Starless Reincarnation

Standing before Raven were the King and Queen, the heads of the Vermillion family—Alden and Thalia Vermillion. Their regal presence commanded the room, with Alden standing tall and imposing, his sharp features softened only by his calm demeanor. Thalia, on the other hand, exuded an air of grace, her fiery crimson hair cascading down her back and her piercing orange eyes holding an enigmatic depth.

Beside Raven stood Celia, her younger sister, looking eager and slightly nervous, as though she too was part of something far larger than herself. The young girl glanced up at Raven, her eyes alight with excitement. The two maids who had assisted Raven earlier stood behind her, quietly waiting. At the edges of the spacious room, the other servants and important figures of the estate lined the walls, each one standing in respectful silence.

The throne room, an opulent space adorned with elaborate tapestries, golden chandeliers, and intricately carved furniture, seemed to stretch endlessly, a fitting backdrop for the royal family. The air was thick with the weight of the occasion—Raven's introduction as a new member of the Vermillion family.

All eyes were on her. She had expected this moment to be uncomfortable, perhaps even overwhelming, but strangely, it didn't feel so. The warmth from the maids, the quiet encouragement from Celia, and the steady presence of the king and queen made her feel…welcome. This wasn't the cold, backstabbing world she had come from. Here, the power of the Vermillion family seemed to be a tool for unity, not division.

Alden, with his calm but commanding voice, finally broke the silence. "Welcome, Raven," he said, his gaze unwavering as he looked down at her. "Today marks a new chapter for you, and for us. You've joined our family, and we shall treat you as one of our own." His words were firm, yet there was an undercurrent of kindness in them.

Thalia stepped forward next, her smile warm but full of authority. "We are honored to have you, Raven. I trust you'll find that our home is one of both opportunity and protection. Should you ever need guidance, know that you are never alone."

Raven stood straight, her heart racing slightly, but she kept her composure. "Thank you," she replied, her voice steady but not without a hint of awe. These people—this family—seemed to offer her something she'd never thought possible, a second chance, and maybe even a place to truly belong.

Celia, eager to speak, bounced on her feet and smiled brightly. "We'll be like sisters! I'll show you around the estate and introduce you to everyone. You'll love it here!" Her words were enthusiastic, her energy infectious.

Raven's lips twitched into a small smile, the first real one she had since arriving in this new world. For all the complexity and uncertainty that lay ahead, one thing was clear—this new life might be filled with opportunities, and for the first time in a long while, the potential for happiness.

Alden, watching her closely, nodded with satisfaction. "However, since you are now a part of the Vermillion family, you must prove yourself worthy to bear the Vermillion name. There will be a teacher assigned to you, someone who will teach you everything you need to know."

Raven's brow furrowed slightly. "Okay, but I don't think I've awakened yet. Don't I need to go through that stage first?"

Alden's deep laughter filled the air, reverberating throughout the grand hall. "You don't realize you've already awakened? From the moment you can feel the mana in the air, that's when the awakening occurs. And I'm sure you've already felt it."

Raven tilted her head, processing the information. She had, in fact, noticed the subtle, soothing energy that pulsed around her and through her, something she hadn't encountered in her past life.

Alden's eyes sparkled with pride, as though seeing her finally understand some long-held truth. "That's right," he said, his smile widening. "Now, the next step is to learn to harness and control that mana. To unlock your mana core."

Raven nodded thoughtfully. "Then how do I feel my mana core? How do I awaken the first star?"

Before Alden could answer, Celia's voice rang out with unexpected excitement. "Me! I'll teach her! We're done here, right? I'm taking her away now!"

Celia darted forward, grabbing Raven by the arm with enthusiasm, dragging her away before anyone had a chance to respond. No one seemed surprised; Celia had been waiting for this moment—her longed-for younger sister—and her excitement couldn't be contained.

Raven followed, a bit caught off guard by Celia's energy, but she couldn't help feeling amused by the girl's unbridled enthusiasm. They reached the training grounds—a vast open space with targets, dummies, and wooden weapons scattered around. The scent of fresh air mixed with the faint smell of wood and metal, and the sunlight warmed the area in a gentle glow.

"And here we are!" Celia exclaimed, beaming with excitement. "Don't worry, your big sister will teach you everything you need to know before I leave for Eldoria Academy!"

"Magic academy?" Raven asked, her brow raised in curiosity. The mention of an academy intrigued her, but there were still so many things to learn.

"Yep, Eldoria Academy!" Celia said, her eyes sparkling. "But we'll talk about that later. For now, I'm going to teach you how to tap into your mana core." She gave Raven an encouraging grin, bouncing on her heels.

Raven stood still for a moment, trying to suppress her unease. There was so much new information being thrown her way, but at least Celia seemed sincere. And if she could learn how to wield magic, it would be one more step toward understanding this new world.

