Crimson Rebirth ( GL)

A few days had passed since the fever broke, and I finally felt more like myself or at least, as close to myself as I could in this strange new world.

My limbs didn't ache as much anymore, and I could actually get out of bed without collapsing like a newborn fawn.

I even thought I'd lost some weight, which was a small victory, considering how heavy and sluggish I'd felt since I got here.

But when I looked in the mirror, my face still looked the same rounder than I'd like, with soft edges where muscle should've been. It was frustrating, but I couldn't let it get to me. I was motivated now.

My mind felt clearer, sharper. If I couldn't immediately change my body, at least I could change something else about myself. 

I ran a hand through my hair, the mirror showing a tangle of dark strands that refused to cooperate. I sighed. One step at a time.

The sound of my bedroom door creaking open pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see my mother stepping inside.

Her presence was always commanding, even in moments like this, where she was calm and composed.

Today, she was dressed in her usual elegant attire a gown of rich emerald green that shimmered faintly in the morning light.

"Ren," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Your reading teacher is going to arrive soon. Get ready."

Reading teacher? The words caught me off guard. I hadn't even fully processed that they'd actually agreed to get me a teacher. It was something I'd asked for, sure, but I didn't expect them to act so quickly.

"Okay!" I blurted, excitement and a touch of nervousness bubbling inside me.

My mother gave me a nod before disappearing back through the door, leaving me alone in my room once more. I didn't waste any time.

Rushing to the bathroom, I brushed my teeth quickly, the minty taste flooding my mouth as I scrubbed away the lingering fog of sleep.

The bath was quick too hot water splashing against my skin, washing away the remnants of my long bedridden days.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, the cool air hit me, and I wrapped a towel around myself, feeling more awake and alive than I had in days. I crossed to the wardrobe, throwing open its wooden doors.

Inside, there were mostly oversized shirts and loose-fitting pants. I ran my fingers over the fabric, feeling a strange sense of connection to the girl who had lived in this body before me.

It seemed like she and I shared a similar style comfortable, unbothered by appearances.

It made me smile a little, knowing that in some small way, I wasn't entirely out of place here.

I pulled on a soft gray shirt that hung loosely on my frame and a pair of black pants, both a little too big but comfortable nonetheless. I liked the simplicity of it. I wasn't here to impress anyone with my looks. Not today, at least.

Once I was dressed, I stepped out of my room, where a servant was already waiting for me. He was a young man, polite and silent, guiding me down the long halls of the estate to what I assumed was the lecture room.

The house was as grand as ever, with its high ceilings, polished floors, and intricately carved wooden walls.

The decor here always felt a bit over-the-top for my taste, but I supposed it suited a family of wealth and prestige like the Khasars.

When we reached the lecture room, the servant opened the door for me, and I stepped inside.

The room was breathtaking in its own right. Large windows framed the far wall, allowing sunlight to stream in and cast a soft glow over everything.

Shelves lined the walls, filled with rows upon rows of books, each one meticulously placed. The scent of old parchment and polished wood filled the air.

In the center of the room stood a large oak desk, the surface gleaming with a dark, polished finish.

There were chairs on either side of it one for me, I assumed, and the other for my teacher. The room was quiet, almost too quiet, like it was waiting for something to happen.

I didn't have to wait long before I heard the faint click of heels on the wooden floor. The door opened once more, and in walked the reading teacher.

She was tall and elegant, her presence commanding without her needing to say a word. Her long, flowing silks were embroidered with delicate golden patterns, and they trailed softly behind her as she walked.

Her silver hair was swept up into a tight bun, not a single strand out of place, and her sharp blue eyes scanned the room with an air of authority.

She looked like she had never been unprepared for anything in her life. Every step she took was graceful, calculated, as if she owned the very ground she walked on. 

I straightened up immediately, feeling like a small child about to be reprimanded by the principal.

"Lady Khasar, I'm Amara Lydrel. " she greeted, her voice low and calm, though there was an unmistakable chill in it. "I trust you are ready to begin?"

I nodded, trying to appear confident even though I felt incredibly small under her gaze. "Yes, I am."

She glided over to the desk, taking a seat across from me. I couldn't help but notice the way she moved every gesture was fluid, controlled.

It was clear she was used to being in charge, and I got the distinct impression that she didn't tolerate failure.

"Today, we will start with the basics," Amara said, placing a thin book in front of me. Her fingers, long and slender, tapped the cover lightly. "Open the book to the first page."

I did as she instructed, though my hands felt clumsy as I flipped the pages. When I finally got to the first page, I stared at the letters, the shapes on the paper that somehow seemed so foreign to me.

It was frustrating. I used to be able to read so easily. This should have been simple.

"Begin," she said, her tone polite but distant, as if she already expected me to fail.

I opened my mouth, trying to force the words out, but they didn't come. The letters blurred together, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make sense of them. My chest tightened with frustration, and I felt my cheeks grow hot.

"I..." I hesitated, my voice small. "I don't understand this."

Amara didn't sigh, didn't show any outward sign of frustration, but I could feel the slight shift in the air, the tiniest ripple of disappointment. "It is to be expected," she said, though her tone was laced with condescension.

"This will take time. But you must be diligent. Reading is not something one masters overnight."

I nodded again, but inside, I felt the weight of my own inadequacy. This was just as hard as the physical struggle I had faced since coming here.

My mind was racing, my frustration building. I wanted to be better, faster, stronger not just physically, but mentally. I wanted to understand everything, to catch up with the world I'd been thrown into.

But I couldn't. Not yet.

Amara guided me through the basics each sound, each letter and while she maintained her poised demeanor, I couldn't shake the feeling that she saw me as a lost cause.

Every time I stumbled over a word or hesitated for too long, her sharp blue eyes would narrow ever so slightly, as if silently judging my every mistake.

Still, I pressed on, determined to improve, no matter how difficult it was. My muscles may have been weak, my body sluggish, but my mind was still sharp. I wasn't going to give up.

Eventually, the lesson came to an end, and I could feel the exhaustion pulling at me. Reading was hard harder than I had imagined.

And yet, despite how difficult it was, there was a small part of me that felt a sense of accomplishment. It wasn't much, but it was something.

Amara stood gracefully, her silks trailing behind her as she moved toward the door. "We will continue tomorrow," she said, her voice cool and distant. "Be prepared."

I nodded, feeling both relieved and anxious about the next lesson.

As she left, the door clicked shut behind her, and I let out a long breath. I had a lot of work ahead of me.

The bell rang softly, signaling lunchtime. I hadn't realized how much time had passed. I stood up, stretching my stiff limbs, and headed toward the dining hall, my mind still buzzing with thoughts of letters and words. 

I wasn't there yet, but I would be. I had to be.