1 The New Life

Today was to be an important day, seven years of work's completion. Stephen Umber, 57 years old, and team leader for the design team which currently surrounded him was watching as his team moved the bare car chassis that was the culmination of their work to the center of the work shop. Having been an engineer for 31 years Stephen had experienced many similar events, when the ultimate goal was on the cusp of being achieved, however he believed this was most likely to be the most significant. The new engine could use a special hydrocarbon fuel, scientists had recently developed that could be efficiently produced from water that was in the presence of a carbon dioxide containing atmosphere. This new engine combined with the fuel making process would remove the necessity of batteries being used by cars, it was a matter of international importance. The team finished setting up the new engine in its chassis.

"You do the honours, Stephen" says the deputy head with a jovial cheer.

He hands Stephen the small control box with a large red button. With great excitement all the team looks on excitedly as Stephen presses down the button, the sound of the motor turning over a little sounds out before BOOM! an explosion rocks out from the engine shrapnel blasting outwards. All Stephen sees is a bright flash before a large chunk of his life's greatest achievement flies through his head killing him instantly.

Suddenly, a teenage boy sits up in his bed breathing heavily having just woken from a nightmare. He looks at his hands confused and down along his toned body before looking even more confused around the large room.

'Where am I?' Stephen thinks to himself noticing the large opulent room and feeling the smooth and soft silk sheets against his oddly young body.

Another thought comes to his mind 'who am I?'

As the thought comes to his mind a pain racks through his head and he grips his temples fighting the pain. Many memories belonging to someone else rushes through his head, "Alexander Halgran? Is that my name? Or the name of the previous owner of this body?".

Stephen sits on the bed thinking over the memories in his head, Alexander, a prince of the Kingdom of Halgran, the third prince. Alexander doesn't seem to be particularly famous, a minor military career, not bad nor great, and a similar diplomatic career. An unexceptional prince. From the memories it seems that the King is deathly ill... this nation's inheritance laws not handing the kingship to the eldest son or anything similar, instead after every king dies the nation is almost always embroiled into civil war as the princes compete for rule.

Stephen knows this doesn't bode well for him. 'I may as well sleep and deal with this in the morning...' Stephen thinks before drifting off to sleep.

Beams of light drift down onto Alexander Halgran, who is now seemingly inhabited by Stephen Umber. Stephen, no Alexander woke up at this bright light and attempted to sit up in his bed only to find himself currently pinned by a large black shape. The large black shape raises its head revealing it to be a large wolf like dog, currently resting its large torso on his chest. Alexander almost has a heart attack from fear before recognition comes across him followed by another rush of memories belonging to the previous Alexander, who was who was very confusing for poor Stephen/Alexander.

"Lucio…" Alexander whispers extending his one free hand towards the large dog, its eyes immediately responding to its name.

The dog stretches its head towards the hand with a gentleness defying its large menacing appearance. Alexander now remembers Lucio, his dog who had been with him/ the old Alexander for most of their lives.

"Well Lucio… this is all very confusing…" he remarks to Lucio more for his own benefit then the now slightly confused dog.

As Alexander looked at the dog the doors to his bedchamber burst open.

"Prince Alexander!? Are you awake!?" calls out a young woman clearly a maid and clearly a little older than Alexander.

Alexander responds nervously, "Um… yes…" and awkward silence embroils the whole room before he realises his mistake.

"Yes, I am awake, Maria" he says in a voice filled with new-found confidence and a slight tinge of bravado attempting to mimic the old Alexander, "Why have you burst into my room so rudely? What is going on?"

Slightly breathless Maria responds quickly stammering slightly, "The king, his majesty, has summoned you, your highness and the princes to the throne room."

Maria draws a deep breath before calmly continuing, "I do not know why he summons, only that you only have a very short amount of time to be present."

Numerous thoughts rush through Alexander's head as he considers the possibilities, the king, as everyone knows, isn't far from death, this could be an announcement relating to his inheritance. Alexander feels his palms become sweaty as he gently but also quickly shoves the hulking form of Lucio off of him.

"Leave now" he orders hurriedly to Maria, and as soon as she leaves he rushes around the room attempting to use his memories to find his clothes and remember how exactly some of the more complex, unusual and ceremonial articles go on.

