2 years went by since I first arrived in this world. I've mainly spent my focus on learning. Primarily on language, but also trying to get used to my new body. I've also been gathering small pieces of information together allowing me to get a basic understanding of this world and my current situation.

Apparently I'm in the kingdom of Echealia which lies in the Eacerus continent. Moreover, Echealia is also know as the human kingdom.

The reason for that is because Eacerus is divided between 4 races. As mentioned, Echealia is where most humans reside, and it's also the second largest and arguably the most populated kingdom in Eacerus and it's located in the northern part.

The south-eastern part belongs to the elves and is known as Stesea kingdom. The south-western part belongs to the dwarfs an is known as Vronao kingdom. In middle of all these kingdoms lies the beast empire, also know as Xeterra. Its the largest of the 4 domains and belongs to the beast and beastmen. Even though it lies at the center of Eacerus surrounded by Echealia, Stesea and Vronao not much is known about it. It's the most mysterious and obscure domain. Thus no one knows their population count.

Additionally this world I'm currently in is one of magic. And thus, mages rules the society. It lacks a lot in technological and political advances compared to earth, but they share one common rule. The strong dominates. And here the hierarchy or "food-chain" is even clearer.

However not everyone had the capability to become mages. Mages was regarded as those who could utilize mana. It allowed them to achieve inhuman feats and prolong their life. Unfortunately only one in a hundred had the chance to become a mage, but it wasn't entirely random.

Apparently those who shared blood with mages tend to become mages themselves. Meaning that if your parents could utilize mana, the chances of you becoming a mage would also skyrocket. And this lead us to the hierarchy of this world.

Because your bloodline to a large degree decides your magical aptitude, society in Echealia has been split into three groups. The common people, nobles and royals. Usually those from common upbringing lacks magical aptitude, meaning none to few in their family tree has been a powerful mage. In contrast the nobles consist of families who consistently produces mages. Thus those who has noble blood is revered while those with common blood is disregarded. Royals on the other side are the family of the emperor. In other words, since this world hierarchy is based on the amount of power an individual holds, the royals are regarded as the most powerful. Which means that the royal bloodline produces the most talented mages.

"Luckily" for me, I'm of noble blood.

Apparently this body belonged to Kayn Gaillon. Son of Viscount Thomas Gaillon and Catherine Nixon. The Gaillon bloodline has throughout history produced numerous exceptional mages. And that includes my father who is apparently very powerful. Thus, there has been some rumors about him getting his title promoted from Viscount to Earl.

However, my situation is quite complicated. My mother Catherine Nixon isn't married to my father. Thomas Gaillon took interest in her, due to her exceptional looks and hence, made her his mistress...

Polygamy isn't unusual in this society, especially of nobles. For the sake of creating talented children with good magical aptitude, many nobles are know to marry multiple people of high magical talent in hope of his/her bloodline to "evolve". In other words they hope for their child to bear a bloodline which carries even more magical aptitude than themselves so they can bring the family to new heights.

Because my mother and I has common blood in our veins we have been severely mistreated in the family. Catherine Nixon holds no power or authority in the family and is shunned even by some maids and servants. However, my fathers current wife Melanie Mercer and their children has treated us the worst. No days went by without harassments while my sh*tty father turns a blind eye to it all. I've held it in since I came to this world. My anger, annoyance, displeasure, fury. Every time I was about to rip their f*cking tongues out, I bit my lip and held myself back in behalf of Catherine Nixon. Essentially I put up with the harassments because I didn't want to act rashly, but I've really came respect her, not only as a mother, but also as an individual.

She has no authority and no power, but she still acts with a sense of sovereignty. She emits a sense of capability which I've only seen in a few people. And everyone of them has reached extraordinary heights. She doesn't care about the harassments, and even the small beatings or minor spells she gets hit by as a taunt. Her expression never wavers and she always carries herself majestically. It's like she has a plan, a motive I can't see, and I can't help but be curious as she determinedly tackles everything thrown at her as if it's mere air.

But today...

She felt different. I could see it. Those spirited eyes usually filled with vigor. That pure smile which usually brimmed with happiness. And the warmth which always gave me a peace of mind, which made me feel safe and at home...

They were nowhere to be seen. It felt like she was putting up a façade, a mask, and to the naked eye they would've never noticed. However to me, to someone who had lived a lifetime wearing a weighty mask, it was easily recognizable.

She was tired, stressed, but sad... or maybe dejected?

Emotions which has been long suppressed surfaced as she held me in her cold embrace. And for the first time since arriving in this world I felt the need to take action, not for me, but for her, my mother...

It sound weird or even gross, but after living the last two years alongside her I couldn't help but accept it. I was growing fond of her. Even with my mind being the age of a middle aged man I genuinely started to think of her as my mother. Was it due to a lack of mother figures in my last lifetime? Or is me inhabiting this body somehow influencing my feelings?

Regardless, it made me scared...

I was afraid. Afraid to lose something dear to me. The larger part of my past life I pushed everyone away. I thought it would hinder me, I was afraid someone would use my feelings against me, but most of all I was afraid to lose more...

When one learns to love, they must bear the risk of losing it.

That's what I truly thought, and thus I lived nearly my entire life isolated. My eyes and soul devoid of life as I bathed in blood wherever I walked.

Memories and emotions of my past life emerged from the deepest of my mind agitating me even further. And unconsciously to me my body was trembling and my face was turning pale.

"Kayn?"

"Are you alright? You're trembling..."

Her soft and gentle voice pulled me back to reality as she lightly pushed me away to get a better look.

At that moment I made up my mind. In this lifetime I won't fear, I won't be scared, I won't be afraid to love...

I'll live this life to my fullest. I'll do those things I regretted never doing, I'll experience the joys of life I never got to have, and I'll enjoy and savor this new life of mine. However, most important of all I'll protect those dear to me. This time I refuse to lose anyone! This is my new chance, my new life. I'm reborn and i better not live this life in vain.

As those thoughts ran through my head, I looked at Catheri- no, I mean mother.. and a second realization hit me. I'm weak. I'm awfully weak. I may have been strong, but right now I'm just an ordinary kid. Moreover, I'm in a new world with unfamiliar dangers lurking everywhere. To conquer those, and to live my life peacefully, to protect my loved ones and to experience this life freely I need power. I need strength. I need unparalleled authority to the point where nobody can threaten my freedom and peace. And there's an obvious solution to that.

Magic!

With my previous experiences, knowledge, skills and talents I'm undoubtedly going to reach amazing heights if I'm able to learn magic. I don't know what it means to be a mage, but if strength rules this society then thats what i will work towards.

Uncontestable and absolute strength!

Once again returning to reality from my thoughts I noticed my mother with a perplexed expression.

"Kayn? a-are you alright? You've been spacing out a lot these days..." She asked with her soft and soothing voice while carrying a hint of worry.

However, unknown to Kayn there was multiple questions running through Catherine Nixons mind as she was inwardly scratching her head. Her eyes also seemed to light up in bewilderment watching an incomprehensible phenomena unfold in front of her.

And not just her, but every mage in Meolria City  couldn't help but turn their heads as they sensed an abnormal mana disruption. Every living thing in close vicinity ceased their actions only to look in direction of Kayn Gallion. The birds stopped chipring and even the wind stopped blowing. The world seemed to come to a standstill as it welcomed the birth of a new age...