10 years later.
Alphonse Luther Vi Britannia of Seibel was no more. Now he was simply named Ashton Black, 14-year-old son of a moderately poor farmer and blacksmith apprentice. At first the memories were only dreams of his last life, but slowly his personality and thoughts mixed, at first... he wasn't sure if he was reincarnated, had possessed this younger body, or if he was just delusional. Now, well now he knew he was just keeping a promise.
Ashton had grown used to the pain of having all his mana removed left him with aftereffects; using half his mana would often leave him feeling as if he were being stabbed all over again. Any more than half and his mana channels would start to break down even more.
But he'd never spoken his thoughts after passing them off as nightmares when he was five. He sometimes felt the blade piercing his chest when he was engrossed in the memories. But life was rather... pleasant. He was sometimes hungry but the worst schemes he'd faced since becoming Ash was food or supply theft of other children and vagabonds. Even the local ruffians were little more than bullies.
In all his years here in this tiny village, there had only been one beast attack... a far cry from Seibel where he would run himself ragged defending the boarders from the beasts and other nations.
If anything, he missed the extravagant dancers who would grace the palace. The only indulgence he'd allowed himself in those 22. There had only been one traveling caravan to pass through and that had been almost 6 years ago, since then he'd actively embraced this simple life and began to sing and dance. He remembered every move and trained religiously every morning. Every few days he would make up another song, and every couple of weeks he would have a little improv dance for his parents. Honestly... as Alphonse, he hadn't known this level of contentment was possible.
Harvest season was about to begin so he decided to sleep in rather than get up and practice. The next few weeks everyone would be busy before the lord toured the territory again.
He had been spending the years slowly recovering his mana pool and breaking through safely. His need for mana and mana was so minimal he thought if he finished healing by 20-25 that would be ideal. Then he could take his parents to see some interesting sites before they settled down permanently. Along with each break through, came more... information.
"Ash! Let's get going dear," Samantha called, it was still dark out but if they left know the sun would just be starting to rise as they reached their fields. She picked up a sack with bread and jerky for breakfast and lunch. Thomas was already getting the tools ready for the field, today would be simple but tedious work of harvesting corn from the stocks. They had 5 acres of corn and would be repeatedly harvesting for the next several months. They all carried sacks and baskets, almost half would be to cover this year's taxes, the rest they would have to sell or eat. Luckily a few years ago the Empire released several simple recipes and ways to use corn and potatoes. They would have to start harvesting potatoes next month on their other 3 acres so the more they worked now the better the cold season would be.
Ash stretched then followed his "mother" out, she passed him his food for the day then they met his "father" outside. Father had two-wheel barrels already full of sacks and two large baskets.
"How many bags should we try and fill today pops?" Ash asked as he carefully pulled out the small loaf of bread while scooping some extra sacs up.
Thomas glanced at his son, "Only pick the ripe ones, we'll be plenty busy." As he led their only donkey to be hooked up to the cart for Ash to use. His son was too smart for his own good sometimes, he would do exactly as he asked to the letter.
Ash grinned mischievously, "I know I know, really pops it was one time. Anyway, we did much better this year, even better than those snobby bakers. Ma, as always, the bread is the best!" Ash added as he started eating slowly; there wasn't much to eat so he had to savor every bit. Compared to his previous self he was much smaller, his muscles were also more flexible, and although he could use small mana, he never showed anyone, not even his parents. Unfortunately, without a power source the best he could do was second tier spells, which was about the same as the empire's assistant mages when they used power sources.
Though he may cheat a little to help water the land or dry their crops evenly only his father had suspected anything. Still, they never spoke of it.
Samantha sighed and ruffled the golden locks her son hadn't bothered to brush. "Don't be cheeky, and eat quickly." She scolded as she started to push the larger wheel barrel, only to be gently nudged aside as Thomas started to take over. She rolled her eyes and started to push the much smaller one. Ash grinned as he grabbed the donkey reins to start their morning march.
They chatted about nothing in particular, then when they reached their first acre. Both Ash and Thomas shrugged into the basket carriers with a bag already lined. They quickly started going through the corn to find the ripest ones to pull off. As they filled a bag Samantha would help pull the mostly full bag out, replace the bag, then would use the wheel barrel to move the full bags to the cart and then slowly started making trips to their shed to store the fresh corn. By noon she had made three trips, they all stopped to rest under a tree and finish what little was left over from their breakfast along with some watery soup to dip their bread in.
