Shadows of the Past

The rain poured heavily from a dark sky, lightning casting eerie flashes across the landscape. Ragnar stood at the edge of the scene, his clothes soaked from the downpour, but he felt nothing—no wetness, no chill from the wind. He was watching a memory unfold, a recurring dream that haunted him, drawing him back to the moment his life changed forever.

In front of him stood the old building with a worn sign reading "Carol Orphanage." It was a place of faded colors and creaking doors, a place that spoke of neglect and time's relentless passage. At the entrance, a fruit basket sat on the doorstep, with a small baby inside, crying and shivering from the storm's harshness.

Ragnar watched the scene play out, helpless to change anything. He was merely an observer in this dream, forced to relive the pain of his past. A blonde-haired woman opened the door and peered down at the crying baby. Her expression was one of annoyance rather than compassion.

"Hah. Another one?" she muttered, rolling her eyes. "How the hell are we supposed to take care of all of them? Well, it's not my problem. Let the matron decide for herself." She picked up the baby and brought him inside.

Ragnar felt a surge of anger as he remembered the indifference that had greeted him at the orphanage. The dream always reminded him of the loneliness and neglect that defined his early years. He wished he could reach into the dream, pick up the crying baby, and give him warmth and comfort—but he was just a spectator, powerless to change what had happened.

Inside the orphanage, the matron, Carol, saw Ruby, the blonde woman, coming in with the basket. Carol, a woman in her 40s with dark hair tied in a bun, had a kind face, but even she couldn't change the harsh realities of running an orphanage. She looked at the baby and sighed, her expression softening.

"Oh, who is this little guy?" she asked, reaching out to touch the baby's tiny fingers. The baby cried softly, exhausted from being left out in the cold.

Ruby shrugged. "I don't know. He was left at the doorstep," she said, her tone dismissive.

Carol's face softened as she gently caressed the baby's cheek. "Oh, you poor soul. Don't worry, we'll take care of you," she said, her voice kind and soothing. She turned to Ruby and said, "Give him a warm bath and make sure he has a comfortable place to sleep."

Ruby nodded and turned to leave, but then stopped. "What should we call him?" she asked.

Carol thought for a moment, then smiled softly. "He'll grow up to be strong, like a warrior. We'll call him Ragnar."

---

Ragnar's eyes snapped open, his heart racing. He took a deep breath to steady himself and slowly sat up, trying to get his bearings. He was lying on a small wooden bed with straw for a mattress, a coarse blanket draped over him. The room was simple, with wooden walls and a single window letting in a sliver of light. It took him a moment to remember where he was.

'That's right. I'm no longer on Earth. This is a world where I can become somebody, where there's no one to hold me back. A world for the strong...' he thought, reflecting on the turn his life had taken.

Just then, the door creaked open, and a small figure stumbled in, struggling to carry a heavy bucket of water. It was little Nala. She beamed when she saw Ragnar awake, dropping the bucket with a thud and running to his bedside.

"Big bro! You're awake!" she exclaimed, bouncing with excitement.

Ragnar couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Haha, yes, I am. Thanks for taking care of me, little miss," he said, ruffling her hair.

Nala's grin grew even wider. "Hehe. I'm awesome, right?"

"Absolutely. Now, could you fetch Elder Moran for me?" he asked, keeping his tone gentle.

Nala nodded vigorously. "That's right! Wait here, I'll go get him!" She was about to leave but paused at the door to say, "Thank you for protecting us, big bro!" Then she darted off to find the elder.

Ragnar wasn't used to receiving gratitude. The simple words of thanks felt strange to him, a contrast to the harshness he'd grown accustomed to. He leaned back against the wall, his mind turning inward.

'Protecting people... I suppose that's something I never thought I'd do. But it feels right. I need to get stronger, though. I barely survived this time. What if there's a next time?' he mused.

A little while later, Elder Moran entered the room, his face brightening when he saw Ragnar awake. "Finally decided to join us after two days, huh?"

Ragnar's eyes widened. "Two days? I was out for two days?"

Elder Moran nodded. "That's right. While you were asleep, Nala kept changing your wet towel and watching over you. We also buried the dead villagers, but the bodies of the bandits were nowhere to be found. They just disappeared."

Ragnar knew why—the souls had been absorbed by his passive skill. He couldn't reveal this secret, so he remained silent. Instead, he changed the subject. "Elder, I've made up my mind. I want to become strong. Is there a place you can suggest I go?"

Elder Moran sighed, as if he had anticipated this question. "There is an academy about two weeks' walk from here. I can point you in the right direction, but getting in will be a different matter. It's a prestigious place, and only the best get admitted. I'm sorry I can't offer more help."

Ragnar nodded. "Thank you for the information, Elder. It's more than enough. If there's a chance, I'll take it."

Elder Moran bowed his head slightly. "We should be the ones thanking you for protecting our village. On behalf of everyone, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

He then added, "Once you're feeling better, there's a place I'd like to show you. But for now, you should rest."

After the elder left, Ragnar leaned back against the headboard, closing his eyes for a moment. The mention of the academy gave him hope—an opportunity to grow stronger and prove his worth.

Now that he was all alone, he decided to check his status window as he remembers hearing more notifications before falling unconscious.

"Status Window"