The sunlight that filtered through the fluttering curtains was soft and warm, painting golden patterns across the wooden floor of the room. A gentle breeze stirred the air, carrying with it the faint scent of flowers blooming in the nearby garden. Jianan stirred slightly in his bed, eyelashes fluttering as his senses slowly returned. His body still felt heavy, as if he had been asleep for days—which, in truth, he had.
His eyes slowly opened, meeting the unfamiliar ceiling above. The soft white canopy above the bed, the thick wool blanket, and the crisp linen sheets beneath him all screamed of luxury far beyond what he had known in his previous life. Panic started to creep in, but then a memory flashed in his mind—the silver-haired man, the woman with kind eyes, and the two siblings with such powerful auras.
"I'm… not dreaming," he whispered to himself.
Just then, the door creaked open and a young woman stepped inside. She had the same silver eyes as the man he remembered, and her armor shone even in the dim morning light. Jianan remembered her name—Jian Nana, his older sister.
"Oh! You're awake!" she said, her serious face lighting up with a smile. She rushed over to the bed, kneeling beside him.
"How are you feeling? Does your body still hurt? Do you remember anything?" Her barrage of questions was overwhelming, but there was something comforting in her presence.
Jianan nodded slowly. "I… remember you. And… the others."
Tears welled up in Nana's eyes, but she blinked them away quickly. "You've been asleep for almost a week. We were so worried. Father even summoned the royal physician to watch over you day and night."
As if on cue, the door opened again. A tall young man entered, his dark hair pulled back neatly, dressed in a deep blue military uniform that emphasized his broad shoulders. Jianjun—the older brother.
"So you're finally awake, little runt," he said gruffly, but Jianan could sense the relief behind the stern tone.
He approached the bed and placed a warm hand on Jianan's forehead, as if to check if he was really there.
"You scared us."
"I'm… sorry," Jianan whispered.
"Don't apologize," Jianjun replied, his expression softening. "You're home now. That's all that matters."
Home. That word echoed in Jianan's chest. Could this really be his new home? After everything he had lost in his past life, could he really find a family again?
Their reunion was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching swiftly. The door opened once more, and in stepped the silver-haired man—Jian Long, their father. Dressed in an elegant but practical robe with the insignia of a general stitched on his shoulder, he carried himself with authority, but his eyes softened the moment they landed on Jianan.
"My son…" His voice was thick with emotion. He crossed the room in three strides and sat on the bed, gently cupping Jianan's cheek.
"I'm so glad you're safe."
Jianan didn't know what to say. The warmth in this man's eyes was so genuine, so sincere—it was unlike anything he had known even in his past life.
"I don't understand…" Jianan murmured. "Why are you all so kind to me? I'm just…"
"You're our son," Jian Long interrupted, his tone firm. "It doesn't matter what happened before. What matters now is that you're here, and you're part of this family."
The tears that Jianan had been holding back finally spilled over. He had tried so hard to be strong, to hold on, but the kindness and warmth of these strangers—no, his new family—was overwhelming.
Jian Nana wrapped her arms around him, followed by Jianjun and then Jian Long. A strange warmth spread through Jianan's chest—one that had been missing for so long.
For the first time since his transmigration, he felt like he belonged.
---
In the days that followed, Jianan slowly regained his strength. The palace wing he now lived in was luxurious yet surprisingly homey. He learned that his new body had been weak since birth, and his family had always been extra protective of him. That's why they were devastated when he had fallen into a sudden coma.
His siblings spent time with him every day. Jian Nana told him stories of her training as a knight and her duties protecting the royal prince. Jianjun taught him about swordsmanship—even if Jianan's body wasn't strong enough to practice yet. And Jian Long would come to sit by his bed each night, telling him about the world of Elaria, its kingdoms, and its magical beings.
One night, after dinner, Jianan sat by the window with a book in his lap. The stars twinkled above like diamonds, and the moon shone bright over the garden.
"Nana," he asked as his sister entered with a tray of warm tea, "can I become strong too?"
She looked at him thoughtfully. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't want to be protected forever," he replied. "I want to protect others too… like you and brother."
Nana smiled and placed the tray down. "Then you will. Strength isn't just about muscles or magic—it's about the heart. And you, little brother, have one of the strongest hearts I've ever seen."
Her words lit a fire inside him. For the first time, Jianan began to dream—not of the past he had lost, but of a future he could build.
---
But peace never lasted long in Elaria.
Rumors began to spread in the capital. Whispers of dark creatures sighted beyond the Misty Forest. Reports of bandits wielding strange, corrupted magic. The king had summoned his generals to the palace, and Jian Long, too, was called away for a time.
Jianan watched his father's retreating back with worry. Though his new life had only just begun, he sensed a storm on the horizon.
But this time, he would not face it alone.
This time, he had a family.
And maybe… just maybe… he could become the light they needed in the darkness to come.