Bright light filled his vision.
Liu Kang blinked, but his eyes refused to focus.
The world around him was blurry and unfamiliar. He tried to move his limbs, but they felt small and weak.
Voices came from above him. Warm hands gently held him, and a soft blanket wrapped around his tiny body.
"It's a boy," a woman whispered. Her voice trembled with happiness.
"A strong boy," a man added.
What... is happening? Liu thought. Why am I so small?
He blinked again, and his vision slowly sharpened. He looked up at the two people who held him.
A man with sharp features, silver hair, and piercing blue eyes smiled down at him.
Beside him stood a woman with soft brown hair and warm hazel eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Who are they? Where am I?
The man gently stroked his tiny head. "Renault Darcier," he said softly. "That will be your name."
Renault Darcier?
The name echoed in his mind, but it felt foreign. And yet... it belonged to him now.
"He's perfect, Alina," the man said, looking at the woman.
Alina nodded, still crying softly. "He's beautiful, Lionel."
Liu — no, Renault — tried to understand. His old life was gone. And now... this is his second chance.
So this is what that voice meant, Renault realized.
---
Days passed. Then weeks. Then months.
Time moved slowly for a baby, but Renault's mind remained sharp. He couldn't speak yet, but he listened carefully to everything around him.
His new parents loved him deeply, and he studied them with curiosity.
His father, Lionel Darcier, was no ordinary man. He was a famous scribe — one of the finest in all of Valora Continent. Scholars, nobles, and merchants traveled from far to request his services.
His knowledge of ancient texts, contracts, and magical script was unmatched.
Renault watched his father work from his crib. The way Lionel's quill danced over enchanted parchment fascinated him.
Symbols glowed faintly as he wrote. The room always smelled of ink, parchment, and old books.
Magic through writing… Renault thought. Arcane Scripturgy, perhaps?
Though he couldn't remember everything from his past life, he still understood bits and pieces. The magic here wasn't wild and explosive. It was calm, precise, and controlled.
His mother, Alina Darcier, was gentle and kind. Before marrying Lionel, she had served as a maid in the royal palace of Crestford City, located in the Inner Circle of Valora.
She often hummed lullabies from her palace days as she cradled Renault in her arms.
"There, there, my sweet Renault," she whispered one night. "Someday, you'll grow strong like your father. But no matter how powerful you become, always keep your heart kind."
Her words soothed him, though he couldn't respond.
---
Renault's home sat within Crestford City — a place full of grand stone buildings and towering spires.
The city was known for its scholars, scribes, and magic academies. Knowledge ruled here, and Lionel Darcier was one of its most respected masters.
Every morning, Renault's father would sit in his study, quill in hand, while noble clients arrived to consult him.
"Master Darcier," one noble said, bowing respectfully, "I need a binding contract to secure my family's trade rights. The wording must be airtight."
"Of course," Lionel replied. "The power of words is absolute. One misplaced comma could destroy an entire lineage."
Renault listened closely, even though no one suspected a baby could understand. Yet in his mind, he absorbed everything like a sponge.
Contracts, laws, and magical bindings. This world works through written power.
He began to feel a strange pull toward his father's work. The glow of magical script fascinated him far more than toys or colorful mobiles.
---
Time continued to pass.
By his first birthday, Renault had grown stronger. His small hands reached for anything within grasp. Books, scrolls, ink pots—everything called to him.
"Ah, curious little one," Lionel chuckled one afternoon. "You'll become a fine scribe one day."
Alina smiled from across the room. "Or maybe he'll serve in the royal court like I once did."
Lionel raised an eyebrow. "He'll have to surpass me first."
I will, father!
....
Obviously, he can't hear me....
Though he couldn't speak aloud, his mind was always working.
---
By age two, Renault began forming simple words. His parents cheered whenever he managed to say "Mama" or "Papa."
But his favorite word was "book."
Alina laughed whenever he reached out and repeated it. "He loves books more than toys."
Lionel nodded proudly. "A true Darcier, indeed."
Every day, Lionel read to him from scrolls and tomes, introducing him to the basics of language and script.
"See this symbol, Renault?" Lionel said one morning, pointing to a glowing sigil. "This is a Binding Glyph. It enforces the rules written around it. Without precision, the contract fails."
Renault stared at the swirling lines, fascinated by how the symbol shimmered as his father spoke. He reached out to touch it, but Lionel gently pulled his hand back.
"Careful, my boy. Words have weight. Power flows through their shape."
---
By age three, Renault could walk and speak full sentences.
His mind remained far sharper than any child his age.
Though he kept his knowledge hidden, he was already observing patterns, structures, and techniques behind his father's work.
Every evening, after dinner, Lionel would retreat into his private study.
Renault wasn't allowed inside, but his curiosity burned stronger with each passing day.
"What does Papa do in there?" Renault asked his mother one evening.
Alina smiled gently. "He works on important contracts for nobles and officials. Some things are not for children's eyes, my dear."
Not for children... or not for anyone?How bad could it be?
His instincts told him something was hidden.
---
Then came the night that changed everything.
It was late, and the house was quiet. The rain outside tapped softly against the windows. Renault couldn't sleep.
I need to see it!
Silently, he crept out of bed and tiptoed down the hallway. His father's study door was slightly ajar.
He peeked through the gap.
Lionel was gone for the evening, likely meeting with a client. The desk was cluttered with scrolls and ink bottles. The glowing script on one scroll caught Renault's eye.
Without thinking, he slipped inside.
His tiny fingers carefully unrolled the parchment. His heart pounded as he read the title.
"Human Acquisition Ledgers – Client Contracts."
His breath froze. His small fingers trembled.
Human acquisition?
As he scanned the page, the words chilled him to his core.
Names, prices, locations — men, women, even children — all listed like merchandise. The scroll detailed illegal sales, secret trades, and forbidden dealings.
This is... human trafficking.
His chest grew cold as a sharp chill ran down his spine. The blood drained from his face.
Why does Father have this?
The soft glow of the script seemed darker now.
He clenched his tiny fists.
I thought I escaped that world... but even here, it follows me.
His mind reeled. His second chance — his new life — was far more complicated than he had hoped.
The sound of the front door creaking open pulled him from his thoughts. His father had returned.
Panicking, Renault carefully rolled the scroll back up and quietly slipped out of the study.