POV: Matías Castleboard
(Unknown Place)
For some strange reason… I could feel again. I didn't know how long I had been sleeping in the vast emptiness of nothingness, but now… now I felt life.
My eyes were still closed, but the searing heat of the sun touched my face, forcing them open. I heard birds singing, and little by little, I realized where I was.
A place I remembered very well. A place where I had forged my ideals of freedom. A place overflowing with familiarity and calm— that peace only a home can give.
"Brother, what are you doing?" The curious voice of a little girl struck my ears. "Weren't you supposed to be watching the flock?"
I slowly lowered the hand I had been using to shield my face from the sun… and I saw her. My little sister. The one I would eventually lose.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked innocently. "Do I have a bug on my face?"
"A… Alice… little sister," I said through sobs, and pulled her tightly into my arms.
A careless laugh sent us both rolling down the hill, surrounded by the cool grass of our family farm. I held her close, protectively, until my back hit the trunk of a tree.
But instead of pain… I felt something far more powerful. I laughed—genuinely—letting tears of joy flow freely. Tears I had longed for… for far too long.
"Ow… are you okay, brother?" she asked, helping me up as I kept laughing. "That must've really hurt!"
"Hahaha… I'm fine, Alice," I said, still laughing, as I gently patted her head. "It was just a little bump. You have no idea how happy I am to see you again."
I watched her little face twist in confusion for a moment, but she quickly ignored it and gave me a hug.
That's how she was. So full of innocence. A huge heart that, despite suffering as much as I did, always forgave. That was her mistake—never hating. Always seeing the good in everyone. Living in the illusion that people were kind.
But… that didn't matter now. Maybe this was just a cruel illusion of my mind, reminding me of what I'd lost. But if this is torture… Then I wish my whole life had been like this.
"Kids! Are you alright?!" I heard my father's voice in the distance. A single tear escaped my eye. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
He rushed to us, inspecting us in a panic, until he turned to me and asked:
"Son… why are you crying?"
They didn't understand. And I didn't want them to. Back then, my childhood was everything it was supposed to be: happiness.
"It's nothing, father," I said, letting out a genuine smile. "Just… a bad dream. That's all."
He let out a relieved sigh and offered his hands to Alice and me. I hesitated for a moment, staring at him with nostalgic eyes… but I wanted to go home.
After a few seconds of hesitation, I took his hand. We began walking together. In the distance, I saw my mother holding a pot in her arms, smiling warmly as she waited for us.
"I love you all so much," I whispered, closing my eyes…
And I never opened them again.
(In Reality)
So, in the end… it really was a dream. But a beautiful one, I thought. Even in the darkness of this unconscious state, everything felt alive— as if I had only been sleeping.
Wait a second… I'm feeling emotions again. I'm coming back to life… once more.
Now that I think about it… something feels off, I whispered in my mind.I could feel my body… but at the same time, I couldn't. It was as if my mobility had been reduced— and so had my size. But my consciousness was still intact.
Ugh… more light, I groaned internally. I tried to open my eyes, but all I saw was a distorted world. A kind of blindness that slowly began to fade.
All of this felt new. I felt so… light. But there was something else— a strange sensation of safety that….
Wait.
My mind froze as I recalled Kraidir's words. Each one echoed fiercely in my head:
"You will be reborn, Matías."
Shit… I've just been reborn.
Inside me, the spark that had been lit by Kraidir's promise flared up once more. A wave of emotions flooded my tiny body. Joy. Fear. Guilt.
Even though I couldn't speak a single word aloud, I knew— even in thought—my voice was fractured. Carrying the weight of something so immense… I didn't believe I deserved it.
"It's a boy! Strong and healthy, my queen." Suddenly, a warm voice broke the silence. Soft. Tender…. Full of love.
My ears, slowly adjusting to sound again, managed to catch every word just before I felt arms holding me, gently.
