Kael sat on the edge of his old wooden bed, breathing fast, chest heaving.
He knew this room — the uneven walls, the cracked window, the faded blanket. His childhood home in Southmere Village. It had been burned to ash during the third year of the war.
And yet… it was whole.
He ran to the mirror again. Same youthful face. The scar over his eyebrow — gone. The callouses on his palms — soft.
This isn't a dream. This is real…
He dropped to his knees.
Tears welled in his eyes — not from sadness, but the overwhelming rush of emotion. He had watched this home burn. He had buried his parents. He had died for a kingdom that spat on his name.
But now…
A soft knock came at the door.
"Kael?" came a familiar voice — warm, gentle.
His mother. Alive.
He didn't answer right away. His throat felt stuck.
The door creaked open. There she stood, holding a tray of bread and soup, her apron smudged with flour.
"You're still asleep at this hour?" she scolded playfully. "Come on, lazy bones. Eat before your father starts his grumbling again."
Kael stared at her — memorizing every wrinkle, every strand of hair, the sparkle in her tired eyes. She had died protecting him. And now she stood there, scolding him like nothing ever happened.
He stood and hugged her tightly, almost crushing the tray between them.
"Whoa!" she gasped, laughing. "What's gotten into you?"
Kael didn't speak. He just held on, fighting the tears. This time… he'd protect them.
Later that evening, after dinner, Kael sat alone in the forest clearing behind the house — his old training spot.
This can't be just a second chance by luck... Something brought me back.
Then — a chime echoed in his mind.
[Emotion Sync System – Active]
[Host: Kael Veyron]
[Sync Rate: 2%]
[Trait Unlocked: Emotional Surge Lv.1]
_ Current Emotions: Regret – 100%, Love – 60%, Rage – 40%
A glowing blue panel floated in front of him. His eyes widened.
It wasn't a dream. It really followed me back.
The screen shifted.
[System Explanation – Start]
"This system evolves based on your emotional state. The stronger your emotions, the stronger your power."
"But beware… unstable emotions may consume you."
Kael clenched his fists.
Power from emotion… so the more I feel, the stronger I become?
He looked at his hands — still trembling slightly.
In his past life, he hid his feelings. Buried them. And it left him weak.
Not this time.
He stood up, facing the night sky.
"I will become strong," he whispered. "Stronger than I ever was."
"And this time… no one will betray me."
[System Notification]
Quest Unlocked:
Forge Your Own Path
Objective: Defeat a magical beast using raw emotion
Reward: Skill Unlock – "Surge Blade"
Kael smirked.
A beast, huh?
He reached for the wooden practice sword leaning on the tree.
Tomorrow, he'd go to the forest — where the first wolf-beast ambush happened in his old life.
But this time, he would be ready.
Next Chapter: "The First Fight"