Darkness.
An endless void stretched in every direction.
There was no sky.
No ground.
No sound.
Only...
Nothing.
Cassius slowly opened his eyes.
"..."
"...Where am I?"
A calm voice answered.
"...Your mind."
Cassius immediately turned toward the voice.
Yet...
There was no one.
"Who's there?"
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then...
"...I cannot tell you."
"...Not yet."
Cassius frowned.
"...Then why am I here?"
The unseen voice let out a quiet chuckle.
"Before I answer..."
"Allow me to ask you something."
Cassius remained silent.
The voice continued.
"You possessed a mind few could rival."
"You learned faster than most."
"You saw through lies with ease."
"You were..."
"...A rare genius among humanity."
A brief pause followed.
"And yet..."
"You chose to become a fool."
Cassius smiled bitterly.
"...Someone had to."
"My family struggled to survive."
"I gave up my dream."
"So they wouldn't have to give up theirs."
The voice fell silent.
As though reflecting upon his answer.
"...Family..."
It murmured quietly.
"What a beautiful... and tragic word."
Cassius waited.
Then...
The voice spoke once more.
"There is another family."
"One standing upon the edge of ruin."
"I ask only one thing of you."
"Save them."
Cassius' brows furrowed.
"...Who are they?"
The answer came almost immediately.
"...The Ashbourne Family."
His eyes widened.
"And consider it..."
"...The final wish of an old ancestor."
The void trembled.
The darkness began to crack.
Light poured through the fractures.
Cassius instinctively shielded his eyes.
"W-Wait!"
"Who are"
Everything shattered.
Cassius shot upright.
"Hah...!"
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
He looked around wildly.
"...Where..."
"...Am I?"
The room was unfamiliar.
Luxurious.
Elegant.
Sunlight poured through the curtains.
His breathing gradually slowed.
Then...
Something caught his attention.
A window.
Cassius hurried toward it.
The moment he looked outside...
His pupils shrank.
"...The Royal Palace..."
His voice barely escaped as a whisper.
"No..."
"...That's impossible."
He staggered backwards.
"Then..."
"...Was everything..."
"...Just a dream?"
His gaze slowly fell upon his own hands.
He froze.
"..."
"...These aren't my hands."
His heartbeat quickened once again.
He searched the room frantically.
Drawers.
Cabinets.
Shelves.
Until...
He found it.
A mirror.
His trembling hand lifted it.
The face staring back at him...
Wasn't his.
Silver hair.
Crimson eyes.
Features he recognized all too well.
"...Levi..."
His voice trembled.
"...Levi Ashbourne."
Cassius stared at the reflection in disbelief.
"...But..."
"He died."
"He was executed..."
"...Alongside me."
Silence.
Then...
A single realization struck him.
"...I've..."
"...Gone back."
His eyes widened.
"...To the past."
His thoughts immediately returned to the mysterious voice.
"There is another family..."
"Save them."
"The Ashbourne Family."
Cassius slowly lowered the mirror.
"...That old man..."
"...Was he..."
"...An Ashbourne?"
No answer came.
Only the quiet morning breeze drifting through the open window.
A new life had begun.
And with it...
A chance to change everything.