Arvind shifted uncomfortably in the carriage seat, each bump on the road jarring him and making his lower back ache. This was nothing like the smooth rides of his past life. Back then, roads were paved, and cars had shocks to absorb bumps—luxuries he hadn't realized he'd miss.
Ahead and behind, a line of knights rode alongside the carriage, their faces calm and focused. They were escorting him to the territory he'd been granted: a remote piece of land bordering dangerous wilderness. His family had offered him little more than this neglected land on the border, almost like a test.
As he glanced out at the passing landscape—dense forests and distant peaks—he felt a strange mix of excitement and unease. This land was wild, unclaimed, and held endless potential. Despite his discomfort, a small spark of hope began to flicker inside him.
His mind drifted back to the coming-of-age ceremony just days before, held quietly in his family's castle. He'd hoped—maybe even believed—that he would awaken some impressive talent, something extraordinary. But the ceremony had been disappointing: his talents, both as a mage and knight, were ordinary, barely worth noticing.
A soft touch on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see Anika, the maid his mother had chosen for him. Her gentle smile reassured him. Sitting across from him was Shankar, the family butler, watching with fatherly warmth. Both of them had been by his side since he was a child, and their loyalty gave him strength even in moments like this, where he felt so... average.
Arvind's hand tightened around the lotus pendant hanging from his neck—a gift from his mother. She always said, "A lotus blooms, no matter the mud." That phrase echoed in his mind now, reminding him that even if he wasn't born with greatness, he could still create something meaningful.
They traveled for hours, the road seeming endless, but with each mile, the spark of hope inside him grew. His mother's words gave him courage, grounding him in the belief that maybe—just maybe—he could create his own path.
The carriage interior was a stark reminder of nobility: gold-colored fabric lined the walls, and his family's blue crest was painted on the exterior. It seemed almost excessive, but he knew appearances mattered. Nobility here valued strength and image, and without these symbols, they risked ridicule.
As he looked at the family crest, he thought about the weight of his name. In this world, nobility wasn't just about wealth; it was a wall that divided the nobles from everyone else.
In his previous life, he had all his memories of Earth, though sometimes he wondered if it was a dream. But this life felt real, especially his bond with his mother. Her love had filled a gap he hadn't known was there.
His new name, "Arvind," meant "lotus"—a symbol of resilience. The lotus bloomed in the mud, and he clung to that idea. It was almost like fate wanted him to grow through his struggles, just like the flower. His mother's hopes for him aligned with this, and he felt a strange determination to meet her expectations.
He remembered watching his father, Count Eldric, a Great Knight, wielding a sword with strength and skill beyond anything he'd seen on Earth. Seeing that power made him question if he'd been reincarnated on another planet or into a completely different universe—one where magic was real.
Arvind had always dreamed of casting spells and seeing magic firsthand. Fantasy novels had filled his mind with these worlds, and now he was living in one. The excitement was overwhelming, and he wished he could grow up faster, to test his skills and see where he belonged in this world of magic.
But after the ceremony, he sat alone, his heart heavy with disappointment. Everyone's eyes had been on him, waiting for something impressive, but his talents had barely flickered to life. A faint blue glow for magic, a dim red for fighting spirit—signs of mediocrity.
He glanced at the lotus pendant again, feeling a pang of longing for his mother's encouragement. She'd always told him to be patient and resilient, like the lotus. If she had been there, she would have reminded him of that. Would she have been disappointed?
When he left the hall, Anika, his mother's maid, was waiting, her eyes filled with reassurance. And Shankar, the family butler, had given him a look that seemed to say he understood. Both of them had believed in him, even when he felt like he had let everyone down.
His father's reaction had been restrained, a slight nod, giving away nothing of his true thoughts. Arvind wasn't sure if he preferred being ignored or pitied; both felt like a slap in the face.
But somewhere inside, he felt a strange defiance rising. If he was going to be ordinary, he'd make it his own. Maybe he wasn't destined to be a great mage or knight, but he still had something. And he had time to figure out what.
Holding the lotus pendant tightly, he remembered his mother's words: "A lotus blooms, even in the mud." He wasn't a bright star, but maybe he didn't need to be. He'd find his own way, even if it was slow and quiet.
Outside, the stars blinked in the night sky, and for the first time, Arvind felt a small sliver of hope. His journey wouldn't be what he'd dreamed, nor what others expected—but it would be his.