Adrian opened his eyes, but something was wrong. Wrong. The world was blurry and unfocused, and everything seemed... bigger. He tried to move, but his limbs felt weak and uncoordinated. He tried to speak, but all that came out was a soft, pathetic cry.
What the hell is this? he thought, his mind racing. I died. I died saving that girl, and now... I'm a baby?
The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. All those years of hard work, all the sacrifices, all the pain—gone. Wasted. And for what? To start over as a helpless infant? Anger surged through him, hot and uncontrollable. He wanted to scream, to curse, to lash out at the unfairness of it all. But all he could do was cry—a weak, pitiful sound that only made him angrier.
All those years, he thought, his mind seething. All that effort. For nothing. I was at the top of my game. A neurosurgeon. A master of Jeet Kune Do. And now? I'm a damn baby. What kind of sick joke is this?
He felt himself being lifted, cradled in someone's arms. A woman's face came into view, blurry but warm. She was smiling, her eyes filled with tears of joy.
"Welcome to the world, little one," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "My sweet Kael."
Kael? Adrian—no, Kael now—thought, his anger momentarily interrupted by the name. Well, at least it's not something stupid.
But the anger quickly returned. This isn't fair. I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for a second chance. And if I did, I sure as hell didn't ask to start over as a baby.
He wanted to protest, to demand answers, but all he could do was cry. It was infuriating. Humiliating. He had spent his entire life in control, always precise, always disciplined. And now? He was powerless. Completely and utterly powerless.
The Decision
As the days turned into weeks, Kael's anger slowly gave way to resignation. He couldn't change his situation. He couldn't go back. All he could do was move forward. But this time, things would be different.
Fine, he thought, lying in his crib and staring up at the wooden ceiling of the small cottage. If this is my second chance, then I'll make it count. But I'm not wasting it on anyone else. No more sacrifices. No more chasing success. This time, I'll live for myself.
It was a strange feeling, letting go of the ambition that had driven him for so long. But it was also... freeing. For the first time in his life, Kael felt like he could breathe. He didn't have to be the best. He didn't have to prove anything to anyone. He could just... live.
The Family
Kael's new family was... interesting. His mother, Elena, was kind and nurturing, always singing lullabies or telling him stories. She had a gentle touch and a warm smile, but there was a strength to her that Kael couldn't quite place. She was the kind of woman who could soothe a crying baby with one hand and chop firewood with the other.
His father, Garrick, was a different story. He was a big man, tall and muscular, with a face that looked like it had been carved from stone. His hands were calloused, his arms covered in scars, and his eyes... his eyes were sharp, always scanning, always assessing. Kael could tell right away that this was a man who had seen battle.
"You've got a strong one here, Elena," Garrick said one evening, watching as Kael tried to crawl across the floor. "He's got a fighter's spirit."
Elena smiled, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "I just hope he doesn't take after you too much, Garrick. The world doesn't need another mercenary."
Garrick chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "There's nothing wrong with being strong, Elena. The world's a dangerous place. Especially around here."
The Village and Its Dangers
The village where Kael's family lived was small, nestled in a valley surrounded by dense forests. It was a peaceful place, but there was an undercurrent of danger that even Kael, as a baby, could sense. The villagers spoke in hushed tones about the creatures that lurked in the woods—stone goblins, they called them.
"They're small," Garrick explained one night, as he sat by the fire with Kael in his lap. "But don't let their size fool you. They're fast, vicious, and they fight dirty. If you ever see one, you run. Understand?"
Kael nodded, but inside, he was intrigued. Stone goblins? he thought. What kind of world is this?
The Secret Training
As Kael grew older, he found it harder and harder to ignore the habits of his past life. He had spent decades honing his body and mind, and now, trapped in the body of a child, he felt restless. He needed to move, to train, to do something.
So, he started small. At first, it was just simple exercises—stretching, push-ups, sit-ups. He did them in secret, late at night when his parents were asleep. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him sane. Practicing the techniques he had learned in his previous life. Jeet Kune Do wasn't just about fighting; it was about efficiency, adaptability, and control. And Kael was nothing if not efficient.
He practiced his footwork, his strikes, his blocks. He didn't have a partner, so he used trees and rocks as targets. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough. And with each passing day, he felt more like himself.
End of Chapter 2