At the front of the hall, Count Eldric walked toward the podium, Shankar the butler trailing behind.
"My lord," Shankar whispered urgently, "have mercy on him. He is your son. You clearly don't wish him well but this... This is injustice. How will my lady rest in peace, knowing her son..."
Eldric halted. His cold piercing gaze rest on the butler. Shankar shiver as he felt like a blade pressed to his neck.
"You know I'm doing this for his own good," Eldric said without emotion.
"He doesn't belong here. That's where he should live. This is compensation. You understand that."
Shankar stunned for a moment. He tried to speak but Eldric stepped forward.
He felt bitter for his lord, lowered his head and walked back. He whispered quietly
Forgive me, my lady… I've done all I can.
Meanwhile by the time, Arvind followed his father trail throught the crowd. On his way the crowd parted. Their eyes turned toward him, ranging from nobles, knights, dignitaries and their subordinates. whispering as his figure moved past.
He caught sight of his instructor standing among the crowd of knights, who gave him a nod. Arvind nodded back.
His sister was already on stage, standing proudly. Nearby, his older brother was surrounded by elegant women dress in colorful silk dress, he look like a victory in life. He nodded politely, and Arvind nodded in return, knowing they weren't close but not enemies. However distant, after all his brother resembled their father too much cold and commanding in his every move.
Once Arvind stood beside his sister. Count Eldric his father raised his hand. Instantly like a frozen movie frame, the hall fell silent.
He began reciting the legacy of House Hale and their ancestors origin tracing back to the legendary Flamebearer. At the same time, Nobles closed their eyes and recite the sacred name in unison.
The Flamebearer was the one who opened the path of Aetherion to humanity. A man revered across human regions regardless of religions. Especially by noble houses who claimed his noble bloodline.
A maid stepped forward, carrying a plate covered with silk, contains two items a deeds and the noble crests.
At that moment,
A priest in pure white robes entered the stage. On his chest gleamed the Star of Unity, a proud symbol of the Church of Light. His exude demeanor of a kind old man.
After a while, the ceremony began, the hall once again fell into silent.
"In witness of Almighty Dues, we bless House Hale. May their glory endure through the ages."
He presented the deed and crest to his sister.
Her eyes trembled as she reached out.
"Take them, child," the priest said warmly. "It is God's mercy that we live. May Almighty Dues grant you wisdom."
She closed her eyes, nodded, and accepted them. then applause erupted — commotion and joyous resounded through the hall. Her friends beamed with a pride for her but their eyes shimmered with envy.
Then it was Arvind's turn, He stepped forward and waited quietly. The ritual resumed as usual but he somehow caught his father's eyes flickered. Something fell off...
Arvind raise his eyebrows as the priest paused for half a breath before continuing.
"In witness of Almighty Dues,"
"May he be guided by your light. Mr. Arvind Hale is hereby assigned... the Barony of Ravengarde."
The words sounded almost choked out forcefully. The applause came but scattered and the atmosphere felt awkward while clapping sound seem distant and hollow.
Arvind barely heard it. His face turn red and steam rising beneath his skin. Arvind try to process what the priest was saying 'Ravengarde'.That name rang like a curse place, remembering that there was a bad rumor about it among the noble circle. It said that the lord was so horrified and beg his father to take his family in disgrace.
His jaw clenched tightly. Still he reached out and snatched the deed and crest with a stiff nod. He bowed slightly to the priest.
On his way back, Arvind felt the pityful glances from the nobles, expected his bleak future from now on. He wanted to claw their eyes out.
I don't want your pity.
Shankar walking behind him, closed his eyes.
It's unjust... How can he live like this?...
His friend rushed after him.
"Arvind! inherited Ravengarde, are you mad and insane?. Beg your father to change it! Right now, there still time to amend"
Arvind stopped and look at him, his tears threatened to break through, but he forced them back.
"Can you step back?"
"Leave me alone..."
After that he walked away, without waiting his response. His shoulders tremble with shame and fury.
His friend came to his sense and raised a hand as if to call after him but let it fall.
He sigh look at arvind back.
Pitiful... His Aetheric potential is already mediocre. Now this? If it were me, I'd refuse the title outright. Life is more valuable than pride. But with a father like that... staying would mean exile anyway.
---
As the sun dipped below the horizon, its last rays bathed the graveyard in gold.
Arvind knelt before a tombstone of his mother's. Her name carved into it like a wound.
"Even a manor would've been enough. Does he hate me that much?"
His voice cracked.
"I don't know what to do anymore. I just wanted a simple, happy life — but that damn man... he forced me into this!"
He collapsed, tears spilling freely onto the cold stone.
Then his pendant glowed. A soft blue light pulsed once for a blink.
"System initializing... Proceeding please wait."
Arvind startled, he held his breath trying listining the source of the sound but it seem to vanished out of thin air.
Was it real? Or just a hallucination...?
He looked at the tombstone again, tears wetting his cheeks, as aggrieved feeling took over him. I'm nothing. A joke, Is heaven even mocking me now?
His vision blurred. And in his grief, a memory resurfaced to his mind.
He was younger, sitting in the garden beside his mother. Flowers bloomed all around them. Her hands move gracefully tended the soil, her dress flowing gentle as the breeze brush against them. Her long hair draped over her shoulder.
"What do we do if life forces us down?" he had asked cutely curious.
She chuckled softly and tapped his forehead lightly.
"Arvind you have to remember, heaven and the world are ruthless by nature. If you give up, they'll crush you."
She smiled, her eyes look at distant tree and continued.
