A hazy light flickered in his vision when his sight finally returned to him. His senses were dull, and for a moment, his thoughts were a mess. A big mess, to be exact.
"Where the hell am I?"
His body felt way too different. Smaller, weaker. His hands, which once were calloused and rigid, were now tiny and delicate. Panic surged through him as he struggled to make sense of what was happening in his surroundings.
Before he fully processed everything, some strange voices reached his ears.
"Look, hon, our son is so adorable, he is the most gorgeous being on this earth," a deep yet warm voice filled with affection spoke.
"Yes, darling. He is just the same as you," a woman replied, her tone laced with affection. "I hope he grows to be as strong as you are."
A soft chuckle followed. "Of course. After all, he carries the name of the Stoneheart family and has it's blood in his body."
The name struck a chord in Saaransh's mind. A distant memory surfaced, triggering a wave of recognition.
"Stoneheart… The legendary family of spearmen from my time?"
"Wait… am I their son?"
Everything was happening too fast. The voices of the couple, his unfamiliar body, the sudden realization of reincarnation that he had just now — it was too much to take in at once.
Soon, the room fell silent. The warm voices filled with affection were no longer there; his new parents had left the room.
He took a deep breath and cleared his thoughts. "Okay. Let's think rationally for now."
This situation… he had read about this in many books before. Reincarnation. That was the only plausible explanation. He had died in his past life, but instead of moving on to the afterlife, he had been reborn.
"But why in the Stoneheart family of all places?"
Not only were they renowned warriors, but they also played a crucial role in the history of the empire. He had far too many questions but no answers to any of them.
One thing was certain, and that was that he needed information.
And there was only one place to get what he desired.
The moment he found his chance, he made his move. Though his body was small and fragile, he carefully followed a servant, using the covers to make his way forward without getting caught by anyone.
It was vast, shelves upon shelves stacked with an infinite amount of knowledge. He took his time, scanning all the books, searching for something that could be of any help to him. Then, a title caught his eye:
The Current Age: Insights with an Open Mind.
A book detailing the empire's present state, which included aspects like political changes and major families of the empire, like the Stoneheart's.
"Perfect."
The empire had been founded 500 years ago after the death of Saaransh and expanded through conquest and diplomacy. The empire had faced multiple wars and survived them all, but the power of the empire remained unshaken. Over the centuries, various great families emerged, each with their legacy.
The Stoneheart family was one of the oldest and most renowned families in the whole empire; they were recognized for their unparalleled mastery of the spear.
He continued reading, absorbing as much knowledge as he could. A few hundred years had passed since his death, and much had changed: political conflicts, advancements in infrastructure, shifts in societal norms.
But one thing remained constant, and that was that power ruled over all.
After closing the book, he exhaled.
"At least I now understand the world in which I am born."
He went back to his room.
Now, he had to check his body.
He closed his eyes and focused inward. He searched for his mana circuits within him.
A familiar warmth coursed through his veins — strong, sturdy, and untrained. This body… was far greater than his previous one. This body was perfect for his past swordsman techniques, perfectly suited for combat. It was the peak of human potential.
A smirk crept onto his lips. "This will do."
Before he could plan further, the door to his room creaked slowly.
A tall man with black hair and piercing golden eyes — he looked too handsome, his face cut perfect, and nearly six feet two inches tall — entered the room, his expression softening as he approached.
Lifting him into his arms, he chuckled. "As soon as I got free from my work, I came to see you, my son. You are just too adorable to be true."
He carried him through the halls until they reached a grand chamber: the patriarch's room.
His eyes wandered across the walls, scanning the portraits of previous heads of the family. His breath hitched when he saw a familiar face among them.
"Darius Stoneheart."
'So even he is remembered in history.'
Then, his gaze shifted to another familiar portrait. It was the current head of the family — his father.
Reginald Stoneheart.
The realization clicked. No wonder this body is better than my previous one. He is the son of Reginald Stoneheart, the patriarch of the greatest spearmen family in the whole empire.
Unconsciously, he smiled.
Reginald let out a chuckle. "Oh? My little son is smiling for his father, huh?"
If only he knew the thoughts running through his son's head.
That night, back in his dimly lit room, he sat in silence.
He had to be careful. He couldn't afford to lose his intelligence or his abilities before the right time. These noble families often conducted something called Awakening Ceremonies. If he were to display power before then, suspicion would arise.
He needed to take his time.
As he closed his eyes, a sudden pulse of mana started spreading through his veins.
His eyes snapped open. "What was that?"
The sensation was foreign. It was not like anything he had felt before.
Then, a whisper echoed from the darkness.
Soft, eerie… almost pleading.
His breath hitched as his gaze turned to the window.
A shadowy figure stood there, its features obscured in the gloom. It extended its hand toward Saaransh, and for a faint moment, a flickering light danced across its face.
And then, it was gone.
On the wall, some letters burned into existence, written in black and crimson.
"Awaken, or be lost forever."
His heartbeat thundered in his chest.
A silent summons. A message from an unknown being.
And with that, a single truth became clear:
His rebirth was not a mere coincidence.
Something far greater was behind it all.
And whatever it was… it had already begun.