3 Chapter 1: Rebirth

Trade union - east borders

Freinos city

On the vast valley of Wheat, lands were blessed by climate and Iron Mountains that stretched from north to east.

It was a midsummer, merchants and adventurers could be seen busy everywhere.

On the surface of the valley stood Freinos city or city known as the East gates of the Trade union.

To the south of the city, one could find many farming fields while to the north would find a Border forest that stretched up to the beginning of the Iron Mountains in the north.

To the west of Freinos city was river Blue that played an important role as a trade route with the Dwarf kingdom while to the east there were forests and several monster zones near and in the Iron Mountains. Both the route and zones attracted many adventurers and merchants from the whole Trade union.

The whole valley of Wheat was the domain of Freinos family, the east vassal of the Trade union.

Inside the Lord's castle, a youth around 12 years old was lying on the bed. He was Theo Freinos - the only son of the Lord. Currently, he is recuperating after a serious injury. He was unconscious.

After a while, Theo opened his eyes. He couldn't help being confused by a scene in front of him. "Where am I?" Theo muttered to himself. He was shocked as he realized that his hands became smaller, scars disappeared and his skin was tender. However, the thing that shocked him the most was the room itself.

He clearly remembers this room because it was his room inside his manor where he grew up, lived, and the place where he saw his parents for the last time because they, their city, and all people precious to him perished that night.

"I was actually returned back in time?" Theo said with doubt. He remembered how the Empire outnumbered his army. How his subordinates, friends, the woman he loved, and how his last, loyal warriors and mages were killed in battle. How he was one of the last survivors who fought against the "Restoration Emperor". How he fought, fought, and fought against hordes of enemies until he ran out of battle energy and mana, becoming easy prey for the "Restoration emperor" that pierced his heart after his final attack.

Theo looked towards the side in search of a certain object that became like an extra hand for him.

'Space ruler'.

When he moved his glance through the room, he quickly realized that his weapon perished in his final battle against "Restoration Emperor", and it was no longer with him.

"I actually returned back in time, so the 'Space ruler' is still in that place! I can find it even earlier than in my previous life!"

Theo fully immersed in his imagination with thousands of new possibilities that appeared before him. The enigmatic artifact allowed him to control space, improved his mind and body, and helped him to create a solid foundation for further progress.

'I need to become a mage as soon as possible to get to that place to take my 'Space ruler', thought Theo with a resolute flame in his eyes.

The day when he accidentally found the staff during his duty in the army was the day when an ordinary mage began his journey to the pinnacle of archmages. The artifact was so strong that Theo could easily fight with armies with several archmages there, solely by himself. The 'Space ruler' played a vital role in his battle power.

Even in his last battle against the "Restoration Emperor", he lost just because he got into a trap, got exhausted, and had no more ways left for him.

While Theo was in deep thoughts, the door opened and a red-haired beauty entered the room, she had blue pupils, tender skin, and emitted a magical vibe. He instantly recognized her - his mother.

"You are awake! You have no idea how much I worried all this time."

Mira quickly grabbed and embraced him in her arms. Tears began appearing in her eyes.

Theo was interrupted by this familiar but dearly missed feeling. He immersed himself in that feeling and dearly embraced her as if this feeling could disappear as a non-existing dream.

"Mother" muttered Theo as he drifted into his distant memories.

He remembered how he was betrayed and thrown away by the Council. How his achievements were taken back, how his bright reputation was dirtied with rumors and accusations, and how he was put in jail and tortured. Everyone considered him a criminal and traitor when his so-called friends were first to accuse him. In one day the glowing name of the youngest Union's general was turned in dust of history. When Theo lost his powers, becoming a cripple, emerging in an abyss of darkness and pain, only his family arrived to help him. Many loyal knights died liberating him and escorting him back to the Freinos family domain. His mother cured him when he was injured and mentally broken and thought that he lost everything. She helped him return his magical talent, recover and begin training once again. It was a pity that regardless of all his efforts he wasn't prepared that time. When the Empire attacked Freinos city from the south together with monsters from the north he couldn't do anything, he was too weak. He was standing together with his sisters and looked at his mother. How he embraced and looked at her smile for one last time, knowing that they would never meet again.

That night she and his father perished in battle for Freinos city, and he and his sisters escaped with a group of loyal knights to the monster zones in the Iron Mountains. He clearly remembered the burning and crying city when all his friends, servants, and his legacy perished in blood and fire. How his last group of loyal people and his sisters died in the following days from monsters in the Iron mountains and how he was left alone with a "Space ruler". All those sacrifices were made just to let him escape.

Thanks to flashbacks, he quickly realized that he was brought back in time before the war, the death of his loved ones, and the biggest tragedy of his life.

