A shadow around Raskehavan, an Isekai webnovel

I

"We should run away! Together!"

The crowded streets. The night sky. The sounds of cars barreling through their lanes. They were running, hand in hand, trying to remain unseen. Behind them, two tall men in black suits pushing through. Desperation. A green light. The painful sound of brakes screeching. A boy pushing them to the side. Pain. Darkness.

Wulfgar Wulan von Largengarten woke up in a cold sweat. He was sure he had a nightmare, but he couldn't remember it. He knew one thing: it made him feel like a failure, and he hated it. The paintings on the wall of his room seemed to look at him disapprovingly, like he didn't belong. He had felt that way too many times, so he got up, picked up his sword and went outside to practice.

The swing of the sword made him enter something similar to a trance. In time, the world started to blur, and then disappear. There was no world, no judgment, no sisters, no war, no garden, no cold wind hitting his exposed chest. It was just him and his sword, and the dance-like steps of his swordsmanship. Finally, he felt like himself again.

II

Rheann Reice Largengarten couldn't sleep. Her dreams kept showing memories she didn't want to remember, that she thought were long gone. She tossed and turned on her bed until she just couldn't take it anymore. He needed to be outside, among the plants. With a gesture, her hands glowed a pale green, and a mantle of what seemed grass covered her nightgown. She walked outside, trying to not wake up her sister, and tended to the flowering bushes in the garden, which started growing and shining with pretty colors at the touch of her hands.

"What even is leadership?" she wondered, suddenly feeling her responsibilities bearing a heavy load on her shoulders "Just to follow Mother's footsteps?"

As if they heard her, the flowers turned to face her. At least now, in this moment, she could feel content.

III

Raelynn Reid Largengarten slept peacefully. She didn't care she was dreaming about a past life. She realized it was a dream, and made it lucid. Suddenly, instead of running, she turned around and faced her pursuers. She didn't fear their black suits or their sullen expressions now. She moved her hands in opposite L shapes and formed a gliph in the air. Suddenly, the men were on fire. As they burned, she smiled.

"Serves you right!"

Still, it wasn't enough. The fire wasn't hot enough. The rune not drawn fast enough. The area not precise enough. She could still improve. And she would.

As she woke up, she felt pride and an overwhelming sense of ambition. She could be better. She WOULD be better. For her. For Rhea. Even for Wuwu.