The warmth of a woman… her comforting scent… It sent a spark of emotion through me. My consciousness recognized that feeling immediately. I was being cradled softly, and then I heard her voice, thick with tears:
"Let me hold him… my little prince, my beautiful Kael."
My heart was racing. In that moment, I couldn't think. Only feel. Raw emotion—pure, unfiltered.
I remembered that feeling perfectly— the kind that only a mother can give. Protection.
Tenderness. Love.
My mind, still in shock, tried to process it all. It took me a few minutes to fully understand what had just happened. My little prince. My beautiful Kael. And… they mentioned a queen.
What kind of world have I ended up in?
I tried to rationalize it, to analyze how likely it was that any of this was real. But the feelings were clear, undeniable. Somehow… this felt completely true. Like life itself was welcoming me into a new world.
I laughed in my mind, sarcastically, as small tears rolled down my cheeks. Realizing the state I was in, I could only think: This is torture… I'm trapped in the body of a newborn.
Seriously… I've been reborn.
"There, there, little Kal… stop crying. Mommy's here. I'm right here for you, my sweet boy."
Her words shattered me inside. It was as if the endless emptiness within me was starting—slowly—to be filled.
"Let me see my son, Mabel," a deep, commanding voice echoed through the room. The voice of a leader. Of a father.
The woman—my mother—gently handed me over to a man. I felt his grip—firm, yet careful. His eyes, overflowing with love, looked down on me as he stroked my head with infinite tenderness.
So this is my father… I thought, a wave of nostalgia crashing over me. If I've truly been reborn, then this… this is my new family. I never imagined I'd have one again— or feel this warmth once more.
"Well, love, I think he looks more like me," he said, smiling. "I can already tell this little guy will have my spirit, my determination. Just look at those eyes… He'll have plenty of women chasing after him! And one day, he'll be a great king."
My mother chuckled softly.
"Oh, darling… he's just a baby. And if I recall correctly, I was the only one who ever fell for your charms."
"That… that was a low blow, my queen," he said dramatically, placing a hand on his chest with theatrical flair.
Watching them like this, even with the limited vision my new body allowed, was deeply comforting. Just knowing they were there… was enough.
"Your Majesty, please hold the prince carefully," the midwife's voice broke in gently, catching my father's attention for a moment before he turned back to me.
"Kael, I am your father—Xavier Lanpar. And you, my beautiful son… welcome to your new life."
I tried to stretch my tiny hands toward him, but my coordination was practically nonexistent. Still, he gently took one of them, holding it carefully as a single tear of his fell onto my forehead.
That brief pause gave me a chance to observe my surroundings. A lamp decorated with beautiful carvings. A white ceiling engraved with lines that formed a strange silhouette I couldn't quite make out.
The room was rustic yet elegant. Antique ornaments and woodwork adorned the pillars, supporting a ceiling that screamed nobility. An idea flashed through my mind.
Soon after, I was wrapped in a soft blanket. My father held me firmly as we began to move—walking through massive hallways.
The walls, built of white stone, were inlaid with gold and other metals. I quickly deduced the era: Medieval. Soldiers flanked my parents as they walked. So… I've been reborn into the past.
I saw marble pillars. Windows etched with figures. As we moved, I became entranced by the scenes painted along the walls— they seemed to tell a fantasy story. It was fascinating… like stepping into a legend of kings and heroes.
Wait a minute… didn't she call me "prince" earlier?
"Your Majesty, we're almost there. Shall we summon the Strikers to escort you, or would you prefer to deliver the message alone?" As he turned toward the voice, I caught a glimpse of a guard with a massive sword strapped to his back.
Damn it… If I'm a prince… I've just been reborn into royalty. My parents are the damn king and queen of this place.
"No, stand down, soldier. I'll make the announcement myself," my father replied with conviction. "Being a king means giving hope to the people… and that's exactly what I intend to do."
