Two hours, an eternity in the confined world of an infant, had passed. For Aaron, those hours were a torturous blend of physical and mental constraint. He lay immobile in his crib, his gaze fixed on Lilly, who, with an almost manic enthusiasm, conjured an endless array of wooden furniture. The once-cozy hut was now a chaotic showroom of chairs, cupboards, wardrobes, beds, and even a more elaborate version of his own crib.
Aurora, his mother, had repeatedly pleaded with Lilly to cease her magical construction, but her words seemed to vanish into the flurry of wood and Sid energy. It was evident that Lilly possessed a remarkable reservoir of this magical energy, a power Aaron instinctively understood to be akin to mana.
Adding to his frustration was his inability to decipher Lilly's spells. Despite his self-proclaimed sharp intellect, he couldn't grasp the incantations she murmured. They sounded vaguely Latin, a language his father had insisted he study in a previous life. How ironic, he thought, to be reborn into a world where magic hinged on a language he'd been forced to learn.
'What the hell are those incantations?' he raged internally, watching Lilly collapse into a chair, panting. 'She's not strong enough for high-class magic. These spells feel low or mid-class. Mom mentioned a high-class spell when she created the crib. So, there's a ranking system. But what is it?'
He shifted his tiny body, trying to alleviate the discomfort of lying still. 'Being a baby is a nightmare,' he thought. 'You're stuck in one position, unable to communicate your needs.' He scanned the overcrowded hut. 'I need to find a way to solve this predicament. But how?'
His gaze shifted to Aurora, who was calmly organizing clothes. 'How is she so energetic after giving birth?' he wondered. 'Is she a magician too? If magic is this useful, I need to learn it. Imagine being able to create anything, even water! Except food, maybe, but still, it's a huge advantage.'
"Lilly, you need to stop. This is my last warning," Aurora said, her voice firm, yet laced with a hint of weariness.
"Okay, Mom," Lilly replied, her gaze shifting to Aaron. "My brother is so handsome with his silver hair and blue eyes." She stood up and approached his crib. "Hey, baby brother," she said, crouching down. "Do you want me to bathe you?"
'What the...?! Bathe me? Do I look like a baby to you?' Aaron thought, shaking his head.
"Aww, you don't want your sister to bathe you? What if you bathe with me?" Lilly teased.
Aaron shook his head more vigorously.
"Mom," Lilly called, turning to Aurora. "My baby brother seems to understand what I'm saying."
"Of course, he's different," Aurora replied, placing the clothes in a towering wardrobe.
"I mean, he can clearly understand me," Lilly clarified.
"What are you saying?" Aurora asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"Check this out." Lilly flicked her finger, and a wisp of white energy appeared.
'Wow! Magic!' Aaron stared intently at the energy.
"This is called Sid energy. Everyone who has unlocked their class has it. Do you want me to teach you how to do this, baby bro?"
Aaron nodded enthusiastically.
"You saw that, Mom?" Lilly asked.
"I did," Aurora said, sitting down with a gentle smile.
"Okay, baby brother, I'll teach you when you grow up."
'Are you kidding me?! That'll take at least five years!' Aaron pouted.
"Awww, my brother is so cute!" Lilly picked him up, spinning him around.
'Are you crazy?! Put me down! I don't want to be carried by you! Teach me magic instead! If you don't stop, I'll attack!'
Lilly, oblivious to Aaron's inner turmoil, continued to spin him.
'That's it! Bladder release!'
A stream of urine erupted from Aaron, soaking his clothes.
'Come on! I can't even attack her properly!'
"Uh?" Lilly stopped spinning, feeling the wetness. She blinked at him. "Brother, did you...?"
'That's what you get!'
"Graaaa!!!"
The sudden, guttural roar silenced them.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Aurora's face turned serious. Lilly covered Aaron's mouth. They all turned towards the door.
'What made that sound?! How am I supposed to fight like this?! And these two women can't—'
"Hold him, Lilly. I'll deal with whatever is outside," Aurora said, standing up, her voice laced with a quiet determination.
Lilly nodded, her expression grim.
'What?! Mom, no! Don't go! Hey, spinner, stop—Huh?!'
Aaron's eyes widened as Aurora extended her hand, pulling a long silver sword from thin air.
'What the...?! She just pulled a sword from nowhere?!'
He watched, dumbfounded, as golden armor materialized on her body, her silver hair tucked into a helmet.
'I'm speechless!'
"Why do you look so surprised, love?" Aurora approached him, pinching his nose gently. "Your mother isn't as weak as she seems." She kissed his forehead and walked towards the exit, her movements fluid and graceful.
"Don't worry, baby brother. In all of Elvis, no one dares face our mother at her full strength. That's why they tried to kill us when she was heavily pregnant," Lilly said, her eyes flashing with a fierce protectiveness.
'Huh? What kind of family did I get reborn into?' Aaron thought, his mind reeling. He was beginning to understand that his mother was not merely a gentle caregiver, but a formidable warrior, a force to be reckoned with. And Lilly, despite her playful demeanor, possessed a fierce loyalty and a hidden strength. He now realized, he was not just born into a family, but into something else.
He moved his gaze on the two, and turned his head to the door:
'But still, what type of creature can make such a sound?' He thought.
"This is fun... Mom is about to put on her armor." Lilly said in a whisper, a smile clearly visible on her face.
'Ok... Armor? Well, let's just hope what ever is out there isn't so dangerous.' He thought.
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