Seraphael carried Marco inside with slow and deliberate steps, each one echoed faintly through the enormous hall.
'The hell…'
The interior was at least a hundred times bigger than what the house looked like from the outside.
The cold night air vanished instantly as soon as they crossed the doorframe, and it was replaced by the faint scent of old steel and burning wood.
Weapons of every shape and size hung from stone the walls or they were scattered across tables.
Multiple dark corridors branched out in every single direction, each one was humming with a quiet, eerie aura Marco could feel more than see.
'Is this… magic?'
He wobbled weakly in the old man's arms, but Seraphael's grip didn't budge not even a single millimeter.
"Little one," the old man murmured his voice was deep and gravelly, "I will take care of you."
He laid Marco on a woolen bed, it was so soft it felt like sinking into a warm cloud.
Heat wrapped around him instantly, it was comforting and suffocating at the same time.
Seraphael gently patted his head, the touch felt rough but strangely reassuring.
'Feels weird knowing we're both grown men…'
Then a sudden noise.
Beep.
A sharp and electronic sound rang inside his skull.
'What the fuck?'
He kicked and cried instinctively, his newborn body was trembling as Seraphael blinked in surprise.
[System integration started.]
'A system?! What the hell? And why does it hurt so—'
A burning pain shot through his skull like a spear, but before he could even cry out, Seraphael pressed his hand against his forehead.
The pain vanished instantly it was like a candle being blown out.
'What just happened?'
The old man gave no explanation at all. He simply patted Marco's head once more then turned and walked into another room, his footsteps were steady and rhythmic, but impossibly calm.
'Is this old man a mage?'
[System integration successful.]
A white panel flickered into existence above him, it illuminating the room with a faint glow.
'Oh shit…'
[Status Panel][Name: Elias Vance]
[Age: 1]
[Skills: 0]
[Titles: 1]
[Open status window?]
'So that's why Froir called me Elias…'
Marco, who was now Elias, grinned like a child who'd just discovered his favorite candy.
'I can finally live my life to the fullest.'
He swiped the window away.
'But what can I even do right now? I'm literally a baby…'
He tried to rub his forehead but his chubby hands only wiggled uselessly.
He sighed, that is if a newborn could sigh, then he rolled over on the warm bedding without meaning to.
'Let's look at my stats. They can't be that bad… right?'
He thought back to every novel he'd ever read.
"Status window."
[Status Window][Strength: 1]
[Dexterity: 1]
[Vitality: 1]
[Endurance: 1]
[Magic Power: 0.2]
[Magic Control: 0]
[Perception: 2]
[Luck: Unreadable]
"…."
His jaw practically dropped.
Even though he expected to be weak, this was on a whole new level of pathetic.
But one stat stuck out to him.
'My luck is unreadable?'
That could mean unimaginable fortune…
Or a curse straight from hell.
Hopefully the first option.
'Well… guess we'll see.'
And he did.
Years passed. Four years to be exact.
Elias had not left the house once. The world outside was still a complete mystery to him.
Seraphael didn't ever leave either, but Elias only ever saw him during meals or brief check ins on him.
The rest of the time he was alone and that suited him just fine.
He didn't need any supervision. He wasn't really a child anyway.
Now at five years old, he could read fluently, speak perfectly, and walk with the confidence of an adult.
Seraphael didn't find this strange for some reason, if anything, he seemed to expect it.
'My stats are still awful,' Elias thought bitterly as he chewed the meat Seraphael had prepared. He stared at his reflection in the polished plate, his golden hair falling into glowing golden irises.
'At least I look good…'
He was still admiring his eyes when Seraphael suddenly patted his back.
"It's time for your first lesson."
The old man's monotone voice no longer startled him. It used to, when he was physically younger, but not anymore.
Most days he spent reading about the world, the continents, the different races, history…
But this was his first true lesson. The first step toward his so called training.
They sat together on the same wool bed Elias had slept on for years.
Despite the house's impossible size, this room was actually his, and most other areas remained forbidden for himy
Seraphael cleared his throat and began immediately.
"Name all five continents."
'Right… let me think.'
Elias scratched his head.
"Serenthia… Elyndor… Ravak'Turr—?"
"It is Ravak'Torr," Seraphael corrected instantly.
The interruption made Elias lose his train of thought.
Seeing him struggle, Seraphael shook his head.
"Myndralum and Nox'Varyn."
'Right… the dwarf and demon continent.'
"You will learn more eventually. It seems your progress is lacking."
For the first time since he arrived in this world, Seraphael actually sounded disappointed.
Elias puffed his cheeks. "No it isn't! Veloria is the human kingdom, Lethariel the elven one, Clawspire Coalition belongs to the beastkin, Stonecrown is the dwarven kingdom, and…"
Seraphael watched him silently.
"…Malachite Sovereignty is the demon kingdom."
Seraphael nodded once and stood with a single smooth motion.
"Good. Keep reading. Remember your goal."
'My goal, huh? To be a godslayer? I just want to enjoy life dude..'
He flopped back onto the bed.
'But I guess I'll have to get strong anyway if I want that—'
"Soon you will begin weapon training."
Seraphael cut into his thoughts without any warning, then walked out of the room.
"My… weapon training?"
Elias stared at his small hands.
'I guess I do need to start soon. The earlier, the better.'
His goal was simple pretty simple.
Become strong enough to live freely.
And with that in mind, he did what he always did for the past four years.
He grabbed a book from the white wooden shelf beside his bed…
…and read like the good little reincarnated boy he was.