Echoes of Two Lives

As the sun hung low in the sky, its golden hues draping the forest in a warm glow, Arun heard the familiar voice of his mother calling out to him from their hut.

"Arun! Come home, it's getting late. You can't stay out all day plotting your grand plans with your friends," Mona said, her tone carrying a mix of affection and exasperation.

Arun sighed, brushing the dirt off his tunic. "Duty calls, loyal subordinates," he said to his friends, smirking. "The Supreme Commander must attend to the Queen Mother."

"She's got you wrapped around her finger, huh?" Tavin teased, grinning.

"Better her finger than your nonsense, Tavin," Arun shot back with a grin before turning to leave.

When Arun entered the hut, Mona was stirring a pot of stew over the fire, the smell of root vegetables and herbs filling the small space. She looked up and smiled, shaking her head.

"Nine years old, and you already act like you rule the tribe," she said teasingly.

"Well, I've got to start early if I'm going to be a good leader," Arun said with a dramatic shrug, sitting cross-legged on the mat near her. "And besides, I learned everything I know from you."

Mona chuckled, setting the wooden spoon down. "Oh, don't flatter me. I didn't teach you how to argue with elders or turn the entire village into your test subjects."

Arun grinned but quickly noticed the affectionate way she was watching him—how her gaze lingered a little longer, her thoughts clearly turning inward. He had seen that look before.

"You're doing it again," he said softly. "Thinking about me like I'm some kind of mystery."

Mona sat beside him, wiping her hands on her tunic. "That's because you are a mystery, Arun. Ever since you were born, you've been... different. Not just smart—many children are clever—but the way you think, the way you notice things, it's far beyond your years."

She paused, her voice growing quieter. "Sometimes, I look at you and wonder where all of this comes from. Like when you were still so small you could barely speak, yet you stared at people like you could see into their hearts. And now... you talk about things that even the elders find hard to understand. It's not normal for a boy your age. It's a gift, I know that. But it's also something I worry about."

Arun looked down, tracing patterns in the mat with his fingers. He loved Mona deeply—she had cared for him, protected him, and given him the freedom to explore his ideas in ways that most mothers might not have. And yet, her words stirred something inside him, something bittersweet.

"I'm still just me, Mom," he said after a moment. "I just... think about things differently, that's all."

Mona tilted her head, studying him. "Differently doesn't even begin to cover it, Arun. You've changed this tribe in ways no child—or even adult—ever has. Sometimes I feel like you're teaching me, not the other way around. But promise me something, Arun—don't lose that big heart of yours. Your mind is sharp, but it's your heart that makes you who you are."

Arun nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I promise, Mom. And thanks... for everything."

Mona reached out and ruffled his hair, breaking the moment with a light chuckle. "Alright, now go fetch some water before dinner. And don't take forever staring at the stream. I know how easily you get lost in your thoughts."

As Arun walked toward the stream with a bucket in hand, his thoughts drifted. His mother here, Mona, was kind, strong, and fiercely protective. She had raised him with warmth and understanding, even though she often teased him about his grand ideas. Arun felt deeply grateful for her, but sometimes, in the quiet moments, memories of his past life would surface.

He remembered his mother from his previous life. Her smile, her gentle voice, and the way she used to cook his favorite meals—even when she was tired from her long shifts at work. She had been his anchor, his safe place. And then, the cancer came. He still remembered the day she told him the diagnosis, how she tried to stay strong for him even though he could see the fear in her eyes. She fought so hard, but the treatments available at the time couldn't save her.

If only they'd found the cure earlier, he thought, his chest tightening. He had read, years later, about the breakthrough—a former Russian scientist had developed a revolutionary treatment that could have saved her life. But it came too late. Too late for her, and too late for the life he once had.

Arun knelt by the stream, staring at the rippling water. And now I'm here, he thought. A new world, a new mother. She doesn't replace the one I lost, but she's... special. She's given me so much, and I won't let her down.

