First Step and New Discoveries

At two years old, Van Gen had finally reached a milestone he had been eagerly anticipating—he could speak. Although his vocabulary was limited to just a few words, primarily "Mama" and "Papa," the ability to communicate, even in this small way, filled him with indescribable joy. After what felt like an eternity trapped in the silence of infancy, unable to express the torrent of thoughts swirling in his mind, the simple act of speaking brought a profound sense of liberation.

One late afternoon, as he sat cradled in his mother's lap, Van managed to say, "Mama," with a clear, confident voice. The word resonated in the cozy warmth of their small home, and Seraphina's face lit up with a radiant joy that seemed to chase away the shadows in every corner of the room.

"Oh, Van!" Seraphina exclaimed, her green eyes sparkling with pride. "You said Mama!"

Aric, who had been sharpening his sword nearby, paused mid-stroke, a broad smile spreading across his rugged features. "Well done, Van!" he said, his deep voice resonating with warmth and pride.

Van felt a rush of emotion he hadn't experienced since being reborn into this new life. His tiny body trembled slightly, and before he could stop it, a tear slipped from his eye, tracing a path down his chubby cheek. *Finally,* he thought. *I can finally speak to them, even if it's just a little.*

But his parents misunderstood the tear that escaped him.

"Oh no, what's wrong, Van?" Seraphina asked, her voice laced with concern as she gently wiped the tear away with her thumb. "Did something hurt you?"

Aric was at her side in an instant, his brow furrowed with worry. "What is it, son? Are you in pain?"

Van shook his head, trying to convey that everything was fine, but all that emerged was an incoherent babble. *Mother, Father, don't worry. These tears are not from pain...* He finished the thought silently, frustrated that his limited speech couldn't fully express his feelings. *These tears are from happiness.*

Seeing that he wasn't in pain, his parents relaxed, but their eyes remained watchful for the rest of the day, concern etched into their faces. Despite their worry, Van couldn't help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction. He had taken another step forward in this new life, and the joy of that achievement was overwhelming, a beacon of light in his otherwise complex existence.

The next day brought another significant milestone. For weeks, Van had been practicing standing and balancing on his own, determined to walk without his parents' assistance. He was tired of crawling, tired of being carried from place to place—he wanted to explore the world on his own terms.

That morning, while his parents were engrossed in their daily tasks, Van gathered all his strength and focused his willpower on standing. He pushed himself up from the floor, his little legs trembling under the weight of his own body. For a moment, he swayed unsteadily, but then, with a triumphant grin, he managed to take a step. And then another. His heart pounded with exhilaration.

"I'm doing it," he thought, the grin widening across his small face. "I'm really doing it!"

Overcome with joy, Van attempted to jump in celebration. But his legs, still not fully developed, buckled beneath him, and he felt himself beginning to fall. As the hard wooden floor rushed up to meet him, time seemed to slow, and he realized with a sinking dread that he was about to hit his head.

But before the impact came, Aric was there, moving with the speed and precision of a seasoned warrior. He caught Van just in time, his large hand cradling Van's head, preventing what could have been a painful fall.

*N-nice save, Father,* Van thought to himself, a wave of relief washing over him. Though his walking was still wobbly, this small setback wouldn't deter him. He was determined to master it.

Aric set Van gently back on his feet, and Seraphina, who had rushed over in alarm, clapped her hands in delight. "Our little Van is walking! Look at you go!"

Van beamed up at them, his small chest swelling with pride. It wasn't just about learning to walk—it was about independence, about moving forward on his own two feet, both literally and figuratively. His parents' joyful laughter and warm praise filled the air, and for the rest of the day, their home was bright with shared happiness.

The days that followed were filled with similar moments of bonding and joy. The family spent more time together than ever before, their connection deepening with each passing day. Seraphina would take Van outside to the garden, where she pointed out the vibrant flowers, teaching him their names with a gentle patience that only a mother could possess. She laughed as Van tried to repeat the words, his little voice full of curiosity and wonder.

