Tecnomagic Engineer

An engineer, huh? Someone who, along with other professionals, designs today and changes tomorrow. Maybe that's what I was in my past life. Maybe... But no matter how hard I try, my memories of that time are like shadows: vague, scattered, and incomplete.

What remains in my memory is limited, like pieces of a lost puzzle. The only clear image is of an explosion—a bright light, followed by a deafening sound. After that... just emptiness. When I came to, I was already here, in this new world.

-Some time before the reincarnation-

- "P-pain… But, what happened? Aaargh… D-damn, what is this? Why is there… a damn hole in my b-belly?" I murmured as I bled profusely, still dizzy from the explosion.

- "Shit… S-shit, shit, shiiit. It wasn't supposed to go wrong. Until today, it n-never had cough-cough, but why when I c-come here… this… hap…pens…" These were the last things I remember before my vision darkened and I saw, in the distance, my friends running towards me, terrified.

I know I should be very angry because I've always had that style. I know I should curse them and question, many, many times, why they didn't do the job correctly, even though they were paid so well to do just that, and only that. But now that my death is approaching, I begin to become one with the darkness, and I've lost that urge that was once so characteristic of me. Maybe because it's no longer worth it, or maybe because I never wanted to be that way. Well, whatever. What happened, happened.

I apologize to my parents for not being able to say a final goodbye, and to my nephews and sisters for never being easy to deal with. To the loves that didn't flourish, I thank you for the lessons and the chance to mature and become the man I am today. Well, that's it. Goodbye, cruel world… Yes, that's more my style… A… little… more… play…ful….

- "So this is what dying is like?" I asked myself, now much calmer.

- "I don't feel anything. In fact, I feel an immeasurable peace. No anger or worry, just… peace. This makes me pity those who are still alive. Hahaha, take that… Suffer while I am at peace, and pay for the mistakes you made. That weapon took my life. How many times had I told them to be careful with the detonator, but they never listened to me, preferring to do it wrong and get a scolding rather than do it right and safely… If they keep this up even after my death, soon, soon I'll see them again… DAMN!! I DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM, NOT AT ALL. I have to get out of here quickly…" I said in the darkness.

- "Help, can anyone hear me? Damn, HELP!!" I kept shouting, but there was no response.

Suddenly, a light appeared in that darkness, and I began to hear some sounds, similar to a child's cry. I followed that light, which grew larger and larger, until suddenly it expanded and took over the darkness. I ended up fainting again.

-A new Beginning-

Baby cries

- "Look, mama, congratulations! Here is your son…" said a woman in old and strange clothes.

- "My son! You are Handsome. You have your father's eyes," said the woman lying in bed.

Boom… Boom… The door opens

- "I came as fast as I could! Elaris, my love, are you okay? This… this is…." A large man asked the woman in bed.

- "Yes, Taryn, this is our son," said the woman, emotional, with a big smile on her face.

- "I can't believe it, my son, MY SON!!" exclaimed the man in disbelief, his eyes filled with tears.

That night, there was a celebration in the small village where my family and I lived. My father, Taryn, was a tall, strong man with a big beard. He was the village's lumberjack and also an excellent hunter when needed. My mother, Elaris, was a beautiful woman with long, straight brown hair, slightly curly at the ends. She dedicated herself to the study of medicinal plants. The party that night was big, despite the size of the village. During the celebration, people drank, danced, ate, and, of course, came to my mother and me to congratulate her and see me.

The village children knew my parents very well, as some used to get medicine from my mother, while others helped my father and the other men with wood collection or sometimes hunting. They wondered what I would be like, so they came enthusiastically and in droves to see me.

- "Wow, auntie, he looks a lot like uncle Taryn," said one child.

- "Yes, but he also resembles auntie Elaris a bit," another replied.

- "What is his name, auntie Elaris?" asked a third child.

- "His name is Dravyn. Dravyn Skaroth," my mother replied.

And amidst all this, the party continued throughout the night, bathed in the light of the bonfire, the stars, and the two moons, accompanied by the conversations and laughter of the adults and the running and shouting of the children.

