Imagine trying to come up with a way to rule the world and be its most powerful being through your immense mana. Now, imagine how it’s like to have such a dream as a child. Finally, imagine looking at the towering skyscrapers, the affluent lives of the people attacking their smartphones as they walked through pedestrian lanes, in a world where magic was, well, non-existent.

To the denizens of Earth, there’s nothing amiss. However, to a toddler who already carried the mana-laden dreams of omnipotence at such a young age, it’s all just a big confusing mess. Even when he was old enough to ask “when can my mana awaken?” without it sounding too suspicious, he was only greeted with annoying laughter from his parents.

Rizale, or how he was now known in this world, Kris, had lived his childhood with pent-up frustration. He was powerless and that irked him. He knew that there would be some similar effect that would occur when he was placed on Borrowed Time, but what he didn’t expect was to be reincarnated in a world where technology is ubiquitous, and magic a fantasy.

Well, he found out about how magic wasn't something that existed through his mother's bedtime stories. In one particular story, where a powerful Prince used his magic to heal his dying lover's supposedly incurable sickness, he found the opportunity to ask.

"How can such a Prince have such a powerful magic? I've never heard of such magic before," He flailed his arms in excitement and the prospect of the possibilities the story implied.

His mother, stifling a laugh, drew closer to him and patted him on his head.

"Well, honey, I don't know. Maybe the author just wanted a happy ending?" She smiled.

Kris looked at his mother, confused as he slit his eyes. Author?

"So you're saying this story isn't real?" It was hard to play the innocent child, however, for the sake of world domination, he couldn't just suddenly blurt something suspicious. At the back of his head, he thought that if his mother was going to tell him stories about powerful magic, she should tell actual, historical anecdotes. Not some fairy-tale wishy-washy story.

"Of course, honey. All these stories aren't real. Any story with magic in it isn't real. Still, they are very beautiful and creative stories, don't you think?"

Kris' jaws dropped from the utter disappointment and the epiphany, and that night, he actually cried himself to sleep.

Thankfully, as he grew older, he realized that there was a different way to overcome his powerlessness, or rather, distract him enough to forget about it.

That was music. His parents, both classical musicians of considerable stature showed him how soothing being a listener could be. The CDs containing different genres of music entranced him, particularly, especially the angsty rock genre. At times, even though he came from the world unknown to Earth’s fast-paced ways and was deeply ingrained in a culture of violence, he found that he could relate.

Throughout elementary school, he had no friends, because well, it's really hard to get along with children when your mental capacity is that of an adult. His parents noticed this and being the well-educated and refined people that they are, tried to instill in Kris the importance of relationships.

At first, it was a chore to listen to, but that was until his usually stoic, but all the same doting father dropped the bomb.

"There's no point in being the best you can be if you aren't the best for other people."

Now, he didn't exactly understand what he meant by that, but it had him started to try and get what he was trying to say. All his previous life, he lived for his own sake. He had gathered power enough to level thousands of the most powerful men, and yet, his father was telling him that it all didn't matter?

Absurd.

One rainy afternoon on his way home, he was mulling over his father's words and being naturally negative as he pondered about it. His introspection was cut abruptly when he slipped on a wet pavement, falling flat on his face.

As he cursed the heavens and Gods and anything at all within line of sight, a child in a ponytail who's more or less his age approached him. Her shadow loomed as he raised his head to see her face. The girl extended her hand with a smile.

Her wet, pale hands were glistening under the peeking sun. Her perky nose scrunched as her deep-set eyes anticipated his reaction.

He was taken aback. Now he knew children were much more susceptible to being careless and trying to be a pain to just about anyone, but something about this girl just tugged on his heart.

She's just a freaking child!

He tried to steady his mind's rapidly racing and muddy thoughts. Even though people from the other world thought him to be evil, and he'd agree to an extent, he knew that he didn't have the hots for children. That would be too much.

Still, maybe because of his body's young constitution, or because this was the first person outside of his family to ever try to interact with him genuinely, his heart was racing.

Going with the flow, he reached out for her hand and grabbed gently. She pulled him up with equal kindness. As soon as Kris stood up, she giggled while she used the hand she helped him with to cover her mouth.

Kris, mouth agape, shook his head and coughed.

"T..thank you," Kris managed to say as he averted his eyes. Unconsciously, he was also caressing the hand that held the girl.

"You're welcome!" she replied while trying to stop her giggling. She then suddenly stopped and perked up as she darted her eyes around Kris' body. "Ooh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh. Are you hurt anywhere?" She approached him and grabbed both of his arms, looking for any sort of scratch or injury.

Kris pulled his hand away as soon as he realized that she closed the distance.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about it," Kris wasn't really bothered by her laughing. In fact, if he saw anyone slip that way, he'd be telling his friends about it in mocking. Though, he doubted that the girl was laughing because he fell.

"That's great," the girl then extended her hands once more, this time offering to shake his hands.

'How very business-like for a kid' thought Kris.

"I'm Reese! What's your name?" She smiled again. Kris couldn't help but notice her very boyish name, but he felt that it suited the girl.

Tired of the constant thoughts of his previous life, and caught up in the vastly different circumstances of this world, he mentally resigned himself. This time, Kris forewent all his mental defenses and reached out for her hand before lightly shaking it.

"I'm Kris," he found himself smiling, but he made no conscious effort to stop himself. A very genuine smile that he would define his path from then on.

As Kris entered middle school, his personality underwent drastic changes.

