So it was a bit disarming to be reborn. The whole idea of it was still as baffling as it was the moment I realized it had happened to me. But why me? Why was I given a second chance? Why do I still remember my past life?
I was certain that wasn't how all those stories told of being reincarnated went, but here I am in an infant's body with full recollection of my miserable previous life in a foreign world.
How do I know it is a different world? Well, it's been 8 months since I was reborn, but I must mention that in this world, the years are much longer due to the elongated orbit around it's star and the longer moon cycles.
On earth, a year was three hundred sixty-five days. Here, the year is five hundred and fifty days. Each month is an average of forty-six days. This would currently make me around the earth age of a one year old. Despite my age, I have learned quite a decent amount of information about this new world.
First thing I will mention is the sky. The sky was purple during the day with silvery clouds. The moons (yes plural) were still visible during the day and they were a pale blue. The star that was the sun wasn't yellow. In fact, it was a bright ghostly white.
The night sky was an extremely dark red with entire star constellations so much closer to this atmosphere than they were on earth. None of them were familiar.
The architecture was medieval like something out of a King Authur's story book but made of cobblestone that resembled amethyst and quartz. It was beautiful. I was pleased to see I was born in a castle and to the Lord's daughter, no less.
Oh right. My mom's quite an important figure apparently. She's the only child of the Lord and Lady of the noble estate which makes me the heir. The Lord's name is Zetrion, and the Lady's name is Larayna. The noble surname is Mourn-shard. My father... Well, he was from a different noble family meant to be the salvation of the Mourn-shard estate. He was Korgrav Titanborn.
I mostly want to bring attention to the biggest revelation that completely sealed the deal that this was another world. There was definitely quite significant difference because there was this powerful energy people here can generate on their own.
It's just like "magic" from my past life, but it is specific to certain elements which is also specific to certain people. Basically, each person has an element that they can control, but some people seem to have certain limits as to how much they can do at any time. Some were exceptional. Some were mediocre.
As for today, something special seemed to be on the agenda. I was being dressed in some specific clothes that seemed like a silky translucent robe sized of course for an infant. My mother seemed giddy and was pulsing unintentionally with her own element begging to be unleashed.
She had a lightning affinity which was slightly rare but not the rarest by far. Soon, she picked me up out of my alabaster crib, and she walked in front of a mirror allowing me to see my new reflection for the first time.
I was a cute baby, if I do say so myself. I had a button nose with small lips and chubby cheeks. My chin was not pointed but not completely round either. My hair was a raven's feathers black just like my mom's, but it was my eyes that would have had me at a loss for words if I could have spoken.
They were a molten mirror like silver that reminded me of liquid Mercury. My pupils were blood red and had the same tendrils as my mom's, tracing flares into the shining silver of my irises. They looked very wild.
My mother was adjusting her hair as I acknowledged my reflection for the first time. Suddenly a servant entered the room which startled my anxious mom.
"Lady Veirna, it is time." the servant stated with her head down.
"Thank you." Veirna nodded and quickly turned to walk out into the hall where she began to speed walk to the end which was the entrance to the grand hall.
'This must be a big deal,' I thought as two servants opened the doors from the inside as if they expected her. The timing was exact. Upon entry, I noticed a crowd of people on each side of a fancy carpeted walkway, directly in line with our path.
They all watched with suspenseful eyes. Some of them I recognized, some not, but my attention immediately landed at the very front where the Lord and Lady stood with a fully cloaked figure in front of them, centered behind a glass stand holding a completely translucent cradle.
'Ok this is a bit wacky,' I thought just before Zetrion spoke.
"Bring us the child, Veirna."
My mother nodded and walked forward with purpose, intently avoiding the gazes of the audience as she approached the crib and cloaked figure. I didn't like this very much. Upon arrival at the crib, she slowly placed me into it and then knelt.
I was now completely exposed and vulnerable as the robed figure spread his hands in the air over me. Everyone in the room became as silent as death and gained a higher level of suspenseful tension than I thought possible.a
"Kah-ha ru-meh nah-shah seh-zul. Kah-ha ru-meh nah-shah seh-zul" his ancient voice began to chant.
I suddenly began to feel warm. Very warm. The heat I felt continued to rise until it felt like I was being burned alive. I began to cry loudly which seemed to trigger something as I heard the gasps of everyone. I looked up and saw a pirouetting pyre flowing from me up into the air above the crib.
It was unlike any fire I'd ever seen. It's hues were dark shades of red, orange, and black which took a form that at first I didn't recognize. Remember, however, that I also was still crying incessantly and feeling as if I was being pit roasted. Then the form solidified into a very devilish figure that threw spears of fire at the crowd who began to scream in panic. The fire was swiftly extinguished by a gale of wind.
"ENOUGH!!!" Zetrion's voice broke through and ended the chaos.
I was instantly relieved of the scorching pain I had been feeling, so, in turn, I also ended my cries. There was utter silence until the robed figure spoke with the most ancient voice that sounded so fragile, yet the sound of it took up the whole room with its presence.
"It has been determined. The child wields great power. It is wild, almost uncontainable, rebellious in every way possible. The fire within rages, desperate to be free. He will either be great, terrible, or he will fail completely. Control and Will shall be either your salvation, your damnation, or his death. Still, one thing remains certain. He shows great promise."
With these words came gasps and whispers, but Zetrion quickly decided to intervene.
"Thank you denizens of honor for witnessing today the acclamation of Zionai's affinity. There is much to discuss for myself and my family. There will be a banquet prepared in the great dining hall upon your arrival. Please depart and be merry." The Lord commanded.
Soon everyone but the Lord and Lady, my mother, the robed figure, and myself had exited the room. The sheer silence was deafening until...
"He's my son. I love him." my mother said as if she was pleading.
"I blame the father. I never liked him from the beginning." Larayna stated flatly.
"You've always had the worst attitude." Veirna stated.
"Hold your tongue child, I can still punish you greatly."
"Dad..."
Zetrion had been in deep thought with a stressed sorrowful look on his face. Completely ignoring the chaotic banter of my mother and grandmother, he finally sighed, which silenced the women. He was about to pass judgement or so it would seem.
"There is danger, there is great hope, yet there is the chance of nothing at all. The odds are quite even it would seem." Zetrion stated, "Although there is great reason to end his life right now to avoid all outcomes, we as a family will lose everything despite it all. We will hold on to his great promise and hope for greatness. He must be raised right, with an immediate action taken to help him learn control. Should anyone mistreat him, they will be punished severely. He must know love. Veirna..."
"Yes, father."
"Take him and do as I have commanded. Your reward will be the greatest should he succeed and help us all. That is my final word."
"Yes Lord." My grandmother and mother stated in unison. The robed figured nodded and disappeared mysteriously.