He looked at me once more before turning ahead, his expression now serious— just as the crimson curtains began to open, letting the sunlight flood in.
POV: Xavier Lanpar
The weight of my son… and the weight of my people rested in my arms as I stepped forward toward the main balcony of the castle. I walked with the authority of a king— and the heart of a father.
Outside, a sea of thousands—maybe millions—waited eagerly. Their voices merged into a dense murmur, like the rumble of a storm ready to break.
Part of being a king is offering hope. And Kael… Kael is that hope. The hope we've been missing in these long, difficult times.
Though some may question House Lanpar's rule, we are the ones who have safeguarded humanity for generations. And we will continue to do so. Now, with another of our own as a living promise of what we are—protectors.
Today, I do not only present my son.
Today, I announce the beginning of a new era. An era that will transform the kingdom I hold so dearly.
I took a deep breath and steadied myself. As I stepped onto the balcony, the blazing sunlight greeted me.
My eyes swept across the crowd. Among the many faces, I could already sense the ones who would one day cross Kael's path— Some with love. Others with blood. But all of them essential to his growth.
The plaza vibrated with an electrifying energy. The banners of the strongest clans waved proudly in the wind.
I smiled, hiding my emotion, and stepped forward, raising my voice with the strength that only a true king could muster:
"People of Auroria! Thank you for coming from far and wide to witness this moment— a moment not only for my family, but for the entire kingdom! Today, I present to you the dawn of a new age: The Golden Era!"
With solemn grace, I lifted Kael so that all could see him.
"This is my son—Kael Lanpar! My heir… and the hope of our race!"
The crowd erupted.The thunder of voices was deafening. Soldiers slammed their weapons against their shields in unison, a roar of respect rising like a tidal wave.
And then, as I held Kael high above my head…I felt it.
A presence behind me. Unseen. Ancient. Powerful.
That energy… I didn't know if it was a blessing or a judgment, but it was there. Watching.
Were they the witnesses of this greatness just beginning?
The silent observers of a new generation meant to correct the sins of those who failed to wield power with wisdom?
With a proud smile, I handed Kael back to my wife. Then, I drew my sword and raised it to the sky— a gesture of unity and strength.
Like a perfect reflection, the soldiers and citizens mirrored the motion. A sea of gleaming metal rose under the light of the sun.
"Long live the kingdom!" they roared together. With pride. With hope. With joy.
POV: Kael Lanpar
What I'd just witnessed… was somewhere between epic and absurd.
I had just been born… and they were already showing me off like I was Simba from The Lion King.
But hey—what could I do? This was apparently the life of a prince. I think.
Putting that aside, I could hear and see the chaos outside. The crowd going wild. Soldiers slamming their shields…
And me?
A helpless newborn. All I could do was look around with my limited baby vision and ask myself: What kind of kingdom have I been reincarnated into?
And by the gods… Why was everything so beautiful? So magical? It was almost too much for my mind to comprehend.
It was embarrassing. Incredibly embarrassing.
To go from being a hardened military commander… to a baby who couldn't even hold up his own head.
And yet, somewhere deep within my soul, something understood the magnitude of what was happening. A profound sensation crawled through every fiber of my being— touching the very depths of my spirit, whispering that this… was never meant to happen.
It wasn't just a presentation. It was a symbol. A spark of hope for millions.
Something I too had once been forced to embody… in a life that ended— very badly.
Maybe I once underestimated the weight of a leader. I always saw them as ambition-driven figures, ruling for their own gain.
Even I… even I believed I was one of them.But the man holding me… He radiated something different. It wasn't power. It wasn't forced authority.
It was… something else.
A familiar energy—hard to define. Something that stirred the sleeping remains of my humanity.
And in that moment, I knew.
Even if my body was weak, even if my mind was still adjusting— this moment marked the beginning of my new fate.
Amidst the cheers of glory, the unspoken promises,and the buried memories… My second life began.
One that, deep down… I knew I would one day regret.