The story is of Viktor, in his past life as Arjun, he was counting his last breaths on earth, while laying on the deathbed cursing his misfortune, unaware that he was about to get a second chance at life, a do-over in another world, a chance at happ...
"MAMA!!!! PAPA!!!!" The wail belonged to a newborn, the sound piercing through the usual chants and prayers, resonating with joy and innocence. Nina and Raphael, froze in place. They had been enveloped in their sorrow until this moment. They recognized that voice—small, desperate, and filled with longing. Without a moment's hesitation, they rushed towards the source, their emotions a whirlwind of confusion and hope.
The spectacle before them was one of fervent chaos. A tiny bundle of joy, a newborn baby boy with dark hair and bright eyes glistening with tears, reached out to them, his chubby hands grasping the air. Surrounding them, clergy members of the temple formed a barrier, their stern faces marred by uncertainty and intrigue.
"Look at him!" Nina cried, her voice shaking. The baby had chosen them as his parents, and it was undeniable. As Raphael bent down, cradling the little one in his strong arms, tears streamed down their faces—not of sadness, but of utter joy. They were overwhelmed, hearts swelling as they embraced the miracle of life before them.
Magnus, the second-in-command of the temple, looked on in disbelief. Greed had clouded his heart long enough; he had envisioned raising the child himself, establishing a legacy. But it was not meant to be. He struggled to mask his disappointment with a façade of authority. "You cannot just take him! We are responsible for the well-being of this child!"
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"No," the nobleman interjected, stepping onto the marble staircase from the balcony above, his robes impeccably fine. Felix Steinberg, the man of standing, interrupted Magnus's futile protests. There was an unmistakable authority in his voice as he turned to the clergy gathered. "The baby has made his decision clear. It is the will of the Goddess Azna." He gestured towards the statue of the goddess, her halo radiating a warm, golden light, illuminating the temple with divine warmth.
As rumbles of doubt quieted, Felix strode closer to Magnus. Lowering his voice, he issued a subtle, yet ominous threat, "I know your schemes, Magnus. The head priest has sensed your growing greed. When he returns, you and your minions will have much to answer for." The weight of his words left Magnus seething, his ambition thwarted, but he masked it beneath an insincere smile.
The collective gaze shifted back to Raphael, Nina, and the baby, who reached for them once again. "He—he has chosen you both," Felix assured them, his voice now softening. "It is the will and blessing of Azna that he be with you."
Tears of joy cascading down Nina's cheeks echoed the sentiments shared by her husband, who held the baby as if he were the most fragile, precious thing in the world. "What will we name him?" Raphael asked, looking deeply into Nina's eyes for the answer.
"Viktor," she said, a sweet smile illuminating her face. "Viktor, the victorious one."
As Felix ushered them towards his chambers to formalize the adoption, Raphael and Nina could hardly contain their elation. Within minutes, they signed the legal documents. The seal glowed with the combined essence of their blood, completing the bond that would tie Viktor to them forever.
