POV of Kael Lanpar
There are thousands of books, documents, scrolls... remnants that support and explain the history humanity had to endure to become what it is today.
Each one tells a story, narrated through the darkest and most incredibly beautiful experiences people lived in each era, along with the enormous changes each event brought.
In history, everything is connected. It's a continuous thread that links every action to its respective consequence.
A clear example was the war in my previous world. No one knows exactly how it began, but according to what is told, it all started from a misunderstanding. That single mistake sparked a flame that ended up wiping out eighty-seven percent of the human population.
The thing is… in this world, the same sequence repeats itself: confusion, pain, and finally… war.
"Do you think they wanted this?" I asked my sister without looking at her. "Who would ever commit such an atrocity just because of a misunderstanding… a mistake?"
A few weeks after my birthday, I became obsessed with uncovering what had truly happened during the elven-human war. I began asking questions, visiting the library constantly… searching for answers to this endless cycle of war and death.
That day, I finally understood everything. And it scarred me even deeper than I already was from my past.
"Sadly, because of one person's mistake… everyone pays the price," my sister answered seriously. "And that mistake would never be forgiven. You and I didn't live it, Kal, but… the pain our father and grandfather must have felt is indescribable."
Before Mai and I were born, events unfolded that marked the beginning of one of the greatest tragedies on the continent of Mayora.
When my grandfather Xavier I and the former elven king, Dirion, still ruled, something happened that shattered the fragile alliance between their nations.
No one knows for sure why he did it, or what he hoped to gain, but the day Zephyrus Midoriya—former commander of the elven magical forces—spilled the blood of my father's sisters, daughters of a man already broken by the previous war… everything changed.
Chaos was unleashed.
Those three young heirs were known among the people as the Crystal Scriptures. Their deaths ignited a fury in my grandfather and my father so deep, so consuming, that it dragged the continent into yet another war.
I closed the book I held in my hands and rested my head on Mai's shoulder, silently gazing at the rows of shelves filled with books and scrolls that still hid the secrets of the past.
"Now I understand Father's attitude," I whispered. "He doesn't see life the way Mom does… because he already knows what it's like to lose everything."
"They were both born in the same era, but carried different weights on their shoulders," Mai said, gently stroking my hair. "One had to learn how to suffer… the other, how not to be destroyed by it."
"Kal, don't let this consume you now," my sister continued, sighing. "These are things we have to leave behind. The past stays where it belongs. We have to live in the present, you understand, little brother?"
I nodded, showing I fully understood her message.
"I think I'll go outside for a bit… I want to enjoy the sunlight," I said, getting up from the wooden floor.
"Sure, see you later," she said, laughing. "As always, I'll be the one cleaning up the mess you left behind."
"No, wait, I—"
"Go on, have fun, Kal," she interrupted sweetly. "I'll take care of it."
"Alright…" I muttered to myself, and began running toward the mansion's exit, crossing the polished marble floor that always reflected the golden decorations and the portraits of my grandparents, my mother, and my aunts.
Everything in this world holds history —I thought as I kept running—. The unsettling part is that, despite this being a different reality, things still repeat themselves.
It's strange… every time we try to understand why…
The reason behind this cycle—no matter how much the circumstances change—we always seem to return to the same point.
The problem isn't the place, nor the situation, nor the world.
The problem… is us. Extraordinary creatures, yes, but also capable of becoming our own greatest obstacle.
As I stepped through the door, I was greeted by the scorching yet refreshing day ahead of me, a reminder that I wasn't living in the past, but in a present that—at least on the surface—seemed better.
People strolled through the streets, enjoying the sun and the soothing breeze, as if everything were truly peaceful. A peace that, though perhaps false, was still worthy of admiration. The songs of the crystal birds harmonized with the moment like something out of a fairy tale.
Here, we all live in ignorance, unaware of the past our ancestors endured. All the pain they carried eventually became the source of the happiness we now take for granted.
"Good morning," I greeted an elderly man passing by.
"Very good morning, young prince," he replied with a smile.
Every smiling face I saw as I wandered aimlessly reminded me of a civilization I once knew all too well.
