Rebirth of the Ruined Noble

The fire Dragon, Ugram.

It was an existence that had stood as a guardian for the Mauryan empire for centuries, its formidable presence deterring any would-be attackers from other kingdoms. The people of Mauryan felt secure and protected, their faith in Ugram unwavering.

And that was the reason why the fire dragon, Ugram was called as the 'Guardian deity of the great Mauryan.'

Everything was normal until that day...

That day...everything changed. The empire was struck by an unprecedented disaster, and the once revered Ugram turned into a raging force of destruction. The dragon unleashed its fury upon the land, causing widespread devastation and untold loss of life and riches. The empire was thrown into chaos as its greatest defender became its greatest threat.

It took three long months of relentless struggle, but finally, the combined efforts of Arden Von Agnus, one of the two dukes of Mauryan, and the Sage of Wisdom, Lucas Traumen, managed to slay the rampaging dragon.

The news brought a sense of relief to the empire, but amidst the sighs of relief, there was one person whose heart remained heavy with grief--me.

As the heir to the Pendragon family, which had the unfortunate duty of caring for the dragon, my life had been shattered that day. The flames of the dragon engulfed the entire Pendragon barony, reducing it to ashes. My father, mother, and infant sibling perished in the merciless inferno. The once-thriving region turned into a desolate wasteland, mirroring the emptiness within my soul.

Surviving the disaster was both a blessing and a curse. Though I was away, training at the Freljord Academy, my status as the last surviving member of the Pendragon family thrust me into a position of worthlessness in the eyes of the empire.

]Without the dragon to look after, the pendragons had no worth to the empire. Stripped of my noble title by the tyrant emperor, I was cast aside, left to fend for myself..

Even the academy, which had initially offered a glimmer of hope, considered abandoning me. However, a kind-hearted professor came to my aid, sponsoring my scholarship and saving me from expulsion. But fate was cruel, and just when I thought I had found a lifeline, the professor's true identity as a spy was revealed. He was taken hostage by the royals, leaving me alone once again. The academy expelled me without hesitation, casting me aside like a discarded pawn.

Desperate and without any means of support, I found myself joining the army at the border. The grueling years spent fighting against neighboring kingdoms further battered my spirit. And then, at the age of 21, I suffered a devastating blow--my right arm was severed in battle, leaving me disabled

The heartless commander, viewing me as nothing more than a burden, discarded me under the guise of "injured retirement" without providing any proper compensation.

In that moment, all hope drained from my being. I was ready to surrender to the cruel embrace of death, to let go of the pain and suffering that had become my constant companion. But fate had other plans. It was then that I met her, my master, who breathed new life into my shattered existence.

Under her tutelage, I learned the true meaning of resilience and perseverance. She became the last person in this world who cared for me, filling the void left by my family's untimely demise.

However, tragedy struck once again when I was 27, a massive wave of monsters invaded, claiming the life of my beloved master.

I was devastated.

I no longer had any reason to live and my life had long lost its meaning.

But her final words echoed in my mind.

"Please live in my stead too", urging me to live on in her stead.

I was at loss, it took me a year to come out of that shock.

I realized something precious at that time.

'Nothing is permanent in this accursed world.'

What we love, what we hate, and even the things that don't concern us, nothing is permanent, what truly stays with us till the end is nothing but ourselves.

A new fire ignited within me, not a raging blaze but a calm fire fueled by determination and the will to endure. I vowed to survive, to fight against the raging storms and relentless winds that life hurled at me.

From there on, I tried to survive.

I did everything in my power to ensure that each day I could witness the starry sky at its glorious peak. But despite my efforts, I found myself standing on the precipice of my final breath.

Dying a death that I don't deserve in the middle of anywhere like a wild dog.

In these last movements when I am 100% sure of my death, I realized the further meaning of this world.

'Nothing is permanent in this accursed world unless you have the strength to protect what you love.'

If only I had possessed the strength to vanquish the dragon, my family could have been saved from its fiery wrath. If only I had wielded the power to overthrow the tyrant emperor, the Pendragon name could have risen to prominence once more. If only I had the might to defeat the soldiers, my arm would still be intact. If only I had the strength to slay the monstrous horde, my master would still be alive.

If I had...

Yet dwelling on such thoughts served no purpose now. Time marched forward without regard for regrets. I lost what I loved because I lacked the strength to shield it. Harsh as it may be, it was the bitter truth.

Ultimately, my life was marred by a sense of failure, a persistent ache of unfulfilled potential.

'If only....'

If only I had worked hard...If only I hadn't lost my family....if only I hadn't lost my hand....If only I could have been a bit more powerful...

"If only..." These words reverberated within me, an anthem of missed opportunities and haunting remorse.

Regret swelled within me as my weary eyes began to flutter closed. The specter of a fitting end, that of a Ruined Noble, loomed over me.

I could feel it, my impending death.

But just as I resigned myself to this fate, an unexpected turn of events unfolded, jolting me back to consciousness.

Suddenly, an enigmatic voice resonated within me, searching for something.

[ Searching powers... ]

Powers unknown surged through my being, and before I could comprehend it, my mind went blank.

[ Conditions are met....! Initiating the artifact! ]

[Commencing the usage of artifact]

That was the last thing I heard and then, silence enveloped me.....

---***---