A New Beginning (1)

April 3rd (Morning), 1432. Dragon's Crest Castle

Raphael awoke to a sight he hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime.

He lay in a large bed, surrounded by pristine white walls adorned with gold and silver embellishments that contrasted with the paintings of the Earhart family members. In the middle of the room, a few meters from the bed, stood a dark oak writing desk, upon which rested a pen, a pocket watch, and a gas lamp. Next to it lay a cozy woolen rug decorated with intricate patterns.

This was his room—the very room he had lived in before becoming a Keeper.

Confusion and shock gripped Raphael instantly. He couldn't fathom how he was still alive, nor could he understand how he had returned to his old room. Leaping out of bed, he rushed to the mirror, which he remembered was in the right corner of the room, near the wardrobe.

As he reached the mirror, he froze, stunned by what he saw. A splitting headache pierced his mind, but he barely noticed it as he stared at his reflection. In the mirror, he saw a five-year-old boy with silver hair cascading to his shoulders, blue eyes shimmering in the daylight, and dressed in black silk pajamas with the family's insignia.

No thoughts that came to mind could explain what was happening. Magic, although it had advanced significantly over the centuries—especially during the countless conflicts between the Earhart and Sawyer families—still couldn't create such a lifelike illusion. Even if it were possible, only the upper echelon of the Sawyer magical family could wield such power.

"No, that's nonsense," Raphael immediately dismissed the idea.

He recalled the last words he had heard before awakening, spoken by an unknown entity.

~~

– After the events of the last few hours, not much can surprise me, – Raphael replied, exhausted. – So, what do you want from me, right after my death?

[To give you a second chance.]

~~

"I thought those were just hallucinations before death, but what if..."

Haa!

Suddenly, an unbearable pain shot through his head, as if thousands of hammers were striking his skull at once. The agony forced him to scream and collapse to his knees.

— Hah... What the hell is this? — Raphael thought, wincing. — This kind of pain can't be an illusion—something else is going on here.

His screams brought maids and castle knights rushing into the room. They immediately began inspecting the area and checking on Raphael.

— My lord! Are you alright? Why were you screaming? — one of the maids asked.

— Did someone break in?

As the pain subsided slightly, Raphael pushed himself up and looked around at those present.

"Yes, this is definitely the past. Most of these maids and knights had either been sent to other estates or died by my time."

In great families and kingdoms, death among the servants was common, especially for the Earharts, who had more enemies than allies. It wasn't unusual for maids to die at the hands of spies or for knights to fall in battle or during missions. However...

"... They're all alive..."

It was hard to believe, but the fact remained. Either he had been drugged with the most potent hallucinogens, and even death had been an illusion—which seemed unlikely—or he had truly regressed.

His thoughts grew more tangled. Logic seemed powerless against such an unnatural event.

— My lord?..

Snapping out of his thoughts, Raphael realized he had been silent for too long, not answering the servants' questions.

— Yes, I'm fine, it was just a sudden headache, — Raphael said in a calming tone. — However, I'd like Sir Kazimir to examine me.

"Maybe..."

— Of course, young lord. I'll summon him immediately.

Each of the Earhart bloodline children had a personal doctor, bodyguard, and mentor. A child would choose their bodyguard at the age of six from among their peers in one of the family's orphanages. The mentor was appointed by the Circle Council, which included the Circle Knights, the patriarch, the mother superior, and the heads of the elders. The personal doctor was automatically assigned at the child's birth—the one who delivered the child became their doctor. These doctors would follow their lord exclusively and treat only those whom the lord wished.

However, Raphael's situation was different. He wasn't born within the walls of the Earhart estate, even though he was a blood relative. His father, Theris Earhart, the younger brother of the current patriarch Alonzo Earhart, lived far from the family and had effectively renounced his inheritance and family support. Within the family, Theris was considered a runaway. Although the patriarch claimed that Raphael's grandfather had given his blessing for this, some still despised Theris, including Raphael's brothers.

Since Raphael was seen as the son of a "traitor," born outside the family castle, he wasn't entitled to a family-appointed doctor by tradition. Nevertheless, the patriarch personally resolved this issue with the older sister of Lilian and appointed Casimir as Raphael's personal physician, despite the family's objections and those of the elders.

After the servants left the room, having double-checked that nothing was amiss, Raphael lay back down on the bed.

"… Hah... What is this?"

His thoughts continued to spiral in confusion, and although Raphael decided to accept what was happening for the moment, it was easier said than done.

But there was something else troubling him...

Argh!

Although the headache had subsided, it hadn't completely gone away.

— Could this be a side effect of the regression?.. — Raphael pondered.

About ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

— My lord, may I come in? — came a slightly raspy male voice.

— Yes, of course, — Raphael replied almost immediately.

The door swung open, and a man who appeared to be around forty-five years old entered the room. He was sturdy for his age, with a well-built physique that hinted at his past as a knight. Despite not being overly meticulous about his appearance, his partially graying hair and stubble gave him an air of wisdom and reliability. In his hand, he held a bag of medical supplies.

— Greetings, young lord, — Kazimir said, dropping to one knee. — How may I assist you?

A tear rolled down Raphael's cheek.

When Raphael was fifteen, he was sent on a mission as a newly appointed Keeper to eliminate separatists. Kazimir and Erin accompanied him as support. Due to Raphael's recklessness, Erin was severely injured while shielding him, and Kazimir had to provide emergency care. In the midst of the battle, there was no opportunity for proper treatment. Inexperienced, Raphael tried to protect Kazimir and Erin while dodging the enemy's attacks.

However, during one of the rebels' spells, Raphael couldn't hold back the assault, and Kazimir and Erin were thrown aside. Thanks to Kazimir's quick intervention, Erin survived, but Kazimir lost an arm and suffered severe burns on his back. Sacrificing himself, he shielded Raphael and Erin, giving them a chance to escape while he stayed behind to hold off the rebels.

When Raphael returned to the family castle, the patriarch beat him severely, breaking several bones, and didn't speak to him for six months, not even summoning him to the Guardians' meetings. Although Raphael didn't care much about this, he never forgot his mistake. Kazimir was the first person who didn't treat him as an outsider; he was like the father Raphael had never known.

And now, meeting him after all this time, Raphael couldn't hold back his emotions.

— Please, Sir Kazimir, examine me, — Raphael said warmly, smiling through tears.