Chapter 3: Stories of the World
Nighttime was always a special time for Hayyan. His mother had a particular way of making the dark hours feel safe and warm. As soon as the last rays of the sun vanished behind the hills, she would sit beside his bed, her soft voice weaving stories that lulled him to sleep. These bedtime stories had been a nightly tradition since his first days in this new world, though it wasn't until he was about two years old that he began to fully understand all the words she spoke.
At first, her words were a blur—a mix of language he didn't yet comprehend. But over time, the sounds became familiar, and soon they began to form meaning. By his second year, Hayyan could finally piece together the fragments of information from her tales. The world she spoke of slowly took shape in his mind, and it was both eerily familiar and different from the world he once knew.
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Through his mother's stories, Hayyan learned that this world, though medieval in nature, had its own unique structure. The land was vast, divided into kingdoms, much like the history books from his previous life had described. Each kingdom was ruled by a king, but the true power was distributed among a hierarchy of nobles. The noble ranks followed a strict order, each holding authority over territories of varying sizes and importance.
"The most powerful nobles are the Dukes," his mother had explained one night, her voice soft as she cradled him in her lap. "They control vast lands and answer only to the king. Below them are the Marquises, Counts, and Viscounts, each with their own lands and responsibilities. And then there are the Barons and Knights, who manage smaller territories and serve the higher nobles."
Hayyan listened intently, piecing together the structure of the society he now lived in. Dukes held the greatest influence, almost like governors of large provinces, while Counts and Viscounts managed smaller, but still important regions. Barons were the lowest-ranking nobles, ruling small villages and towns, and Knights, though nobility in name, were more like the warriors of the realm, their titles earned rather than inherited.
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One story, in particular, had caught his attention. It was about the knights—a group that held a special place in this world. His mother's voice had dropped to a reverent tone when she spoke of them, her eyes shining with a mix of admiration and awe.
"Knights are not born into their titles like the other nobles," she explained one evening, the flickering light of the fire casting shadows on the walls. "A common man can train his whole life, mastering the art of combat, and if he's strong enough, he can be recognized by someone of high status—a Count or someone higher. But to truly become a knight, one must awaken their 'aura.'"
Hayyan had been puzzled by this at first, wondering what she meant by "aura." The concept wasn't something he had come across in his previous life, at least not outside the realm of fantasy. But here, it seemed to be a crucial element of power. His mother described it as a force that resided deep within certain individuals, something that could only be unlocked through great effort and discipline.
"When a man awakens his aura, he becomes more than just a skilled fighter," his mother continued, her eyes glowing with excitement. "He becomes something greater—stronger, faster, able to endure more than any ordinary man. That's when he's truly recognized as a knight, and with that title comes the opportunity to rise in rank."
Hayyan could see how the knights acted as a bridge between the common folk and the nobility. They were respected, almost revered, but they were also bound by a code of honor. For a commoner, becoming a knight was the only path to nobility, the only way to elevate one's status and enter the world of those who ruled.
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Over the weeks and months that followed, Hayyan absorbed more and more from his mother's stories. He learned about the different kingdoms that spanned the continent, each one with its own culture and customs. The kingdom they lived in was ruled by a king whose power was often challenged by the ambitious dukes beneath him. Battles between kingdoms were frequent, with wars fought for land, power, and glory.
But there was something else that intrigued Hayyan even more—the way his mother spoke of the supernatural forces that existed within this world. It wasn't just knights who wielded extraordinary power. There were whispers of individuals born with magic, beings who could command the forces of nature itself. And though his mother didn't speak much of it, Hayyan sensed an underlying fear in her voice whenever she mentioned these "others." Witches and wizards, they were called—people with abilities that made them dangerous, feared, and often hunted.
This world is dangerous for people like me, Hayyan thought to himself. If magic exists here and I have powers… I'll have to hide them, just like the others.
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As Hayyan lay in bed each night, his mind would wander, thinking of the stories his mother had told him. He now understood the structure of this world, the way power and nobility worked, and the danger that came with magic. It was a world that seemed simple on the surface but hid layers of complexity beneath.
His mother's stories, though told with love and care, had given him the foundation he needed to start preparing for what was to come. He may still be a child in body, but in his mind, he was already making plans.
For now, he would continue to play the role of an innocent, beloved child, but soon enough, he would need to understand his own abilities and find his place in this world—a world where power could be seized by those strong enough to claim it.