My second life as a swordsman

Darkness surrounded me—soft and quiet—until I suddenly felt a strange warmth enveloping me and the sound of a baby crying filled my ears. It took me a moment to realize that the crying… was mine.

"What is this?!"

I tried to scream, to move, but all that came out were the helpless cries of a newborn. My body was small and weak in a way I couldn't comprehend. I struggled to open my eyes, and when I did, I saw unfamiliar faces peering down at me.

The first face I noticed belonged to a young woman with long brown hair flowing freely down her shoulders. Her gentle smile radiated warmth, and her eyes sparkled with pure affection. Beside her stood a man with sharp features, his stern expression filled with an intensity that made me uneasy.

"Who are these people? Where am I?"

The Woman: (her voice soft and full of love) "He's so beautiful… his eyes… I've never seen eyes like his before."

The Man: (coldly) "I hope he'll be strong. Beauty alone will not be enough."

"Strength? What are they talking about?!"

I felt the woman's warm hands lift me gently. Her face was close to mine, her smile tender and filled with care.

The Woman: (smiling lovingly) "Rial… this is your name. You will grow strong and brilliant, I know it."

"Rial?"

I repeated the name in my mind. "So, this is my new name? Rial?" It was a new name for a new life… but inside, I was still the same. I was Ather, the time mage who had devoted his life to mastering temporal magic.

The First Days in a New World

As the days passed, I began to process more about this strange, new world I had entered. My life was confined to a small crib, yet that didn't stop me from observing everything around me. It quickly became clear that I had been born into a noble or powerful family.

My mother, Liana Delfaro, was an incredibly kind and loving woman. She was always by my side, whispering sweet words and dreams of my future. My father, Siron Delfaro, was her opposite in every way—stern, reserved, and distant. Whenever he looked at me, his gaze carried a weight that felt like an evaluation.

"This man… he doesn't see me as a child. He sees me as a test."

The Family's History

One quiet afternoon, my mother sat beside my crib and held me in her arms. Her gentle rocking calmed me, and she began to tell me a story.

Liana:

"Rial, our family was once great. Many years ago, your great-grandfather was one of the most powerful duelists in the kingdom. The king himself gifted our family this city in the north as a reward for his loyalty and strength. But…" (she paused, her gaze distant and heavy with sorrow)

"Unfortunately, the generations that followed were not as strong as he was. Little by little, we lost the respect of the people. Your father is determined to restore the Delfaro name, and I know you will help him someday."

"A family trying to reclaim its former glory? So, this is my role in this world. Fine. But first, I need to understand the rules of this place."

Meeting My Siblings

By the time I was a year old, I had gained enough strength to crawl and even attempt standing. One day, as I pulled myself up using the edge of my crib, a young boy entered the room. He was tall for his age, lean, and carried a wooden training sword in his hand. His confident smirk told me everything I needed to know about him before he even spoke.

Kaide: (grinning smugly) "You're trying to stand? Good… but don't even think about catching up to me. I'm Kaide, the eldest, and I'll always be the strongest!"

I stared at him silently. His tone was teasing, but his presence was undeniable.

"This brother… he's talented. I can feel his energy. He'll be a major obstacle if I want to achieve anything in this world."

Kaide walked closer, placing the wooden sword next to me with a laugh.

Kaide:

"Maybe one day you'll hold a sword like this, but don't dream of beating me."

His words lit a small spark of determination within me. I couldn't speak, but my thoughts were clear.

"We'll see, Kaide… you may be ahead now, but this story isn't over."

A New Chapter Begins

This world was vastly different from my own. Here, strength and dueling seemed to define everything. Yet, within me, I held a secret advantage: knowledge from a past life filled with magic and discipline. I couldn't use my magic anymore, but I knew that patience and hard work could achieve anything.

"Rial Delfaro… that's my name now. And this is a new beginning. I'll rise to the top, no matter what it takes."

With that resolve, I took my first steps—both figuratively and literally—into this new world.