CHAPTER 2
A woman was looking down on me with a smile that gave me a strange, unfamiliar feeling I couldn’t explain. She had blonde hair and blue eyes and she looked like she was in her 30's.
What’s happening? Didn’t I just die? Where am I—and who is this woman? I tried to push myself up, suddenly aware I was lying down. But no matter how hard I tried, my body refused to respond.
I tried to move my hand, but only my fingers twitched faintly. Am I paralyzed? No—this wasn’t paralysis. I died... or did I? Could someone have saved me?
The woman, still smiling, said something in a language I couldn’t understand. Her gaze shifted to the left as if she was talking with someone, and I, with great effort, managed to turn my head in the same direction.
Turning my head felt like the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I managed it. A man was there, smiling at me. He had grey eyes and black hair. He, too, appeared to be in his thirties.
What is going on? I had died, hadn’t I? None of this made sense. The words they were saying were just noise to me, incomprehensible sounds. Worse still, I could barely control my body—it felt like moving through thick mud. Despite it all, these two seemed happy, maybe even a couple given their similar age.
As I pondered about this, I heard a loud creak. Forcing my head to turn again, I saw a small girl, perhaps four or five years old, entering the room.
The girl spoke to the couple, who smiled warmly at her. The woman gently lifted the child onto her lap.
Suddenly, everything around me became unbearably loud. I felt something warm sliding down my cheeks—tears.
Huh? I was crying, why?
This was followed by a powerful headache-Then everything blacked out again.
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Weeks passed after this confusing scenario but I understood what was going on. I had been reincarnated. From what I remembered of the fantasy novels I'd read to my kids, reincarnation meant dying and being reborn into a new life, often in some fantasy world. It sounded absurd, but here I was, living it.
Over the weeks, I learned more about the people who had first appeared before me. They were my family—my mother, Lora Ashford, my father, Gale Ashford, and my older sister, Elara. I had been named Kael Ashford and I had been showered with love these past weeks, especially by my mother and sister. Every time they smiled at me, I would feel an unexplainable warmth in my heart. Maybe this was what was called happiness?The foreign language they spoke began to make sense over time, as if my mind was gradually absorbing it. Though I couldn't speak yet, I could understand much of what they said.
My mother and sister rarely left my side, constantly doting on me, telling me how cute I was and how I'd grow up to be strong. My father, when he returned from work, was just as affectionate. My father, I soon learned, was a mage. A mage was someone who could use magic. Not the kind of magician you’d see in a stage show back on Earth—he wielded real magic, controlling elements like water, fire, and even healing injuries. There were many kinds of magic, some unique to certain races and clans, but my father’s magic was tied to nature and healing. He often used his magic to help the village farmers by watering their crops, but he also took on other jobs suited to a mage. Adventuring, he called it—guilds would assign tasks like guarding important people or hunting dangerous creatures.Since adventuring sometimes required travel, my father preferred to stay close to home for our sake. He mostly hunted monsters and animals around the village—these creatures were the primary source of meat for villagers.
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Happiness was the first real emotion I’d felt in this new life. The only other time I’d felt something so powerful was when I died. That moment had somehow unlocked a floodgate of emotions, but I needed more experiences to trigger them.
Although it was weird that my parents were younger than me, I didn't mind it. I actually was happy that I had parents who cared for me because I didn't have that kind of care and love I had right now in my past life. Surprisingly, it was easy to accept this new life, and the love that came with it.
My sister Elara had learned basic magic from dad and would sometimes show me the spells that she learned.
For a person to conjure a spell they need two things, mana and the incantation. Although it was rare, some people didn't have mana and unfortunately, I didn't have mana. Those without mana, however, often developed abilities around the age of three to five that would be checked by a doctor with a defining ability. There were some unlucky souls who had neither, but I hoped I wouldn’t be one of them.
I was actually excited to practice magic but when I heard my father said that he couldn't feel mana in me and I wouldn't be able to use magic, I was a little sad but I was also happy because I could experience these two emotions after all I had made a goal to experience emotions to the fullest but that may be a bad idea. But I was still excited for what kind of ability I would get.
