Pain. A searing pain shot through his body, deeper than any wound he had ever suffered. Then, darkness. And yet, somehow, Ronon Atreus opened his eyes.
He inhaled sharply, his chest heaving as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Gone were the battlefield and the blood-soaked earth. Instead, Ronon found himself lying on a modest wooden bed in a small room. Sunlight streamed through the cracks of the window, casting warm golden rays on the rough stone walls. The air smelled faintly of herbs and burning incense, a stark contrast to the acrid stench of war he had become accustomed to.
Raising a hand, Ronon touched his face, tracing the contours of his features with uncertainty. His skin was smooth—no scars, no signs of the countless battles he had endured. His heart pounded as he realized something was different. He sprang to his feet and rushed to the small mirror by the bedside. The face staring back at him was his own, but younger. Much younger.
"What...?" he whispered, confusion twisting in his gut.
The last thing he remembered was standing on the battlefield, facing Valric, the infamous general of the Circle of Shadows. His comrades had fallen around him, and with one final strike, Valric had driven a blade through his chest. Ronon had accepted his fate. He had fought bravely, but in the end, the enemy's numbers had overwhelmed them. He should be dead.
Instead, he was here. And he was no longer the battle-hardened warrior of forty winters. He was... how old? Twenty? Twenty-two at most.
As the shock wore off, memories of his youth began to flood back. He had lived through this time before—when he was young, strong, and still filled with hope. But why? Why was he back?
The door creaked open, and a familiar face appeared—Thalia, his sister. But not as he had last seen her, gray and worn from the burdens of war. No, this was the Thalia of his youth, vibrant and full of life. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief, and her auburn hair was tied back in a loose braid.
"You're awake, finally," she said, stepping into the room. "I thought you were going to sleep through the entire festival!"
Ronon stared at her, speechless. How could this be real? How could Thalia, who had died so many years ago, be standing in front of him now, smiling like nothing had happened?
"Thalia," he breathed, still trying to grasp the reality before him.
Her brow furrowed, and she laughed lightly. "What's wrong with you, Ronon? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Ronon shook his head, still grappling with the flood of emotions. His sister, his family, the world—it was as if time had reversed itself. He was alive, his body restored, and everything he had lost had returned.
"What year is it?" Ronon asked abruptly, his voice hoarse.
Thalia blinked, her smile fading slightly at his odd question. "It's the year 471, why?"
The number rang in his head like a distant bell. He had died in the year 491—twenty years from now. He had been sent back two decades into his past.
A torrent of thoughts rushed through his mind. If he was truly back in the past, did that mean he had a chance to change everything? Could he stop the rise of the Circle of Shadows? Could he save those he had lost?
He clenched his fists, a wave of determination surging through him. This was his second chance. He wouldn't waste it. He could rewrite the future, starting now.
"Nothing," Ronon finally replied, forcing a smile to ease Thalia's concern. "Just... feels like I've been asleep for a long time."
Thalia narrowed her eyes at him but shrugged. "Well, don't forget today's the festival of the Harvest Moon. Father's waiting for you to help with the preparations."
Father.
Ronon's heart clenched painfully. His father had died in a skirmish with raiders shortly after this time. But now, he was still alive, waiting for him outside. Ronon knew what was coming, and this time, he would not let fate repeat itself.
With newfound purpose, Ronon Atreus followed his sister out of the room, his mind already racing with plans. He had twenty years to prepare, to change the course of history. And the first step started here, today.