The Warlord's Second Life As A Commoner

It was late in the Rayne household. The autumn breeze blew gently through the slightly open windows, carrying the scent of dried leaves. Lucian lay in his wooden basket, his eyes closed as if in deep sleep. But in his mind, a storm of memories continued to roll in. He could not completely forget the battlefield, the cries of the fallen soldiers, and the chill of death. Yet they felt so distant, as if they were part of another life.

Something else began to happen that night. As the moon shone down on the small room, the shadows on the walls moved, not following the direction of the light as they should. Lucian felt this presence, this familiar yet unfamiliar energy. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at the corner of the room where the shadows had gathered.

A faint figure emerged from the darkness. A form, not quite human, but a black shadow with glowing red eyes. "Maximus Caelum," the figure whispered hoarsely. "Or now... Lucian Rayne."

Lucian felt no fear, only deep curiosity. In his previous life, he had faced creatures like this on the battlefield, creatures born of dark magic and hatred. But he had not expected to meet one of them in his fragile new body.

"Who are you?" thought Lucian. His small lips were unable to utter words, but his thoughts radiated powerfully, as if bridging the distance between him and the creature.

The figure laughed softly. "I am a shadow of your past, a remnant of your old life. I come to remind you of your duty. You may be reborn, but this world will not let you forget who you are."

When morning came, sunlight replaced the shadows of the night. Anna entered Lucian's room with a gentle smile, carrying a bowl of warm porridge she had prepared for breakfast. "Morning, my dear," she said, taking the little baby out of his basket.

Lucian looked at his mother with clear eyes, as if trying to understand her every move and expression. Anna stared back with genuine love, but she couldn't ignore the feeling that there was something different about her son. She always felt like she was talking to someone much older than a baby.

Meanwhile, outside the house, Evan was busy repairing the fence that was beginning to fall down. His mind drifted back to the strange events of the night before. He couldn't get the image of Maximus Caelum's face out of his head. He knew there was something special about Lucian, something that might be connected to his old life.

When Anna took Lucian outside to enjoy the morning air, Evan greeted them with a warm smile. "Morning, little hero," he said as he rubbed Lucian's head. He tried to hide the fear in his heart, but Lucian could feel it. The baby looked at his father intently, as if to say that everything would be all right.

As the days passed, Lucian began to show signs of remarkable development. Although he was only a few weeks old, he could move his arms and legs in ways that were unusual for a baby his age. He also began to make small sounds that sounded like rudimentary words.

One afternoon, while Anna was cooking in the kitchen, Evan sat in the living room with Lucian on his lap. "What are you looking at, boy?" asked Evan as he watched Lucian's eyes focus on the pendant around his neck. The pendant was a symbol of honor given to him by Maximus Caelum, a reminder of the past that he cherished.

Lucian reached out his hand, trying to reach the pendant. As his little finger touched the metal surface, something strange happened. A soft glow emanated from the pendant, startling Evan and nearly causing him to drop his son.

"What the...?" muttered Evan, his eyes widening at the light. Lucian just stared calmly at the pendant, as if he knew what was going on. The light disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Evan confused.

Anna, who had heard the noise from the living room, came over immediately. "What happened?" she asked worriedly.

Evan shook his head. "I don't know. But... this pendant and Lucian... something's wrong."

Anna looked at Lucian, who was now smiling a little in Evan's lap. "Maybe it's just a coincidence," she said, trying to reassure her husband. But in her heart she also felt that it was more than a coincidence.

That night, Lucian went to sleep earlier than usual. But his sleep was not restful. In his dream, he stood in the middle of a dark battlefield. The wind carried the smell of blood and fire, and before him stood the shadowy figure he had encountered the night before.

"You have little time, Maximus," the shadow said. "The world is changing, and the dark forces are rising again. You have been given a new life for a reason. Do not waste this opportunity."

Lucian wanted to answer, but his body felt stiff. He could only stare at the shadow, which slowly disappeared with the wind. When he awoke, the sun was just rising and birds were chirping outside the window. Still, the dream lingered in his mind, like a warning he couldn't ignore.

The next morning, Evan decided to take Lucian to the village for the first time. He wanted to introduce his son to his friends and find answers to the strange events that had occurred earlier. The village was small, but bustling with activity. The people were friendly, and many greeted Evan with broad smiles.

"This is Lucian," Evan said proudly as he showed his son to a friend, Marcus, who was a blacksmith. Marcus chuckled. "He looks like a strong boy. Who knows, maybe he'll be a soldier like his father."

Evan smiled, but in his heart he knew that Lucian's future was probably much bigger than that. As they returned home, Evan felt even more certain that he had to protect this boy, no matter what.

Lucian, who had been silent throughout the trip, looked around him intently. He took in every detail, from the faces of the villagers to the sound of metal clinking in Marcus' workshop. In his heart, he knew that this small village was only the beginning. A long journey lay ahead, and he needed to prepare.

As night fell, Evan sat by the fire with Anna by his side. They talked about the future, about how they would raise Lucian in a world full of uncertainty. And in his bed, Lucian closed his eyes and felt a warmth he had never felt in his old life.

Under the moonlight, the little family stepped into their destiny. Lucian, the baby who brought silence, was now the center of a story that was just beginning. A small light has been lit, but will it be enough to fight the approaching darkness? Only time will tell.