Chapter: 1

I sat on the roof of my family's small home, bathed in the cool light of the moon, my green eyes tracing the stars scattered across the night sky. My red hair, which once made me stand out, now seemed like a mundane detail in this strange new world. A sigh escaped me as my gaze drifted toward the distant Red Keep, still alive with activity even at this hour. Hard to believe it's been twelve years since I was reborn into this world—a world so unforgiving and treacherous.

"And to think, I was just an ordinary teenager twelve years ago," I muttered, the weight of my past life pressing on my chest.

I couldn't help but think back to my death. Just another unlucky twist of fate. It had been raining that day, a downpour as I walked home from school. Lightning struck a nearby lamppost, sending a live wire crashing into the puddle I'd just stepped in. Hundreds—maybe thousands—of volts surged through my body, and just like that, Carmen Blake ceased to exist. What a way to go, huh?

"Then again, I'm no longer Carmen," I chuckled to myself, a quiet laugh that held no real humor.

No, now I was Victor Darren, a simple peasant in King's Landing. Well, "simple" might be a stretch. After all, I had two advantages. First, I knew the future, or at least fragments of it, and second, I possessed an ability far beyond the scope of anyone in this world. I stood, brushing the dust from my trousers, and walked to the edge of the roof, staring down at the Red Keep. 

"The world of Game of Thrones," I murmured, frowning at the thought. "A twisted place of death, backstabbing, and greed... with only traces of magic and dragons left. Why couldn't I have been reborn in a world like Tensura or something?" I sighed, annoyance creeping into my voice.

But even in this grim world, I had a chance—a power to turn the tide. My territory manipulation ability was an absolute game-changer here. The ability to control and alter any territory I stood upon and everything within it made me unstoppable, or at least, it could. I didn't know the full extent of my powers yet, which was why I had to be careful. Still, the potential was there, and that was enough.

"I have a year until the canon events begin," I reminded myself. "By that time, I'll be long gone from Westeros." With that, I leapt from the roof.

Landing smoothly on the cobbled street, I adjusted my vest and set off through the twisting streets of King's Landing. My hands tucked into my pockets, I blended with the crowd, just another face among the city's common folk. The city's chaos masked my true intentions as I made my way toward a more secluded part of the city—a place perfect for practice. Even in a city as dense as this, I had found a spot hidden away from prying eyes.

I reached the barren area within minutes and slipped off my vest, rolling my shoulders in preparation. "Alright, let's begin."

Raising my hand, I called upon my power, sending a pulse through the ground. The once lifeless land responded to my will, bursting with growth. Grass sprouted at my feet, wildflowers bloomed in a rainbow of colors, and trees rose from the earth, bearing ripe fruit. Another pulse, and the vibrant life began to wither and die as quickly as it had come. The trees crumbled, the flowers faded, and the grass turned to dust. With a flick of my wrist, the ground shifted again—sand became glass, dirt became iron, then gold, then back to its original form.

I smiled to myself. "I'm getting faster," I noted, recalling how it had taken me an hour to do this the last time. But now came the real test.

I closed my eyes, picturing the space around me filled with energy—Mana. If my abilities extended to manipulating everything within a territory, then I should be able to control magical energy too. The air thickened, and a grin spread across my face as I felt the Mana gather, the atmosphere becoming dense with raw power. Slowly, I concentrated the energy, forming a small ball of Mana in the palm of my hand.

It worked. I had done it.

I dispelled the Mana ball and the Mana in the air and let out a deep breath as exhaustion washed over me. But even through the fatigue, I couldn't stop smiling. This was only the beginning.

"That's enough for today," I muttered, slipping my vest back on and making my way home. The streets were quiet now, with only the distant sounds of the city's nightlife echoing through the narrow alleyways. 

As I stepped inside the house, a familiar scent hit me—alcohol. I sighed, already knowing what awaited me.

In the kitchen, my mother, Camille Darren, lay unconscious on the floor, an empty bottle of wine clutched in her hand. Her once vibrant red hair was tangled, her face pale and drawn from the toll of losing my father. She had always been a beautiful woman—her features still striking even in her current state—but the grief had turned her into a shadow of the person she used to be.

With a sigh, I lifted her into my arms, carrying her up the stairs to her room. Gently, I laid her down on the bed, pulling the velvet covers over her. Placing a hand on her forehead, I used my power to cleanse her body of the toxins, watching her face relax into peaceful slumber.

As I left her room, closing the door quietly behind me, a soft voice broke the silence. "Big brother?"

I turned to see my younger sister, Lily, peeking out from her room. Her black hair was messy from tossing and turning, her green eyes wide with worry.

"I thought you were asleep, Lily," I said, walking over to her.

"I couldn't," she whispered, her voice small. "Nightmares."

I sighed softly and scooped her into my arms. "Don't worry. I'll chase them away." I carried her back to her bed, tucking her in and picking up a storybook from the nightstand. "Alright, let's start with Chapter 1."

With Lily smiling up at me, I began to read, my voice steady as I did my best to give her some peace in this world of chaos.

Chapter 1 end