When not training or working, Aric would lift Van onto his broad shoulders, giving him a view of the world from a new perspective. Together, they would walk around the village, with Aric pointing out different people and places, explaining their significance in simple terms that Van could grasp.

In the evenings, the three of them would gather by the hearth, with Van nestled comfortably between his parents. Seraphina's soft singing would fill the room with a warmth that banished the chill of the night, while Aric shared stories of their ancestors—tales of battles fought, of loyalty and honor that defined the Gen family. These moments were precious to Van, each one a cherished memory, adding to the growing love he felt for his parents.

Yet, despite the contentment these family moments brought, Van's curiosity was never fully quenched. The questions that gnawed at him—the need to understand the world's history since his previous life—continued to simmer in the back of his mind. He knew that the answers he sought wouldn't be found in the simple stories his father told by the fire. He needed to learn more, and for that, he needed books.

One afternoon, when his parents were both occupied—Seraphina tending to the garden and Aric busy with tasks outside—Van saw his chance. Crawling over to the small bookshelf that stood in the corner of the room, he felt a sense of determination. The bookshelf, filled with various texts, some old and worn, others newer and more pristine, had always intrigued him. He had seen his parents occasionally take a book from there, though they often kept the more valuable ones out of reach.

With careful determination, Van pulled himself up to stand, using the edge of the bookshelf for support. He scanned the titles, though many were difficult to read from his limited height. His gaze fell upon a book that seemed older than the others, its cover faded and the edges frayed with age. With a bit of effort, he managed to pull it down, the book landing with a soft thud on the floor.

Van quickly sat down and opened it, the pages revealing dense text interspersed with illustrations of battles, maps, and ancient symbols. As he turned the pages, his eyes widened with surprise and disbelief.

*Ten thousand years,* he thought, his heart skipping a beat. *It's been ten thousand years since I died.*

He continued reading, the information both fascinating and terrifying. The world had changed immeasurably in the millennia since his death. But what truly shocked him was the history of Umbraeth—his former kingdom.

Umbraeth, once a powerful and feared empire under his rule as the Shadow Sovereign, had long since fallen into obscurity. The book detailed the events following his death—the chaos that ensued as various factions vied for power. Without the strength of its leader, Umbraeth had crumbled under the weight of its own darkness.

The neighboring kingdoms, once united against Umbraeth, had seized the opportunity, invading and carving up the land for themselves. The great cities of Umbraeth were reduced to ruins, its people scattered or enslaved, and its name became nothing more than a dark legend, whispered in fear by those who still remembered.

Van's hands trembled as he turned the final pages. The book described how the land itself had changed, how the once-fertile valleys and majestic mountains of Umbraeth had become the cursed and desolate Obsidian Wastes—a place where few dared to venture, where shadows still lingered, tainted by the dark magic that had once held sway there.

*It's all gone,* Van thought, a deep sadness settling over him. *Everything I built, everything I fought for... lost to time.*

But as the weight of this realization bore down on him, Van also felt a strange sense of relief. The darkness that had once consumed him, the power that had defined his life as the Shadow Sovereign—it was all gone. In this new life, he was free from those chains. The world had moved on, and so could he.

Closing the book, Van sat quietly for a moment, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts about the past and the future. He now had a clearer understanding of the world he had been reborn into, and with it, a renewed sense of purpose. He wasn't just Van Gen, the child of a simple family in Willowdale—he was also Kael Draven, the former Shadow Sovereign, reborn with a chance to live a different life.

*I won't make the same mistakes this time,* Van vowed silently. *This time, I'll build something that lasts—not an empire of fear, but a legacy of honor, like my father and his father before him.*

With that thought, Van carefully placed the book back on the shelf

and crawled back to his crib. Lying down, his mind buzzed with new knowledge and a firm determination. The future was wide open, and he intended to make the most of it.

As he drifted off to sleep, a deep sense of peace washed over him. He was ready to face whatever challenges this new life would bring, bolstered by the strength, wisdom, and love of the family that had welcomed him into this world.