Tears began appearing in his pupils and he couldn't hold from embracing the woman in front of him.

"Mother, it's really you, it's not a dream or illusion," said Theo hugging his mother.

'The "Restoration Emperor", this time I will be ready and you will pay for all the deaths you have caused and would cause. This time it will be my sword piercing your heart. I will make sure you think 10 times before touching my family. Nobody will harm them. I have failed them once, but this time I will make sure to protect them.'

If it wasn't for the Empire's schemes, he would never lose his position in the Union's army, civil war would never start, the union's army would not get destroyed, the royal family wouldn't wallow in chaos in one night, millions would not perish and he would never lose everything.

"Theo, are you all right, of course, I am your mother. Have you seen a nightmare?" asked Mira, with a worry in her eyes. She was wondering if her son saw a bad dream or a nightmare.

"I am all right. Just a terrible dream, happy to see you, mother." Theo said as he hugged her even stronger. Only he himself knew how strongly he missed her.

After being hugged for such a long time by her precious son, Mira muttered, "Son, I am happy too, but you have to release me, your body is not fully recuperated and still needs some rest."

Mira got free from his embrace and quickly brought medical soup.

"I know, you don't like such soups, but it will help you recuperate faster and I made it myself so that my son could appreciate my culinary skills," Mira explained, giving him a try with a spoon.

Almost immediately his stomach roared, reminding him of himself.

Theo gulped saliva and as a hungry beast began opening his mouth in demand for food. He was still too weak to eat himself.

Mira smiled, observing her son's reaction.

While his mother was feeding him, Theo realized that he was still a 12-year boy and that it was an ideal time for building his own magic foundation. Now when he reincarnated to the past, he will make sure to use his vast knowledge to become stronger as soon as possible.

Another pleasant thing was soup itself, back in his past life he hated it during childhood but missed it so much later in his lonely journeys.

'Mother, back in my previous life I made you disappointed with my magic progress during my early years and was so weak regardless of all your efforts in my training. You made so much for me, and this time I will make you proud for giving birth to a magic prodigy. Nobody would say that your son is useless in comparison to his glowing sisters.' Theo thought to himself, swallowing another portion of the soup.

At that moment the door opened and a man in white robes entered the room. Each new step from the robbed man slowly made the room and vibe seem brighter.

"Madam, I need to check his condition." said the priest after the bow.

"Sure, proceed please." Mira took the medical soup and retreated from the bed.

The priest quickly approached Theo and chanted a light spell to check Theo's body condition.

In a blink of a second, a bright light appeared from the staff of the priest enveloping Theo's body and disappearing inside him.

The priest stood silent for several minutes before looking at the woman.

"Madam, he has several ribs and bone in his leg fractured, I have cured most of the damage made by fall from a horse. You will need to give him medicine and use this oil to help him recuperate faster. For now, he should stay in his bed and not strain his own body. A day or two and he will be fine." said the priest, giving a list with medicine to Mira.

"Thank you, Great priest, I would also ask you to check the condition of injured guardian knights."

"Sure, madame, it would be a pleasure for such a servant of light." the priest bowed and left the room.

With the sound of the door closing, Mira quickly approached Theo and seriously looked at the youth with her burning gaze.

Theo who was still watching in the direction of the door was taken by surprise because of that gaze.

He, who had already lived for 120 years and whose name cast awe on all his enemies as the last archmage of the Union, swallowed his saliva under such gaze from his mother.

"Theodor Freinos, you are the only son I have. The only male in Freinos young generation. Beginning from today, you should work hard and make sure such situations would never happen to you again. What would have happened if all your guardian knights died and you were left alone." said Mira with a burning gaze before it softened a bit.

"I know that you couldn't train before, but now you can, and must work hard not for us but for yourself so that such situations would never repeat themselves and your family always knew that you are okay. It's time for you to concentrate seriously on your training, even if you don't like it, you at least have to catch up with your peers in terms of power, most of them are already mages," said Mira with a serious expression on his face.

"As soon as you recuperate, go and concentrate on your training. You have many merit points that haven't been used because of your previous condition, so get as many things as you can and build your magic foundation. Besides, your guardian knights will be glad to help you in training. I expect you to participate in the coming city tournament, or I will take your training in my own hands," said Mira with a clear cue in her words.

Theo could only swallow another portion of saliva remembering well a certain period of his life that was full of pain and exhaustion.

"I understand". said Theo with a complicated gaze.

Though he had already passed through her training lessons, he had a small interest in repeating the same experience.

"Good, then let's finish my soup and I will give you your medicine," said Mira with a bright smile on her lips.

At that moment, Theo was totally convinced that he was actually in the past just by looking at his strict and at the same time benevolent and caring mother.