Body Swap

“Who is this?” Hayato's eyes twitched from the pain, hindering his sight, but the red hair was too striking to miss. He was shocked to be in the palace and not some basement.

At the corner of the room lay a man inside an imposing four-poster bed, with sheer curtains covering him like a bride with a veil.

“Evan, y-you thief, what are you going to do to me now?” Heterochromatic aquatic and lemon eyes moved to the edge, glaring at them, wondering why they were with him.

Hayato turned to the blonde fairy expecting an explanation.

“That’s the illegitimate son of the king.”

“So you’re brothers?” Hayato clarified for himself more than for Evan because he was confused.

“Don’t call him my brother. We are different; I’m not the son of a maid.” Evan scoffed, dismissing his words.

Hayato leaned on the pillar for support as his body went numb very quickly. He hissed in confusion. “And you want me to take over his body?”

“Yes?”

Hayato glanced at the clearly sick, rather calm, man on the bed, unable to move, just glaring at them. “What are you two going to do to me?”

Hayato ignored him because he genuinely had no choice but to escalate the conversation or his life would escalate into extinction first.

“You know I need a dead body, right? You couldn't pick someone else from all the people you know? And wouldn’t people recognize me if I was in his body?” He wanted to call him insane for wanting him to take over a prince's body, but the short exchange was enough to tell him they disliked each other.

“No, nobody knows of his existence except the king and I. His whore mother is dead. He is terminally ill, so it is just your luck that you came around his deathbed,” Evan simply said.

Hayato could no longer keep himself upright; he fell to his knees, blood pooling at his feet. “But he is not dead?”

“Oh, he is now.” Evan shoved his hand, piercing Genesis’s stomach as Genesis spat, his own hand grabbing Evan in a futile fight, trying to get him off before he weakly went limp.

Hayato side-glanced at the act of cruelty Evan displayed as he killed his brother, but dark spots soon started to fill his vision, and he held the hand of Genesis before fainting.

He doesn't know how long he was knocked out for but when he started to awake, he almost thought he was in a dream. That all of this was one big bad dream, but it wasn't the moment he saw Evan sitting beside him on the bed. “How are you feeling?”

Hayato pushed his back forward,patting his stomach in panic. The pain was there but- he frowned; there was no hole?

“I healed you. One of our special abilities is the ability to heal, and among everyone, you are lucky I'm the fastest healer. It took a mere four hours for me to close this wound.” Evan's hand glowed before it faded away. Hayato blinked.

“Now let's get you back into the game but your name won't be Hayato. From now on… you will be Genesis. As long as no one knows who you are, you will stay alive much longer.” Evan looked at him then at the window, gauging the time from the sky brightness. “You have twelve hours before the next round starts. Genesis may have been the son of a maid, but he is still a member of the royal family. You should be able to fly too. Your first mission is to learn and head towards that building by yourself, without needing my help. If you can do that, I'll believe in your resolve.”

____________________________________________________________________

Hayato stared at the sky, watching as the bird flew by. The sky was so clear and beautiful. A sight he would not have appreciated any other day. He looked down at the backyard, taking in the cobblestone paths that stretch across the expansive garden, guiding visitors through a landscape of curated symmetry and natural wonder. Rose gardens and marble fountain. Truly a beautiful world filled with heinous people.

The fact he was one minute away from death… Yuka's betrayal rang fresh in his head. He tightened his fist. He fully trusted her, he always held her in higher regard than himself. He strode ahead, deeper into the wood, recalling what she said. How can she discard his life like that as if it meant nothing? As if her life was more meaningful than his? His teeth clenched and anger rose in him, but a small part of his head chose to understand her. It was either him or her, who wouldn’t choose themselves? You are weak, annoying, whiny, and worst of all… useless. He should give her a chance to explain herself… but is she even deserving an explanation? He stopped. She didn't deserve his forgiveness.

He had no time to be the weak, annoying, whiny, and useless Hayato. He had to learn how to levitate. He clutched his fingers together, trying to summon this power that he apparently had. He was making weird noises, trying to force out this magical power from within him. One hour passed, and Hayato let out a blow of frustrated air. He felt nothing. There were only eleven hours left, how was he supposed to fly overnight? I need to retrace my steps. Evan had wings, so shouldn’t I have wings too? He looked over his shoulder but he couldn't see any wings. Was he supposed to get it out? His hand reached behind his back and he felt two small bumps on his back. That must be his wings! He grinned as he quickly rushed back to the building, back into the room, and stood in front of a mirror, taking off his shirt, turning around to see. The grin immediately dropped.

His wings… Someone… someone clipped Genesis’s wings… It was jagged, the edges with dried traces of rusty, old blood. The glowing veins were dull and lifeless, no longer having any shine.

He was curious to know what happened to Genesis, but he had no time to extend his care for someone who is already dead. He put his clothes back on and walked solemnly back to the backyard. He was deep in thoughts before he was interrupted by a small voice.

“A trespasser! A trespasser!” A tiny fairy yelled as she extended her hand out; a swirl of air surrounded him.

“I’m not a trespasser,” Hayato explained. She blinked. “You are an elf! Don’t deceive me.”

“No, I’m a… fairy.” Hayato sweatdropped. I’m not used to lying like this.

“Why would you be the size of elves then?” she accused.

He looked at himself and then back to her. “You are right.” He was bigger but he remembered Evan switched heights when he was with him.

“I didn’t switch back.”

