Lucius lay on the small wooden bed, his eyes fixed on his tiny hands. They were so small, his fingers still incapable of grasping anything. Every movement felt difficult, as if the body he had been born into hadn't quite caught up with his expectations. But his mind was sharp, ready to understand, ready to accept whatever was coming.
I'm Lucius now. That thought crossed his mind for the umpteenth time. The name, although still strange, didn't unsettle him anymore. There was no time to question his former identity. This was a new life, a new world he had to learn to understand.
His parents were there, always present around him. His mother, Elise, with long, silky hair and a soft gaze, smiled tenderly every time she leaned over him. He studied her face for a moment, absorbing her features, her affectionate eyes. Then, he turned his gaze to his father, Leonard.
Leonard's eyes were calm, wise, as though he had seen the world in all its forms. He wasn't a man of many words, but his gestures were full of warmth every time he cared for Lucius. They're good, Lucius thought. They're much warmer than anything I knew before.
Lucius felt safe, but a new energy burned within him. Curiosity. He observed everything with a fresh intensity, like a child discovering the world for the first time. The sounds, the lights, the smells – everything seemed fascinating. He could feel he was in a special place, a place he had never imagined. A world full of magic, mysterious creatures, and powers he had yet to fully grasp.
"Lucius, darling, you look tired," his mother said, her voice soft, full of affection.
He looked up at her, but his thoughts were elsewhere. I don't want to be weak, he thought with newfound determination. I don't want to be like before, a mere bystander in my life. This time, I want to be the one who takes control.
He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the feeling of his still-weak body. This is strange… he thought. I'm in a baby's body, but my mind is intact. I know what I want. I want to improve. I want to learn everything this world has to offer.
His memories of his past life were still blurry, but he knew he wouldn't let them define his future. This world, though unfamiliar, offered him a chance he had never had in his old life. A chance to never be weak again, a chance to control his own destiny.
He gently rolled to his side, trying to understand the environment around him. The low ceiling, the wooden walls – everything seemed rustic, simple. They call me Lucius. It's a name I've accepted, but it's not the one I had before… I'm in this baby's body, but I understand everything they say. They seem to know me, like I'm not just a helpless infant…
This world wouldn't be easy. He had already realized that. But Lucius wouldn't be overwhelmed. He was going to learn. He was going to grow strong.
And, more than anything, he was going to seize this new chance. This time, I won't fail.