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SMW C2 Medieval World
🕑 Added 2025-07-24 14:13:31 +0000 UTCAlexander could hardly process what had happened. He had actually been reincarnated as a baby.
He had read countless novels and manga in his previous life about characters being transported to other worlds, but he never imagined it could happen to him. The concept had always seemed like pure fantasy.
Am I dreaming? Is this actually real? Alexander struggled to make sense of his situation.
Everything felt overwhelming and surreal. Yet deep down, he hoped desperately that this wasn't some dying hallucination. He wanted to live—truly live this time. The thought of returning to that hospital bed, wasting away while his family took shifts watching him die, filled him with dread.
He wanted a life he could be proud of, one without the crushing regret that had defined his final moments.
This time, I won't waste a single day, Alexander thought with growing determination. I'll live fully, without regrets.
Wealth no longer seemed important to him. His previous life had taught him that money, while useful, couldn't save him when it truly mattered. It had provided comfort and allowed him to support his family, and for that he was grateful. But now he craved something deeper—purpose, fulfillment, a life that mattered.
Lost in these thoughts, Alexander found himself making soft cooing sounds, his tiny face breaking into what could only be described as a delighted grin. To his parents, the sudden shift from crying to apparent joy was endearing.
"Look at him," Ermelinde said with a warm smile. "He's quite remarkable already."
"He'll make a fine knight someday," Aldric said, hope evident in his voice as he gazed at his newborn son.
Ermelinde's expression shifted to mild disapproval. "I don't care whether he becomes a knight or not. I just want him to have a good life—to be great like Alexander."
Aldric suppressed a sigh. This woman and her stories, he thought. The mighty Alexander is nothing more than a legend. No one like that could have actually existed.
Despite his skepticism, the longer Aldric gazed at his son, the more he found himself sharing Ermelinde's hope.
Perhaps their boy truly could grow to match the strength of Alexander the Mighty from the old tales—the legendary hero whose exploits rivaled those of the greatest warriors in their world's history.
---
Weeks passed in a blur of sleepless nights and tender care. Ermelinde embraced her role as mother wholeheartedly, nursing Alexander and tending to him whenever he cried from hunger or discomfort.
It was exhausting work, but she persevered with quiet determination. Aldric, too, found himself deeply invested in his son's wellbeing.
Meanwhile, the barony's troubles continued to mount. The people grumbled about heavy taxes while struggling to put food on their tables. This was not the legacy Aldric wanted to leave his son, so he threw himself into finding solutions with the dedication of both a lord and a father.
He began by reducing the taxes demanded by the royal court, arguing that Eisenfurt could barely sustain itself.
Simultaneously, he authorized the careful harvesting of timber from Blackgrove Edge, the southeastern fringe of Darkpine Forest, selling the wood through discreet channels to merchants who asked few questions.
The main forest remained forbidden—the Church strictly prohibited cutting trees there due to ancient curses and restless spirits that were said to dwell within.
But Aldric reasoned that the edge lands were far enough from the forest's dark heart to be safe from such superstitions. Every measure, legal or otherwise, was aimed at keeping his domain from complete collapse.
And so six years passed.
The infant Alexander had grown into a bright young boy who exceeded every expectation. His intelligence impressed even the most learned tutors his father could afford.
The castle servants spoke of him with genuine admiration, convinced he would become a great lord when his time came.
Yet one troubling issue cast a shadow over these achievements: Alexander possessed a frail constitution. His small frame seemed unsuited for the physical training expected of a noble heir, a concern that weighed heavily on Baron Aldric's mind.
Inside the study, Aldric listened to the report with a grave expression.
"His body is pathetically frail. He handles a sword like a washwoman," said the ginger-haired man seated across from him. Reinhard von Eisenberg, Aldric's younger brother and a veteran knight, made no effort to hide the disdain in his amber eyes.
"I believe he could become a great knight someday, brother. Perhaps if you increased the training intensity? Maybe Alexander just needs to awaken his true potential..." Aldric clung to what little hope remained.
