Reincarnated in Another World

Chapter 5 – Our First Trial Beyond the Walls

Lincoln's POV:

The summons came at dawn.

I hadn’t slept well—the ticking of the Chrono-Forge in my chest was louder that night, like a clock striking a warning I couldn’t understand. When Cedric’s knock rattled the chamber door, I already knew this wasn’t another day of training.

“Get up,” he said curtly when I opened the door. “You’re leaving the castle.”

Leaving. Already?

In the great hall, the others were waiting, weapons polished, cloaks clasped. Cedric stood at the head of the table with a map unfurled, the flicker of torchlight highlighting deep lines of worry across his face.

“A village near the northern woods sent word,” he explained. “Shadows have been spotted—creatures of the Darkborn. The villagers are terrified.”

I’d heard the word whispered before. Darkborn. Monsters born from fear itself, twisted things that thrived in the cracks of light. The prophecy said we were meant to stand against them, but I hadn’t expected to face them so soon.

“You will go,” Cedric continued, “not just to protect the people, but to learn. This will be your first test as a group.”

Chris leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “First test? Against nightmare creatures? Sounds fun.”

“It’s not meant to be fun,” Amir snapped.

“Could’ve fooled me,” Chris replied with a grin.

Before they could start again, Sky cut in. “How far?”

“Two hours by horse,” Cedric said. “If you ride hard.” He looked at me last. “Lincoln. As heir to Duskbane, the villagers will look to you for hope. Do not let them down.”

Hope. Another weight added to the pile already crushing my shoulders.

The horses thundered through the forest path, hooves pounding like a second heartbeat beneath me. Wind whipped past, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Akira rode ahead with a wolfish grin, hair wild, while Star clung to her reins like she might fall at any second, humming nervously under her breath.

Ayaana rode gracefully, calm even on the uneven trail. Crisha rode beside her, posture perfect, eyes scanning the treeline. Sky kept near the front, guiding the pace, while Amir looked as if he’d been born in a saddle.

Chris, of course, rode one-handed, flipping his dagger as though daring fate to throw him.

Me? I held on tight and prayed I wouldn’t embarrass myself by falling.

When we reached the village, smoke already curled in the sky. Not from chimneys—but from fire.

Villagers ran screaming through the narrow streets as shadowy forms slithered between homes. The creatures were worse than I imagined—blackened husks with too many limbs, faces warped into hollow screams, their bodies dripping with inky tar that burned where it touched wood.

The moment we dismounted, chaos swallowed us.

“Spread out!” Sky shouted. “Protect the villagers!”

The others moved instantly, as if the command had been second nature. Star flung glowing constellations into the air, which burst into starbeasts—lions and hawks made of light—tearing into the shadows.

Akira roared, claws of silver light slicing through a creature that lunged at a child. She shoved the boy toward Ayaana, who knelt to heal his scraped knees with blooming flowers.

Crisha raised her hands, radiant shields forming walls to block the shadows from reaching fleeing villagers. Her light burned against their darkness, forcing them back.

Amir’s voice rose, deep and commanding, and for a moment even I felt stronger, braver. His words surged through the soldiers rallying to fight, their fear replaced by fire.

And Chris—he was chaos. One second a dozen ravens scattered in the sky, the next his dagger slid through the throat of a shadow, his laughter sharp and wild.

And then there was me.

My sword trembled in my grip as a shadow lunged. I swung clumsily, cutting only air. Its claw slashed across my arm, and I stumbled, blood searing hot down my sleeve.

“Lincoln!” Crisha shouted, throwing a shield between us just in time to block the creature’s second strike.

I gritted my teeth. I can’t just stand here. I can’t let them protect me.

The Chrono-Forge pulsed.

Time stuttered.

The shadow slowed mid-lunge, its limbs dragging like it moved through water. My heart thundered as I stepped aside, blade rising. Time snapped back—my strike landing clean across its chest. The creature shrieked before dissolving into smoke.

I staggered, panting, staring at the empty air where it had been.

I’d done it. But the Forge ticked louder, almost warning me—how many times could I twist time before it broke me?

The battle dragged on. The village square became a storm of light and shadow. Screams, roars, and the c***k of fire filled the air.

At one point, I saw Amir rallying three soldiers against a hulking shadow beast twice their size. His words were like fire in their blood, but it still wasn’t enough—the beast swiped them aside.

“Amir!” I shouted, rushing forward. Time bent again, just enough for me to drag one of the soldiers clear before the beast’s claws hit. My sword cut into its leg, not deep, but enough to slow it.

Amir finished it with a single clean strike, his blade glowing with the force of his command. He glanced at me, surprise flickering across his face.

“Not completely useless,” he admitted.

“Thanks,” I muttered, too breathless to argue.

At last, the shadows thinned. Star’s constellations tore the last of them apart, their light scattering like shattered glass. Smoke and silence settled over the square.

Villagers peeked from their hiding places, wide-eyed, faces pale. Then slowly, they stepped forward.

“To the heir of Duskbane!” one cried suddenly, voice breaking with relief. “To our saviors!”

Before I could stop them, they were kneeling. To me.

My chest tightened. They didn’t know I was just a guy who’d died in another world. They didn’t know I was scared out of my mind, barely holding a sword right. To them, I was the son of Castle Duskbane—their hope.

Akira clapped me on the shoulder, smirking. “Not bad, prince. Didn’t think you had it in you.”

Chris tossed his dagger in the air. “Eh, he only almost died twice. Improvement.”

Amir said nothing, but he gave a small nod. Which, from him, felt like a victory.

I looked at the villagers kneeling, at the destroyed shadows fading into nothing, at my friends—my allies—bloodied but alive.

And for the first time since waking in this world, I thought maybe, just maybe, I could be who they needed me to be.

Even if I wasn’t sure who that was yet.

That night, as we rode back to the castle, the stars followed us.

The Chrono-Forge ticked steady in my chest, but no longer like a burden.

This time, it sounded like a heartbeat.

A promise.