Crimson Rebirth ( GL)

I sat under the shadow of an enormous tree, its leaves rustling softly in the breeze, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the ground.

I leaned back against the rough bark, letting the coolness of the shade wash over me as I thought about everything that had happened since I arrived here. It still felt surreal, like I was living someone else's life.

Reincarnated into a body I didn't recognize, in a world that seemed plucked from some ancient fantasy novel.

The Khasar family. That's who I was now part of one of the richest, most influential families in this world. I'd gathered that much. And yet, everything was still so foreign to me. The grand estate, the endless luxuries, the servants who waited on me like I was some fragile princess.

I was used to being on the basketball court, sweaty and strong, pushing my body to the limits. Now, I could barely walk up the stairs without getting winded.

It was the magic that unnerved me the most. I knew I was in a world where magic existed there were subtle signs everywhere.

The floating lights, the way certain things seemed to move on their own, the faint hum of energy I could sometimes feel in the air.

But I hadn't seen anyone actually use magic yet. It was almost like it was hidden, just beneath the surface, waiting to reveal itself at the right moment.

And then there was my mother. I shifted uncomfortably at the thought of her. She was a force of nature, that woman elegant, commanding, and utterly terrifying.

She had this way of looking at me, like she could see right through me, like she knew I wasn't really her daughter.

I was scared of her, and that wasn't something I was used to admitting. But there it was. I could feel the knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach just thinking about her.

A sudden clashing sound snapped me out of my thoughts. It was sharp, metallic swords? I frowned, pushing myself up from the ground and brushing off my clothes.

My curiosity got the better of me as I followed the sound, my feet dragging a bit as I made my way toward the source.

As I neared the edge of the training grounds, I saw them my older brother, Galen, sparring with a knight. The clashing of their swords filled the air, the blades gleaming in the sunlight.

But what really caught my attention was the flicker of flames around Galen. They weren't wild or uncontrolled, but rather, they seemed to swirl around him, moving with his strikes, almost like they were enhancing his movements.

I ducked behind a low stone wall, peering over it to watch the fight unfold. The knight was an imposing figure, tall and broad, his armor gleaming with a polished finish.

He moved with a fluid grace, his sword swinging with precision and power. Galen, on the other hand, was fast, his strikes quick and sharp, the flames licking up around his arms and blade as he fought.

The heat from the fire radiated even from where I stood, and I could feel the energy in the air. Every movement, every strike was perfectly timed, almost like a dance.

But it didn't take long to see that Galen was struggling. The knight's defense was too strong, and soon enough, he had Galen backed into a corner.

With a final, powerful strike, the knight disarmed him, sending Galen's sword flying across the ground.

The flames around my brother flickered out, leaving him panting and red-faced. He stood there for a moment, glaring at the knight, before letting out an exasperated growl and throwing his helmet to the ground like a spoiled child.

"I hate this!" he shouted, kicking his sword in frustration.

I couldn't help it. A laugh slipped out of me, and I quickly covered my mouth, but it was too late. Galen's head whipped around, his eyes locking onto me where I was crouched behind the wall.

His expression darkened immediately. "What are you laughing at?" he snapped, his voice dripping with annoyance. "You can't even lift a sword, so shut up."

His words hit a nerve, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I wasn't going to let him talk to me like that. My stubbornness kicked in, and before I knew it, I was pushing myself up from behind the wall, determined to prove him wrong. 

"I can lift a sword just fine!" I shot back, though even as I said it, I knew it was a lie. This body of mine wasn't capable of much, let alone wielding a sword. But I wasn't going to back down.

Fueled by adrenaline, I tried to make my way toward him with some semblance of grace, but my legs felt heavy, and my steps were clumsy.

I stumbled forward, my foot catching on a stray rock, and before I could stop myself, I was falling. The world tilted, and suddenly, I was rolling down the small hill, faster than I could control.

"Whoa—whoa, whoa!" I yelped, trying to stop myself, but the momentum was too much. My body tumbled awkwardly, my limbs flailing as I rolled, grass and dirt flying up around me.

I crashed into Galen with a thud, knocking him off balance. We both went down in a heap of tangled limbs, his surprised shout ringing in my ears. I groaned, rubbing my aching side as I tried to disentangle myself from him.

Galen shoved me off, glaring down at me with a mix of anger and disbelief. "Are you serious?" he growled, standing up and brushing the dirt off his clothes. "You can't even walk without falling over, and you think you can fight me?"

I scowled up at him, my pride stinging. "You just wait," I muttered, struggling to my feet. "I'll show you."

His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought he was going to laugh at me again. But instead, he crossed his arms over his chest, his expression hardening.

"Let's fight, then," he said, his voice low and challenging.

I blinked, taken aback by his sudden seriousness. "What?"

"You heard me," he said, grabbing his discarded sword and pointing it at me. "If you think you can handle it, let's fight."

Panic bubbled up in my chest, but I wasn't about to back down now. I'd already embarrassed myself enough. I couldn't let him win so easily.

I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I stepped forward, though my legs felt like jelly. "Fine," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Let's do this."

But as I glanced at the sword in his hand and then back at my own trembling body, I couldn't help but think that this was a terrible idea.