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Half a year had passed, and yesterday I finally managed to crawl for the first time. The frustration of not being able to move my body as I wanted was unbearable at times. I’d spent months trapped, my limbs sluggish and uncooperative. But now, at least, I had a little control over my body, though not enough to be fully free. I still couldn’t control my basic bodily functions, which was another strange frustration. Imagine being a grown mind in a body that can’t even handle something as simple as bladder control.
Today is Elara’s birthday, and my mother was planning a small birthday party for her, and now she was going out to the shop to get the last few things. I had never left the house before, so she decided to take me with her, putting me on her back and securing me with a scarf. The thought of getting outside thrilled me—I’d finally get to see more of this new world.
We lived in a village called Rivenwood. From what I had overheard, it was a small, peaceful place tucked away near a quiet river. As soon as we stepped outside, I was struck by the clean, fresh air. The scent of the air felt so much more alive than the polluted air of the world I had left behind. The houses were simple, made of wood and stone, giving the village a rustic, timeless feel. It reminded me of the countryside villages from my old world, where people lived freely unburdened by the hustle of city life.
As my mother carried me through the village, I took in everything around me. Children played games and merchants called out, trying to sell their goods to passing villagers. Farmers were hard at work in their fields, their hands stained with soil as they tended to their crops. It was simple and I could sense the peaceful life style here.
My father was among the villagers, performing one of his spells. He stood near the crops, his hands raised as a soft rain fell in a specific area, watering the plants. It wasn’t a downpour, just a light drizzle, controlled perfectly by his magic. As soon as he saw us, his face lit up with a smile, and he waved enthusiastically. I still found it fascinating how seamlessly people here used magic for everyday tasks. Back on Earth, magic was just a fantasy—a trick. But here, it was part of life, and my father wielded it with ease. Other villagers waved at us too, calling out friendly greetings to my mother.
Eventually, we reached the marketplace. My mother began picking out items for the party—fruits, vegetables, bread, and even some sweets for Elara’s birthday. I watched as she interacted with the vendors, always with a warm smile on her face. Everyone seemed to adore her, and it wasn’t hard to see why. Her presence brought light and warmth wherever she went. It was in these moments that I truly understood how emotions had the power to connect people. The way my mother’s smile brightened the faces of those around her showed me just how much joy a simple gesture could bring.
As I observed the marketplace, something else caught my attention. Groups of people walked by, carrying weapons on their backs as if it was normal. They looked rugged, confident, and ready for battle. I guessed they were adventurers, the same as my father but they were different, they surely weren't mages. Something about the lifestyle of adventurers intrigued me, and for the first time, I felt a spark of ambition. I wanted to be like them and the idea of becoming an adventurer took root in my mind.
As my mother continued shopping, I noticed something else. The monetary exchange of this world. I thought people would trade object but villagers used three types: copper, silver, and gold. Gold was the most valuable, and from what I gathered, just one gold coin could sustain a family like ours for weeks. The system's of this world wasn't that complex but it was fun learning them.
With the shopping finished, my mother and I began the journey back home. I couldn’t help but feel excited for the future. I had a loving family, a safe home, and an entire world to discover. It was a strange feeling—contentment. But it was also something I wanted to hold on to. For the first time in either of my lives, I felt like I belonged.
That evening, we celebrated Elara’s birthday. The house was filled with laughter, the rich scent of delicious food, and the warmth of family. I watched as Elara opened her presents, her eyes wide with excitement. My father even performed a small magic show for us, he made different small earth statues and with some fire and water magic performed a small magic trick. It left everyone in awe, even me, though I was beginning to understand how magic worked.
As the night came to a close, I lay in my crib, staring at the ceiling. This new life, this new world—it was a gift. I didn’t know what the future held, but I was determined to embrace every part of it. From learning about my family and magic to understanding emotions and connections, I felt like I was starting over in the best possible way. And I was ready for whatever came next.
CHAPTER END