[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/the-beginning-after-the-end-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/250421/d7aa01bc7055ee1aa6539241718027de.png[/img][/url]

[@Zeroth][/center]

A bath, a proper warm bath. When was the last time he had a bath like this? One where he didn't sit in the equivalent of a wooden barrel getting splinters in his ass cheeks and other places if he was willing to shed some serious cash. Otherwise, it would've been those crowded public bathhouses where he came out feeling dirtier than when he went in. This, however, was a proper porcelain tub where he could stretch his legs out and have a proper soak. Rodin could feel the heat sink into his muscles and bones, the tension from his morning seeped out of his body. 

[color=ed1c24]"I feel like I should be freaking out about this more. Just... kinda surreal."[/color] He lifted his arm out of the tub and looked at it as droplets of water fell from his arm. [color=ed1c24]"One moment I'm racing to my death and the next I'm, well..."[/color] He dropped his hand down and splashed the water in the tub. 

Rodin took a deep breath and dipped his head below the water. Memories of that battle with the demon king replayed in his mind. He could still remember the sensation of his glaive meeting glancing his body, drawing just a drop of his blood. [color=ed1c24][i]If I was stronger I could've killed him right there and then.[/i][/color] 

After a while, the half-elf finished bathing and with a towel wrapped around his waist he looked over himself in the mirror again. His hand trailed down where the wound that the demon king gave him should've been in what felt like thirty minutes ago. Instead, his body was unblemished. No scars. No bruising. No evidence of years of effort. Just the skinny body of a teenager. [color=ed1c24]"I guess that's the price for coming back to life. Gonna take time to get back to where I was..."[/color]

Or maybe he could even do better. 

[color=ed1c24]"Don't get greedy Rodin. Let's just get readjusted first. There's time to ascertain and plan."[/color] A knock on the bathroom door caused to jump from surprise. 

Helga called out to him with concern. [b]Master Rodin, are you okay? You're taking an awfully long time there. I know boys at your age have, uh, certain needs to take care of but-[/b] 

From his cheeks to the tips of his long ears a red hue hummed. [color=ed1c24]"What?! No, I'm-! I'll be right out!"[/color] He called back in fluster. Rodin dressed himself in a robe and rushed out before his maid could spout anymore. Roughly he dried his long black hair with a towel and then combed it enough to prevent any mats and knots. 

[b]"Master Rodin, you will find your clothes laid out on your bed."[/b] Helga informed him. Rodin looked at his bed and had been expertly made without a wrinkle or hair with clothes that were neatly folded laid on top. [b]"Lady Myrrh personally picked it out herself. I dare say, your mother does have excellent taste though I say this after having the misfortune of witnessing Lady Amabilia brag about the attire she chose for Master Vincent. Money can buy you many things, but good taste isn't one of them. And those shorts certainly do not befit a boy his age or the occasion."[/b]

Rodin rubbed his chin in thought. Something about that description felt oddly familiar. [i][color=ed1c24]Wait, that outfit?[/color][/i] A stifled laugh escaped his lips as he physically held himself back from laughing, his arms wrapped around his diaphragm as if to force the air in. While Rodin had very little interaction with him in the younger years, he was all too aware of who Vincent was in the future. That surly, brutish asshole was going to wear that?! All he could imagine was future Vincent wearing that god awful outfit.

Like a dam, Rodin's laughter spilled out. He bent forward, clutching his stomach. His maid just watched in abject, silent shock as he watched him just laugh. However, it went as quickly as it arrived. Taking deep breaths, Rodin regained his composure partly. He could not help, but to be a bit giggly due to the mental being so fresh in his mind. 

[color=ed1c24]"Oh my God, I think I'll get a stomach ache if I laugh anymore!"[/color] He said as he wiped a tear away though he was quick to catch the look of surprise on Helga's face. [color=ed1c24]"Are you okay?"[/color]

The elderly maid realized that she was staring hard at him. [b]"Oh, um, I'm sorry. It's just I haven't heard you laugh like that in a long time."[/b]

It was Rodin's turn to have a look of realization. [i][color=ed1c24]Right. I'm acting very differently than the version of me yesterday.[/color][/i] Though it was also true that he really could not remember the last time he laughed was either. [color=ed1c24]"I guess it's been awhile. I'll be okay with dressing myself, Helga."[/color] 

[b]"Very well. When you're done, your mother wishes to meet you in the parlor."[/b] Helga bowed and then left the room. 

[color=ed1c24]"...Oh god I'm gonna have to meet mom."[/color] Rodin's face went white. What would he say to her? It had been so many years since he had last seen her. The last time he saw her was before he left, no, ran away from home. Except that hasn't happened yet. In fact, he most likely saw her yesterday, but he couldn't remember anything about it because it was over ten years ago, but ten years ago is today! Why did time travel come with emotional baggage?! 

No, he needed to calm down and act normal. Rodin heaved a sigh and dressed himself in the [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f1/03/8d/f1038df776be67eb47ee031e8d039381.jpg]outfit[/url] that his mother prepared for him. He gave himself a look over in the full length mirror. [color=ed1c24]"I remember wearing this..."[/color] The half-elf muttered to himself with a smile. Leave it to his mother to know exactly what he liked. Nothing flashy, but it was elegant.

He stood in front of his bedroom door and took a deep breath. [color=ed1c24]"Well Rodin, it's time to live the rest of your life again."[/color] Slowly he pushed the door open into the familiar halls of his youth. Everything looked exactly as he remembered it. 

[color=ed1c24]"Bloody eerie,"[/color] muttered Rodin. His steps echoed through the corridors as he traversed the familiar manor. Well, what was strange was one of the servants walking down the hallway in a panic. Actually, he recognized the man. If memory served him correctly, that was Balbys and if he remembered correctly he typically acted more dignified than this. Well, dignified in the way that someone was overcompensating for their lack of character. Except now this man looked like he was running for his life. This felt off. Rodin felt like he would have remembered something like this from his past life.

[color=ed1c24]"Mr. Balbys,"[/color] Rodin said as he laid a hand on the man's shoulder. [color=ed1c24]"Good man, you look like death is right around the bend. What could possibly be the matter?"[/color]