Instead of the 32-year-old man, a 19-year-old high schooler was chosen to die on that cursed day.
Instead of a NEET with nothing to lose. A boy with a family of father, mother and a little sister was sent to another world. He considered his Japanese life to be repetitive and boring. But it is now, that he realized, how much he cherished his life. He suffered from the absence of his family.
Upon his death, which was tremendously painful, his wandering soul found its new life inside the stillborn child, Rudeus Greyrat. He did not rejoice at the reincarnation. He cursed it.
In the body of a infant, he could do nothing more than look outside the window from his cradle. So with nothing to do, he desperately missed his family. So much, that he wished to die rather than live his new life.
This did not make his new parents happy, naturally. Their child came into this world without crying and he would not respond to anything. He wouldn't laugh, or cry. He would just feed on the milk, and excrete.
Months would accumulate into a year. Rudeus was now able to crawl. He, although resistant, started to accept his new reality. Accepted his death. And to learn this was a completely different world filled him with excitement.
Couple years later, Rudeus learned many things about this new world. At the age of 2 he started learning the complex art of magic. Magic gave him hopes of going back to his old world.
A year before his 5th birthday, he convinced his father, Paul, to teach him the way of the sword.
On the day of his 5th birthday. He bonds even closer with his new family, sharing joy and happiness with them. Receiving a expensive bastard sword and 2 books; a encyclopedia of sorts and a tale of a swordsman.
In a world without technology, he has nothing but books to keep him busy in his free time. Starting to learn sword at the age of 4 and reading books all day made others deem him a genius child.
He spent 4 more years in the Buena village. In those years, a city boy like him, would become a part of the village. Making friends around his age. Despite them being kids, they were more mature than the rest
Rile, a boy with messy black hair, grey eyes and tall stature for his age. 2 years older than Rudeus. His father Hans, was a former Knight who served the Lord of Fedoa. Now he was a farmer making a living from his gifted farmland. Hans wanted Rile to serve as a Knight under the same house, Boreas. Rile had no objection with it, so he trained diligently as a Water God practitioner.
Now there was Cillian. A year older than Rudeus. Dark brown hair and black eyes. Cill was child of a merchant. Born in a simple life but he was ambitious. He didn't want to take over his father's business, like his father wants him to, he wants to do more. Anything that would allow him to make comfortable a living outside this village.
Ironically enough, in a world without mana calamity. Cillian would make his father's business flourish and become one of the largest merchant guild owners in Asura. But this world holds a different fate for him.
Rudeus, has one other person he calls friend. A girl, Ellen, again a year older. Long ginger hair, and dark blue eyes. One look at her and anyone would say she will be a beauty when she matures. Her father is a blacksmith. The man who forged Rudeus's sword. He's so amazing at his craft, people wonder why he's still in this village.
Aside from them, he knew almost the whole village. From tanners, to millers, inn keepers and what not. Others knew Rudeus as diligent, and witty son of Paul.
After his 5th birthday. Rudeus started reading the magic textbook in front of his parents. They didn't stop him or anything, they watched him study with a smug. So slowly, people knew Rudeus also learned magic.
Now the elf so important to the story, Sylphy. She did become part of the story unlike Roxy, as she lived in the same village, their fate intertwined. Sylphy was bullied, but less severity. Rudeus knew most people, so he made them stop being so discriminating.
And since everyone knew Rudeus could use magic, Rudeus taught his friends too. All of them were excited. But only few succeeded namely, Sylphy and Rile.
While Rile did succeed but he could not keep up with Sylphy, and so he gave up, prioritized swordsmanship. He determined himself to learn magic again later on in life.
Thus, this Rudeus's life was same yet different from true Rudeus. He did not have same mana pool, but it was reasonably big. But he was able to use touki.
He too saved Lilia from a certain death. He too taught Sylphy magic. But he had no affect on Roxy's life. This will change a lot of things. But now there was only one woman left.
Starting to feel the repetitiveness in his life again, at the age of 8, Rudeus decided to leave the village. He wished to earn good money for the family. His parents objected of course. But he had already decided on it and his family knew how stubborn he could be.
While it was a little late, Rudeus still got his job at Boreas house. Tutor for Eris. He was not Saint ranked magician but he was advanced in all elements and Rudeus was vouched by Rile's father, Hans, for the job. So Rudeus had hopes and promises from Philip and Sauros.
The little lady was bit more mature than a year ago, but still a brat. It was not easy to convince the young lady. But Rudeus was persistent to the end and managed to persuade Eris within a week with help of Ghyslaine and others.
From that point on, Rudeus had secured his job as home-tutor. The job gives the mage live-in privilege. However considering Rudeus was a child, he was given a few days holiday to visit his family.
Living in a condition completely different than the village. He grew envious of the luxurious noble life. Rudeus who once dreamt of becoming a adventurer and experiencing the thrill, now wanted a laid back, rich life of a noble's.
He enjoyed his life in Roa. Surrounded by maids who gave him utter respect and others who called him a genius. Rudeus here too, made a name for himself as a prodigy and a good fellow.
Ghyslaine took Rudeus as her disciple. He had mastered North and Water God styles to advanced level. But he lagged behind in Sword God style. Ghislaine took it upon herself to beat Sword God style into Rudeus. She saw potential in him.
Rudeus saved the young lady from attempted kidnapping. That was the event that would change Rudeus significantly. He slashed, stabbed and burned 3 men that day. And Rudeus can't stress the word 'gore'. That horror haunted him for a while, but he felt something change inside him.
For saving the young lady, Rudeus was thanked by everyone. Eris's safety was compromised because of people getting too careless with Ghyslaine and Rudeus around her. Ghislaine slacked for a moment, and kidnapper needed just one mistake. However, they underestimated Rudeus.
Rudeus had potential for a future Knight under Boreas as Eris's Knight and Mage. But more than that, he had potential for being next heir of a noble family.
This was the moment Rudeus waited for. He received this news on his 10th birthday from Lord Philip. He knew he would just be a pawn in the game Philip will play. But in the end, it'll be his victory too.
Alas, it was all too late. His hopes and dreams would go in vain.
On his 10th birthday, which was celebrated in Boreas house, he received a Magic Ring which amplified his wind and water magic, which he wore on the left middle finger. Convenient for a warrior mage like himself.
Next day he was given holiday and chance to visit his family. It was then, it all went wrong...