Chapter 5 REBIRTH: EMBRACING A NEW DESTINY

Back when Austin stepped through the Stone Door, a swirling vortex of time appeared, and he was immediately transformed into a speck of light, pulled by an immense gravitational force deep into the vortex.

He had no sense of how long or how far he traveled. His surroundings were a blur when he finally opened his eyes, but his vision soon adjusted. He found himself in an unfamiliar place, lying on a bed. Suddenly, a sharp sound pierced his ears before he could take in his new environment, making him wince. He realized that his senses were now acutely heightened. The night was deep and quiet, but for Austin, serenity was elusive. Every small noise startled him, though the surrounding mountains kept these disturbances within a bearable range. It would take time to adapt to his enhanced senses.

Amidst the eerie stillness, Austin became aware of a peculiar mist enveloping him; shimmered with a faint, ethereal glow. Curiously, he felt a primal yearning deep within him, as if his essence craved these mysterious vapors' touch. Unbeknownst to him, the ability to perceive and interact with these mists was a gift beyond comprehension, even to the native beings of this realm.

Lost in wonderment, Austin remembered something, "Body? That's right, did I obtain a body?" He turned his attention to his physical form, raising his arms to find small, delicate hands in place of his own. "What? Could it be...?" Realization dawned upon him-he had been reborn, but his consciousness was now housed within the innocent vessel of an infant. Surprise piled upon surprise. Though he had faced many shocks recently, he wasn't prepared for this.

His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a man with white hair standing nearby, his face etched with tears of joy and disbelief. He had a gentle beard, a strong nose, and gray eyes; it was Harold. "He's alive!" the man called out. Then a beautiful woman with fair skin appeared, equally astonished; it was Arya. "Oh my god!"

***

The night yielded to the gentle light of dawn, as the morning fog enveloped the peaceful mountain. In one of the chalet's rooms, Haily lay in bed, her eyelids trembling as she stirred from slumber. Slowly, she opened her eyes but lingered, staring at the ceiling with a mix of restlessness and sadness. Something felt amiss, as though a piece of her heart was missing. The previous night's events began to resurface, jolting her into action. She leaped out of bed and frantically searched the room. Panic surged when she couldn't find her baby. Ignoring her weakness and dizziness, she rushed outside, driven by an urgent need to find her son.

In the common room, Haily encountered an unexpected sight. Harold, her husband, was laughing with Arya, her cousin-in-law, and the old man-her father-in-law. The room buzzed with unusual warmth and camaraderie. This confused her, as only last night they had learned that her son was dead. They should be grieving, not laughing; she felt betrayed. Her emotions were about to explode when her attention was caught by Arya, cradling something wrapped in a thin cloth. It looked like a baby.

Haily froze, her heart pounding in her chest. A sudden thought came to her, praying it's something she's hoping for. Arya noticed her standing in the hallway and called out, "Haily, you're awake!"

Harold turned at the sound of his wife's name. Seeing her, he immediately stood and hurried to her side. "Honey, you're finally awake. Come, sit here," he said, gently taking her hand to support her.

Haily followed; her gaze fixed on the bundle in Arya's arms.

Before sitting, she gave a slight bow to the old man and Arya in greeting. Arya approached with a warm smile, extending the bundle toward her. "You can carry him."

Confusion and doubt clouded Haily's mind, but as she carefully cradled the bundle and glimpsed her son's face, her eyes widened. Her heart raced, and tears welled up. It felt as though all her burdens and sorrows had vanished in an instant. She hugged her son gently, closing her eyes to whisper a silent prayer of gratitude. "Thank you, thank you. Whatever or whoever it is that made this miracle happened, thank you."

Overwhelmed with joy, she couldn't help but question reality. "Am I dreaming? Please, tell me I'm not," she pleaded, looking at her husband for reassurance.

"No, honey, you're not dreaming. This is real." Harold assured her warmly.

Arya, witnessing this tender moment, couldn't help but tear up. Even the old man, usually stoic from a lifetime of hardships, discreetly wiped his eyes, pretending to drink his tea.

No one knows how long before everyone has regained their composure, but the morning was filled with happiness, and Haily never let go of her son. Meanwhile, Austin, from within the baby's body, observed everything.

From the conversations, he pieced together that the child had died before birth and that he had taken over its lifeless form. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind-'Am I some kind of a zombie now?' But he quickly pushed the thought aside, resolving to embrace this second chance at life.

Regardless of the mysterious circumstances, Austin was determined to make the most of this opportunity, pursue his dreams, and find happiness in this new life.

***

Time passed, and night fell once again. Since Haily never let go of her son, Austin had the opportunity to eavesdrop on their conversations while pretending to be asleep.

Through these conversations, Austin learned much about his new family. They belonged to the noble class, with his father being the Supreme General-the highest rank in the kingdom's military. His mother was the current Royal Mage, and his grandfather, was a retired Royal Mage. Arya, his mother's cousin-in-law, held the esteemed title of Royal Physician.

Austin also learned about the new world. It was divided into three empires: the Mortal Empire, where humans resided; the Mythical Empire, home to creatures such as elves, dwarves, centaurs, fairies, etc.; and the Dark Empire, inhabited by demons. Although he's still in a state of disbelief, slowly he begins to accept the fact that he's now living in a different world.

In the Mortal Empire, the hierarchy began with the emperor being the highest, who ruled over the entire empire. Below him were four kings, each governing their own kingdom. Following them were the nobles, like Austin's family. Next, the common people, and finally the slaves.

While the Mortal and Mythical Empires coexisted without enmity, they were not exactly allies. The Dark Empire, however, harbored a relentless hatred for humanity and other creatures, seeking to eradicate them and claim the planet for themselves. The reason? No one knows yet. Despite the surface appearance of peace, tensions simmered, and war loomed on the horizon.

Arya and the old man had left for the night, leaving Haily and Harold engrossed in a discussion about Austin's future.

"Honey, what do you think our son should practice? A Mage or a warrior?" Harold asked with enthusiasm.

"Honey, you know we need to find out first if our son has an aptitude for magic or martial arts, right?" Haily responded patiently.

"Yes, right, right," Harold nodded. "So, we need to wait until he turns five before we can make any plans," he added, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Austin, who was listening attentively, could not help but be fascinated. 'I see, so magic and martial arts exist in this world. That's cool! Can't wait to learn them.'

However, as Austin continued to listen, he also found out that not all humans or creatures on this planet possessed the aptitude for magic or martial arts. He's crossing his fingers that he's not one of them.

In the Mortal Empire, there was only one prestigious school dedicated to both disciplines. To gain entry, children had to demonstrate an aptitude for either magic or martial arts, meeting a minimum standard.

In this world, mastering magic and martial arts was paramount, akin to Earth, where discrimination thrived, especially within the Mortal Empire. Noble families were expected to rear children proficient in these arts; failure invited scorn and ridicule. Yet, Haily and Harold seems to be unaffected by societal pressures.

With a growing understanding of his circumstances, Austin began to plan strategically. He wasn't in a rush; magic and martial arts could wait. First things first, he needed to grasp the basics: learning their language, both spoken and written. Thus began Austin's new life, brimming with potential and a resolute determination to make the most of his second chance.