Antoine Laurent Lavoisier once said, "Matter is neither created nor destroyed." But my mother, Anne, not only controlled matter—she created it too. It's midnight now, and I'm still wide awake, haunted by what I witnessed.
Does this universe defy the Law of Conservation? I can clearly see the candle burning as it emits light. Was she using some advanced technology? But I haven't seen a single bulb in this world, so that shouldn't be possible.
I thought being a child again would grant me infinite freedom, but all I see are the bars of this cradle, keeping me from the knowledge I crave.
Suddenly, Thorus barges in, leaning on Anne for support. He's clearly drunk, stumbling as he tries to make it to the bed. "Shhh, your son is sleeping," Anne whispers as she helps him lie down. As she's about to leave, Thorus grabs her hand and pulls her down so that her face is right in front of his. "Do you think I'm a monster?" he asks, flipping her onto her back. She smiles and replies, "You clearly are a monster."
He grasps both her hands, pinning them above her head. "I heard monsters bite," he says, leaning down toward her neck. "Oh, not there. I have a meeting tomorrow," Anne protests, but Thorus, unconcerned, replies, "I don't care," and gently bites her neck, eliciting a soft moan from her.
Oh, poor me. I'm not one to be easily disgusted, but this... this is unsettling. Maybe because it's my mother? Despite everything, there's a strange comfort in how she's cared for me. Her embrace is soft, and I remember feeling protective of what I loved in my past life. My daughters, my wife, and, of course, my books.
Books? That's right, books! Anne clearly read something in that book to create those ice particles. I must learn how to read, but how? I'm just 8 months old. The challenge seems insurmountable. The bigger issue now is the noise outside, More unsettling than the noise in my own head. They have filled the room with moans, all pulling at my focus, but my determination to learn remains unwavering. I need to find a way to unlock the secrets within those pages, no matter how young I am
The next day, the man with the mustache—disappointingly only reaching his stomach—came to see me. When I was just born, I thought it touched the ground. He approached me and patted my head as I stared at him with a disappointed expression. My father, Thorus, called out, "Thomas Topham! What brings you here, Chief?"
Thomas laughed as he patted Thorus on the back. "I'm here for the traditions! As tradition dictates, your extraordinary baby must tour the village."
Anne walked over with a glass of water for the Chief, her brow furrowed as she asked, "Extraordinary?"
"Ah, yes," the Chief replied, "Babies usually don't pronounce their parents' names until they're six to seven months old, you know."
I started to worry that they might suspect something, but Anne only shot a glare at Thorus, saying, "So, you must have known about the bet too."
"Now, now," the Chief tried to soothe the tension, "he was only sharing his grief. You know, most dads want their child to be warriors."
Anne walked back toward the kitchen, muttering, "A man's gotta keep his promise," and slammed the door behind her.
Thorus sighed in relief as if a storm had just passed. "I will never understand women," he muttered.
I, too, Thorus, I thought, shaking my head in agreement. Even after having affairs with so many women in my previous life, I never understood them either.
Without warning, the Chief scooped me up. "We must march around the village," he declared, placing me on his shoulder as we headed outside. This was the first time I'd been outdoors since my reincarnation.
Our house was surrounded by farmland, with crops nearly ready for harvest. There weren't many people around, but as soon as we reached the marketplace, all eyes were on us—or rather, on me.
My cuteness had clearly charmed the entire crowd, boosting my already high ego to another level. Being a complete narcissist, this was heaven. One lady even snatched me from the Chief's shoulders and kissed me. Her hair, a vibrant contrast to her pale skin, framed a face with delicate features. High cheekbones, a graceful nose, and full, slightly parted lips hinted at a quiet confidence. Her deep, mysterious eyes seemed to hold ancient secrets, their gaze both inviting and enigmatic.
"Oh my, this marvelous creature must be here for the traditions," she said, handing me back to the Chief before parting ways.
"Miss Sandra~" he said as he blushed. I noticed the Chief's eyes still thirsting with lust. Aren't you 70 years old? I thought, incredulous.
In the middle of the market stood a colosseum. Nice! I love fights, I thought, but as an analyst, I couldn't peacefully enjoy the beauty of the place. Judging by the architecture, it seemed we were in the 1830s. The houses were tall but made of concrete.
Lost in thought, I suddenly saw a man flying on a broom over the colosseum. Shocked, I pointed and made noises, trying to draw attention to him. The Chief looked up and said, "Oh, he's heading towards the Magic Academy. Since your mother won the bet, I guess you'll be studying there too!"
Magic? I was speechless but quickly shook my head. I need to get used to this new world. But a surge of pride filled me. Now I get to go to academia and study books.
The Chief lifted me into the air and declared, "But before that, you must train with me, like all kids!" He grinned, and I felt a pang of disappointment.
With a pervert like you? I thought, sighing internally.
We returned home after the trip to the village, with my mother hanging clothes on a rope as the Chief and I entered the gate. The Chief handed me to Anne, and that night, there was a grand feast. Many people gathered, and among them was a religious figure who stood out. Unlike the others, he didn't drink or eat any meat, though a clearly drunk Thorus was trying hard to get him to drink.
Given Thorus's persistence, I expected the religious figure to be furious by now, but instead, he stood up calmly and gave a speech. "Sir Barson, you are the protector of this village. Now, I shall give your son something unique."
He then kneeled before Thorus and handed him a book, its cover seemingly coated in gold. "Please make sure to read this legend to Ales every night," he said with a solemn tone.
Thorus laughed, lifting the religious figure to his feet. "A sword would've been better for my son, but sure, I respect your wishes, my friend."
I get to listen to someone reading every night? I thought, a smile forming in my mind. Nice.