Chapter 1 — The Beginning of the Rift

"There are promises that people forget... and there are promises that time itself refuses to erase."

[ Aurelia Empire ]

The serene darkness of the midnight hour quietly enveloped the entire Aurelia Empire.

Multi-colored lights emitting from buildings of advanced, futuristic technology and a myriad of twinkling stars adorned the vast night sky. Yet, not a single reflection of light could be seen in the eyes of the man standing majestically upon the highest tower of the Royal Palace.

Each time a cold gust of wind swept by, his long black cloak drifted slowly backward into the air.

His strong hands rested steadily on the tower's railing, while a cold, stern expression that no one could ever read reigned permanently over his sculptured, handsome face. A pair of alluring, ash-gray eyes stared meaninglessly at the constellations of the universe.

Both behind his back and to his face, the entire empire spoke of this man in fearful, reverent whispers... calling him "The Cold King-to-Be."

Thrill Yan Khit Kaung.

The sole Crown Prince of the Aurelia Empire.

Reaching the age of twenty-nine this year, the Prince harbored a dark secret—one that no other human soul in the universe knew. He possessed a mysterious power: the ability to foresee certain events of the future.

Tap... Tap... Tap...

A set of rhythmic footsteps broke through the serene atmosphere. The Royal Advisor, Aldric, dropped to one knee behind Khit Kaung and bowed respectfully.

"Your Imperial Highness..."

Khit Kaung did not turn around immediately, his eyes remaining fixed upon the sky.

"The Time Observatory has sent an emergency signal, Prince."

"What happened?"

The voice was, as always, cold and composed. It neither rose nor fell, completely devoid of any emotion.

"The Time Rift..." Aldric paused for a moment, swallowing hard with great difficulty as he uttered the words. "The temporal rift has reappeared, Your Highness."

At those words, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to grow even heavier and more suffocating. Khit Kaung’s long eyelashes flickered perceptibly, just once.

"Where?"

"In the underground grand hall beneath the Imperial Observatory. According to the scientists' report, the portal's energy level is extremely unstable. It could disappear again at any moment, Your Highness."

The Time Rift...

A name that existed only as a legend in ancient historical records. A mysterious rift capable of connecting time and space across the past, present, and future. It was said to have appeared only once in the empire's history over the past thousands of years. Yet, not a single person had ever successfully crossed through that temporal doorway.

Khit Kaung was still staring at the stars when, suddenly, at that very moment...

A vivid, intense vision violently intruded into his mind, shaking all his six senses.

It was a scene of torrential rain.

Upon the muddy ground, someone was holding onto his hand tightly, desperately seeking reliance. No matter how hard he tried to look, that person’s face was blurred and completely unrecognizable. Yet, a faint voice echoed through the air, enough to tug violently at his heartstrings.

"You promised... Khit Kaung..."

"No matter how far apart we are... no matter what lifetime I end up in... you said you would come find me..."

"Your Highness!"

Aldric’s anxious, loud shout instantly snapped Khit Kaung back to reality. He let out a soft sigh alongside the suffocating tightness in his chest. Those mysterious, lingering visions were things that should not—and could not—exist in either his past or his future.

"Let's go."

Leaving only those brief words, Khit Kaung walked away with long, swift strides. Aldric immediately stood up and rushed after him, reporting as he followed.

"The hover-ship is ready, Prince."

[ Imperial Observatory ]

Built in the deepest depths of the palace, the Imperial Observatory underground complex was a space where primordial engineering and ultra-modern technology converged.

Right at the center of the vast hall, illuminated by piercing white electric lights, a brilliant blue circle of energy spun gradually yet violently in the air like a vortex.

The entire surrounding atmosphere cracked under the instability, and strange sounds of static electricity crackled continuously.

Dozens of royal scientists and scholars were in a frantic frenzy, staring unblinkingly at the data screens ahead, crying out in sheer panic.

"The energy level has surged more than five times higher than normal!"

"The portal is breaking down! We can't suppress it anymore!"

"All stabilizer systems are destroyed! It's completely out of control!"

Amidst the chaotic, roaring hall, Crown Prince Khit Kaung entered with long strides. His ash-gray eyes quietly fixed upon the Time Rift looming in the air.

Suddenly, the blue lights inside the portal grew incomparably sharper and more intense—

BOOM————!!

The entire hall shook violently as if it were bound to shatter.

"Your Highness! It's too dangerous! Please step back!"

The palace guards drew their swords, stepping in front of Khit Kaung to shield him while shouting warnings.

However, Khit Kaung did not retreat even a single step, standing as still as a statue.

At that exact moment... another strange, new vision flashed across his eyes once more.

An old, ancient book... a fair, pure hand holding that book... and then—a pair of bright brown eyes staring at him through a veil of fear.

Eyes he had never seen or encountered before. Yet, strangely enough, they felt so painfully familiar that his entire chest tightened.

BOOM!!

The Time Rift expanded violently as if the world were ending, and brilliant blue light beams devoured and blanketed the entire hall. Overloaded with energy, all the machinery shut down one by one, and warning alarms blared loudly throughout the grand chamber.

"The portal... the portal has successfully linked with the other side!"

"Impossible! That can't be!"

"Wait... this signal response..."

"It’s a time frequency from three hundred years ago!" a senior scientist screamed in disbelief.

Khit Kaung’s ash-gray eyes narrowed slightly.

Three hundred years ago...?

Amidst the wailing alarms and the blue light beams radiating from the absolute center of the portal, the silhouette of a young boy's body began to materialize clearly and gradually in the mid-air.

Chapter 1 End

Next Chapter — Chapter 2: The Boy Who Fell Through Time

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