A few months had passed, and I was already starting to walk, which was extremely difficult for such a young child. This delighted my father but worried my mother.

- "Look, Elaris! Our son has already started walking, even though he's so small! This is incredible! Could he be a... a prestige, as people say? One of those who are born only once in a while?" my father exclaimed loudly and enthusiastically, letting out a big laugh, satisfied.

- "Taryn, it's prodigy, not prestige. And I don't know if he is something like that, but if he is, it worries me. You know the kingdom tends to take children like that to unknown places, just to feed the war in the north and south," my mother replied, concerned.

Indeed, our kingdom, called Cedrus, was going through difficult times. The kingdoms of Falthur to the north and Columbus to the south were constantly at war with us, seeking to expand their holdings of fertile lands and secure more resources. This was because an ancient prophecy said that a great era of suffering and darkness was approaching, brought by a colossal snowstorm. According to this prediction, the light of the sun and stars would disappear, and everything living on the earth that was not properly prepared would perish in the face of the winter, which could last for years or even a whole century, and when all this happened, someone would emerge to start a new era never seen before by all the people of Élaris. However, this was a thing I would only understand a few months later.

- "War to the north and south, huh... Enough time has passed. Haven't these people understood yet that the prophecy was wrong? Years have passed, and there's no snow or disappearance of the sun and stars. That was just to deceive the people!" my father said while drinking a mug of beer.

- "Yes, but for those in command, it's extremely easy to spread lies and motivate wars to gain more and more possessions," my mother replied, indignant.

- "Even if our son is a prodigy, I won't let anyone take him from us," my mother concluded, determined.

- "Don't worry, Elaris. I won't let that happen. I'll protect both of you with my life if necessary," my father replied, showing off his muscles and smiling confidently.

A few months later, I turned one year old. My mother insisted on having a birthday party for me. Knowing it would be useless to refuse, my father readily agreed. The party was scheduled for the beginning of the following week, just two days after the idea. On the day of the celebration, the house was in a frenzy. My father went hunting with some friends to ensure the banquet, while my mother prepared the place, the spices, and some items she had bought at the village market. She also invited the villagers to the celebration.

To me, everything seemed like a big mess. I was too young to understand what was happening. When night fell, the guests had already arrived. Just like on the day of my birth, the party was grand. But this time, I received gifts: toys, clothes, care items, and even a Hornock, a large quadruped mammal that provided meat and milk, with two horns, widely used for carrying loads.

However, the gift that enchanted me the most came from an elderly lady in the village: an illustrated book with animals from that world. Among them were Hornocks, Howliths, Serpentias, and what fascinated me the most, dragons. I read the book repeatedly, dreaming of finding a real dragon one day.

In the months that followed, I learned to speak the local language, which surprised my parents. They began to wonder once again if I was truly a prodigy. My mother's concern grew, fearing that someone would notice how quickly I was learning. Therefore, she forbade me from demonstrating my abilities in public.

- "Mom, could you buy me more books? I want to learn more things," I asked one day, already tired of the old book.

- "W-what? You want books?" she replied, astonished.

- "Don't you prefer toys or something like that?"

- "No, mom. I prefer books. With what I learn, I can make my own toys. That way, you wouldn't have to spend more money. I could even make toys for you to sell," I explained.

Scared by my maturity, my mother took a few moments to respond.

- "Okay, son. I'll go to the market and buy you some more books. But remember our agreement: don't say any of this to anyone, understood?"

- "Yes, mom. I promise."

While I smiled, radiant, my mother grew increasingly worried. My father, however, reassured her, saying that the village was remote and that no one would betray us.

The next day, my mother returned from the village with three books: one on basic math concepts, another on geography, and finally, one on magic. As soon as I saw them, I ran to hug her.

- "Are these books for me?" I asked, my eyes shining.

- "Yes, Dravyn. They are yours."

Overjoyed, I hugged my mother again before eagerly starting to explore them.