Reinhard couldn't feel his body.
Somewhere in the distance, a faint hum echoed, like the distant roar of a storm, yet it was muffled, as if buried beneath a thick layer of darkness. No sound, no movement. Only endless emptiness.
And yet, he felt no fear.
On the contrary, there was peace. A deep, primal silence wrapped around his mind, like a warm cocoon. He felt as if he had dissolved into it, becoming part of something greater.
Time no longer held meaning.
A second or an eternity—it made no difference. He floated in this void, free from the limits of his body, his thoughts, his emotions.
"This is… a strange sensation..."
But before the thought could fully form, space suddenly jolted. Everything vanished.
A sharp, cold shock.
Reinhard felt his body again, but it was foreign, as if he had been reborn into it. His breath hitched, as if he had just surfaced from freezing water. His lungs burned, filling painfully with air, and his heart pounded wildly in his chest.
He was standing.
Smooth stone beneath his bare feet, towering arches above, the flickering glow of magical lamps lining the walls.
In front of him stood three mages, clad in black and red robes embroidered with golden runes. Their gazes were fixed on him, filled with professional curiosity, tinged with mild surprise.
— "My lord, how do you feel?" one of the mages asked, his voice deep yet respectful.
Reinhard blinked, glancing around the room. The remnants of that strange weightlessness gradually faded, replaced by the familiar heaviness of his body. He clenched and unclenched his fingers, feeling the lingering tingle of magic in the air against his skin.
— "I'm fine."
His voice was steady, unwavering.
One of the mages gave a brief nod.
— "Good. The transfer was successful. Most experience nausea after teleportation, but you seem unaffected… That is rare. We appreciate your trust in our craft."
Reinhard wasted no time on unnecessary conversation.
He stepped forward—his confident stride, sharp gaze, and composed demeanor made it clear that he required no further questions.
— I'm leaving.
The mages nodded once more, stepping aside to reveal the massive doors.
Without hesitation, Reinhard walked out of the tower with a firm step, leaving behind the place where, for a fleeting moment, he had touched eternity.
As soon as the carriage set into motion, Reinhard leaned back against the soft seat and turned his gaze to the window. The landscape beyond was breathtaking—nothing could compare to the sheer magnificence of Deira's lands stretching before his eyes.
Right beyond the portal tower lay vast meadows, rolling endlessly to the horizon like an infinite green sea, bending and swaying at the whims of the wind. The grasses moved in rhythmic waves, as if engaged in a living dance. Amidst the greenery, vibrant flowers blossomed—crimson, sapphire, gold—their petals shimmering under the sunlight, creating the illusion of precious gems scattered generously across the earth.
Further ahead, dense forests rose on the horizon, so thick they formed a solid wall of deep green. The trees were not merely tall—they were colossal, majestic beings that seemed to carry the weight of millennia within them. Their massive trunks could easily shelter an entire family, while their roots, protruding from the earth, resembled winding roads leading into the depths of the land itself.
Reinhard smirked slightly, gazing at these titanic creations of nature.
— Great giants… Mother Nature's finest work, he whispered, brushing his fingers against the armrest. "And soon, they will belong to me..."
The forest gave way to fields, carefully cultivated by human hands. Endless stretches of wheat, barley, and other grains swayed under the breeze, as if paying homage to the heir of House Deira. In the distance, farmers could be seen tending to their lands. Their figures appeared minuscule against the vast expanses, but Reinhard knew—each one of them lived in obedience to his family's rule. They sustained his house, his lands, his empire.
The farther the carriage traveled, the more grand the scenery became. Soon, the first foothills emerged, their rolling slopes gradually rising into mighty mountain peaks. The forested inclines stretched skyward, as if striving to reach the gods themselves. Snow-capped summits loomed over the world below, like frozen lightning bolts suspended in eternity.
— "How magnificent… And these are my lands."
He smirked, knowing that his dominion over them was not yet absolute. But that was only a matter of time. Soon, no one would dare to challenge his claim, no one would doubt who the true master of these lands was.
As he pondered, the carriage continued its journey. They passed through small villages, each well-kept but modest. Upon spotting the ducal crest on the carriage, the villagers quickly paused in their tasks, bowing as it rolled by. Men removed their hats, women curtsied, and children stared in curiosity, trying to catch a glimpse inside.
— "What should I do with these lands...?" Reinhard mused, watching the unquestioning obedience of his subjects.
The journey dragged on, but he did not mind. On the contrary, he relished every moment spent on the road. Everything around him was his—the rivers cutting through the fields, the forests towering in the distance, the mountains shrouded in mist… Everything, except power.
But not for long.
The sun was already dipping toward the horizon, painting the sky in warm hues of crimson and violet, when the distant silhouette of the city walls finally came into view—Dalin, the capital of the Duchy of Deira.
Reinhard's lips curled into a slight smile as he gazed upon them.
— "Very soon..."