In a dark, damp cave.
Swirling shadows are illuminated by the faint light of pale candles, revealing more than a dozen black-robed figures writhing and contorting on the rock walls...
"Mother Nature, Queen of the Forest, source of all life!"
"With fervent devotion, I offer you sacrifices of enemy blood, the flesh of prey, and the bones of ancestors!"
"Please grant us abundant harvests, youth, and power..."
...
The leading figure loudly prays, cutting a succulent piece of venison with a silver dagger in his hand and placing it on the stone altar.
On the altar, there are large blotches of blood, viscera, intestines, and a few pale bones.
Dark red drops of blood trickle down the crevices of the stone platform.
Bloody, terrifying, mysterious...
All of this seems like a ritual sacrifice performed by the followers of a sinister god.
Aaron Sotos wears a pious expression and follows the crowd carefully, yet his heart is devoid of emotion, even somewhat amused.
'After sixteen years of crossing through time, I am certain that there is no supernatural power in this territory, including the Sotos family's primitive worship of the Barbarian Goddess — [Green Banyan Tree Grandmother].'
'Of course, in this barbaric age, deeply rooted in religious habits, revealing oneself as a non-believer would be foolish. How many religious reformations throughout history have not resulted in fatalities? Even in another world, it's the same!'
'Furthermore, my father, a rigid noble and the High Priest of the Sotos family, worships this Goddess, and I am just a second son. To go against him, claiming the gods are illusions... is just courting death.'
'Besides, I must admit that religion can be useful in placating the civilians and consolidating feudal rule.'
Therefore, even if it's just an act, Aaron Sotos must play his part as the son of a noble.
He has black curly hair, gray-purple eyes that seem to contain endless wisdom and mystery, a tall, straight nose, and lips that often carry a slight smile. His slender and erect figure easily gives people a good impression at first sight.
Although Aaron has some gripes about the Sotos family surname, he is still very grateful to be reincarnated into a noble family.
After all, in this ancient society with high infant mortality rates, low literacy rates among civilians, and people at risk of death from simple diseases or injuries, being born a noble means at least not starving to death and having the opportunity to receive an education.
Because of his cautious nature and two lifetimes of experience, Aaron, though a second son, has led a relatively good life and has a strong physique due to his insistence on physical exercise to avoid illness and death.
With idle thoughts running through his mind, Aaron follows the large group of black-clad people, actually the high-ranking members of the Sotos territory, as they complete the ritual and exit the cave one by one.
Whoosh!
The fresh air rushes to meet them, making everyone want to take a deep breath involuntarily.
Turning back to look, Aaron sees that the cave is situated beneath a massive banyan tree. The massive tree crown blocks the sky, and numerous aerial roots dangle from the branches, countless roots deeply embedded in the rocky walls, forming a strange symbiotic relationship.
In the distance, under the bright sunlight and cloudless azure sky, is a European-style building constructed mainly of round logs. Some of the logs, which have not yet been stripped of their bark, still have a few sprouts full of vitality on their surfaces.
A gentle breeze blows, as black ravens circle and dance in the sky, emitting hoarse and unpleasant cries.
An exceptionally beautiful raven, with a cylindrical object strapped to its leg, lands on the highest window of the central building, a castle tower made of huge rocks.
"Crows cawing, an ominous sign... But in this world, ravens just serve as messengers for lords. There's no such superstition about bad luck..."
"A raven messenger has arrived; it seems something has happened in the castle."
Aaron thought casually.
"Let's return to the castle!"
The leading black-clothed man, who had conducted the ceremony earlier, had taken off his black robe, revealing a grey wolf-skin coat underneath. There was a slash from a long sword at the position of the wolf's head, and he wore a pair of deer-skin boots. His face was resolute, like granite, and his deep purple eyes stared intently in the direction of the castle.
This was Theodore Sotos, Aaron's father, protector of the Lower Green Forest, lord of the Sotos domain, and a commanding ruler.
His deep voice issued an order, and he casually threw the black robe to Aaron without glancing at his son. He then mounted his warhorse.
The group left quickly, with a golden-haired young man in his twenties looking back, seemingly in comfort, as if bragging or showing off.
He rode a pure white steed, following closely behind Theodore, as if to display his position as the heir to the territory.
Aaron seemed unaware, as he didn't feel much affection for Colin, his half-brother from the same father anyway, so he waited silently until the end.
He could feel Colin's faint hostility towards him, but not too much, probably because Aaron didn't pose much of a threat.
After all, as someone who had experienced rebirth in the womb, it was hard to play cute as a child, and any emotional attachment required input and cultivation.
Even someone who has raised another's child for over a decade may feel closer to that child than their own, who they've never nurtured.
Young Aaron found it challenging to become close to a stranger.
As time went on, Theodore's indifference and distance from Aaron became a matter of course.
However, Aaron did not regret it.
A threatening heir would be more of a provocation to Colin, as his third brother who broke his leg in a horseriding accident was a prime example.
Yes, this third brother was the son of the third wife Lord Theodore had married. His first two wives died in childbirth and from illness, respectively, whereas this third wife, Lady Sonia, not only bore him a son but also a daughter.
Aaron skillfully mounted his horse and followed the group back to the castle.
At the castle gates, a group of people was already waiting.
Leading the group were Theodore's wife Sonia and sister Jinnie, accompanied by the castle's butler and scholar.
At this moment, the scholar held a letter in his hand.
Theodore took it and scanned the contents. His expression darkened as he said solemnly, "The Davis family of Upper Green Forest wants to dissolve the sacred marriage pact signed under the Banyan Tree—this is a declaration of war!"
Aaron immediately saw a look of deep pain on Colin's previously proud face.
'Well, after all, it's Colin who's engaged to the Davis family... It's unscientific for a time-traveler like me not to be broken up with! Although...I don't have a fiancée anyway...'
He silently ridiculed the situation in his heart, casting a somewhat sympathetic look at Colin.
Even for some time-travelers who were reborn as the offspring of nobles, being dumped was a great shame, let alone for an ordinary young man.