Penitent

Michael, a man who fought a losing battle with cancer after a fulfilling retirement, desperately desired more time with his family. He resisted the pull towards the light, only to awaken in another world. Reborn into a new body, Michael is compelled to serve as a Penitent, a soldier for his new country. This life is his penance for taking the life of the child whose body he now inhabits. This Isekai story, featuring light LitRPG elements, sees Michael gain paladin-like powers. Book one focuses on his time at a military academy, with the protagonist quickly aging beyond childhood. The narrative unfolds at a deliberate pace. Michael, driven by a profound and perhaps disproportionate guilt, possesses a deeply human and evolving nature. His growth will be gradual and earned.