He dipped the bucket into the water, watching it fill as his reflections mingled with the shifting patterns on the surface. I couldn't save my mother back then, but this time... this time, I'll make sure the people I care about have a better life. I'll use everything I know—everything I can learn—to protect them. Even if I don't have all the answers yet, I'll figure it out. For her. For both of them.

As he stood and began walking back to the hut, a new determination filled his heart. The past might have shaped him, but the present was his to mold. And with Mona by his side, he knew he had a reason to keep moving forward.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Arun returned to the hut with the water bucket in hand. Mona was seated by the fire, her face illuminated by its warm glow. She glanced up as he entered, the gentle smile she always reserved for him tugging at her lips.

"That took longer than I thought it would," she remarked, standing to take the bucket from him. "Were you off staring at the water again, thinking about one of your grand plans?"

Arun chuckled softly, setting the bucket down before she could reach it. "Something like that. You know me, always scheming."

Mona shook her head with a faint laugh. "You're something else, Arun. It's like you've been scheming since the day you were born."

"Hey," Arun teased, "maybe I was. Maybe I was lying there, thinking about ways to boil water and build irrigation channels even before I could talk."

She ruffled his hair fondly, her teasing tone giving way to something more serious. "I've never doubted it. You've always been different, Arun. But no matter what, you've also been a gift. I don't know what I did to deserve such a sharp mind and a kind heart in a son, but I'm grateful for you every day."

Arun looked away, smiling faintly as warmth filled his chest. He appreciated her words more than he could ever say aloud. Yet, beneath the gratitude, his thoughts stirred restlessly. He wasn't just Mona's son. He was a man reborn—a man carrying memories of another life, another mother, another world.

As Mona began ladling stew into bowls, Arun's thoughts turned inward. He remembered his mother from his past life vividly—her warm smile, her gentle hands, and the resilience in her voice as she fought against her cancer diagnosis. She had been his rock, his constant, the person who believed in him even when he didn't believe in himself. Losing her had been a blow he never recovered from, especially knowing that a cure for her illness had come too late.

It was all so unfair, he thought, clenching his fists. She would have lived if only the world had been a little faster, a little kinder.

The memory of her final days lingered in his mind, but it mingled with a bittersweet sense of hope—hope that this time, in this life, he could do better for the ones he loved. Mona wasn't his mother from before, but she was his mother now, and she had given him nothing but unconditional love and care. He owed her the same.

As he glanced at her, busy serving the food, his resolve hardened. I couldn't save my mother before, but this time... this time, I'll protect the people I love. No matter what.

Later, as he lay on his mat staring at the flickering firelight, Arun's mind was far from restful. His thoughts turned to the elders, to Kaelan, to the strange feats of strength and the murmurs of "Awakening" that he had overheard time and time again. He had tried to dismiss it as mere ritualistic talk, but the more he thought about it, the more it gnawed at him.

What is it? he wondered. What does Awakening really mean? How do they gain that strength?

He thought back to the sight of Rihal and Vedan hauling the massive beast, their casual strength defying everything he knew about human limits. He thought about Kaelan, the tribe leader, and the reverence in the elders' voices when they mentioned his Second Tier strength. It was clear that this "Awakening" wasn't just a figure of speech. It was real, tangible, and powerful. And if it was tied to survival in this brutal world, then Arun knew he couldn't afford to ignore it.

If I'm going to protect Mona… if I'm going to protect my friends, my tribe, everything I care about… I need to uncover the truth about Awakening, he resolved. Because right now, I'm not strong enough. Not yet. But I will be.

The flickering shadows on the wall seemed to echo his determination, as if the ancient forest itself was listening. Arun closed his eyes, letting the thoughts settle as sleep began to claim him. The world around him was dangerous, mysterious, and filled with secrets he couldn't yet grasp. But one thing was clear: he wouldn't stop until he found the answers he needed.

"Maybe I should ask mother or elder's about this Awaken stuff tomorrow" , thought Arun.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges, and Arun was ready. Not just for himself, but for the people he had grown to love in this new life—and for the memory of the mother he had lost in the old one.