She narrowed her eyes and flew into his face, pushing his hair away from his face and grabbed his ears. “Hmmm, it's pointy like an elf but you don’t have their long ears.”

She seemed confused, letting go of his ears. “Why haven't I seen you around before and why are you near the royal family castle?”

“I’m a new fairy; I want to learn how to fly.” Hayato told the truth. Her pink eyes looked him up and down and immediately giggled.

“A new fairy! You are always welcome here! You must want to pass the hazing. This is the wrong place. Come with me; I’ll show you where you can practice.” She smiled as she started to fly, and Hayato immediately followed.

“What’s your name, little one?”

“Hay— Genesis.”

“Oh Genesis! I’m Maisie, one of the guardians of the royal family. What did you come out of? I came from a daisy flower..” She twirled around, her pink hair and white dress gently swayed with her movement.

Hmm they weren't born like us? Hayato scratched his head, trying to remember a lore he read about fairies. I’ll just mirror her and say a flower, too!

“Wait, don't tell me! Let me guess.” She pulled her palm up, stopping him. “You came from a tree, right?”

“Y-you are right.”

“Of course I’m always right!” She laughed, blushing. “I figured it out because there are way more trees in the royal garden than flowers, and most new fairies who linger there are born from trees.”

Hayato clapped emotionlessly. “Wow, what a genius you are.”

She nodded as if she knew and supported the claim. Hayato let out a sigh of relief. The more this fairy was talking his ear off, the less he had to talk and the fewer mistakes would make..

“Oh look, we are here.” The smell of damp earth invaded his nose, and the further they walked in, the more they reached the cobalt blues of the ocean. The waves splashing into the grass, but the most fascinating part was the stem of large flowers coming off the sea. It was full of petals and flowers of different sizes on the other side.

“Who is this?” A small fairy from inside one of the flowers looked down at him from high above. A few more heads popped out. He stood there awkwardly, at the center of four colorful fairies, from purple, yellow, red and white, each representing a flower, all circled around him.

“This is Genesis, a tree fairy. He was born recently and wants to learn how to fly.”

“Oh, I almost thought he was an elf.”

“It’s rare to see a male fairy in this area.”

The fairies chatted amongst themselves.

“I'm Lily.” She waved at him. White dress and matching hair.

“Mimi.” Another pink-haired fairy with a red dress smiled at him shyly.

“Vivi.” Blue hair with a matching dress frowned at him.

“Sisi.” Yellow hair with white dress grinned brightly.

The fairies took turns introducing themselves. “It’s nice meeting everyone.”

Hayato politely bowed as they all stared at him in wonder and curiosity.

“Back to your lesson you go. Who here has learned how to fly?”

“Me!” Lily raised her hand. “I finally learned how to fly.”

“Great!” Maisie smiled before she turned to Hayato. “Genesis will start learning with everyone starting from today.”

“I'll help him out!” Sisi grabbed his hand and pulled him along with her. He let her guide him and felt a little apprehensive when she tried to enter the water. He chose to have faith and trust as he stepped into the petals of a flower. Thankfully, he didn't sink the minute he stepped on it; the flower was very sturdy and supported his weight but it was a bit wobbly. Sisi patted the pollen. “Lay down here.”

“Listen, Genesis, the best way to start learning is by relaxing. Forget the solid ground. I want you to close your eyes and find the lightest thing inside you. Feel the air, how it wants to dance.” Maisies instructed as the other four fairies giggled. “Now try.”

Hayato laid down and closed his eyes, trying to mimic what they were suggesting. He relaxed his body, letting all the tension in him go. He started to breathe in and out. He tried to tap into that power but nothing happened.

The fairies giggled again.

Lily remarked, making the rest laugh more at him. “If he is struggling at this point, it will take him forever to pass the others.”

“It's the easiest part and yet he is struggling?” Vivi scoffed, arrogantly and Hayato felt himself getting disturbed. Why does everyone say that about him? It makes him feel so… useless.

“Quiet down!” Maisis yelled, rolling her eyes. “Everyone moves at different paces. This isn't a competition. Vivi, Sisi and Mimi you still struggle at levitating with your wings, you move super slow. While you, Lily… you may have passed, but it took you four days.”

All the fairies went quiet. All Hayato could hear was four days? It took one of them four days? He only had a few hours to get this done. Why? Why can't he do it? Why was he the only one who couldn't do it? Negative emotions started to swirl in him.

Was he destined to die? Was he only supposed to be dead last forever? Why him? Why always him?

“O-oi.” Maisie stared with mouth agape as he started to float very high in the air. “Genesis? You did it?”

All of the fairies stared at him with their mouths hanging open. They were making fun of him for not doing it right away because they were teasing him but it usually took five hours to get that. “Oh my… that was very fast.”

Hayato opened his eyes, freaking out. “Oh? I did it-” he fell down into the petals, his heavy weight causing it to sink into the ocean, soaking him. He quickly swam up as all the fairies started laughing at him again. Although this time he didn't care. He did it? He smiled. “I did it Maisie.”

Maisie smiled proudly. “It’s okay to fall down. Most of us can't just fly on the first try anyway.”

Hayato felt relieved and happy that he passed the first step. If he can just now replicate that feeling and fly, would be able to finish it in time?

“You may have learned how to levitate but it doesn't mean you know how to fly,” Vivi mocked but a chill went down her spine when his yellow eye slit like a snake. What was that? She blinked and his eyes were back to normal as if nothing happened.

Hayato smiled, more confident in himself. “Don't worry, I'll get there.”

“That's the spirit!”