"But being alive means living in uncertainty. We hope. We believe. No one knows what's coming. But when you're lost, fate and the stars will guide you."
She pulled him into a hug.
"Living is about holding on to hope — that's what changes lives."
After a while, arvind vision return back, he couldn't help wiped his eyes look at his mother grave. Not hallucinations anymore.
"I'm just ordinary,"
he whispered bitterly.
The warmth of her words lingered in his chest. She had been born a commoner, yet rose to stand beside a Count. She endured scorn, cruelty and despise just from her commoner background. However she still gave them nothing but love.
Why did the world take her from me...?
He clenched his fists and stood.
"I won't break. If the world is ruthless… then I'll be worse."
As the last rays of sunlight kissed the tombstone, Arvind turned and walked forward.
His shadow cast over his mother tombstone.
---
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows. Strangely, Arvind had slept nearly nine hours, it was a rare for someone like him. Normally, he rose before dawn to train.
After dressing and preparing, he stepped into the hall. On the way, he passed Anika, who blinked in surprise at the sight of him.
He nodded quietly.
Today, I begin preparing to leave for Ravengarde. I won't live under those contemptuous eyes anymore. Not me. My life is mine and I choose what to do with it.
He met with Shankar the loyal butler his mother had left for him. Just seeing the man gave him strength.
Together, they began a busy day: visiting the knight squad, gathering supplies, preparing for the journey ahead.
Unknowingly, the day passed, as they busy themselves with arranging supplies. The night descent and the sky twinkle with countless stars, a sight to behold.
Arvind sat outside, look at the stars flicker and glow in silently.
After a while, he smiled and raised a fist toward the stars.
"I know, Mom. I'll face life with hope."
After that, he sat quietly, his expression indescribable. Only the chirp of insects broke the silence.
And for the first time since being reborn in this world. he felt alive...
Under the morning mist and lingering chill, dew still clung to the grass, just beginning to evaporate. Golden rays of sunlight pierced the haze, casting warmth across the land.
Arvind rested his head on his left hand while the other stretch outward. The cold air brushed against his skin, clearing his foggy thoughts. He sighed gazing at the greenery outside. It had been half a month since they'd set out — The journey was hard and bumpy.
"Is this really supposed to be my territory?"
There wasn't even a trace of civilization. His eyes swept across the towering trees, as tall as four-story buildings. So primitive... Would they even have salt?
After a while, Arvind noticed their paces had obviously slowed. He couldn't help confused and leaned out, he saw that the terrain ahead wouldn't allow smooth passage for the convoys. weeds and young trees obstructed the path . He cursed the previous lord. Then remembered that he was that lord now.
He stepping down and moving ahead, he came into a line of civilians refugees, the makeshift team trudging behind them in searched of a better life. They bowed quickly at his sight in their worn, tattered clothes and they look exhausted and malnourished.
Arvind sighed and scanned the group. He wasn't here for their pity. He was searching for the craftsmen his family had arranged.
Eventually, arvind came into the side of wagon stacked with tools and good. He spotted two men sat within, their families squeezed in the cramp space beside them. The Children clung to their fathers' rough hands shaped by years of hard labor.
Arvind smiled in relieved and approached. Upon seeing his figure, the craftsmen climbed down, and bowing lightly, their finger twitching looking nervous, Arvind stunned, "I'm i that scary." Look at his weak figure definitely not...
They make eyes contact with each other unsure of what their new lord wanted.
Arvind didn't waste time and got straight to the point.
"Have either of you considered using mass resources in craftsmanship? Wouldn't that increase output and save time?. Just imagine a untrained blacksmith replace the easy work. Then there won't be no repetitive tasks like fanning the fire, hauling materials, or hammering raw iron by hand..."
They listened closely. Encouraged, Arvind leaned in, drawing on fragments of scientific memory from his past life.
"If we organize labor well, we could flood the region with tools and iron. We'd be rich. This... this might be the code to wealth."
Arvind eyes gleamed like he seen god of wealth open his arm to him. Was he the one who would spark Ravengarde's prosperity?
The blacksmith nudged the carpenter like saying should we say something?. However His friend stayed silent until his lord finished and said:
"Respectable my lord, if I may..."
The carpenter bowed lightly.
"Your idea is powerful and revolutionary. I believe the Craftmen's Guild might even register it as the great invention of the millenium." The carpenter smile bitterly and open his arm.
" But... we're just ordinary craftsmen. We can't do such legendary work like that. I'm sorry we can't meet your expectations my lord." His gazed drop in shame.
The blacksmith also nodded dejected.
Arvind's was stunned for a while, his fantasies shattered like glass before he could even shown his proud past life knowledge. But he refused to allow the persemistic to take root and can't believe that reality was that grim right?.
"What about using magic? Wouldn't that be easier?"
Before the carpenter could answer, the blacksmith stepped in, and said carefully but firm.
"Forgive me, my lord for speaking frankly. I assume that you hadn't venture outside the castle much. As for magic related work, it would needs an aetheric path. That was an impossible feat for a commoner like us. Only a master blacksmiths who also an aetherics can do that."
"Yes, my lord," The carpenter added.
"We can't even tell what's aetherion ore and what wasn't. We wouldn't dare to dream of such legendary feat. That's beyond us."
They both lowered their heads, sighed.
Arvind stood blankly in silently, his emotions ranging from despair and humiliation of being corrected by the commoners. His face hot of shame and paled white like snow as if his blood has been suck away.
"Was my past life useless? All my grand plans and everything… falling apart like scraps of old parchment."
The shadows stretched longer, as if even the land itself was unimpressed by his sad fate.