Jasyn's tiny body moved precariously along the hallway behind Varenna, his feet pattering softly on the floor as she took the passing moments to describe features of the underground section of the castle.
As they neared the end of the hall they currently occupied, she switched gears to something she remembered him saying as he was describing his previous life.
"So both you and your twin brother had gifts uncommon of your people in your previous life?" She asked.
"Well, I say both of us, but... fuck, I mean, I ain't ever actually seen Jackie use his gift. I'm almost sure he's got one, though. I think it's got something to do with his speech or something. I don't know anybody who can rile others up or get them to agree with him like he can. It's fucking nuts, honestly." Jasyn explained, his voice squeaking in the low space behind the woman.
Although he didn't sound like he was struggling to keep up with her, Varenna quietly wondered whether a baby should be running around like he was.
"Um... would you prefer that I carry you?" Varenna asked, her bright eyes giving his tiny body a furtive glance as they rounded a corner.
"What? No I... oh, you know what, fine." He sighed. She was technically the mother of his body, why not let her carry her own child?
This proved to be the right choice, if the bright smile on the women's face was anything to go by.
"Where are we going, anyway?" Jasyn asked.
"I'm taking you to your bedroom. Our bodies have a period of time, right after we're born, during which we grow at an extreme rate over the course of about 3 months. You'll have to go through that before you can be *debuted* to the rest of our kind. Also, you'll need to be of reasonable size when you meet your fiancee." She said.
"Fiancee? I've been in this world all of three hours and I'm already getting tied down to some woman I've never met? Sounds great. I'm guessing that my fiancee is from these Oni you've mentioned." Jasyn said.
"How astute of you. She is indeed a War Oni. During recent meetings among our kind we agreed to a transaction of sorts. In addition to trading our our magicks to one another, we also chose to strengthen our ties through an engagement between our races."
Jasyn yawned in spite of himself, his body feeling a strange sense of exertion and fatigue deep within his very core.
"Ah, see, I knew it. Your body has already begun trying to age itself. You'll be forced to sleep within the hour, whether you want to or not. Now, it's going to be some time before we'll be able to speak to one another when you do sleep, but that'll give me time to prepare for you to join our family."
Jasyn remained quiet as she spoke, his crimson eyes fluttering as he stared through thin, sparse windows as they ascended a staircase. His mind hadn't adjusted to this new place yet, not truly, but he was sure enough after whatever magic Varenna had used on him that he wasn't in any immediate danger. Besides, even if he was, he had Symphonic Battle Spirit, and that would hopefully be enough to at least keep himself alive long enough to run away.
Well, he supposed it didn't really matter, especially if he was gonna be forced to fall asleep.
He yawned again, rubbing his eyes with tiny fists and sighing.
"Oh, right! Since I'll have plenty of time to work with, is there anything that you want or need me to get for you while you sleep?" Varenna asked.
For a moment, Jasyn was silent. Was she just trying to fill the silence with empty talk? He had been in the world for less that a quarter of a day, so how in the world could he know what there is to ask for? Then it hit him.
"What sort of instruments do you have in this world?" He asked.
"Instruments? As in musical instruments? Well there are dozens of common ones that musicians play, and many of the common ones have modifications that certain groups of people play... why?"
Jasyn stared into her face, eyes alight.
"Music keeps my abilities charged and ready for use whenever I need them. It ain't like I can pull out a fucking smartphone and plug it in in my room, so I'm gonna have to make my own music to make up the difference. " He sighed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"Alright, alright, relax before you exhaust yourself. Do you have a preference for instruments?" Varenna soothed.
Jasyn fell into thought at this question, then grunted in response.
"Y'know what? Fuck it. All of em. If it can be played by human, or, Vampire fingers and lungs, I want it." He said.