"We're running low on salt again, should be able to make time next week or so to restock." Thomas sighed, his son liked his food, and while he ate anything, he did tend to be picky.
Ash grumbled under his breath, "Don't we work so hard so we can eat? We should at least enjoy it." Ash started drinking down the last of the bland vegetable soup. They had been sweating all day, and while it was relatively cool in the shade of the tall corn, the sun was still relentless. He would have to make a trip to the river for more water and to wash off. He laid back with only his feet in the sun and smiled, "Ma, pops. I wouldn't change a thing if we could just stay like this." He added smiling at them. In the tree was a small brown bird no larger than a potato.
Ash wasn't sure if was the same bird he seen as Alphonse... but he half hoped it was the same one. As illogical as that might be.
Samantha ruffled his hair through his hat and smiled, "Silly boy, you always say that but always have those big ideas. Besides, you'll be old enough to marry soon, any girls catch your eye yet?" she asked with a sigh. They had gone from being nearly impoverished to owning 8 acres. While it was still only half of what the others would harvest, they had much better yields so many families were friendly while they tried to learn what they did differently.
Ash grimaced, while he never loved Rosalina hearing how she married and gave birth to two children for Theo, and even named one after himself, he wasn't really keen on having another betrothed. Unfortunately, Rosalina's daughter had passed away a year ago, leeding to Theo being denounced and was no longer the crown prince. The 13-year-old Terrence was now the prime candidate for their elderly father.
"I will just stay with you, no need for another mouth to feed!" Ash announced jovially as he pulled his hat to cover his face.
Thomas scowled, "Boy, you need to grow up and start a family. What will happen when you get older? There won't be anyone to care for ya." He snatched the hat and smacked him with it lightly. "When we go to town take a good look around. You've been smart since you were crawling, maybe a girl in town will do better by you." He added after a nudge from Sam. His boy seemed to be a monk, a dancing singing monk.
"Honey, if you have someone you like just tell us, we're doing much better off than most and can afford to bring a wife in." Samantha added as she leaned over to take Ash's hand in hers.
Ash took a deep breath, "What if I don't want a wife?" He'd always deflected but clearly they didn't want to let go today so he sat up and faced them seriously. He pulled his hand away before he spoke, meeting both their eyes. "What if I decided I want to make enough money to be a small landowner, then rent out the land and liv alone? Or if I decide I want to wander the world and never settle down. " He'd been thinking about how to liv his life, but he didn't want to just get married. He'd never guarded against Rosalina or Theo because he considered them family. He trusted wholly in his new parents, and he could finally admit he had just been too lonely and desperate to question the small movements. Desperate to liv, to be loved, to not fall into the madness of politics, to not be the monster they called him after he'd desolated battlefields.
Samantha and Thomas shared a look and also sat up to face Ashton directly, "Do you not like girls?" Thomas asked directly, while it wasn't unheard of, in small villages like this few families even considered same sex couples. But he'd been to war and knew the officers sometimes settled for young farm boys when there weren't enough camp women to go around.
Ashton sighed, "No, I just, don't want to have a family just to have one. If I meet a good girl and really think she'll be a good wife and mother I'll consider it, but. I would rather be alone than just be a meal ticket." He added, he'd never had a lover. Alphonse had thought she was just reserved as a noble woman and he never wanted her to doubt him, but she simply didn't want him at all. Alphonse was simply a means to an end, then betrayed.
Samantha took Ash's hand again, "Okay, don't force yourself. But, don't hide from the world either Ash." She then pulled him into a hug and kissed his forehead. "Okay, lets take a quick nap then back to work. We still have a lot left to check." She added as she put the hat back on him. They all laid down for another half hour or so before they went back to work.
Thomas couldn't help but smile as he periodically heard Ashton sing his strange, but upbeat songs. Ever since those traveling troupes had come through, he'd sing the strangest songs, some not even in a language he had heard of. Many were silly, such as how to pluck corn or weed the field but they always made him smile.