Haruki slowly opened his eyes and saw a woman holding him in her arms, with a man standing beside her. Both of them looked overjoyed, their faces glowing with warmth.
"Huh? Who are these people…?" Haruki wondered faintly.
The woman began to sing softly, her voice like a lullaby that melted into his heart:
"Little starlight in my arms, safe from all harm.
Hush now, darling, close your eyes, a gift beneath the skies.
My little hummingbird, where you are is where I belong,
I will hold you, my sweet love, while you sleep through the night so long."
"A… song? Is she singing to me?" Haruki muttered in disbelief.
"Oh my… my little sweetheart, are you awake?" the woman asked gently.
"Haha, looks like our son is awake, Seria," the man said, smiling brightly.
"Yes, darling," Seria replied with a soft laugh.
"Am I in heaven…? Or hell?" Haruki whispered to himself before sleep claimed him again.
The next morning, Haruki woke in a small baby bed.
"Ahh… so I really was reborn? … But why?" he muttered, his tiny face scrunching in confusion.
"I can't move my legs properly… or my body… so I'm really a baby now? But why do I still think like a teenager? Why didn't my memories vanish?"
As he struggled with the questions, Seria entered the room with a radiant smile.
"Oh my, you're awake early, my sweetheart," she said warmly.
"Ma… ma…" Haruki stammered his very first word.
Seria froze. Tears welled in her eyes as overwhelming joy took over. "Honey! Come here, come here! Our baby said Mama! He called me Mama!"
Her uncontrollable happiness lit up the room, and even Haruki's father smiled deeply. Haruki watched them both with a soft smile of his own.
"This is my family, isn't it…?" he whispered.
Before drifting back to sleep, he murmured softly, "Tsubasa…"
---
Five Months Later
Time flew by quickly. Haruki, now called Ren Sylvain, had already learned to walk and talk.
"So this really is another world…" Ren thought one night while sitting at his father's table. "My mother's name is Seria Sylvain, my father's name is Kael Sylvain… and I'm Ren Sylvain. We live in Lumin, a village far from the Human Kingdom of Valoria. There are four kingdoms: Valoria, Lunaris, Grymmar, and Draconia…"
Seria's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Oh my, what are you doing, sweetheart?" she asked gently.
"Oh, Mother… I was thinking about the kingdoms Father taught me about," Ren replied with a small smile.
"Oh, my sweet boy. It's good to be knowledgeable, but promise me you'll be careful, okay?" Seria said with worried eyes.
"Yes, Mother. I will," Ren nodded.
Ren often noticed how hard his father worked to support them.
"Father isn't rich… but he works so hard to feed us. He teaches the young villagers swordsmanship… and even protects the village. I wonder how much he earns? I hope he comes home safely…"
That evening, a knock sounded at the door. Ren ran to open it, and Kael swept him up in his strong arms, smiling.
"The village elder gave us five gold coins today, Seria," Kael announced proudly.
"Really?!" Ren asked, eyes sparkling.
"Yes," Kael chuckled. "On my way back, I encountered a low-tier goblin heading toward the village. I defeated it and even found a low-tier mana stone."
"Goblin? What's that, Father?" Ren asked curiously.
"Oh… I didn't tell you about monsters yet. Forgive me, son," Kael replied.
"Honey! He's still just a child! Why are you teaching him about monsters?" Seria scolded anxiously.
Kael sighed. "Haha, sorry Seria, but I believe the sooner he learns, the better."
That night, after dinner, Kael began to reveal the darker truths of the world.
"Listen, Ren. This world has monsters like… goblins, magical beasts, lizards, even demons," Kael said seriously.
"Demons?!" Ren gasped.
"Yes. They hide their kingdom in another dimension, but they've been enemies of humans, elves, and dwarves for over a thousand years."
"So even in a magical world… war exists everywhere," Ren thought grimly.
"What about the Dragon Kingdom, Father?" he asked.
"The dragons are far too powerful. Even demons avoid them. Their king is said to wield strength beyond imagination… though I don't know his name. I only know this much because your grandfather, Ranig Sylvain, once fought in the Demon War as a Swordmaster. He died a warrior's death."
"My grandfather…" Ren whispered softly.
Kael's expression softened. "Son, it's time I told you about magic."
Ren's heart raced. "Magic…? Does it really exist here?!"
"Haha, so curious. Yes, it exists. There are six major types: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Dark, and Light. Dark and Light are the rarest. There are also tiers of magic… Tier 1 is the weakest, and Tier 10… godly. Few in history have ever reached that level. The Dragon King is one of them."
Ren's eyes widened with wonder. "Incredible… And you, Father? What type are you?"
Kael laughed proudly. "I'm Fire. Rare for a commoner, you know. I can use up to Tier-5 spells. And your mother, Seria, is Water. She can use up to Tier-4 spells."
Seria pouted, playfully hitting Kael. "I was supposed to tell him that myself, you know!"
Ren laughed softly, though inside he grew anxious. "If this world is full of monsters and wars… then one day I'll have to fight too."
Kael added seriously, "Son, when you turn five, you'll undergo the Ceremony of Revelation. That's when you'll discover your magic type."
Ren's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yes! I can't wait!"
Seria sighed, though her smile was gentle. "Enough for tonight, you two. Time for bed."
---
One Year Later
Ren turned one year old. He often helped Kael with chopping wood, while Seria busied herself with laundry.
"Do you remember, Ren, when I told you about monsters?" Kael asked while swinging his axe.
"Yes, Father," Ren replied, carrying wood.
"Good. The Forest of Nermik has many creatures: goblins, ogres, queen spiders, lizards, and more. They all have mana stones inside them, which are valuable in the market."
Ren's eyes lit with understanding. "So… that means we could earn more…"
"You're a quick learner, Ren," Kael said proudly.
After lunch, Ren started to read his father's book while Kael went to the village center to teach swordsmanship.
"Aqua Rainfall!" Seria cast a Tier-2 magic spell on their vegetable farm at the back of the house, while Ren fell asleep on the table.
In the evening, Kael returned and talked about his day's teaching.
That night, as they were eating dinner, strange sounds echoed from outside:
Pat—pat—pat—pat…
Kiiiaaaaakkkkkk!!!