Reinhard sighed heavily. "I've tried everything with the boy. His body is weak, he falls ill constantly, and frankly, he lacks any natural talent for combat."
Slam!
"Don't say that!" Aldric's hand struck the desk as irritation flared.
Reinhard didn't even flinch at the outburst. "I won't sugarcoat the truth, brother. Your second son simply isn't suited for battle." He paused, letting the words sink in before delivering the final blow. "You should accept reality. Alexander will never be another Sir Edmar—"
"Stop." Aldric rose from his chair and moved to the window, gazing at the sky. My God, he wondered silently, why did You bless my son with such intelligence only to curse him with this sickly body?
Just then, a young squire burst through the door. Reinhard's frown deepened. "Who gave you permission to enter unannounced?"
The squire, one of Reinhard's disciples, spoke with a trembling voice: "My lord, young Lord Alexander has snuck out of the castle!"
"What?!" Both brothers exclaimed in unison.
"Where has he gone?" Aldric demanded.
"I—I don't know, my lord! I'm only reporting what I saw!" the squire stammered.
"Why didn't you follow him?" Reinhard's voice carried a dangerous edge.
"Squire Oswin has already left to search for him!" the young man explained, bowing his head lower.
Reinhard snorted with disgust. "I leave the young lord in the care of two squires, and you immediately lose him. The younger generation of knights grows softer each year. I'll need to intensify both your and Oswin's training."
The squire, Albert, visibly shuddered at the threat.
---
Alexander slipped out of the castle while the two squires were distracted by their duties. He had been eager to explore the world beyond the castle walls for months.
As he walked along the dirt path, he observed just how underdeveloped this world truly was compared to his previous life.
It really is like medieval Earth, Alexander thought as he took in the primitive surroundings.
Six years of observation had confirmed his suspicions. From the books in his father's library to the conversations of servants and nobles, everything pointed to a world similar to Earth's Middle Ages. The technology, social structures, and ways of thinking all matched what he remembered from history lessons.
Take his uncle Reinhard's obsession with knighthood, for instance. The man genuinely believed that being a knight was the highest honor a man could achieve. But where was the honor in dying young on some distant battlefield? Or returning home crippled and broken? That wasn't the path Alexander wanted for himself.
Besides, knighthood simply wasn't suited to his constitution. He couldn't even endure ten minutes of training with Reinhard before his body rebelled. Every session left him gasping for air and trembling with exhaustion.
Even now, as he made his way toward the nearby village, fatigue was already setting in. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the mild weather, and soon a familiar cough began to plague him.
"Cough! Cough!"
He paused to catch his breath, wiping his brow with his sleeve.
This is troubling, he thought anxiously. I may have been reborn with a new body, but it's even frailer than my last one. And in a medieval world, fever and illness are among the leading causes of death.
He took a drink from his waterskin, the leather container warm from the sun.
I've already suffered several fevers since birth. I've been fortunate so far, but I need to find a solution.
This trip to the village wasn't merely for adventure. Alexander hoped to find medicinal herbs that might improve his health. His modern knowledge gave him some advantages—he knew that willow bark could reduce fever and pain, that echinacea might boost immunity, and that ginseng could potentially strengthen his constitution. If he could find even one of these plants, it might make a difference.
Beyond herbs, he also wanted to explore what the village market offered. Perhaps he could use his knowledge from the modern world to improve the castle's cuisine. He was growing tired of the monotonous diet of hard bread, overly salted meat, and watery porridge. Even eggs, one of the few palatable foods available, had lost their appeal.
I'll use my future knowledge to find better ingredients, he thought with growing optimism. Maybe I can create something that actually tastes good.
As these thoughts occupied his mind, he spotted his destination ahead: Graybrook Village, nestled in a small valley barely more than a kilometer from the castle.
Comments
Walle159
At 6 years old. You already putting yourself at higher risk
