Even as a baby, Lucius had shown signs of unusual intelligence. Before the age of three, he was already forming words. By the time he was three and a half, he could hold full conversations — not the simple babble of toddlers, but clear and thoughtful speech. He had started walking early too, steady on his feet when others his age were still crawling.

  The entire family had been overjoyed. But they were cautious.

  News of Lucius’s brilliance was kept secret. Only the closest relatives and a few trusted members of the Imperial family were allowed to know. Outsiders saw him as a noble child from a great house — nothing more. But behind closed doors, everyone knew: Lucius was no ordinary boy.

  The castle he lived in was more like a small country. With over three thousand rooms, vast garden estates, and ceremonial halls that could fit armies, it was a world of its own. Gold ,Gems and jewels decorated the halls. Paintings older than most kingdoms hung on the walls, and chandeliers made of enchanted crystal lit the corridors.

  Lucius had once been given a full tour of the estate by the main butler — a tall, stoic man named Eron, who knew every corner of the house like the back of his hand. They had walked through libraries, armouries, greenhouses, meditation chambers, and even the indoor waterfall garden.

  But what caught Lucius’s attention most was the training arena — a colossal space where knights, battle mages, and royal guards trained in rotation. There was a fire in his eyes when he saw it.

  “Can I try it?” he had asked, only half-joking.

  The butler had chuckled, “In due time, young master.”

  Still, after half a day of walking through endless corridors and courtyards, Lucius had grown bored.

  “We can go back now,” he said simply, already thinking of the books he hadn’t finished.

  ...

  Lucius spent most of his time in the vast Valerius family library. It was a huge space with tall shelves full of scrolls and old books. Even though he was still small, his mind worked quickly. The maids and attendants would read him stories and simple texts, but Lucius would look through the maps, drawings, and history books by himself too.

  Thanks to his past life as Ken, he understood a lot more than a normal child. But he also realised something important,

  He had forgotten most of the novel.

  His memories were blurred, and many important parts of the story were missing. What he remembered was scattered. But that didn’t bother him much , because he was too early in the novel for that details to matter . He figured he would figure things out again as he lived through them.

  Still, some facts remained in his head. The Solarian Imperium, where he now lived, was the largest human empire on the continent of Caelestis, one of seven continents in the world. It was bordered by eight vast oceans.

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  To the northwest was the High Elven Council, a land full of strong magic and ancient forests. To the northeast were the High Dwarves. To the south was the Fractured Alliance — many small human kingdoms that were often unstable.

  One continent was ruled entirely by the Black Blood Dynasty — a terrifying vampiric empire with an immortal Lord at its head. Their influence had remained unchanged for centuries.

  He also remembered that another continent, Vharid, was the industrial centre of the world. It had massive factories and mines, powered by a large, often cruel labour force. It was ruled by the Dark Chamber .

  The Dark Chamber handled illegal trade, forbidden magic, and slavery. It was the dark side of the Serican Ledger, and all eight families had some control over it. Vharid, with its endless supply of workers and buried secrets, was their perfect domain.

  Across distant oceans was another continent — the domain of the mysterious Ocean Empress, rulers of scattered island empires. They were known for their control over the seas and their exclusive access to rare underwater resources like rare metals, crystals, and magical compounds found nowhere else. Their reach was deep, and their wealth second only to the Velcrens in the Serican Ledger.

  There were three final continents, barely mapped.

  They were only described as lands belonging to Demons and Devils — beings older than empires, with motives beyond human understanding.

  ...

  Lucius stood calmly as his personal maid Elara helped him get ready. She was gentle and quiet, careful with every touch.

  "Hold still, young master," she said with a small smile, adjusting the golden trim on his collar. “Today is special.”

  He had just finished a warm bath, where he had been washed with water mixed with rare herbs and sweet-scented oils. The water was drawn from sacred springs and prepared just for him.

  Now, he wore a ceremonial outfit unlike anything he had worn before. The black silk came from the ancient Elder Vines, grown only in the High Elven Kingdoms. The cloth shimmered with enchantments. Golden embroidery ran along the sleeves and chest in shapes that looked like flames and wings.

  “You look like a prince from the old stories,” one of the younger maids whispered.

  Lucius didn’t say anything. He just stared at himself in the mirror. With soft features, smooth black hair, and eyes that seemed too sharp for his age, he truly looked more like a painting than a real child. He was stunning — a beauty sculpted, as if crafted by the gods themselves.

  His mother arrived first. She wore a long dress of Black and Gold, decorated with tiny floating charms that sparkled as she walked. His father came next, tall and proud in a formal suit trimmed with Black and gold. His expression was calm and full of warmth as he looked at his son.

  Then came both his grandmothers — powerful, graceful women who carried themselves like queens. They didn’t show much emotion in public, but even Lucius could tell they were proud.

  “Are you ready?” his father asked softly, kneeling down so they were eye to eye.

  Lucius gave a small nod. “Yes.”

  The time had come.

  An enormous envoy had been prepared to take Lucius to the Imperial Temple. It stretched for kilometers, as if a war army had been summoned. The centrepiece was the grand ceremonial carriage, crafted from Dark-gold metal and lined with rare crystal. It was pulled by thirty elite horses, each one bred from ancient Elven lines. Their silver manes and glowing eyes gave off a magical aura — they were the strongest of their kind, trained for both beauty and battle.

  Trumpets played. Guards stood in polished armor. Servants moved in perfect formation.

  The ground seemed to tremble slightly as the horses stamped and the escort moved into position.

  Lucius stared wide-eyed for a moment. Even for someone like him, who remembered another life, it was a sight to behold.

  “Isn’t this a little too much?” he whispered to one of his grandmothers.

  She simply patted his head. “You only awaken once. Let the world know you’ve arrived.”

  Teleportation gates would’ve been faster — they were just one spell away — but the elders had insisted on this procession. Not for convenience, but for message. This was tradition. And more than that, it was power.

  The entire Imperium would know that the next Valerius was awakening today — and that he was not like the others.