Starting life over as a baby with full consciousness has been... an adjustment.

I spent the first two years of my life in this new world relearning pretty much everything.

Not only has it been frustrating, but also humiliating.

Being breastfed by my new "mother" and lack of control over my bowel movement among other things.

I hated every moment of it.

But after those first two years, life has become more bearable.

I gained more and more control over my body, like fine motor skills.

As soon i was able to move around on my own, i decided to restart my training.

I began with walking exercises to build up muscles in my legs, working towards being able to run.

Next step was to practice my striking.

Simple punches at first to relearn proper technique and form.

Speed and reflexes soon after that.

Once i had built up enough leg strength, it was time to move on to stretching and kicking.

After i established a daily workout routine, i turned my attention to my "re-education".

For some reason, i discovered that i had forgotten my native language, and could only remember a few words of English.

Learning the language of this world, or at least the language of my parents, has been surprisingly easy.

I also found a few books laying around.

The alphabet looks and feels familiar, and i learned to read and write too.

As a toddler, i'm not in a hurry, but i want to regain all the basic skills i had as soon as possible.

My new parents were rather surprised by my rapid development.

One day when my parents took me outside for the first time, i found out what kind of world i had reincarnated to.

Not only was it evident from my parents house and the other buildings i saw, i realized this is a world during the medieval period.

Around the house, there are vast fields of grass and wheat in all directions, so i deduced that we live in a village that focuses on farming.

The people i've seen around the village confirm this with their clothing and the lack of machines, most tasks are done with manual labor or with the help of animals.

I asked my parents if our village had a name, and they told me it was Hillcrest.

They also told me that Hillcrest is part of a kingdom called Mercia.

When it comes to our house, it is wooden with two-stories and a basement.

Compared to other houses, ours seems to be above average in quality.

A flat stone path leads from the front door to the iron gate, which connects to the stone fence that surrounds the property.

The backyard is spacious with a well, a shed, a garden and a big tree.

There's also a river close to our house.

At four years old, i have grown somewhat accustomed to living in this world.

I took a look at myself in the mirror recently.

Light skin with dark brown hair and eyes, not much different from my previous life.

Interestingly enough, my parents named me Alex, the same name i had in the old world.

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Our family name is Helmund, which is different.

At the moment i'm reading a book in the kitchen as part of my re-education.

My mother, Anna Helmund arrives in the kitchen.

"Hello Alex. Reading again?"

"Mhmm."

I answer her without taking my eyes off the book.

She places firewood in the metal stove and lights it up, i guess she is going to make dinner.

Anna is 26 years old, 160 cm in height with blonde hair that reaches her shoulders and blue eyes.

The most unusual feature about her, is her cat-like ears and tail.

I asked her about this and she told me she belongs to a race of beastfolk, people who have animal like features.

Apparently there are other races than just humans, like elves and dwarfs to name a few.

She leaves the kitchen briefly, but not before bringing her face close to mine and rubbing her cheek against my mine as she purrs.

I guess it's how her race greets each other or something.

Now, normally i dislike being touched, but i made an exception for them since they are taking care of me.

"Dinner will be ready soon, so don't go too far if you're going outside."

"Yeah, yeah, that's enough."

I gently push her away from me.

"Aw, don't be like that sweetie."

Another thing i learned from Anna is that magic exists in this world.

A few months back i got a bruise on my knee from falling.

She noticed it and told me to take a seat.

She then held her hands around it and golden light surrounded her hands and my knee.

I heard her say the word "Heal" and then the bruise healed and quickly faded away.

She called it holy magic and she told me that she worked in a church as a healer before she met my father.

She tried to teach it to me but nothing happened.

According to her words i "don't have an affinity" towards it.

Not that it bothers me, would've been useful i guess.

I close my book and decide to go outside.

I close the front yard door and see Eric Helmund, my father, walking towards our gate.

Judging from his dirty clothes i think he has come back from fieldwork.

Eric is 33 years old, 185 cm in height, muscular, with a stubble, short dark brown hair and eyes.

He has a large scar over his right eye, he's lucky not to have lost it.

He told me that he had a very successful career working as a mercenary.

With the money he earned from that he bought and moved to this property shortly after he met and married Anna.

Now he works as a farmhand among other things.

He walks up to me and suddenly lifts me above him.

"Hey Alex! How's my little man doing?"

Annoyed, i grunt loudly in response.

"Hahaha, if you keep frowning like that all the time your face is going to get stuck."

He puts me back down, pats my head and heads inside.

I walk around the house to the backyard.

I make my way to a large tree that I have decided to use for training.

Training is one of the only things that is familiar to me in this new world.

It's one of the things that is true and absolute, something to anchor myself to.

Standing in front of it, i place my palm against it to feel its rough surface.

I take a stance before it and focus.

Striking with my right fist first, it emits a "thud" sound as it hits.

Then, i strike with my left, then right and once again with my left.

I maintain a steady rhythm of speed and power that this small body is capable of.

"Alex! Dinner is ready!"

I hear Anna calling.

I stop and take a deep breath and look at my knuckles.

The skin is a little broken with some blood.

They remain painful for some time and are usually better by the next day's training session.

I don't dislike the pain.

To me, it's part of the process of getting stronger, so instead of fearing it and shying away from it, i choose to embrace it.

For dinner Anna has cooked potatoes, cuts of meat and bread.

Eric and Anna sit next to each other and i sit on the other side.

I dig in eagerly, nutrition plays a big part in getting stronger, so i consider it a part of my training.

Anna puts down her utensils and places her elbows on the table and leans towards me with a smile.

"Hey Alex, how would you like a little brother or a sister?"

"I don't care."

In the old world i was an only child, so having siblings is a foreign concept to me.

Eric chuckles at her question.

"Are you sure you want another one Anna?"

"Sure, why not? It's a big house, we have room and i think this family could be a little bigger."

"Hmm, i think that's a good idea Anna. What do you think Alex?"

I finish my plate and get up.

"I said i don't care, do what you want."

I go into the hallway and up the stairs to the second floor where my room is.

"Haha, that boy sure likes being by himself."

Eric says in a sarcastic tone and turns his attention back to his food.

Anna watches me climb the stairs with a hint of concern and worry in her eyes, but she shrugs it off and enjoys the rest of her meal with Eric.

Laying on my bed in my room, which is illuminated by a single candle on my desk, i recall the memories of my past.

For some reason i can't remember exactly which country i was from, but i do remember that i was from somewhere in Europe.

What i do remember clearly however, are the events that shaped me into the person who i am now.

The thing that enrages me the most, is also the reason why i'm here in the first place, my murder.

That bastard, that fucking mafia boss fucking murdered me!

15 years of blood and sweat gone in an instant, just so your fat greedy hands could sink into more money!

I bet you were desperate, so much so that you had to murder me.

Let me guess, you owed someone money?

I hope they fucking killed you, too bad it couldn't be me.

My heart beats fast and i clench my fist in anger.

"Damn it..."

I curse silently.

I get angry every time I think about it.

All i wanted was to become the strongest.

But enough about that, what else can i remember?

After i died, i was floating in darkness.

I couldn't breath or feel any of my senses.

"Can you do it again?"

I remember those words, it was echoey but had a feminine tone.

What did she mean by that?

Did she mean becoming the strongest?

Hmm, it does sound tempting.

Then it's decided, i will pursue strength once again and become the strongest in this new world.