Reborn

Pain.

It surged through him like molten fire, drowning his consciousness in unbearable agony. His vision flickered—shifting rapidly between blinding white and endless black. Thoughts fragmented, memories shattered, each breath feeling like the last.

A voice cried desperately from somewhere distant, echoing faintly in his fading mind.

"Archmage Aerion, hold the seal! If that dimensional breach fully opens, our world will perish!"

Yes… Aerion. That was his name. He remembered now.

He had stood as humanity's final hope, holding back the unimaginable horrors pouring through the fracture between worlds. Every drop of his power, every ounce of mana within him had been expended. But the breach, relentless and monstrous, had eventually overwhelmed even his prodigious strength.

"Is this… death?" he wondered quietly, amidst the chaos consuming him.

In those final, agonizing moments, he had felt no fear, only deep regret. Regret for not being stronger. Regret for being unable to fully understand the limits of magic. His vision darkened as he felt his life slip away.

Then, everything faded to oblivion.

Slowly, Aerion regained awareness. The darkness lifted gently, replaced by soft, comforting lights glowing dimly above him. Strange, intricate markings covered the ceiling—glowing symbols, undeniably magical yet arranged in patterns utterly foreign to him.

"Where…am I?" he thought groggily, struggling to form coherent ideas.

His senses returned gradually, voices becoming clearer around him.

"He's beautiful," a woman whispered softly, her voice filled with warmth. "And look at those eyes—have you ever seen them glow like that?"

Her tone carried affection and awe. Aerion realized abruptly that she was looking directly at him. With sudden clarity, he understood: she was his mother.

His mind reeled.

"Mother?" he thought incredulously.

"Kaelan," she whispered lovingly, her gentle finger brushing lightly across his cheek. "Welcome to the world, my precious Kaelan Elysian."

Shock rippled through his tiny body. Aerion—no, Kaelan—understood immediately the impossible had occurred. He had been reborn. His soul had traveled beyond death, crossing boundaries he had never known existed.

"Reincarnation? But how…?" His infant mind raced with possibilities, each more incredible than the last.

Slowly, Kaelan became aware of something even more astonishing: the feeling of mana around him. It was dense, structured, vastly different from the raw, chaotic mana he had manipulated as an Archmage. It flowed smoothly, elegantly—a calm river compared to the turbulent storms of his past life.

Instinctively, he reached out with his consciousness, exploring this new sensation. Mana responded instantly, flowing gently around him like an affectionate embrace. He felt connected—not just to one element, but effortlessly attuned to all of them.

"This affinity is unlike anything I've ever known," he marveled silently. In his previous life, mastering multiple elements had been a monumental achievement, something few ever dreamed possible. Yet now, as naturally as breathing, he felt unity with them all.

He tested this newfound sensitivity again, gently, subtly. The mana around him stirred gently, responding without resistance.

A warm, involuntary smile crossed his tiny face.

"Look, honey," his mother said softly, smiling back. "He's smiling already!"

A deep, kind voice replied from beside her—his father. "Of course, Elena. He's destined for greatness. At the Awakening Ceremony, the elders will surely declare him an A-grade talent at least."

Kaelan listened carefully, storing every word. He understood now that this world judged talent systematically, though exactly how, he had no idea yet. He made no assumptions about his own talent level beyond sensing his innate gift was incredibly powerful.

"Awakening Ceremony?" Kaelan thought quietly. "A structured system of magic, then… Interesting. I must learn more."

He realized quickly he would have plenty of time—he was merely a newborn after all.

Determination welled quietly within him. "This is my second chance. Whatever mysteries this structured magic holds, whatever secrets lie behind these runes, I will master them. This time, I will surpass my previous limits."

His eyes slowly drifted closed as exhaustion overtook him. Just before sleep claimed him, Kaelan felt the mana around him gently flow inward, gathering naturally toward his small form. He did not force it—it was as if the mana itself chose to surround him, subtly marking him as different, special, even if he didn't yet understand exactly how or why.

Outside, unnoticed by anyone, subtle shifts stirred in the ambient mana currents around the house—so faint and gentle that no observer could perceive them. Yet, these tiny ripples whispered of destiny quietly beginning its slow, inevitable march.

Thus, Kaelan Elysian, once Archmage Aerion, drew his first breaths within the Kingdom of Aurelia—a realm of structured magic, advanced rune technology, and dangers yet unknown.

It was the beginning of a new journey.

And Kaelan, even in infancy, quietly vowed within his heart that this life would be one worth remembering.