WHY ME!!

Chapter 2: A New Beginning

WHY ME!!

Chapter 2: A New Beginning

___________________________________________

The first few years of life are a blur for most people—a kaleidoscope of disjointed moments and half-formed memories. But for Argus, every detail was vividly etched into his mind. From the instant he drew his first breath in this new world, he was acutely aware. With that awareness came echoes of a past life, memories he wished to forget but couldn’t entirely shake off.

His parents, Kaelen and Elysia, were kind, gentle souls. Kaelen, his father, was a skilled hunter with a quiet strength. He spent his days tracking game through dense forests, always ensuring their small family had enough to eat. To the world, he was just a regular man, but there was a magic to him—an ability to channel mana that enhanced his strength and speed. In the safety of their home, however, the only ones who knew of his secret were Argus and Elysia.

Elysia, his mother, was a warm-hearted woman, her laughter filling their modest home with a sense of peace. Although she couldn’t wield magic herself, she never seemed to mind. She relied on Kaelen’s abilities to light the fire or effortlessly move heavy objects. Together, they created a sanctuary that radiated love, where Argus never felt lacking in anything. Their cottage, tucked just beyond the village, may not have been grand, but to him, it felt like a palace.

Argus himself was different from the child he should have been—silent, observant, and constantly aware. From his earliest days, he felt the weight of his past life. He remembered the darkness, the despair that had consumed him, and the moment he had sacrificed everything for a girl he didn’t know. But he resolved to move on. He would focus on what lay ahead: a loving family and a new life filled with potential.

Being a baby with the mind of an adult was both a gift and a curse. Helplessness gnawed at him, moments of frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. He longed to express his thoughts, to communicate the complexity of his feelings, but instead, he could only coo and babble, his true voice trapped behind infantile limitations. Still, he found solace in the tender voices of his parents—the gentle way Elysia cradled him and the proud glances Kaelen shot his way upon returning from a hunt. For the first time in his existence, he felt... at peace.

As the years rolled by, time seemed to fly, and with each passing day, Argus became more fascinated by the world around him. Magic flowed through the air like an unseen current, woven into the very fabric of existence. Kaelen used it sparingly, aware that the world was full of eyes watching for those who wielded it. Yet for Argus, it held an unshakable allure.

He often caught glimpses of the faint magical aura surrounding certain creatures—a stray cat with shimmering fur, birds that sparkled in the sunlight, and even the residual traces left behind by his father’s magic. It was as if he possessed a hidden sense, one that allowed him to perceive what others could not. But despite his keen awareness, there was no indication that he himself possessed any magic. While other children in the village displayed early signs of magical ability, practicing spells under the watchful eyes of their families, Argus remained ordinary in their eyes.

Days passed in a cozy rhythm within their household. He spent his time watching his father hunt and his mother tend to their small garden. Kaelen would share stories of his adventures, of the magical beasts lurking in the forests, while Elysia filled their home with warmth and laughter. Argus absorbed every moment, every lesson, as if they were threads weaving the tapestry of his new life.

On the day of his fifth birthday, however, everything changed.

It was a bright afternoon when curiosity led Argus to the small storage room where Kaelen kept an old, dusty book—an ancient tome filled with the basics of magic. The book was tattered and worn, its pages yellowed with age, but to Argus, it was a treasure. As he flipped through the pages, his heart raced with excitement. Each spell described how to channel mana, to mold it into something tangible. The idea captivated him.

“What if I could do this?” he whispered to himself, eyes glimmering with determination.

With a resolute heart, he decided to give it a try. He closed his eyes, recalling the images from the book. A simple light spell, just a flicker of illumination. He focused, reaching deep within himself for the spark of mana he felt had to be there.

For a moment, nothing happened. A wave of disappointment washed over him, but he pressed on, willing his frustration to dissolve. Then, as if answering his call, a flicker appeared—a faint, almost invisible light shimmering between his fingertips. His breath caught in his throat, a thrill surging through him.

But just as quickly as it came, the light vanished, extinguished by his feeble mana reserves. His body simply wasn’t strong enough yet. Disappointment tugged at him, but it was accompanied by excitement. If he could achieve this much at five years old, what else was possible? Determined to grow stronger, he began training in secret. Every day, he’d steal away for a few precious moments, practicing to increase his mana capacity, nurturing the core that would one day allow him to wield true power. He wouldn’t tell his parents—not yet. This was something he needed to discover on his own.

Life in their peaceful household was comforting, yet Argus’s mind was always busy. He absorbed everything around him, from the way his father hunted to the simple joy his mother found in caring for their home. Their village lay just beyond the small cottage—a collection of thatched-roof cottages and bustling townsfolk. It was governed by the human kingdom, but their family didn’t practice any religion. Even so, the influence of Luminor and Satan was impossible to ignore. The gods’ presence loomed over the world, a silent reminder that forces far beyond human understanding shaped their lives.

As Argus grew older, his thirst for knowledge intensified. He read every book he could find, piecing together the geography, history, and the strange creatures that roamed the lands. Magical creatures fascinated him most: birds with shimmering wings, animals glowing softly under the moonlight—he could sense their energy, something that set them apart from ordinary beasts.

When he turned five, his parents decided it was time for him to attend lessons in the village. Though hesitant, he complied with their wishes. The other children weren’t unkind, but as the new kid, he felt the weight of their scrutiny. Some bullied him, poking fun at his quiet nature, but their taunts barely reached him. With the memories of a lifetime behind him, such childish behavior felt so... trivial.

Yet, as time passed, he made a few friends. Other curious children began to approach him, drawn by his quiet demeanor. They bonded over shared games and slowly, Argus started to feel more at ease. Despite his mature mindset, he relished the moments of joy that came with these simple friendships.

Just before his sixth birthday, however, a strange dream visited him. Unlike the usual jumble of images that filled his slumber, this dream was vivid, hauntingly clear. He found himself back in the endless void where the entity had first spoken to him. The air crackled with energy, reality trembling around him, as if it could shatter at any moment.

A familiar voice echoed through the void—faint, distant, but unmistakable. The entity was trying to communicate something of great importance. Argus strained to listen, but the words slipped away, muffled and elusive, like wisps of smoke.

As quickly as it had begun, the dream faded, leaving him with a sense of something unfinished—a lingering urgency that he couldn’t quite grasp. He woke with the realization that the entity’s message was vital, and it would not be the last time they crossed paths.

As dawn broke, he felt a profound certainty settle within him: his future was tied to something far greater than the quiet, peaceful life he currently led. With each passing day, he could feel the stirrings of destiny, beckoning him toward an extraordinary path.

End of Chapter 2