Lucas lay nestled in his mother's embrace, her warmth both familiar and comforting. He gazed up at her, studying her features with the curiosity and awe only a newborn could have. Seraphina Nightshade was unlike anyone he'd ever seen, in this world or the last. As he took in her appearance, he couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder; his mother was, quite simply, breathtaking.
Seraphina had the ethereal beauty of an elf, with skin that seemed to glow softly under the morning light. Her long, flowing hair was a shade of pure, radiant white, gleaming with an almost unearthly brilliance. It cascaded around her in silken waves, framing her delicate face. In his past life, he'd read of elves having 'pure mana' that manifested in unique physical traits, but he'd never truly grasped the concept until now. Her white hair was a mark of this purity, a symbol of the powerful lineage she carried from the Surya Clan, one of the four god clans.
But what captivated Lucas most were her eyes—brilliant, deep blue, like the clearest of skies on a summer day. They held a calm strength and kindness, as if they held centuries of wisdom and empathy. Her gaze softened as she looked at him, and for a moment, he felt as though she could see right into his heart, understanding him in ways words could never express. There was both a fierceness and a gentleness in her eyes, a quiet strength that comforted him beyond reason.
Seraphina's pointed ears, a characteristic of her elven heritage, peeked out subtly from beneath her hair, adding to her otherworldly beauty. She was both elegant and powerful, a fitting matriarch for the Asura Clan. Though he was only a baby, Lucas could already sense the incredible mana flowing through her; she was unlike anyone he'd ever known, and he felt an overwhelming pride to call her his mother.
Nearby, Lucas's father, Dorian Nightshade, held his twin sister, Emily. Dorian was a striking contrast to Seraphina's ethereal grace. His presence was commanding, his figure tall and well-built, radiating both strength and authority. As head of the Asura Clan, he bore a natural air of intimidation that seemed to melt away as he looked at Emily with a warm, protective gaze. He had hair of a cool, silver shade—a signature of the Asura Clan—falling just below his shoulders in a neat yet slightly unruly manner. His eyes, dark as the midnight sky, held a mysterious depth, an intensity that revealed his years of experience as a leader and warrior.
Dorian's face was sharp, his jawline chiseled, and his expression normally steely and stern. But here, with Emily in his arms, there was a tenderness on his face that Lucas hadn't expected to see. He held his daughter close, a gentle smile softening his usual serious demeanor. It was strange, almost surreal, to see such a formidable figure of power look so gentle and at ease.
Lucas marveled at how different his parents were, yet how perfectly they complemented each other. Seraphina, with her calming presence and nurturing spirit, and Dorian, with his unyielding strength and protective nature. Together, they formed a perfect balance, embodying the love and protection he had always dreamed of experiencing in a family.
For Lucas, this was a life he had never known but was now determined to cherish and protect. With his mother's gentle hand resting on his back and his father's protective presence close by, Lucas felt an unfamiliar yet comforting sense of belonging. His heart swelled with a newfound resolve—no matter the trials that lay ahead, he would honor this family and guard their love with every ounce of strength he possessed.
***********************
Time flew by in the Nightshade household, and it had now been two years since Lucas had been reborn into this world. He had settled into his new life with surprising ease and had adapted to the customs and expectations of the powerful Asura Clan. To the astonishment of everyone, Lucas was showing remarkable intelligence and skill even at such a young age. Clan members whispered about his incredible progress, already seeing him as the clan's future leader. According to tradition, only a male could be named heir to the clan, and Lucas, with his astonishing aptitude, seemed destined for that role after his awakening at age five.
Of course, Lucas was far from ordinary; he already knew his own potential and status. His advanced system gave him unique advantages, allowing him to increase his rank by gaining system points. He had learned that these points could be earned through a variety of means—defeating living beings, consuming relics, and meditation. Recently, he had even gained a skill called Absorption, allowing him to absorb the remains of defeated foes for additional system points and occasionally acquire their skills.
Curious to see his own progress, Lucas mentally called up his status.
---
Status
Name: Lucas Nightshade
Age: 2 years
Rank: -F
Potential: +SSS
Strength: -F
Agility: -F
Stamina: -F
Mana: -F
Aura: -F
Elements: All-elemental (locked)
Title: Reborn Genius, Anomaly, Asura's Heir
Bloodline: locked
Skills:
Absorption(X) : Allows the user to absorb the essence of dead bodies to gain system points, with a chance to acquire the deceased's skills.
Meditation(E) : Enhances mana flow and refines aura with each session.
Intuition(A) : Boosts critical thinking and analysis, especially in combat situations.
System points: locked
System space: locked
---
Seeing his status confirmed what Lucas already knew—he was far ahead of others his age, a fact he kept to himself. Satisfied, Lucas decided to head to the clan's extensive library. He was determined to learn as much as possible about the world he now lived in. In the original novel, only brief details were given about the various clans, and there were only descriptions of the Supreme Clans. However, Lucas wanted to understand more about all the clans, their ranks, and the classifications of skills. He knew that the protagonist of the novel had learned about the God-level clans much later, only after Emily, the supposed untouchable heroine, had shared it with him.
Just as Lucas was about to step into the corridor toward the library, he was unexpectedly tugged from behind. He turned to find his twin sister, Emily, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Lucas, come play with me!" she declared, her small hands gripping his arm firmly.
Lucas was momentarily stunned. In the novel, Emily was portrayed as someone who exuded an unapproachable aura, a powerful heroine who kept her distance from others. Yet, here she was, eagerly pulling him along, her expression filled with joy and warmth. They had grown quite close over the past two years, and Lucas found himself continually surprised by her endearing nature. In reality, she was far different from the aloof, distant character described in the novel. Instead, Emily seemed almost addicted to his presence; wherever he went, she wanted to be by his side.
"Emily, I was about to go to the library—" Lucas started to say, but she pouted, her grip tightening.
"No, you're coming with me! You spend too much time reading, and I want to play!" she insisted.
Unable to refuse her enthusiasm, Lucas allowed himself to be dragged away, chuckling at her determination. Watching them from a distance, Dorian, their father, looked on with a mixture of jealousy and amusement. As the head of the Asura Clan, he had hoped to bond with Emily as well, but her preference for her twin brother was clear. Their mother, Seraphina, always laughed whenever she saw Dorian's expression change from a slight scowl to a warm smile. Despite his jealousy, Lucas could tell their father was pleased to see the close bond between his children.
They spent the rest of the day exploring the gardens together, laughing and playing. Lucas had never imagined that Emily, who was supposed to grow into the untouchable heroine of the story, could be so joyful and full of life around him. It was moments like these that reminded Lucas of the true purpose of his rebirth and —to forge his own path, love and protect his family, and change the fate of this world.