"Good morning, young man! Looking for something?" called out a fruit vendor from his stall. "We've got a sale going on today, don't miss it!"
Now that I think about it… the food in this world is better. I'm not saying my past life was bad, but——I paused to take a bite of an apple as I handed the vendor two Bronze Yenis—everything here tastes so natural it almost feels perfect.
"Thank you for your purchase, young man," the vendor said kindly. "Have a lovely day."
"Likewise," I replied, taking another bite of the apple.
Maybe, if everything doesn't end in tragedy and history doesn't repeat itself, I could have a small farm someday.
I know my status probably won't allow it. That's the most likely outcome. But being a prince doesn't mean my future is carved in stone. It's just a title… not a prophecy.
I kept walking for a while, wandering through the clan grounds, taking time to observe, to compare. I couldn't help it. Nearly everything reminded me of my past—just with subtle differences.
I see things with the same eyes, but I feel them with different emotions.
"Of course this was bound to happen…" I muttered under my breath. "Earthen chair."
In an instant, a chair materialized, and I sat down to relax while gazing at the horizon. It was still daytime, and aside from the birds and animals roaming around, I was alone.
I was staring at the echo of a home I had once lost… and in another world, had regained—at the cost of having lost everything in the past.
"Damn freak! Why don't you just go away already?!" shouted a kid in the distance, catching my attention.
"Looks like there's a fight," I said, glancing down toward the forest behind me. "Three against one. That's not fair. And judging by the appearance of the one being picked on… I think it's a girl."
I don't usually get involved in these kinds of things—especially not when I'm in a reflective mood—but…
I squinted, trying to get a better look.
"That hair… I know it," I muttered, before dismissing the chair, summoning a sphere of water in my hand, and heading straight for the scene.
"I told you to leave, you freak…! Ouch!" one of the boys screamed, clutching his cheek.
"If you don't want another, I suggest you back off," I warned the brat while sliding down the hill, stopping right beside Airis.
"I didn't need your help," she said, annoyed. "I could've handled them. They're clearly weak."
"I know you could," I replied seriously. "I'm not denying that. But who said fighting was the best way to solve your problems?"
It was annoying to get involved in a fight between kids, especially when I had nothing to do with it. But even if I don't see myself as a hero—because, let's be honest, I'm not—I had to stop Airis from doing something she might regret.
Now that I think about it… I could… no, what am I thinking? Using them as test subjects for my training wouldn't be a good idea. Still… if things got out of hand, I'd only immobilize them.
"And who are you supposed to be?" one of the kids asked. "Don't you know kids like you who act like heroes always end up badly?"
He was older. Maybe one or two years more than me. Judging by his aura and the magical particles surrounding him, he probably already had control over an element.
He didn't scare me, but he was still a risk… especially since he could provoke Airis into losing control.
"Airis, you told me you have a deeper connection with the elements now, right?" I asked.
"Yes… why? What does that have to do with anything right now?" she replied, intrigued.
I didn't say anything else. I just started walking toward the bullies, letting my astral magic manifest and act on its own.
My emotions and my magic were intertwined, so there was no need to think. The magic simply knew what to do and how to respond. I focused only on staring into the boys' eyes… with the lethal calm of a predator. Just like my grandfather.
"Hahaha… do you seriously think we're scared of y—"He froze, looking down."W-what's going on? I can't move! My feet!"
Mud. The combination of water and earth. A simple, effective trap. No need to fight. Just act. No punches. No shouting.
"What branch are you from?" I asked them curiously. "You know this kind of behavior is frowned upon within the clan."
"W-we're from the second branch," replied one of them, who, judging by what the other had said, seemed to be named Fermín.
"Don't give him information, Fermín! Don't be stupid! He could use it to report us!" the other snapped, drenched in sweat.
To be honest, I had no intention of reporting them. Especially not when their cowardly friend had already run off and left them behind.
I was so focused on the two of them that I hadn't noticed one of the boys had escaped… and Airis had gone after him.
I looked around, trying to track mana particles. Nothing. I let out a frustrated sigh.
"And what's your name?" Fermín asked, curious.
