Darkness.
Ethan's thoughts were scattered, his senses numb. He felt weightless, as though floating in an abyss where time held no meaning. There was no sound, no pain just an infinite void stretching in all directions.
So… this is death?
A strange sense of peace settled over him. He had always wondered what would happen after death. Would there be an afterlife? An endless void? Reincarnation? The thought had crossed his mind before, but he never truly believed in it. Yet, here he was, still thinking, still conscious despite the fact that his body had failed him.
His last memories were a blur, flashes of blinding headlights, the screech of tires, and the unbearable pain of impact. He had been running late for work, rushing across the street while checking his phone, and then nothing. A split second of agony, then silence.
Now, he was here. Wherever here was.
Just as he began accepting this endless emptiness, a new sensation washed over him. It was faint at first warmth, then pressure, and then muffled sounds. His body wait, he had a body again! Felt small, weak, wrapped in something soft. His ears picked up voices, speaking in a language he did not recognize, yet somehow understood.
His vision was blurry, but as he blinked several times, the fog gradually lifted. The first thing he saw was a woman's face delicate and kind, golden hair cascading around her shoulders. Her eyes, a brilliant shade of emerald, shimmered with both joy and exhaustion.
She was crying.
Another voice, deeper and rougher, joined hers. A man, broad-shouldered and strong-jawed, leaned over, gazing down at him with an expression of pride. His silver-streaked brown hair and battle-worn face spoke of years of experience and hardship.
Tears of relief filled the woman's eyes as she held him close.
"He's beautiful, Alaric…" she whispered in a language that, though unfamiliar, he could somehow comprehend.
"A strong boy," the man, Alaric, said proudly. "He will carry the Valeria name with honor."
The woman smiled warmly, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "Welcome to the world, Eryndor."
The name echoed in his mind, foreign yet familiar. This was not his name. He was Ethan.
But… wasn't he dead?
The truth slowly settled in. He had been reborn.
Days passed, and Eryndor quickly realized the extent of his new reality. He was an infant, completely helpless. He could not move much, could not talk and worst of all, he had to endure the humiliating experience of being fed, cleaned, and treated like a baby.
It was frustrating, but his mind remained intact. The memories of his past life were still perfectly clear. In the corporate world, technology, strategy games, books on leadership, and war tactics, none of it had faded. If anything, his mind felt sharper, more refined.
And then, there was the other strange thing.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
It appeared on his second day in this world a floating screen only he could see.
At first, he thought he was hallucinating, but when words and numbers flashed before his eyes, he realized that something truly otherworldly was happening.
[Welcome, Reincarnated Soul]
[Initializing Host: Eryndor Valeria]
[Analyzing Past Life Memories…]
[Compatibility: 97%]
[System Bind Complete.]
And then, a final message that changed everything:
[The Path to Kingship has begun.]
The First Signs of Power
Eryndor no, Ethan had read countless fantasy novels about reincarnation, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
He was in a medieval fantasy world, in the body of a newborn noble with an unknown but mysterious system. That much was clear.
But what did this system mean? How did it work? And most importantly… What was the Path to Kingship?
Time moved strangely in infancy. The first few weeks were a blur of sleep, feeding, and watching the world around him.
His mother, Lady Isolde Valeria, was a gentle, loving woman who sang softly whenever she held him. Her voice carried a regal grace, yet her kindness made her presence warm and comforting.
His father, Lord Alaric Valeria, was a stern but proud man, often seen wearing armor, a scar over his left eye, and a sword always at his hip. A warrior, without a doubt.
Then there was the estate.
Eryndor lived in a grand stone manor, though not overly extravagant. Servants roamed the halls, knights stood guard at the gates, and vast lands stretched beyond.
From the snippets of conversation he heard, he learned a few key details:
1)The House of Valeria was once a powerful noble house, but its influence has declined recently.
2)His father was a respected war veteran but had lost political standing due to a failed campaign in the past.
3)King Alden III ruled the Kingdom of Eldoria, and tensions between noble houses were rising.
4)Magic existed. He had seen his mother cast a small flame spell to light a candle, confirming it was real.
5)Most importantly, other powerful noble houses were vying for dominance.
If I truly have a system… then I must find a way to rise in power.
And that moment arrived sooner than expected.
One night, as he lay in his crib, the system's floating text appeared again.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: HOST GROWTH INITIATED]
[Status Panel Unlocked]
Immediately, a transparent blue screen opened in front of him, revealing detailed information.
[Status Window]
Name: Eryndor Valeria
Age: 0 (Infant)
Race: Human
Title: Reincarnated Soul
Class: None
Affiliation: House Valeria
Strength: 0.5
Agility: 0.4
Endurance: 0.6
Intelligence: 2.0 (Retained Past Life Knowledge)
Mana Affinity: ???
Skills: None
Traits:
[Reincarnator's Mind] (Faster Learning)
[Noble Bloodline] (Leadership Potential)
His mind raced.
A stat system? Skills? Titles?
This was straight out of a strategy game, but the numbers they were terrible. His physical stats were practically nonexistent, though his intelligence was doubled thanks to his past-life knowledge.
Then, a new notification appeared:
[NEW QUEST: FIRST STEPS TO GREATNESS]
Objective: Begin Training
Reward: +0.2 Strength, +0.1 Endurance, and System Function Unlock
Eryndor smirked internally.
"So it begins."