Night's Shadow

Reincarnation was a concept I had read about many times across historical books, religious scripture, and even my go-to daily reads: novels and manga.

To think I would find myself in a different world this time as someone else, or should I say – a new me. This was the third time I had been sent to a different world, meaning I was now on my third life. 

The first time I lived simply in a modern world on a planet called Earth, but my life was cut short due to cancer despite all the medical treatments I underwent. Such was life I suppose – no matter how voraciously you try to resist death, it always comes to find you in the end. After all we're all destined to come to terms with our mortality.

In my second life I was plagued with misfortune all throughout. I thought after dying a second time, that I would finally be put to rest, but it seemed that no matter how much I longed for it, this 'curse' would bring me back to life again and again.

***

SLAP!~

A woman slapped my rear end, causing me to jolt and open my eyes.

Looking up, I noticed another woman with her legs spread and a sheet covering her genitalia. The cogs in my brain started to shift. It happened again. I was brought back to life. 

Scanning the room, I looked at the woman who was holding me – the one who had spanked me. As she held me in the air, she prepared to slap me once more, likely hoping for me to cry and confirm that I was alive. Yet still, my inflated sense of pride refused to do so.

SLAP!~

She slapped me once more and it hurt! The wench! I ended up yelping and crying like the baby I was.

Wailing as loudly as I could, I confirmed to them that I was in fact not a stillborn. Did she have to hit me so hard? This was cruelty! Cruelty I say!

***

As the boy flailed and wailed his arms and legs, the midwife spoke.

"He's alive, Diana," she said, whilst a radiating blue energy made its way from her hand into the boy's body. "...and he's perfectly healthy. Here, hold him." She said, handing the boy over to his mother. 

The boy didn't understand a single word that was said.

Turning his head towards his mother to get a better look at her, he noticed she was quite beautiful. Not drop dead gorgeous but she had good features he took note of despite her looking exhausted from having just given birth. Blonde hair, blue eyes, a nice sculpted face, and sultry lips, she seemed to be at the height of her youth. 

Despite his mother holding him and gazing at him affectionately, the boy's mind was elsewhere as he took note of the shining blue energy that had made its way from the midwife to his body.

***

'What was that?' I thought.

I needed to see it once more to confirm. It felt as though that blue thing seeped into every part of my body before pulling itself back into her's. As I looked around the room for the midwife, I watched as she started chanting while motioning her hand in a particular way.

"Lux Vitae" She said aloud.

As she finished what I assumed to be some sort of spell, another wave of energy, different from the last, made its way to my mother, enveloping her entire body. Before I knew it I watched as her complexion seemed to improve, and her exhaustion looked like it had been relieved.

I looked in awe as this was definitely magic.

Before next, the midwife started casting another spell. Her hands swayed differently this time as she said the words "Purgatio" at the same time. A wave of black mist covered all traces of blood, urine, and dirt in the house before it disappeared and left no traces that they had ever been in the house at all.

***

"Thank you, Emily," Diana said, gently clasping the midwife's hand.

"You're welcome, make sure you get some rest. I'll go find your husband" Emily said, slipping out of the room before momentarily returning with Diana's husband.

He was a tall man at 185 centimetres tall, he had iridescent black hair, red eyes and a fair face. Making his way towards his wife and newborn child, he knelt down on one knee next to them on the side of the bed before giving his wife a sweet, tender kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you, my love. I've never seen anything so precious in my whole life," Renbrandt's voice trembled with awe.

Diana's lips curled into a soft smile as she looked at him. "Our little miracle, Renbrandt. Our love has brought this baby boy to us."

Renbrandt's fingertips brushed against their baby's tiny hand, his touch gentle and filled with wonder. "I never thought I'd get to experience something like this. We need to find a name for him. What about Darian, my love?"

A warmth filled Diana's heart as she glanced down at their son. "Darian… yes, I really like it. Did you hear that, little one? You're going to be Darian." Leaning in, she nuzzled her cheek against her son's, a surge of love flowing through her.

…

A while later Renbrandt and Diana were discussing payment for Emily's services.

"So for payment we're looking at around 20 coppers plus the travelling fee, so that'll be 24 coppers in total".

Renbrandt exchanged a glance with Diana, nodding in agreement. "Right, 24 coppers it is then."

The amount might have been enough to sustain a family of three for a few days, but recognizing the value of Emily's assistance, they exchanged a brief look and immediately handed over the coins. No need for unnecessary delay or haggling.

"Thank you so much, Emily. If anything comes up, you know where to find us," Renbrandt said appreciatively.

With a friendly smile, Emily responded, "You're welcome. Take care, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything." She swiftly made her way to the front door and exited, leaving the young couple with their newfound happiness.

[Author's Note: This is the 3rd, maybe 4th and final time I will be re-writing Night's Shadow. It's been quite difficult to write something I like and it's taken 2 years to get to this point. I hope you enjoy the story, and please do point out if I've made any mistakes or if there are inconsistencies. Uploads will be everyday at 20:00 (8PM) GMT+8.

Currently there are enough scheduled chapters to release until next month. I will be working on pushing out more chapters till then. My goal is to release a chapter a day everyday, this means that every year there will be around 365+ chapters released here give or take. Thank you. :)]