"First," Celia continued, her voice more serious now, "you need to close your eyes and focus. Try to feel the mana around you—the energy that's all around us, in everything. It's not just in you, it's in the air, the ground, the people." She moved her hands in a sweeping motion as if demonstrating how the mana filled the space. "The more you become aware of it, the easier it will be to sense it inside yourself."

Raven hesitated, but then did as instructed. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate. The air felt warm, almost alive with a soft hum, as if it was responding to her thoughts. It was gentle, but powerful, like an endless river flowing all around her.

At first, there was nothing, but then she felt it—a flicker deep inside her. A sensation that matched the pulse she had sensed earlier, but this time, it was her own energy, her own mana.

She opened her eyes and stared at her hands, a small spark of wonder igniting within her chest. "I can feel it. It's... strange."

Celia beamed, clearly proud. "See? That's the first step. Now, to find your core, you need to connect with that energy inside you. Picture it like a well of power deep within your chest. Focus on that spot and breathe. The more you practice, the easier it will become to draw from it."

Raven took a deep breath, trying to center herself, her mind focused entirely on that flicker of energy. As she concentrated, she could feel it—warmth, power, and potential. It was faint at first, but it was there, pulsing gently in her chest, responding to her focus.

"This is your mana core," Celia said softly, watching Raven intently. "Once you can feel it clearly, you'll be able to tap into it more freely. That's when you'll be able to control the magic. The First Star is the key to unlocking that power fully. It's a big step, but I know you'll get there!"

Raven nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the task ahead. "I'll try," she said quietly, determination beginning to form in her chest. For the first time since her reincarnation, she felt like she was on the path to mastering something truly important.

Celia grinned at her. "That's the spirit! Now, let's practice!" She handed Raven a wooden sword, ready to dive into training.

Raven took the wooden sword, her fingers curling around its familiar weight. "Let's do this."

The sensation was all too familiar. Harnessing mana felt remarkably similar to cultivating Qi in her past life. The techniques and principles aligned almost perfectly. Still, she reminded herself to act as though all of this was entirely new to her. Drawing too much attention might raise suspicion.

Closing her eyes briefly, she concentrated. The energy pulsing within her chest came into focus almost instantly, a bright, steady glow.

"I can feel it. The first star—it's bright," Raven murmured, opening her eyes.

Celia's face lit up with pride. "You're a fast learner! It took me almost an hour before I could even sense my first star. But I guess that's to be expected—you are my younger sister, after all."

Raven glanced at Celia, who wore a wide, self-satisfied grin. You sure do look smug right now, Raven thought with a faint smile.

"What's next?" Raven asked, casually swinging the wooden sword in her hand.

Celia tilted her head thoughtfully. "We should figure out what weapon suits you best. Are you comfortable with a sword, or would you prefer to try something else?"

Raven gave the wooden sword a few test swings. Its weight and balance were close to what she was used to, but in her past life, her weapon of choice had always been a katana. She was one of the strongest and most skilled katana wielders in her old world, though she kept that fact to herself now.

As Raven moved the sword, her swings were fluid, precise, and natural. It was almost as if the weapon were an extension of her arm.

Celia's eyes narrowed as she watched Raven. Her sister's movements were too polished, too instinctive to be mere experimentation. "Uh, Raven... have you wielded a sword before?"

Raven paused and raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "No, not at all. Do you happen to have a katana? I just have this strange feeling it might suit my style better."

Celia blinked, taken aback. "A katana? Yeah, we've got one... Give me a moment." She left briefly and returned, holding a wooden katana. "Here. How does this feel?"

Raven took the weapon, her hands wrapping around the hilt as if it belonged there. The balance and curvature of the blade felt right, as though it had been made for her. She swung it once, twice, testing its weight, and a small, satisfied smile crossed her lips. "Yeah. This feels pretty good."

Celia grinned, watching Raven. "Although you don't remember much from your past, maybe your heart remembers. They say the heart never forgets."

Raven glanced at her, considering the words, and nodded slightly. "You might be right. So, what's next?"

"Next, we need to figure out your magical affinity—what element you're most attuned to. But that's for your teacher to handle," Celia said, stepping back with a dramatic flourish. "And speaking of which, this is where I step out. Your older sister has done her part."

Before Raven could respond, a voice cut through the training grounds, calm and authoritative. "And this is where I come in."

Raven turned toward the voice. A man clad in noble attire stood at the edge of the training ground, his presence commanding attention. His sharp gaze lingered on Raven, appraising her with quiet intensity.

"I am the teacher assigned to guide you, Lady Raven," he said with a slight bow. "You may call me Alaric."

Celia clapped her hands together. "Great! Alaric's the best, Raven. You'll learn a lot from him. Anyway, I'll leave you two to it. I have my own training to attend to."

Raven nodded to Celia as her sister bounded off with her usual energy, leaving her alone with Alaric. The teacher stepped forward, his demeanor calm but serious.

"Lady Raven, your journey as a mage and as a member of the Vermillion family begins here. Shall we?"

Raven straightened, gripping the katana firmly in her hand. "I'm ready."