Birds chirped. Sunlight streamed through an open window. Oak leaves swayed gently in the breeze.
Luna's eyes fluttered open. She sighed softly. The room felt unfamiliar. Different.
She jolted upright in bed.
"What...?" she murmured, glancing around in confusion. This wasn't her room.
Suddenly—
"Argh!"
A sharp pain shot through her head. She clutched it, wincing.
"What is this...?"
Memories not her own rushed in—faces, voices, flashes of a life she didn't recognize. Again, pain. She gasped, grabbing at her left eye. Dizzy, she lost balance and tumbled off the bed, landing hard on the wooden floor—right beside a mirror.
Sunlight from the window caught her face, blinding her for a moment.
And then—clarity.
Recognition.
The memories... the person she had glimpsed...
It was her. Luna Lockheart.
Slowly, she pushed herself up, still dazed.
"Where am I?" she whispered.
Outside, joyful voices floated through the air—laughter, playful shouting.
Drawn to the sound, Luna crept to the windowsill and peeked out.
Children ran and played under the golden sun. And then—they called to her.
"Luna!"
"Come outside! Come play!"
Something inside her stirred , pain was gone
She smiled and called back, "'Kay! I'm coming!"
She turned—
"Huh?"
Somehow, she was already standing in front of the mirror.
Blinking, she rubbed her face and studied her reflection. A petite girl stared back—waist-long pink hair falling in soft curls, a slim frame, slightly almond-shaped gray-blue eyes, and a heart-shaped face.
She looked about eight years old.
"Waaah, I'm pretty! Like a White Lily!" she exclaimed, twirling with delight.
Then her mood shifted.
"Anyway... where am I?" she muttered, puffing out her cheeks in frustration.
Almost instantly, she brightened, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Well… let's just go with the flow!"
She darted to the door and sprinted down the endless corridor.
"Lily! Keal! Kane! I'm here!" she shouted.
"Took you long enough, Luna!" Iris teased, arms crossed.
"I fell off the bed and forgot where the exit was, ehe~"
Luna stuck out her tongue and tilted her head playfully, eyes shut in a wide grin.
"Let's go to the lake!" she suddenly shouted, dashing past them.
"Aghhh! You never give us time to think!" Lilly cried, laughing as they all took off after her.
"Let's goooo!" Luna whooped, her voice echoing across the fields as they ran toward the shimmering lake.
The day passed in a whirl of laughter, splashing water, and sun-warmed smiles.
By the time the afternoon light began to fade, Luna found herself back inside, perched on the edge of a chair with her legs swinging restlessly.
"Hmmm..." she mused aloud, puffing out her cheeks.
"I have no idea how I got here. Where am I? Or even... who am I?"
She furrowed her brows in deep, dramatic thought, as if the weight of the entire world rested on her small shoulders.
"Okay, first thing's for sure... I've reincarnated into this world."
She let out a long, dramatic sigh.
"Second... I need to check a few things..."
Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her arms.
"In all those stories, people who reincarnate are either super overpowered, crazy smart, or..." she gulped, "...terminally ill."
Her eyes widened.
Slowly, she turned to glance at the chair behind her.
"Well... let's check."
With theatrical flair, she hopped down and grabbed the heavy chair with both hands.
"Ughhh... Aggghhh—"
Pain shot through her spine.
"Aghhh!"
She dropped the chair and clutched her back, groaning.
"Okay... definitely not strong."
She paused. Her face fell.
"And not that smart either."
A dark realization dawned on her.
"That only leaves..." she gulped again, "...terminally ill?"
A look of pure horror crossed her face.
"Nooo! No way! I'm a kid—an adorable eight-year-old! There's no way I'm that sick!"
She flailed her arms in wild protest, her expressions so exaggerated it was almost comical.
Still, she muttered, "Well... there's no harm in checking..."
She scrambled back into her chair and raised her hand dramatically.
"Leila! Could you fetch my personal doctor? But... make it a secret, pretty pwease~?"
She turned to the maid, eyes sparkling with innocent mischief.
The maid staggered back, clutching her chest.
"Aghhh! My heart! Of course, my lady—I'll fetch him right away!"
As she turned to leave, Luna called after her, "Ey! No gossiping about it, ay?"
The maid froze mid-step, visibly struggling.
"Al-alright!" she gasped, scurrying off.
—Moments later—
"Your Highness! Is something troubling you? Is it your health?"
"Mr. Aux, thank you for coming! That's exactly what we're going to find out today!"
Luna smiled brightly and stuck out her hand for a handshake.
"Oh—no need for formalities, my lady," he said warmly, bowing slightly. "I am at your service."
"Mr. Doctor, come here, please."
"Yes, my lady?"
"Closer."
He leaned in, curious.
"Whatever today's examination shows... you can't tell anyone—not even my father. Aight?"
Her voice was sweet, but there was an unmistakable firmness to it.
Mr. Aux hesitated, then bowed his head.
"Alright, Your Highness. I promise."
Resistance was futile. Her cuteness had triumphed again.
"Now then—let me see," he said gently. "I'll use my magic to examine you."
"Please just talk normally, Doctor. No need to be so formal."
"Alright, my lady. Casual it is," he chuckled.
"Then... please, go ahead!" she said, eyes shining.
He nodded, raising his hands. A soft glow filled the room, swirling with shimmering arcane symbols.
Wahhh... Luna thought, eyes wide in wonder. Is this magic? It's so pretty...
"Doctor... what is this?" she asked, entranced.
"This is a diagnostic spell," he explained, his voice calm but distant. "It scans for illnesses—everything from simple colds to the most dangerous diseases, like—"
He trailed off mid-sentence, his eyes widening, his hand freezing in mid-air as the arcane symbols flickered.
Luna's heart skipped a beat. "Doctor?" Her voice faltered, a knot forming in her chest.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his face went pale, his lips parting as though the words he wanted to say were trapped somewhere deep inside him. His hand trembled, and the glow of the diagnostic spell sputtered and dimmed, casting an unsettling shadow across the room.
"Doctor?" Luna repeated, more urgently this time, panic beginning to creep into her voice. "What is it? Please, just tell me!"
Mr. Aux swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the floor, as though he couldn't bear to meet her eyes. When he spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper.
"My god…" His breath hitched. "It… it can't be…"
Luna's pulse raced. "What? What's going on? Please, tell me!" Her hands clenched into fists. "You're scaring me, Doctor!"
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, gathering himself, before looking up at her. His eyes, usually warm and reassuring, were now filled with an emotion she couldn't quite read.
"It's… it's you, my lady," he whispered, his voice breaking, like he was mourning something that hadn't yet passed. "You're… gravely ill."
Luna's stomach dropped, her throat tightening as his words sank in.
"No…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "No, no. There's no way. I'm fine! I'm a kid! I—"
But Mr. Aux didn't flinch, didn't try to reassure her with empty words. He looked at her with that devastating pity, the kind that one only gives when they know the truth, and there's no escaping it.
"The disease…" His voice cracked. "It's… White Death."