The Family?

"What is this place?" I asked myself.

These lush trees, this lake and those dancing black silhouettes...

What was this world?

Was it all over?

Was this it?...

Had I gone into the afterlife?...

the graveyard of death turned into a forest?...

What is this sorcery? Where am I? Why has death not entertained me? What are these specks of scenery?

...

My eyes started to rapidly blink, the world became clearer! Rather than a world, it was a "battlefield" of some sort. Two opposing groups were fighting each other! It was evident through the contrasting suits of each.

I located myself at the far end of the battlefield among the carriages while in front of me was the ground of death. with the front opposing me and the back at the utmost left. the shadows kept slithering from the right sneakily making their way in. They also were acting ignorant of me. unknowing of my bearing right at the fronts.

As I looked around to contact someone, the ground was starting to quiver as I could hear stomps in unison uncaring of the noise. I looked to my left to see an army!

The more striking were the men in shimmering armour, on the front huge and well built. A protruding chest and had the energy of a warrior. They all wore an emblem unusually stuck at their chest. It holds a familiar signage!

Suddenly, black shadows started appearing with more people in the dark and grim silhouettes holding sharp mini-daggers continuously barraging the now worn-out warriors at the front. It was horrifying with the blood flowing as a river would have on a good harvest rain. Fortunately, the soldiers at the back marched as the worn down retreated and slowly recuperated drinking bottles upon bottles of some liquid, white. and as magic were having their wounds healed at a noticeable rate!

But the shadows who wore the black silhouettes from before were surrounded by these men of gallant aura, holding spears and swords of all shapes and sizes. Some wore short capes while others had gigantic ones covering their bodies! Some held a shield to safeguard against hidden attacks.

More importantly, they all were seemingly ganging up on the black silhouettes who were way less in numbers than them!

Alfred! Wake up!

"Alfred, drop the act! Mother will kill us if she finds you in such a dreadful state!" came a faint voice.

"Ah! Where am I? In the afterlife?" I muttered in my mind, utterly confused.

"Oh no, it seems like his brain was hurt as well," said the faint voice again.

"Must be because the dead branch fell right on his head," added a softer voice.

"Ouch," I screamed, horrifying pain coursing through me.

As I took one last peek at my surroundings, I struggled to focus my blurry vision, making out a few silhouettes surrounding me.

My head hurts! Everything seems blurry!

"Andddddddddddddd..." Everything went black.

....

Oh, Alfred! Are you okay, my child?

A soft voice awakened me from my slumber. As I looked to see who called, my tranquil heart collapsed.

It was a face I never wanted to see again, a feeling of lost anger arose inside me I wanted to kill someone fast. Yet I controlled myself and tried to wake up.

Unfortunately, I was not dreaming. It was real.

A woman with yellow eyes and tied-up black hair, wearing a long woven dress, sat on a soft cushioned chair.

Beside her stood a man, holding two children who appeared a few years younger than me. They were around 10 years old, with identical facial features—blue eyes with green pupils. One was a girl, and the other a boy. A middle-aged man with blue eyes and a scar on his forehead, dressed in a gown befitting a duke, stood solemnly.

"I hope you are feeling better now. Is there any pain, my child?" the woman asked again.

"Where.... am I?" I muttered in a faint voice.

"Do not worry, Alfred. Your physical injuries have been fully healed. You might still experience slight headaches, but they shall pass," said the strong and imposing man.

"Say, Alfred Falkarona, what do you think about your failed assassination attempt?" the lady asked with a hidden smirk.

"The illogical questions are still spoken," I said in my mind.

"Do I have to take up acting again?" I sighed in my mind.

"W-what, Mom? I don't understand," I said, feigning confusion.

"You have been sleeping for months, my dear. We were afraid," she said, her face emotionless.

"You survived the assassination attempt on you but fell into a coma because a dead branch fell right on your head..." she blurted, trying to annoy me.

"Say, dear. Do you want us to punish 'them,' or will you let them repent without a catch?"

"I do not know..." I said in a confused tone again.

"As you say, my child," said my mom as she stood up, took the two children into her arms, and walked away with them. Edgar and Emily, yes... my siblings. Their hands folded together, with relieved and joyful expressions.

"You should start training to defend yourself as soon as possible. You should not disappoint the Falkarona household, even at such a low level." Said the old man.

"Also, do not forget the royal banquet in a few days. As you have awakened, you should tag along. We are attending it."

As my father left the room, he dropped a bag on a table along the way and glanced at me before walking out.

.....

I was really in a daze. I did not have an answer to what was presented before me.

I'm in my youth. Assassination? Repent whom?