"I'll do what I can. We're almost to your room. Given your status among our people, it was seen fit for you to be placed over others in our section of the city. You would do well not to let your status go to your head, but I feel as though I don't need to remind you of something so simple." She remarked.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm not so fucking stupid that I'm gonna go around acting like hot shit. Least not until I feel like I'm able to back it up. Now, do I have a- holy fucking shit."
Jasyn's question vanished from his lips as Varenna opened a large, steel door and carried him inside. The room was the size of a lecture hall from his time at university, despite him spending more time skipping classes than actually going, he was still familiar with the size. Despite its grand size, the room itself was nearly bare, only sporting a large bed against the far wall.
"I imagine this space will be filled somewhat by the sheer number of instruments you've requested I bring you, but, after you wake up, it'll be up to you to fill this room as you desire." Varenna giggled.
"Wow. If I tried to walk across the room from the door in this body, I don't think I'd make it. That's honestly kinda fucking terrifying." He replied, giving a single dry laugh.
"Well, I'll put you to bed. I know things are moving far faster than you might expect, but I promise you I'll take all the time you need to explain things once you've woken up." She said, nearing the bed and setting him down.
"I'm gonna hold you to that. If that's everything, I think this sleep shit's really starting to set in. I can feel it hitting me hard." He yawned again.
Varenna looked at him, seeming to hesitate for a moment, then, she leaned down and pressed a kiss on her little baby's forehead.
Jasyn rolled his eyes, smirking as he lifted the heavy sheets of his bed and slipping under them, leaving just his head peeking out.
"So, I think this question's gonna be weird, but, am I supposed to dream or something while I sleep here? Or is it more of a 'fall asleep and wake up feeling like I just fell asleep' sort of thing?" He asked.
"I... I can't remember dreaming when I went through this, but, it also wasn't something immediate, either. I definitely felt the passage of time." Varenna explained.
"Oh.... good." Jasyn said, his eyes closing one final time before he ceased responding to Varenna.
She stared down at her child, smiling. She, of course, wasn't prepared to raise a child with the soul of a twenty something year old human, but, in the end, she found him surprisingly amusing, if not outright enjoyable. Plus, thinking about what the future held for him, perhaps his previous life experiences would be a boon for him.
With that thought in mind, she watched him for a few minutes further, then turned and made her way out of the room, not bothering to be quiet since she wouldn't be able to wake him, anyway.
‐---------*----------
When the door finally shut, I opened my eyes, breathing out a long, relieved sigh.
"Fuck, I was worried she was just going to stand there and watch me the whole time."
I let out another sigh and struggled out from under the sheets. I could genuinely feel the unconscious desire to sleep creeping up in the back of my mind, and I knew I couldn't waste any more time.
I clapped my hands together, wracking my brain for a phrase that I hadn't said since I was a kid. Finally, it hit me.
"Activate seeding protocol; standard; physical." I said, speaking to no one. "Gift seeding, overlap; muscle density, bone density, skin plasticity, skin elasticity, organ sturdiness, organ adaptability, reaction levels. Maximize potential."
I had to clamp my hands over my mouth for fear of screaming out loud when a sharp, needlepoint pain stabbed straight through the top of my head, down through the entirety of my spine, and stopping at my feet.
Well, it felt sort of like it did the first time all those years ago, but, back then it was "mental" and not "physical".
I had something in mind. I was in an unknown place, in a mostly unknown situation, where quite literally the only person I could be sure didn't want to kill me is the woman who had just given birth to me, and, frankly, I wasn't even sure I would be willing to put money on that.
So, I did what any reasonable person would do when they didn't have the leeway to trust anyone: I decided to make a contingency. It would hopefully be ready by the time I woke up, but, only time would tell.
Feeling confident that I was at least somewhat prepared for what might be coming, I laid my head back onto the pillow behind me, closing my eyes with the intention of actually falling asleep this time.
"Fuck me. I don't know whether to be excited or terrified." I laughed.
Then, as I wondered what might be awaiting me on the other side of sleep, my consciousness slipped away.