Night had long since fallen. The ink-black sky stretched silently over the city, disturbed only by the diffuse glow of magical street lamps twinkling through the stained-glass windows of a large white stone building. Inside, in a warm room with polished wooden walls and purple drapes, a woman lay on a bed surrounded by several female figures dressed as nurses.
'Come on, push, madam, it's coming... it's almost there!' said one of the women, holding the woman in labour's sweaty hand.
The mother was beautiful despite the sweat on her forehead: long, slightly wavy black hair clung to her temples, framing a pale face illuminated by a pair of blood-red eyes, deep as the abyss and burning with intensity. Between the pain and exhaustion, one could see a strange glimmer of courage mixed with fierce serenity. Such is motherhood.
A cry rang out.
'He's here! It's a boy! Well done, madam,' announced the nurse, delicately handing over a tiny being covered in a white cloth.
In the woman's arms lay a newborn baby. His skin was pale, his hair pure white, almost silver. But what disturbed everyone present was the baby's silence. No cry. No sudden movement. He opened his eyes slowly, revealing a gaze of almost unreal clarity, as clear as crystal. A mystical silence filled the room.
'Give him to me...' whispered the mother softly.
She held the child close to her and said tenderly:
'Hello, little prince. You've put me through a lot, my little darling... welcome home.'
At that moment, the door opened with a slight creak. A man entered. Tall, muscular, with hair as white as snow, icy blue eyes and a face carved from stone. His aura commanded silence. The atmosphere changed immediately. The nurses became nervous, some lowered their eyes, one stiffened. Only the mother remained perfectly calm. 'Why are you standing there, my love? Come and see our son... He's cute, isn't he?' she said with a bright smile.The man approached slowly, cautiously, as if the scene was beyond him.
When he laid eyes on the child, a slight involuntary smile appeared on his lips, breaking the ice of his expression for a moment.
'He looks very wise and calm... He didn't even cry when he was born,' whispered the woman.
'Isn't that a little worrying? Normally, newborns cry...'
'I already checked his condition with an ace min mana. He's in perfect health, darling. Don't worry,' she said, brushing his hand.
'Have you found a name for this little prince?'
"Yes. I'm going to call him... Lucas. Lucas Storm.
Meanwhile, in the infant's mind, it was not a happy time.
What's going on? Who are these people? Why am I so small? And... what are they talking about? I don't understand anything!
He tried to move... to no avail.
I was supposed to be dead. I was stabbed by an attacker on my way home. And now I'm here, tiny, with giants who speak a strange language. Wait... why isn't my body responding?
Okay... stay calm.
Suddenly, the woman approached and began to breastfeed him. When he saw what was happening, the baby panicked inside.
Wh... what is she doing?! Why is she taking out her... No... NO! Don't tell me... I've been reincarnated as a baby?!
Unable to resist, little Lucas ended up drinking despite himself... before falling into a deep sleep. Once asleep, the nurses placed him gently in a small crib near his mother, under a soft blue light emanating from a crystal hanging from the ceiling.
Later that night, all was quiet. The room was bathed in a soothing dim light. Only the slow breathing of the sleepers disturbed the silence.
Lucas opened his eyes.
So it wasn't a dream... I really have been reincarnated in another world.
He slowly turned his head towards his mother, who was sleeping peacefully.
The language they speak... it's neither English nor French. This isn't just a resurrection. It's a true reincarnation in another world...
In my previous life, I was an orphan. I lost my parents and sister in a car accident when I was eight years old. After that, it was my grandparents... then my uncle, all gone. People said I was cursed. I lived alone from the age of fifteen. Isolated. Ignored. Until an old man took pity on me and hired me to work in his convenience store.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Then... that evening, I saw a classmate being harassed. I wanted to intervene. And I was stabbed. Dead. End of story... or so I thought.
He clenched his teeth.
Being reincarnated... maybe it's not so bad after all. Maybe this time... I could have a real family. A normal life. Maybe... I could be happy.
The sun had just risen. Its first rays filtered through the beige curtains, gently illuminating the room with a warm, golden light. In this silent cocoon, lulled by the morning songs of unfamiliar birds, Lucas slowly opened his eyes.
His blurry vision focused on his mother's face, leaning tenderly over him, her long black hair framing her red eyes like two rubies sparkling in the morning light.
'Good morning, sweetheart... Did you sleep well? You didn't cry once last night, you're such a good boy.'
You must be hungry... she said softly, moving closer to breastfeed him.
Again? No, no, not already! thought Lucas as he saw her breast coming closer.
This time, he grimaced and wriggled with all his tiny strength, turning his head left and right as if to protest silently.
'Looks like I was right,' she whispered with a tender laugh before settling him down to feed him anyway.
Once fed, Lucas closed his eyes briefly, sated. But a subtle change in the air was noticeable. He sensed it, even without understanding. His mother had just sat up, her eyebrows furrowed, her posture suddenly stiffer.
'How long do you plan on staying hidden...?' she said coldly, without turning her head.
A shiver ran through the room.
From the shadow of the north wall, a man emerged. His silhouette was wrapped in a long black cloak. His bright eyes, barely visible under his hood, seemed to probe the room like sharp blades.
'As one would expect from the Blade of Darkness... My dear sister, you managed to detect me despite your current weakness. Don't panic, I've only come... to see my nephew. He has our mother's eyes,' he said in a deep, almost honeyed voice.
'Hello... brother. But I think your presence here is a mistake. Eric won't be happy to know you're here. Please... leave. You're not welcome,' she said in a firm, icy voice, unlike the one she had spoken in moments before.
The atmosphere had frozen. Even the wind behind the window seemed to have stopped. And Lucas, in his cot, felt his little heart contract. Who was this man? Why did his mother, so cheerful and sweet, seem so defensive, tense, almost sad?
"My dear sister, I'll leave. But you know as well as I do that you can't run away forever. Father asked me to leave you alone... for now. But how long do you think you can continue living this little family life without your enemies finding you?
She replied, her voice even colder:
'That's none of your business. My husband and I know how to defend ourselves.'
The man let out a short, joyless laugh.
'Two cowards. You two are perfect for each other.' But remember: the Ombris family will always know where to find you. See you soon, my dear sister.
And with a step backwards, his body seemed to dissolve into thin air, swallowed up by shifting shadows that slid like ink across the floor. In a second, he was gone.
Lucas stood frozen.
He... he disappeared... just like that?
It was... magical. There's no doubt about it. This world is not Earth.
Since I was born, I've had my suspicions... but now I'm certain. These people... this unknown language... and now this... it's magic. Real. Genuine.
Even without understanding a single word of their exchange, Lucas felt in his bones that this man was not an ally. His tone, his posture, his presence were enough to alert anyone.
I absolutely must learn this language. Understand this world. Find out who this man is... and why he gives me such a bad feeling.
As he was lost in thought, he felt a soft hand on his forehead. His mother had leaned over him again, a tender smile on her lips.
'Are you all right, sweetheart? Don't be afraid, Mummy's here,' she whispered, as if to chase away the shadows still lingering in the room.
And Lucas understood that he was only at the beginning of something huge... something unknown... but that he would not suffer this world as he had the last one. This time, he would be ready.