For one, he realized that he loved his parents as much as they loved him. Not only were they caring, they were skilled craftsmen of music, and through them showing him how to play various instruments and read notation, he found that it also allowed him to open up to them a bit more.

Because of the ethos of his parent's way of life, they held a different perspective of the world. They always tried to put themselves in the shoes of others and tried to be the best people that others could value. They didn't live just for themselves, and their passion for music, entertainment, and sharing was the best example of their values.

They'd tell him stories of great musicians, innovators who shaped the world, leaders who painted their visions. They'd tell him about their dreams, the first time they played an instrument and how they felt, scold him when he unconsciously spouts his negativity, taught him the ways of this world.

They always told him that he could aim for any goal in life, and as long as he brought value to others, there are rewards there waiting for them. Those that are tangible, like money, food, luxuries, and also those that are intangible, such as love, respect, laughter, memories, and a damn hell of a good time for everyone.

"That is why we became musicians. It's a way for us to give to the world while also allowing us to express ourselves freely. No doubt, our lives would be different if we chose a different path, and so we're thankful."

Inspired, he also decided to become a musician.

Though his parents performed classically, he found the creative freedom and possibilities of rock enticing, and so he listened to just about any rock band. Before hitting middle school, he'd already written 20 songs. Mostly about life, trivial things, making friends, falling in love. He played them for his parents and sometimes Reese, singing his heart out while fighting through the pain of pressing on the guitar strings.

After every performance, he felt catharsis.

Another change was in his relationships outside of his family. After meeting Reese, they went out to play and just be together on most days. They'd meet where they first met, at the street where Kris first slipped up, and then they went about exploring any part of the town they lived in. Sure, he had the mental capacity of an adult, but he found that being a child again was liberating.

It allowed him to see things that he was never allowed to realize during his previous life. It reconciled the meaning of his father's advice, and why his parents lived the way they did. It allowed him to look within himself, and also try to place to look through the perspective of other people. It was an awakening to him, a kind of self-awareness that allowed him to realize that there's more to life than violence and power.

That small things matter, and, well, are fun!

Eventually, Reese introduced him to her friends, and surprisingly, he found no problems expanding his circle. They'd all play, help each other with homework, just do about every trivial thing a child does, and it reinvigorated him.

More importantly, these moments with their friends allowed him to write about more material!

The last and arguably most important change was that he forgot about his previous desire. It could even be something he deems as childish now. He had no reason to grasp the peak of power in this world, but even more so, he found a different desire welling up inside him.

To be more like his parents.

And so he aimed to be well-educated, being at least ranked above twenty in the whole school. He watched a lot of movies, TV shows, and listened to a lot more diverse genres of music. He read self-help books, novels, and even the occasional light novel (he couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of his circumstance when he does).

Up until high school, everything was, well, normal.

But it was a kind of normal where he appreciated every waking moment. Where he daydreamed of playing on a stage for thousands of people.

One particular evening, when Kris and Reese were by their lonesome in a park not far away from both their homes, Kris wondered.

"Is this what Dragnir meant when he said he'll teach me?"

He looked beside him and saw Reese gazing at the blanket of stars. Her eyes glimmered as she tried to make out the constellations. A gentle breeze wrapped around the both of them, prompting Reese to cut short her stargazing and move closer to Kris, to maybe share their warmth.

Kris was comfortable whenever he was with Reese, but suddenly feeling their skin touch and their faces was so close, he suddenly felt his heart racing again. It was similar to how he felt when they first met, and he couldn't help but satisfy his gaze on Reese's porcelain skin.

Reese noticed him staring, as she playfully punched Kris in the shoulder.

"Owww! What was that for?" Kris shouted.

Reese just laughed. It was a girly, subdued laugh, but it warmed Kris' heart nonetheless.

"Say, the sky sure is beautiful, huh?" Reese said as she turned her head up to look to the skies.

Kris followed suit and set his gaze on the stars. The stars were so far away, and so many, twinkling as they set themselves on the backdrop of a slightly violet sky. The moon hung close to them, its craters barely visible, but its shine was entrancing.

He felt that during his time in the other world, he had never appreciated such grand beauty.

"It is. I don't think I've seen such a sky before." Kris said, reminding himself of his past as he alluded.

"If there were other worlds out there, do you think that their people have the same view?" Reese asked while she swung her feet.

"I... I hope," Kris said, weakly smiling.

"If there are other worlds out there, I'd hope that there would be someone to make them realize such beauty. The people deserve to enjoy this," Kris said, almost lamenting.

"You want to be a successful musician, right?" Reese placed her gaze onto Kris' calloused hands as she asked.

"I do," Kris said as he swiped his thumb along the tips of his fingers.

"Then, that's your job!" Reese declared as she grabbed Kris' hands tightly.

"If there's someone out there who doesn't realize why life is so fun, then it's your job to tell them stories that make them aware of it! I'm sure that if you could do that, your dream of being a musician who makes a difference isn't that far off," She smiled again, that same radiant smile.

Kris reciprocated and held Reese's hand as he locked his gaze with hers, finally coming to terms with his past mistakes.

"Then, I promise. In this life or the next, I'll strive to be someone who places that as a priority," Kris nodded, convincing himself of his path.

Suddenly, his face flushed red as Reese's gentle gaze seemed to expand in his vision. He released his hold on her hand and turned away, as he heard Reese's all-too girly laugh.

Sure, he was still in high school. But that singular smile sparked that changed. For that, he was thankful, and in love.