Darkness surrounded him—an abyss with no end, no sound, no pain. But within that void, a spark ignited. He didn't know how much time had passed—whether it was seconds or an eternity—but suddenly, he felt something different: a warm embrace, a weight over his body… a heartbeat.
Gabriel opened his eyes—but they weren't his eyes. He didn't see the ceiling of his room or the cold lights of his school. Instead, a rustic wooden ceiling stretched above him, illuminated by the warm glow of an oil lamp. The air smelled of hot metal and burning coal. He tried to move, but his body felt strange, small, weak.
He attempted to speak, but only a babble escaped his lips. And that was when he understood.
He had been reborn.
His mind, still burdened with the memories of his past life, swirled with questions. Where was he? Why was he here? Was this a punishment? A second chance?
A face appeared above him. It was a man with a thick beard, severe yet warm eyes, and a scar running down his cheek. His large, calloused hand grasped him firmly, lifting him into the air as if inspecting a freshly forged piece of metal.
—"Ha! Look at this little one!"—his voice was deep and powerful.—"He has the eyes of a warrior."
A woman with silver hair, pale skin, and a serene expression approached with a gentle smile. Her hands were delicate yet bore the marks of hard work.
—"He is our son, Garet,"—she said softly.—"A new member of the Eisenhart family."
Gabriel—or rather, whoever he was now in this new world—felt the woman embrace him tenderly. Eisenhart... That was his new surname. His new family. But who were they?
As the days passed and he grew within his new body, he learned more about his surroundings. The Eisenhart family was no ordinary family. They were nobles, but not the kind who lived in lavish castles and indulged in endless banquets. No, their lineage was different.
They were blacksmiths.
But not just any craftsmen. They were considered the greatest forgers in all the kingdom of Eldoria, creators of the weapons wielded by the most powerful warriors and nobles. His father, Garet Eisenhart, was a highly respected man, a master blacksmith whose skill with hammer and fire was legendary. His mother, Selene, was also a talented artisan, known for her intricate engravings and knowledge of rare metals.
From his crib, Gabriel—now named Leonhardt Eisenhart—watched them work. He saw how his father hammered glowing metal, how his mother carefully polished newly forged swords. And in his mind, he repeated over and over:
"This is my new world. This is my new life."
When he turned five, Leonhardt already had a strong body for his age. Unlike his past life, where he felt weak and insignificant, here, he had a purpose. In this life, he was not an outcast. He was an Eisenhart.
And, like every Eisenhart, he began his training as a blacksmith.
His father taught him how to hold a hammer, how to identify metals by their shine and weight, how to sense the steel's temperature just by looking at it. His small hands were soon covered in blisters, but he never complained. Every strike against the anvil was a confirmation that his past life was long behind him.
However, there was something more. Something within him that he still didn't understand.
Sometimes, when he touched metal, he felt a strange vibration, as if the material was speaking to him. Other times, when he watched the forge flames, they seemed to move unnaturally, as if responding to his presence.
He didn't understand it. And, for now, he didn't give it much thought.
[Status Panel]
Name: Leonhardt Eisenhart
Age: 5 years
Race: Human
Class: Blacksmith Apprentice
Level: 2
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 6
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 7
Magic: ???
For now, only his physical attributes were reflected, showing his training with the hammer. But he didn't yet know that within him beat not only the heart of a blacksmith… but also that of a mage.