Reincarnated in Another World

Chapter 4 – The Weight of a New Name

Lincoln's POV:

The morning sun bled through the tall windows of my chamber, gilding the stone walls with a warm glow. For a moment, I thought I was back in my tiny apartment on Earth, sunlight sneaking past the blinds, alarm buzzing in my ear.

But then I sat up and remembered. The bed was too soft. The sheets too fine. The ceiling too high. And my name—my name wasn’t just Lincoln anymore. It was Lincoln Lewis, hidden heir of Castle Duskbane.

The thought was heavy. Heavier than the blankets pooling at my waist.

I dressed in the clothes laid out for me—a crisp tunic, fitted trousers, and a cloak embroidered with a crest I still barely understood. The emblem of Duskbane: a silver clock set against a black wolf.

When I stepped into the corridor, a servant immediately bowed. “Good morning, my lord. The others are waiting in the great hall.”

The words made me flinch. My lord. That was supposed to be my father’s title, not mine.

Still, I followed.

The great hall was enormous, its ceiling lost in shadows, banners of black and silver fluttering in the breeze from the open windows. At the long oak table sat the others.

Sky Greenmoore, calm and collected, his green eyes sharp as though he’d memorized the entire room the second he walked in. Beside him was his sister, Star, legs swinging beneath her chair as she hummed a tune only she seemed to know.

Amir Hansley sat straight-backed, his posture perfect, his expression colder than the marble floor. Across from him lounged Chris Raven, twirling a dagger lazily, smirk plastered on his face like he owned the world.

Ayaana Valdemore poured tea gracefully, movements elegant, while Crisha Ainsley sat beside her with quiet dignity, light practically radiating from her even without her power.

And then there was Akira Whitlock—leaning back, boots on the table, silver eyes gleaming wolf-like under her messy dark hair.

All of them turned to look at me.

“Well, if it isn’t our long-lost prince,” Chris drawled, dagger flashing between his fingers. “Took you long enough. Were you too busy admiring yourself in the mirror?”

My jaw tightened. “I didn’t ask for this.”

“Neither did we,” Amir said sharply. “Yet here we are.”

The tension at the table was thick, like a storm waiting to break.

Star giggled suddenly, breaking the silence. “Don’t fight before breakfast! That’s a rule. Right, Ayaana?”

Ayaana smiled softly. “A wise rule.” She gestured for me to sit.

I did, awkwardly. Servants brought trays of bread, fruit, and roasted meat, but my appetite had vanished. The weight of their stares pressed on me.

Lord Cedric entered soon after, his armor polished, his expression grim. “Eat quickly. Training begins within the hour.”

“Training?” I asked.

He fixed me with a stare. “Did you think destiny would wait for you to be ready?”

No. Of course not.

The training yard was already bustling when we arrived. The clang of steel rang out as soldiers sparred, the air thick with dust and sweat.

Cedric motioned us to the center. “The eight of you are bound by prophecy, but prophecy alone does not win wars. You must learn each other’s strengths—and weaknesses.” His gaze swept across us. “Today begins that lesson.”

I swallowed hard. My hands itched nervously against the hilt of the practice sword I’d been given.

The first sparring match was chosen quickly: me against Amir.

Of course.

He drew his blade in one smooth motion, stance perfect, eyes cold. I mirrored him clumsily, my grip too tight.

“Don’t hold back,” he said. “Or you’ll regret it.”

The whistle blew.

He lunged. Steel clashed, and the force of his strike rattled my bones. He pressed forward relentlessly, each blow precise and powerful. I stumbled back, boots scraping the dirt.

“Too slow,” he muttered, slashing again. “Too hesitant.”

My arms burned, breath ragged. Then it happened.

The Chrono-Forge pulsed in my chest. Time stuttered—slowed.

For a heartbeat, Amir’s movements dragged, sluggish like thick syrup. I sidestepped, blade rising to his exposed side.

When time snapped back, my sword hovered an inch from his ribs.

Gasps erupted from the soldiers watching. Even Amir blinked, surprised, though he quickly masked it.

“Not bad,” he admitted grudgingly. “But power without discipline is nothing.”

I lowered my blade, heart racing. I hadn’t beaten him, but I hadn’t lost either.

The others sparred in pairs.

Sky fought Akira—air against fang. His movements were light, guided by gusts of wind, while Akira’s claws of silver light slashed with wild ferocity.

“You’re holding back,” she growled.

“And you’re reckless,” he countered, wind surging to push her back just as her claws grazed his shoulder.

Their fight ended in a draw, both panting, neither willing to yield.

Chris faced Star, and it was chaos. Her glowing constellations chased him around the yard while he dissolved into a storm of black ravens, darting and reappearing behind her.

“You’re infuriating!” she huffed, stomping as another constellation missed.

“And you’re adorable when you’re mad,” Chris shot back, earning laughter from the watching guards.

Ayaana and Crisha’s duel was calmer but no less intense—thorned vines clashing against radiant shields, beauty and destruction locked in perfect balance until Cedric called an end.

By the time the sun blazed overhead, we were exhausted, sweaty, and bruised.

We gathered in the shade, gulping down water. Chris sprawled across the ground. “So this is the legendary team? A spoiled prince, a wolf girl with anger issues, and Sparkles throwing stars at me?”

“Better than a shadow who hides behind jokes,” Akira shot back.

“Enough,” Sky said firmly, though his gaze slid to me. “Lincoln. You’re supposed to lead us. What do you think?”

My mouth went dry. Me? Lead them?

But I remembered Cedric’s words: If you cannot fight together, you will surely die apart.

I drew a shaky breath. “We don’t have to like each other. But we do have to trust that when the time comes, we’ll fight together. That’s the only way we survive.”

For a moment, silence. Then Star clapped happily. “Teamwork speech! I love it.”

Even Amir inclined his head slightly, though his eyes still held challenge.

Maybe… just maybe, I was starting to fit into this new name.

That night, I stood alone on the battlements, the stars endless above me.

The Chrono-Forge pulsed in my chest, ticking louder.

And for the first time, I felt the weight of it all—not just my name, not just the prophecy, but the future of this world resting on shoulders that still remembered being ordinary.

And yet, I whispered to the night sky:

“I’ll try. I promise.”