Rydan was now three years old. He was the pride of his parents, and he loved his new family. His family was a comfort, even as he sometimes stared into blank space and recalled how he had died. Rydan felt as if he could share everything and anything with his parents, but, of course, he had to keep the fact that he was a reincarnated individual for now.

In the last year, they had moved from a two story building in the Noble District, to a shophouse apartment in the Commoner District. Apparently, his old house was too old to be habitable. Or so his mother claimed. He often saw her with red eyes nowadays, and she looked sad whenever she mentioned her House. Rydan could guess that there was probably some circumstance related to her House that forced her to relinquish the old house they lived in. But still, Lysha was more cheerful when her friends visited at her now smaller, but cozier house.

Today was special, though. Usually, when his parents had visitors, it was always pre-arranged, and the visitor would’ve made an appointment. But today, his mother left him in the study where she had been teaching him how to read and write prior to the bell. When she heard the bell, her face suddenly paled and she rushed down to the entrance at the first floor, beside the flower shop.

Since Lysha left, Rydan no longer had to keep up a pretense. Although he was called a ‘genius’ by his parents, he didn’t want to be too outrageous a genius, and so, he hid his true language ability. Evidently, because of his mental age, he could read and write as well as any adult. Still, it wasn’t a good idea to attract attention to himself when he was so young.

Left alone in the study, Rydan climbed up a wooden chair which was placed against the table his mother left important stuff on. Messy, was his first thought as he glanced at the piles of paper and parchment on the table. He picked up the first letter that captured his attention. The crest of House Dawnstone, the sun with a diamond in the middle, was stamped at the bottom of the letter. He had a strange sense of foreboding when he saw the seal. Picking it up, he read softly,

Dear Lysha,

How have you been recently? How is Rydan too?

I fear that House Itansil and House Refaron are working together now. Recently, they have shown signs of hostility towards us. It makes me doubt their previous actions against Lord Aspar Skyborn when House Itansil worked with us to destroy House Skyborn. Perhaps I should have listened to you when you said that Gerome Itansil was spouting lies. If that is true, I am really sorry. But what use is there in regretting what could have been? We too stand at the brink of destruction like House Skyborn did four years ago. I can only hope to protect you, who have been the smartest of my children, and the only one distant enough from the main branch in the citadel that they don’t consider as part of our family. You may think I am cruel for saying this, but it was a blessing in disguise that you married Kristen and we played a hand in destroying House Skyborn. I am sure that they will not drag you down.

I estimate that within the year, they will take action. You should move out of the old family estate soon. You are my House Dawnstone’s only daughter now. Fear not that our line will end, though, your brother’s wife is pregnant and it's a boy according to the spirits. Once he is born, I will send him to a border village immediately with a letter, money and Graham the loyal servant. If, in the future, you meet him, I hope you’ll treat him as if he is your son too.

Thank you Lysha. I fear that this is the last letter I can send you. They are watching too closely now. I love you Lysha, and so does your family.

May the spirits guide you and love you.

Rydan Dawnstone

Head of House Dawnstone

Haeperia Kingdom

Rydan was stunned for a moment. He discovered so many shocking facts in this letter!

When was this written? Where is the date - Ah, the 92nd Common Era? That’s last year… Rydan wondered if his mother’s pale face as she ran down was related. Because today was exactly one year since the letter was written.

Did my grandfather survive? Rydan could only hope.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Rydan Dawnstone, by all his mother’s accounts, was an impressive man who brought House Dawnstone up from lower nobility to having the current middle nobility status. The elder Rydan was a cunning old fox who found evidence that an old House was involved in buying weapons in bulk behind the King’s back, and he reported them to the King. For his loyalty, the family underwent an increase in status. More surprising, though, was the fact that Lysha still loved her father so closely, even when she obviously knew that he was partially responsible for the destruction of her beloved husband’s house.

It seems like the politics of this world isn’t in any way inferior to my previous world…

But as Rydan was comparing the two worlds, a loud cry sounded out from the stairs. The cry was filled with anguish.

“Why oh why, why why WHYYYYY?”

It was Rydan’s first time hearing his mother like this. He ran as fast as his small legs could out of the study mother usually locked after use without even closing the door, towards the door to their house.

“Mother? Are you alright?” Rydan asked, for once putting down his pretense. He genuinely loved his mother, she was the person he spent the most time with, in this new life of his. He was hugging her legs as he looked at her tortured face.

“Oh, my sweet dawn child,” Lysha said, with tears in her eyes. “My baby. Everything is fine.”

Obviously ‘everything' isn’t fine. Look at yourself.

“Mom? What happened? Why are you crying?”

“I...T-that’s something I’ll tell you when you’re older. Now let mommy go.”

“Look, mother, I know you want to cry and escape the cruel reality. But I know what the bell meant. It could only mean urgent news from the citadel and the palace itself was sent here. I read Grandpa Rydan’s letter in the study. Tell me.”

Lysha’s face paled further. She knelt down and hugged Rydan as she let her tears go.

“Y-your grandfather...Rydan and my House were all...were all...e-ex-ex-exterminated by the order of the King this morning. They’re gone Rydan…” Lysha could only continue sobbing uncontrollably as she cried her sadness out.

Like what I expected. How cruel, this world. To kill off my poor mother’s family. Right now, the only thing I can do is to comfort her. It is the only thing, I, her useless son can do right now. 

But I swear, on both House Skyborn and House Dawnstone, that I, Rydan, will one day reclaim the names of our houses, out of the ashes of defeat.

I, Rydan, will find out the truth.

That night, he slept in between his parents. His father had rushed home from his work at the market immediately after receiving the news. While Rydan didn’t know if Kristen knew about the truth of House Skyborn’s destruction, it wasn’t the right time to mention it. At least not until Lysha gets over her grief.

Looking out of the window at the ivory moon while being nestled between his parent, Rydan felt melancholic.

From one world to another, nothing really changes does it? Indeed, ‘Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf’. This cycle, how can one stop it unless one is in control? Change requires control of the current system. I will have to study more about this world, I’ve spent far too long playing around…

But out of the darkness, a shadow flickered, and a man in long dark robes entered the room from the window. He gave off a bloody smell, a smell of iron and rust. Rydan recognized it, and he was paralyzed with fear. There was no way any of them could escape if he was here for their lives. The man seemed to realize Rydan was awake and gave him a slow, sadistic smile. He mouthed the words soundlessly, “By the order of the King.”

And then there was a slash, a sound of loss, and the man was gone. Only the cruel eye in the night sky remained, its gaze shining upon red blankets.

----------------------------------------

Author's Comments:

Maybe a little dark, but trust me for now. This isn't a short novel with the imagination of a teenager and the plot of a cheap flick novel. I have it all covered. Thank you for reading.