"My name is Kael… Lanpar," I replied, dispelling the spell. "Nice to meet both of you."
"Wait… are you Prince Kael? Aren't you supposed to be in Luzarion?" said the other one—Hojel—suddenly nervous. "S-sorry, Your Majesty. I'm Hojel, from the third Astral branch."
"I don't have time for formalities," I said firmly. "Right now, my priority is finding Airis."
I let the astral magic flow through my body once more. The leaves around me lifted into the air, swirling into a small tornado.
"Listen… I won't say anything to anyone. Go home. Don't go around bothering others again."
They both nodded in silence.
In an instant, I vanished in a burst of speed, weaving through trees, jumping over fallen logs, searching for Airis. But I couldn't find her anywhere… until I heard the screams.
They were hers.
I had learned not to trust anything or anyone in this world. I couldn't let my guard down. Even the safest places could become centers of chaos at any moment.
Shit.
I thought, feeling a presence approaching the place where the scream had come from. It wasn't someone I recognized. And judging by the flow of mana, that person had no good intentions whatsoever.
"Wind Blade," I whispered, getting closer and closer.
Fear settled in as I considered the possibility that something terrible had happened to Airis.I never thought I'd care this much about her.
When I finally reached the place… I froze.
Three familiar silhouettes stood before me.Figures who had been with me throughout my life, and whom I hadn't seen in a very, very long time.
"…Dad? Mom?" I whispered, and they heard me. "What are you doing here...? Mai, tell me this isn't a dream."
My sister shook her head. And in that moment, I knew it.It was really them.
I ran toward them with all my strength, only to stop suddenly right before reaching them.
In my mother's arms was a small child. A baby.She slept soundly, wrapped in white towels of pure cotton.
"Ma… who is she?" I asked, still confused, drowning in a storm of emotions.
"Come here, son," my father said, embracing me tightly. "You have no idea how much I missed you. I carry so much regret for not being there… forgive me."
But I couldn't take my eyes off the baby.
"Is she… my sister?" I asked, barely hearing his words. "I have a new sister… and I didn't know?"
My mother confirmed my suspicions with a warm smile and brought the baby closer to me. She was so small… so delicate…
"Her name is Alice, your little sister," my mother said tenderly. "She's one of the reasons we hadn't come to visit you. Aside from the war… there was a small unforeseen complication."
When I finally saw Alice's face fully, I couldn't help but be overtaken by a memory.
A moment just like this, in another life.
I was a child, seeing my sister for the first time. My mother laughing, playing with her, introducing her to me and saying her name was Alina.
I don't know if it was a coincidence… but just looking at her sent a deep pain through my chest.
I had promised my sister in my past life that I would protect her at all costs.
And I ended up seeing her in a coffin.
"Hey there… little one," I said, gently stroking her tiny head. "I'm your big brother, Kael."
I hadn't realized the screams had come from the mansion's garden. I'd been so lost in thought that I ended up here—surprised—standing before the most unexpected sight: my family, together again.
Though… beyond the reunion, something still didn't sit right with me.
That presence I had sensed among the trees…
It was strange that it disappeared so suddenly. Especially right at the moment my parents appeared.
I turned my gaze to Airis, who was now making funny faces at the baby.And I kept thinking how badly things could have ended… if they hadn't arrived when they did.
"What's wrong, little brother?" Mai asked, nudging my shoulder. "Still stunned by the big reveal?"
"You already knew?" I asked, surprised.
"Obviously!" she said playfully. "I already knew you had a new sister."
"WHAT?!" I shouted. "Why am I always the last one to know anything in this family?"
"Because you're the youngest… well, were the youngest," she teased. "But honestly, I think from now on they'll start telling you more things… like, for example, helping take care of the baby."
"Yeah… help her," I repeated in my mind.
I can't afford to let my guard down. Not now. Not with a new life in the family.
All of this… everything… feels like a reflection of my past life.
Maybe I didn't reincarnate.Maybe I was transported into the body of another version of myself, from a parallel universe doomed to suffer the same fate, only in a different way.
Who knows?
But for now…
I just want to focus on being with my family.To be happy...
…And to forget.