The Hero Is Not Coming – Chapter 1: A Second Chance Begins (Sample)
A powerless prince. A dead hero’s memories. And a second chance he never asked for.
This is a sample chapter of the full published novel. If you enjoy it, you can continue reading on Amazon. The book is FREE in Kindle Unlimited.
In the cavern’s suffocating dark, a voice rasped, “It’s all my fault.”
An old man sat hunched, his gaze locked on a sliver of light piercing the gloom. Through that gap, memories flickered… comrades abandoned, borders overrun by the demon lord’s army. His gnarled hands gripped the stone beneath him, trembling as his shoulders shook with silent grief. He’d tried to save everyone alone, convinced he could, but he hadn’t. His seven friends, steadfast until the end, had stayed behind to hold the line. He’d walked away.
“My eternal burden,” he murmured, shoulders sagging under unseen weight.
He crossed his arms, eyes drifting shut as the burden of his failures pressed against his chest. A sudden glow warmed his lids, and soft sounds… coos, a gentle hum… enveloped him. Is this death? Or something else? He opened his eyes to a dimly lit room, the air thick with the scent of herbs and wool. A woman cradled him, her face a blur of soft features and kind eyes, guiding his lips to her breast.
Wait, is this really happening? Am I actually being breastfed as a baby again? His tiny hands flailed in protest, a ridiculous reflex against the absurdity of it all. What a bizarre twist of fate… hero to infant in one glowing leap. The warmth of the woman’s embrace was both comforting and disconcerting, a stark contrast to the cold cavern he’d left behind.
As he suckled, memories flooded back… Reymond’s sneer, the hero’s taunts, the weight of his past life. I’m not you, he thought fiercely, even as his infant body responded to the nourishment. I won’t make the same mistakes.
The woman, presumably his new mother, looked down at him with a mix of love and concern. She has no idea who I am, Edmund realized. To her, I’m just a helpless baby. The thought was both humbling and terrifying.
As he drifted back to sleep, Edmund’s mind raced. I have a second chance. I won’t waste it. I’ll find a way to make things right. The hero’s memories were a burden but also a guide. This time, I’ll be better. This time, I won’t fail.
Author Note: This is a preview of my published novel The Hero Is Not Coming. It’s available on Amazon for FREE in Kindle Unlimited.If you enjoyed this chapter, you can read the rest here:👉 https://mybook.to/TheHeroIsNotComing
