The night was deep.
In the somewhat cramped room, the boy lying on the bed was covered in sweat, his eyes moved erratically under tightly shut eyelids, even his face was slightly distorted, yet he remained unable to wake up.
Obviously, his dream tonight was not pleasant, or perhaps calling it a nightmare would be more appropriate.
"Huff—!"
Suddenly sitting up from the bed, the boy who just escaped from the nightmare looked extremely pale, his chest heaving like bellows as he gasped violently. Silently, he held his head with both hands, taking a while before coming back to his senses from the day-to-day terror.
Not wanting to sleep again, Aiven got out of bed wearing linen pajamas, poured himself a cup of water that had long gone cold, and stood by the window, his gaze inscrutable.
"The same nightmare again."
Aiven Galliot, his identity was that of a fallen noble descendant, or more precisely, a once-fallen noble descendant. Since that night of blood and fire three years ago, former glory, wealth, and even family had all left this boy behind.
As traditional feudal nobles of the island country Ilya Kingdom, the Galliot family holding the title of Baron was once prominent.
The family's beginning was considered legendary; as one of the pioneers of the Great Navigation Age, the commoner adventurer Galliot sailed his exploration ship, overcoming reefs, storms, and ferocious sea beasts across the Treasure Sea, being the first to explore and establish a new sea route to the Southern Continent in the shortest and safest travel time.
The opening of the new route allowed abundant precious metals, spices, agricultural products, and raw materials from the Southern Continent to continuously enrich the Kingdom, enabling Ilya to rise from the bottom within the Tulip Alliance to become a regional powerhouse.
For this achievement, the adventurer Galliot was granted the title of Feudal Baron by the Ilya Royal Family, jumping from a penniless commoner to a feudal noble, thus adding a new member named "Galliot Clan" to the noble genealogy of Ilya Kingdom.
Unfortunately, his capability in land management paled in comparison to his maritime exploration skills. Under his leadership, the Galliot family not only failed to shine brighter in Ilya Kingdom but rather continued on a downward slope.
Moreover, since his time, successive Galliot Barons truly lived up to their lineage, each inherently an adventurer, constantly dreaming of reaping benefits in the newly opened Age of Navigation but none bothered to properly manage their family's land.
Ocean exploration isn't something just anyone can play with, great benefits naturally come with great risks. The family's wealth and even land were gradually swallowed into the bottomless pit of ocean exploration!
Ocean exploration is not just about ideals and persistence but also about strength and luck. This family seemed to have exhausted all luck in the battle for its rise, and since then, no exploration could bring enough glory or wealth to turn the family around.
After merely over a hundred years and eight generations of Galliot Barons, the original territory equivalent to at least forty Knight's Domains was reduced to just a remote small town—Black Stone Town. Were it not for the absence of titles linked to land in Ilya, even the nominal title of Baron would be hard to retain.
In this generation, the entire Galliot family had only the father bearing the baronial title, living with two siblings who lost their mother at a young age. The only semblance of noble splendor was probably the old butler Leo, who, despite the family's decline, always kept himself meticulously groomed.
Perhaps the gods above could no longer bear watching, as the situation turned around when they were nearing rock bottom.
A large-scale rich iron ore was discovered under Black Stone Town! One could imagine their ecstatic joy at the time.
Though, their happiness was premature.
Even though by law not even the King could deny the Galliot family's ownership of the iron mine, the extremely weakened Galliot family lacked the military strength and allies to safeguard the fortune that fell from the sky.
As long as one is willing to use their brain, there are always loopholes to exploit in human-made rules, especially when the cost is negligible.
At this time, within the Ilya Kingdom, new commercial nobility had strongly risen, with the personal liberation movement intensifying, the power of traditional feudal nobility and even the King was no longer as formidable.
A new transformation was brewing. In this storm, determining allies and enemies was a challenge even for the most seasoned politicians.
Packs of ravenous hyenas were eyeing the weakened Galliot, among them were new nobles, but also included "old friends" of the family.
Ferocious predators awaited a suitable opportunity, one that wouldn't break their fellow opponents' nerves entirely.
Thus, when the patriarch, Ferman Galliot, suddenly passed away from old wounds sustained during past explorations and overwhelming pressure.
Taking advantage of Aiven's and his sister's youth, with the title temporarily vacant. Abandoned by legal protection, Black Stone Town was lightning-fast conquered by a group of well-equipped "bandits."
The last foundation of the family thus utterly destroyed!
The succeeding changes happened so naturally, nobleland-attacking "bandits" were zealously eradicated by other nobles. After some unknown transactions behind the scenes, the iron mine conveniently fell into the hands of this "benevolent person," under the guise of managing it on behalf of the Galliot family.
As for searching for the two legitimate heirs of the Galliot Clan who went missing in these changes: Anita Galliot and Aiven Galliot, there was a tacit agreement to never mention them again.
By this time, the major situation was settled, and no one cared anymore about whether they lived or died.
Aiven downed the cup of water, suppressing the surge of thoughts within. In reality, even with tenfold more family assets, it couldn't make him resentful; what plagued him with nightmares was escaping alive, while his sister Anita, three years his senior, went missing amid that tumult.
The old butler Leo, unable to expose himself in search of the young lady, escaped Ilya with the surviving Aiven, eventually arriving at the coastal town of Leopold in the Phaletis Kingdom, also within the Tulip Alliance.
The old butler Leo discarded most of their items that could expose them, utilizing the last wealth they carried out and his herbal knowledge from youth to open a potion shop, settling into mundane life in the small town until now.
However, just two days ago, the old butler, suffering from underlying conditions due to severe injuries sustained during their escape night, could no longer hold on, closing his eyes while gripping Aiven's hand.
With the passing of his last kin, overwhelmed by grief Aiven cried himself unconscious.
When he awoke again, the transmigrator consciousness dormant for thirteen years in the boy awoke, merging with Aiven's superficial persona into one.
Differing from other soul transmigrators who lack empathy for their predecessor's experiences, Aiven was the transmigrator, and the transmigrator was Aiven; Aiven's experiences were practically his own experiences.
Only because the past body was too weak, unable to withstand the vast adult soul and memories, there existed the superficial persona Aiven and the dormant consciousness transmigrator distinction.
The unified Aiven would no longer be as weak as the former boy, no longer fearing solitude nor confused about the future. A heart strong enough and a wealth of experiences allowed him to clearly recognize: what he wants, and where his path lies.
"I will live well!"
The handsome boy with brown hair, black eyes, and fair skin looked at his reflection in the window, softly speaking to himself.
Outside the window, the night sky still dotted with starlight, the coastal town of Leopold named after it is awakening, gradually bustling.
Gothic architecture in mainly dark tones stood tall, street lamps cast warm yellow light, steam wafted on the streets, showcasing a prosperous scene typical of a Victorian-era port city.
The Age of Navigation has been underway for two hundred years, maritime industries and ocean trade have become substantial portions of this country's assets. The invention of the steam engine seemed to equip this world with a robust engine, with everything accelerating rapidly towards a brighter future.
Well, at least on the surface, it appeared so, doesn't it?