Shattered Destiny : Fate

The first thing Teo saw upon awakening in this new world was a bright, ethereal face hovering over him. A woman with golden-brown hair, radiant like sunlight. Her features were strikingly familiar, yet entirely foreign. She resembled his mother from his past life, but there was something different—something regal. Her smile was warm, her eyes soft, yet they carried an undeniable power.

Beside her stood a tall man with snow-white hair, his presence exuding both strength and elegance. He, too, felt familiar, but not quite like the father Teo once knew. An eerie sense of recognition stirred within him, as though this world was an echo of his old one—similar yet entirely separate.

His mother leaned down, cradling him gently in her arms. "Welcome, Ajax Romanov," she cooed.

The language was foreign yet perfectly understandable. Even the name—Ajax Romanov—felt unfamiliar, yet it echoed within him, resonating with something deep inside. Ajax? Romanov? The memories of his past life clung to him, but everything here, in this new world, felt vastly different.

In this life, his parents were nobility—heroes in this society. His mother, Athena, was a national figure, celebrated for her command over both earth and fire magic. His father, Alex, stood proudly beside her, a skilled swordsman who controlled water magic. They were revered not only for their abilities but for their heroic deeds, their names etched into the very history of this world.

Teo—now Ajax—felt a sharp realization as he turned his gaze to the left. There she was: Arrow. In his previous life, she had been his younger sister, the light of his existence. Now, in this strange, magical world, she was his older sister. She had inherited their mother's golden hair and immense talent for earth magic, already hailed as one of the most promising mages in the kingdom. Her presence was comforting yet foreign, as though the sister he had known had transformed into someone else in this life.

In this world, magic, wealth, and status were everything. Commoners, nobles, and royals shaped society, and Ajax's family stood at the top. The noble hierarchy was strict, divided into three classes:

1. First-Class Nobles: The highest-ranking and wealthiest, often possessing immense political power and unmatched magical abilities.

2. Second-Class Nobles: Recognized as heroes for their extraordinary feats, their nobility stemmed from acts of heroism and magical skill. Ajax's family fell under this category, their name marked with the prestigious "A" designation.

3. Third-Class Nobles: Either commoners who had risen to nobility through their own merit or descendants of once-great families who had fallen from grace.

As a second-class noble, Ajax's family was honored not only for their wealth but for their heroic contributions to the nation. They were far from the highest class, but their legacy carried immense respect. The expectations for Ajax, as their heir, were monumental. His mother's prowess in earth and fire magic and his father's mastery of water magic set the bar high, but his older sister, Arrow, was already a prodigy, surpassing even their mother in her abilities.

Ajax, despite being just a newborn, carried the knowledge of his past life. He understood that the rules of this world were entirely different—magic governed everything, and nobles, especially those with his lineage, were expected to wield great power. His family's history and expectations loomed over him, even in his earliest days.

His father, Alex, a master of water magic, could summon and command rivers and seas, while his mother, Athena, was a force of nature, controlling both earth and fire with terrifying precision. Arrow, already recognized as one of the kingdom's top mages, was a source of immense pride. The weight of expectation settled on Ajax even as he lay helpless, unable to speak or walk.

Though he was but a child, Ajax's advanced mind absorbed everything around him. He noted the admiration in his family's eyes whenever they spoke of the Goddess Tempus, whom they revered. Tempus, the Goddess of Time, had once granted the powers that saved their nation, and her blessings were a central part of their faith. Ajax watched his sister train with their father, her skill with earth magic beyond anything he had ever seen. He overheard the whispers of servants, who speculated about when his own powers would manifest.

The pressure to live up to the legacy of his parents and sister was immense, yet Ajax couldn't help but feel a strange sense of purpose. In this new world, where magic determined everything, he was part of something much bigger. The power that ran through his family was his inheritance now, and with it came both opportunity and burden.

Ajax lay in his mother's arms, drifting to sleep, his mind swirling with the possibilities of his new life. What powers would he inherit? Would he command water, earth, or fire? Or perhaps something entirely unique, something that would set him apart? The road ahead was uncertain, but the promise of his second chance was clear.

This world, so different from the one he had left behind, held mysteries waiting to unfold. Ajax had been given a second chance—a new beginning, one filled with magic and legacy. As he slept, he knew his journey had only just begun.