After getting fully dressed he fumbles with his sword belt attempting to correctly attach his sabre.

"Stay Lucio, you can't come with me" he quickly says to the confused dog which has been watching him from his bed this whole time, before rushing out of the room and towards the throne room.

Almost running through the corridors Alexander finds himself almost bumping into many of the servants going about their morning duties. Eventually he reaches the large foyer to the throne room where he can see his siblings all patiently waiting seemingly having been given more notice than him.

"Ah, Alexander, you have finally arrived" quietly calls Percible in a snickering voice, his thin body and dark complexion making him look the part of the schemer that he is. Percible the second prince had earned his fame as had their older brother and Alexander during the Great Magic War, Percible as a cunningly backstabbing diplomat.

'Wait!' thinks Alexander, 'Magic!? That exists here!? What is this Dungeons and Dragons!?'.

Alexander had many fond memories of Dungeons and Dragons from his previous life, he was 13 when first edition had been released, and he had loved it despite that early version's numerous flaws. Now as Alexander compared what he remembered about the world of Dungeons and Dragons and this new place he was in the similarities were striking. Most notably the existence of dwarves, elves and goblins, each of these races having been important in the Great Magic War, when humanity had pushed for more territory invading each of those races.

A deep and strong voice reached Alexander's ears, "uh, brother you are here. I do wish father is well" when Alexander looked towards the stoic man who was the source of his voice he saw his eldest brother, first prince of Halgran, Ildan, a famed military leader.

"Hello brothers, do either of you know why father has called us?" Alexander politely responds, to which Percible just shrugs and Ildan shakes his head looking at the ground with concern.

The large doors of the throne room swing open, standing looking at the three princes stands the king's advisor, Darius.

"Come now, princes, the king will not be awake long" Darius says quickly before immediately turning around and walking down the long length of the throne room.

Waiting down the far end of the throne room upon a throne of massive proportions covered in copious amounts of gold that raises him far above everyone else in the room. The trio of princes quickly follow the adviser and each knelt in front of the large throne. Now closer to the throne Alexander noticed an old and wizened man sitting just behind the throne, 'this man is the wizard working to keep my father alive' thinks Alexander.

"Welcome my sons" says the king in a high reedy voice week from age and disease, "I have called you hear today because I fear for my kingdom, and for you my sons. For three generations only one prince has been present for the death of the previous king, and during this time our great kingdom has flourished. And yet here we are, on the brink of repeating the scenario that destroyed this city five generations ago. As such, to any of you my sons, who are willing to renounce your inheritance I will grant a governorship over part of the new and prosperous lands each of you had a hand in cleansing of the goblin filth."

Alexander realizing this is the exact opportunity he has been looking for to save his life faced with an impending war immediately shouts, "My lord father, I will renounce my title of prince and accept your offer, I have no intentions upon the throne."

The king's smile grows, only one more of his sons needs to accept his offer now and the kingdom will be saved from ruin.

"Father", a snickering voice calls out, "I will not be denied my birth right to fight for the crown, if my brothers wish to give it to me, then that will be fine." Concludes Percible.

The king appears to visibly age and peers over to Ildan a last glimmer of hope burning in his eyes, "Ildan, what about you my son?" he asks deeply concerned.

Ildan sighs heavily, a deep burden resting upon him, "father, I am beloved by the people, a hero of the war. I could not in good conscience leave the kingdom to Percible. Our traditions exist in order to choose the strongest king."

The king's visage grows dark, he slumps back into his throne, wrinkles appearing to grow on his face. After some time of just looking up at the portraits of previous kings and paintings of battle scenes on the ceiling he finally speaks again, "Alexander, you are no longer a prince of this realm, but you are now baron of the town of Sapphire Lake. Take with you fifty thrones of gold and choose an advisor from the Presidium, a clerk should do. Also, Mondaeus will go with you."

The weakened king then turns to Darius, "see to it that all of this is done and that Alexander leaves on a river galley tomorrow." Turning away from Darius back towards his sons he concludes saying, "my kingdom, my life's achievement will be destroyed but so be it. Leave now, and you who are still princes do not look at me again until… until I am in my coffin."

Alexander is the first to rise and bow quickly leaving the throne room.