This useless trope? Reincarnation?

Now, I lost my life on the battlefield even after killing everyone, which was already mentally traumatizing but this she is back? What the hell? At least I killed everyone there but no! I cannot enjoy their pitiful death?

ha!

Surprisingly, I find myself here in my youth at 16, back in my childhood, in the same room and body! I still have the legacies with me! How many things can I do now?

"I shall live again with no regrets!"

"No, that's a cheap line. Regrets? I will make them again and make everyone suffer! That's right!"

But what regrets if they are not needed? I cannot face that crap again!

Or maybe...

This is just a trap set up by some supreme expert to snatch the information about the legacy I obtained. Seems plausible. Constructing fake dreams is not that hard. Moreover, if I have reincarnated, I should check myself and my cultivation!

I immediately got out of bed and checked myself in the mirror atop the dressing table, also pinching myself now and then to ensure I was alive.

...

A young man, about 15-16, stared intently at his reflection in the lavishly decorated, spacious room. The room spanned about 1000 square feet, with a bathroom in one corner and a range of cupboards and closets adorned with art in another corner.

The room was painted in Violet blue and Scarlet red, creating a spectacle, though slightly obscured by a large painting hanging in the other corner—a phoenix hovering over a volcano, perhaps a homage. Beside the photo, an emblem of the Falkarona sign could be seen. On the other side of the room, a huge window with blinds offered a breathtaking view of the gardens and the city.

The young man finally stopped staring at himself, stood up from his seat, and spoke to his reflection.

"Hmm, my body is not that bad. It is the same as in my early youth! Dark blue hair, yellow eyes with a green pupil. Still as colourful, aren't I? My body is still a bit frail. I need to work hard on these."

"However looking at my situation tho..."

"So I have reincarnated, not in a dream or trapped by an expert. I can experience pain and sense the energy in the air! Hahahahhahahahahah. I have been reborn! I can start over again! Just wait, oh dear world!

The Dark Knight has been reborn today!"

...

But this life... Is so very different. The things in the past are all the same, but the current affairs are dreadful at the least.

I was surprised when I tried to remember what had happened to me before I woke up. A lot. The timeline was never like this before. I should not have woken up so early...

For context, I was supposed to be in a short coma of 6 months from the start of the new year, waking up just in time for the "academy" I had an attempted assassination by a deadly assassination group called "Nightshade" and had survived after a long arduous battle.

But, that's not the most pressing matter at hand.

I knew I also had to attend the secret meeting tomorrow, which caused great turmoil in the world.

If I remember correctly as Father said, in a few days a banquet would be held by the imperial palace to celebrate the birthday of Crown Prince Andrey and Princess Aurelia.

Aurelia.

I would have missed it in my previous life because I was a very rebellious fellow in nature, always disapproving of my dad's decisions... Bad times. I hope I do not make those mistakes again.

First, I should check if I still have all my legacies and go through my memories again! The rusty nostalgic feeling is great!

.....

....[Representation in form for you to understand.]

Legacies:

The Dark Lord - Full mastery, [Legend grade, High]

The Eternal Night - no mastery [Legend grade, PERFECTION]

67 more.....

...

Hmmmm. This is interesting. The Dark Lords' Legacy and the four Elements' Legacy are here? I did not think I would carry every legacy here it's just.... broken and that is amazing! I also carry full mastery of my main legacy! Oh my, I am in shock! It's great because The Dark lord's legacy is legendary grade and high on top of it, and I am its only inheritor, it's hard to cultivate it, but with full mastery, it's easier to do so!

Okay, this is getting suspicious... The Eternal Night's legacy is still with me but reaffirms I have not cultivated it if my memory serves correctly. I read it and memorized it in fear of its imminent theft beforehand, but still...

.....

"Ugh! So much pressure!" I groaned as I rubbed my temples.

"I still need to calm down and think logically."

"First, I should attend the royal banquet. Observing the situation and gaining more information will be crucial for my survival and success."

As I picked up the bag again, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation and excitement. I could also feel the fear of fighting those brainless people again such a waste of time.

Still, the prospect of starting over and rewriting my fate thrilled me.

With renewed determination, I headed towards the closet to keep out clothes for the royal banquet, ready to seize every opportunity that came my way and make the most of my second chance.

However, my mind was still occupied with my previous inspection... The divine Twilight is not so simple.

About the banquet... that seems suspicious but I will attend it having the opportunity hehe...

The war is gonna start, but this time, it will not end like it did before!

With newfound excitement, I prepared my mind for the royal banquet, eager to make my mark on this world and change my fate. The Dark Lord was reborn, and the stage was set for a thrilling new adventure.