my way and if I don’t, I always have my fail-switch just in case things get out of hand.

That sounds a bit ambitious for any six-year-old, but I am not just any six-year-old. I’m a graduate at the Institute that rivals the great and esteemed Clock Tower. I lived in an era far more advanced than the current world I live in.

Where long-ranged combat dominated the violent affairs of conflict. 

Am I being arrogant? No, I’m just confident in my abilities and knowledge that I’ve garnered over the years. I’m a bit of a callous person, always observing my surroundings and I guess I’m a bit vigilant too when it comes to matters as serious as this.

Having already made my decision, I stood up with the book I brought and soon he went into the hidden room, and I followed suit.

Once I stepped inside, the shelves began to slide back together automatically, covering the once entrance of a gap. There was the sound of mechanical traction, but I could tell there were no gears.

Interesting...

When I was in, the once dark room was illuminated, there was a source of light hovering below the marble ceiling. 

Subtly scanning the room for anything, I found nothing particularly threatening to my wellbeing.

Except for the light, I couldn’t tell what it was, but it was drawing energy from its surroundings or that is what it seems, the more I took a closer look the more I realized the details of energy flowing through a line.

Is it a lamp? A light bulb? I can’t tell since it’s too bright. The series of energy currents was strong enough that I could subtly sense it. I could tell it was utilizing mana but where the hell is the source? 

No matter how much I looked around the room, I couldn’t seem to find it as the series of current seemed to get cut off at a certain point—So I felt the texture of the wall.

It was wood which is a very good insulator. Having come to that conclusion, I locked my eyes on him as he took his seat then he gestured at me.

“Here, take a seat.” I sat on the opposite side and placed the paperback with a thud on the round table.

Although the walls are made of lumbered wood in fine condition, just a single drop of liquid or anything that increases the humidity will make this room a rotting place of decaying wood. There’s no varnish or paint dye applied, it’s just pure dried wood.

So that means the wood itself might have a certain characteristic that can withstand the consequence of the buildup of moisture—I squinted my eyes.

I’m getting carried away with the trivial details, I should focus on the important matter at hand. 

With my elbows touching the surface of the round table, I clasped my hand and cupped my chin.

I’m sure I looked like a businessman making a deal with a client, all I needed was a suit and tie. 

Was I eager to know the reason? Of course, although it's something I really wanted to hear about. It’s not that important. I’m just using this as a prerequisite to create that opportunity I was thinking about earlier.

“As you have noticed, this world, called Gaia, is similar to that of medieval Europe…” 

Why tell me something I already know? Though I kept it in my head and listened to him.

“This world, where there are only two continents, Pangaea and Lorasia. The coincidence of sharing the same title of the supercontinents in our previous world is an indication that this world is based on Earth. But there’s more—He takes out a rolled-up scroll from his pocket and sprawls it out on the round table.

It was a map, or to be more precise, it was a world map but there was only one continent, a relic of the past perhaps. Why is he showing me this…Wait!

“If you noticed, this is a world map of the past before the kingdom of Leotopia was established…”  I was sensing a ‘but’ here. “However, the creation of it was not that long —This map was created twelve millenniums before my father’s reign.”

At first, I didn’t understand what he just said but the more I take in and process his words, the more I become anxious at what he’s going to say next.

If there was only one continent 12,000 years ago or so, then when did the two continents form—No. When did it separate into two? 

“Continental drift is a theory that states that the continents of the Earth were once a big, massive cluster of land. The shifting of the tectonic plates was a result of that, but it was a painstakingly long process that took over more than millions of years.” Rummaging in his pockets again, he took out another scroll and sprawled it beside the old-world map.

It was the current world map of Gaia that dates back 10,000 years ago, I could already tell where he was going with this.

“The question is…What happened between the chronology of these two maps? What exactly happened in the span of two millennia that resulted into this?” He pointed at the current world map.

For a brief moment I pondered. What could have happened to cause such a major shift in this world's geography? Magic exists but there’s no way in hell that it could perform at that level of magnitude…

I stiffly nodded at him; I’m already starting to grasp what he was getting at.

“What if the two continents aren’t actually part of each other…What if one of them was formed rather than drifted apart?” 

I considered that possibility but it’s highly unlikely, so I opened my mouth for the first time we started our conversation inside this room.

Taking into account that the gradual shifting of the tectonic plates takes a lot of time, I could speculate that something big happened and that it involves more than what that theory has stated. 

“Continents don’t form in a matter of millennia. A continent drifting apart from each other is much more believable.” 

“Given the time span, I’d argue that both possibilities are not plausible—However, I see your point and if it were the case of continental drift, wouldn't there a massive consequence? That, however, leaves you with more questions than answers so why not take a closer look at the maps again.”

I didn’t say anything, instead, I looked back at the two maps in detail. 

On the old map, there was only one continent to which I recognized it as Pangaea while on the other map was…Oh, I see why he said that a continent was formed.

Lorasia didn’t seem to be a part or at least it didn’t fit in. Even after I overlapped it with one another, the geographical layout doesn’t fit like a puzzle. If only I was a geologist or something, I’d probably already have a proper hypothesis by now…

“I see why you came to that conclusion of continent formation; however, how could a continent in just a matter of two millenia…Form?” 

Just like any person coming across something important, I was pretty fucking eager to know...

“Haven’t you heard about divine beings?” Of course, I know what they are. Deities, gods, constellations or whatever they are, divine beings are entities that first appeared in this world or so they say…It actually makes sense now. 

Huh, how come I never arrived at that conclusion? Being reincarnated to a fantasy-like world where other species exist like elves, dwarves, beastlings and all. It’s not farfetched to say that a god could be the reason or at least be related to what caused the continent to form.

Still though, it’s still hard to believe without having concrete evidence. All of this is just mere speculation.

“So, it was created by those beings.”  I said to him.

“Exactly.” He replied with a firm nod.

Pausing for a bit, I pondered deeply about this information and its connection as to why I appeared in this world, but nothing came up apart from something stupid—Like what if I was transmigrated in this world by some being or entity? 

“What does this have to do with the nature of our reincarnation again?” I asked.

This time he smirked at me, “Have you heard of the term called ‘Isekai’?”

It was a very familiar term to me since I read stories or more specifically, light novels of that category—Wait!

“You’re telling me that we were summoned by a divine being?!” 

It does sound like a cliche plot line from some shitty anime or manga, that’s why I didn’t spare that thought again until now.

“Unfortunately, so, but it’s more like transmigration in our cases.” 

Leaning back at my chair, I looked at the ceiling for a brief second and then closed my eyes.

“So, let me get this straight, you are telling me that for some reason, you and I are both chosen by some deity to be reincarnated into his world? That sounds absolutely fucking absurd.” 

“Unfortunately, that might be the case…” I couldn’t help but click my tongue in annoyance.

A single thought loudly blared inside my head, and I couldn’t help but sink back to my chair like a disgruntled assistant from the time I was at the institute.

I’m so fucked.