Horizon Valley – Red Lake Village
The monsoon winds whispered through the open windows, carrying the scent of wet earth and distant blossoms. It was early morning, and a soft gray light bathed the room in a gentle glow.
A boy stirred beneath a thick cotton blanket, his brows furrowing as he slowly opened his eyes. Confusion washed over him.
"Where… am I?" he whispered.
He sat up, blinking rapidly, then glanced at his hands. Small. Soft. Barely big enough to wrap around the blanket's edge. Panic crept in.
"Wait—my hands? Why are they so small? I was just in my bed… Is this a dream?"
He touched his cheeks — soft, round, and slightly puffy. The skin was smooth, unfamiliar. His heart pounded. He stretched the cheeks with his little fingers, almost hoping to wake himself up.
"No," he muttered aloud, voice high and childlike. "This isn't a dream. It's real. But how…?"
His thoughts raced. Confusion, fear, disbelief — they all fought for space in his mind. Just as the pressure became too much, the door creaked open gently.
A woman stepped in, her face radiant with warmth and affection. She smiled.
"Lucas, my son! You're awake," she said cheerfully. "Are you hungry? Come with me — I've made something warm for you."
The boy blinked, stunned.
"Lucas? So that's my name here…" he thought. "Did I really reincarnate into another world? How is that even possible? This defies everything I know…"
But the smell of food, the woman's smile, and the rhythm of falling rain outside left him no choice but to accept one truth: this was not a dream.
He was alive — again.
---
The woman stepped forward, her eyes gentle, and effortlessly lifted Lucas into her arms. His small body leaned into her warmth as she carried him out of the room and down a narrow wooden hallway. The scent of fresh herbs and boiled grain drifted through the house.
"Did you sleep well, Lucas?" she asked, her voice soft and kind.
Lucas didn't respond. His gaze was distant, lost in thought.
Reborn… he repeated in his mind. This is real. I've come back — to a new world, in a child's body. I still have all my memories… all thirty-seven years of them.
His thoughts grew darker.
In my past life, I was betrayed. My friends turned against me. Even my own family sold me out for power. And the final dagger… it came from the one I trusted most — my wife.
He clenched his small fists without realizing it, his face tightening.
I was blind. Careless. But not this time.
A silent resolve began to form within him.
This time, I will not let history repeat itself. I must learn how this world works — quickly. I need knowledge, strength, awareness…
Yet something gnawed at him.
Why don't I remember anything from the last six years? If I'm six years old now, where are those memories? It's as if I just woke up in this body, as if someone else lived these six years without me.
That mystery unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
For now, he stayed quiet, resting his head on the woman's shoulder as she carried him toward the kitchen. But his mind was already at war — scanning, observing, preparing.
This second life would be different.
---
In the kitchen, the scent of spices and warm grain filled the air. A small fire crackled beneath an iron stove, where an elderly woman stirred a bubbling pot with practiced ease.
As Amantha Divelo stepped in with Lucas in her arms, the grandmother turned and lit up with joy.
"Oh! My grandson Lucas is finally awake," she said warmly. "Come, my boy — come quickly. Your favorite food is ready!"
She motioned toward a wooden stool near the hearth. A bowl of steaming porridge sat waiting, with a generous drizzle of golden syrup on top.
Amantha smiled, setting Lucas down gently. "He's quiet today. I think he had a strange dream last night," she said with a hint of concern in her voice.
Lucas blinked. So… I'm usually talkative? Playful, maybe? That's the kind of boy I've been for the last six years?
He sat down and gave a small, shy smile. Then I need to act like a playful boy… at least until I figure things out.
Just as he lifted the spoon, a sudden ringing echoed through the house — the sound of a bell at the front door.
Amantha brightened. "Ah, that must be your sister! She's finally back from cultivation practice."
Lucas froze for a split second. Sister? I have a sister?
Then, just as quickly, he composed himself. Alright… so I have an older sibling. I need to be careful and observe. Can't let anyone notice anything strange.
But another thought pressed in.
