[1st POV - Arthur Leywin]
The blurry sight of a familiar setting made me blink a few times to reconfirm that what I was seeing wasn't a dream. From the looks of it, I seemed to be back in my old body. Getting up from the couch on which I was sitting, I left my room in the castle. A young maid, who had been waiting for me just outside, greeted me respectfully as soon as she saw me.
"G-good morning, King Grey."
I didn't bother glancing in her direction as I walked, and she followed a couple of meters away.
Upon reaching the courtyard where all the trainees were lined up with swords held in front of them, I turned my attention to the instructors who were yelling at them about proper stance and breathing. When one of them saw me, he immediately turned and gave a firm military salute, with the other instructors and trainees following suit.
I simply motioned for them to continue and walked towards my destination. Pushing open the double doors, I arrived in front of an aged man with a thick head of white hair that matched his long beard and emerald eyes that shined with a sense of cunning wisdom and knowledge. He was Marlorn, the head of The Council.
Even though I held the position of "King," I couldn't help but consider myself as just a glorified soldier. The Council actually governed the country, managing the politics and economy.
So, what became of my position as King?
The title of King meant that I was actually more of a one-man army. Due to the decreasing birth rate and limited resources, the Councils of each country assembled and, after countless months of discussion and arguments, came to the conclusion that if wars continued to exist, we would eventually wipe ourselves out.
Getting rid of wars would lead to two major outcomes: a decrease in the death toll, which would lead to population growth, and a decrease in the destruction of harvestable land and resources from the use of nuclear arms. The solution they came up with and enacted was to replace wars with a different form of combat.
What replaced wars became known as the Paragon Duels. Whenever there was a dispute on a level that impacted the state of the country, a Paragon Duel would be declared, with each country sending in a representative that they deemed was the strongest.
Looking up, Marlorn exclaimed with the standard fake, picturesque smile that seemed to be an inborn trait amongst politicians, "King Grey! What brings you to my humble dwelling?"
"I'm retiring," I said firmly.
Without even giving him the chance to react, I unclipped my badge, a piece of metal that every practitioner sought after, and slammed it on his giant oakwood desk before walking out of the door.
What have I been living for all these years? I was an orphan who had been raised in a camp designed to train duelers. I was twenty-eight, yet I had never dated or loved anyone. I had spent my whole life until now solely for the sake of being the strongest.
And for what?
Admiration? Money? Glory?
I had all of that, but never in a million years would I choose to have that over what I had in the town of Ashber. I missed Cain. I missed Alice. I missed Reynolds. I missed Durden. I missed Jasmine. I missed Helen. I missed Angela. I even missed Adam.
...Mother...
...Father...
...Brother...
*Cough!!* *Cough!!*
I opened my eyes again, and towering trees and dangling vines filled my vision as I lay on my back. However, this time, the excruciating pain that welcomed me told me I wasn't dreaming.
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TBATE: Shadows Of The Past
FanfictionA soul finds itself in a new world, reincarnated in the body of a new born. He soon finds out that his world isn't as simple as it is. With the help of magic, will he be able to grow to overcome any and all his challenges? Or will he ultimately end...