Cultivation practice? What is that? Is it a kind of training? Studying? Or… something more?
He stared into his bowl of porridge, thoughts swirling beneath his calm expression. There was much to learn — and fast.
---
Just then, the kitchen door swung open with a gentle creak, letting in a soft gust of misty morning air.
A teenage girl stepped inside, her boots damp from the rain. Her hair was tied neatly behind her head, and a warm smile lit up her face the moment she saw the boy at the table.
"My little brother is finally awake," she said, her voice bright and affectionate. She reached into her satchel and pulled out a small bundle wrapped in cloth. "Look what I brought for you from the market — chocolates!"
Lucas blinked, then quickly remembered to smile. Playful. I'm supposed to be playful, he reminded himself.
He reached out with both hands, eyes wide. "Thank you, sister!" he said with as much childish excitement as he could muster. The candy smelled rich and sweet — a rare treat.
Edith sat down beside him, placing her hand on his head for a moment before turning to her mother. "Mother, there's good news. I've finally reached Rank One Peak. In a few months, if everything goes well, I'll break through to Rank Two."
Amantha gasped, her face lighting up with pride. "Oh, my sweet daughter! That's wonderful news!"
She stepped forward and gently embraced Edith. "You and your brother — both of you are just like your father. So dedicated to cultivation."
Her voice softened, a mix of pride and sorrow tinting her words.
"With Rank Two, no one in Red Lake Village would dare to provoke us. If your father were still alive…" She paused, eyes glistening. "He would be so proud of you."
Lucas's heart skipped a beat.
Wait—what? My father… is dead?
The warmth of the chocolate in his hand suddenly felt distant. He looked at the smiling faces around him, but his mind had turned cold.
So… I never got to meet him. Was he strong? What happened to him?
More questions piled up inside him, but he said nothing. Not yet.
For now, he simply listened — and learned.
---
Amantha sat down beside her children, her smile fading as her gaze drifted toward the window. The monsoon winds continued their gentle hum, but a sudden silence filled the kitchen — a silence that carried weight.
She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly.
"Lucas," she began softly, her voice strained with emotion, "there's something I should tell you… about your father."
Lucas's heart skipped a beat as he looked up at her, attentive.
"Your father… was a powerful cultivator. A Rank Four — rare and respected. His presence alone was enough to make men lower their heads. No one dared to challenge our family while he stood with us."
Her voice faltered, and she clutched her apron tightly.
"But one day, four years ago… he left."
She swallowed hard, blinking back the pain in her eyes.
"He left a letter behind, saying he was going to search for something — something ancient and forbidden. The River of Eternals."
Her voice broke, and tears began to fall freely down her cheeks.
"He said… if the river truly existed, it held the key to unimaginable power. He believed it was real. But… he never came back."
The warm, lively air in the room grew heavy. The kitchen, once filled with the aroma of breakfast and the joy of reunion, now felt cold and hollow.
Lucas sat still, a storm brewing within him.
So that's how it is… My father was a Rank Four cultivator — no, judging by mother's words, possibly even stronger… His eyes gleamed suddenly. If he could use powers, then that means… so can I.
For a brief moment, a spark of excitement lit up Lucas's face. But as quickly as it came, it faded into sorrow. The weight of his father's absence settled into his chest.
Edith placed a firm hand on their mother's shoulder. Her expression was calm but resolute.
"Don't cry, Mother," she said. "No one will dare to provoke us now. I'll protect our family with my cultivation. Father was a great man — and I'll carry his legacy forward."
Lucas looked at his sister with admiration.
So… after Father vanished, others tried to take advantage of us. That's why Sister is working so hard. And now… she and I are the only hope left for this family.
He clenched his small fists beneath the table.
The River of Eternals… what is it? Why did Father risk everything to find it? So many mysteries lie hidden in this world…
His thoughts turned sharp, determined.
I won't live like I did before — that miserable, pathetic existence. No more betrayal. No more weakness.
This time… I will rise. I shall surpass everyone — and uncover the truth that even the strongest fear to chase.
---