Some years passed by quickly. For Avrin, this was indeed his final destination whilst a baby. He had been raised with all the love his two foster parents could muster, as if he were their own. Sometimes, though, they often would wonder if he was all right or injured in some way as he never seemed to cry like a normal infant, unless he needed to be cleaned or fed.
Avrin was thankful to these two. Despite being reincarnated, the warmth they gave him had soaked through his hard shell of a mind and reached him. He would often babble or try to laugh whenever he saw his parents upset or when they played with him, more so for his mother, considering she had been hit hardest due to the loss of her child. Thankfully, this worked wonders for his parents, with color and health returning to his mother, whose name was Audrene. His father's name was Himon.
Soon, as time passed, Avrin grew. He used all the time he had to think and learn, realizing that since he entered this world, he could understand everything people spoke as if it were normal. They were clearly speaking a different language, but to Avrin, it all was understandable. He chalked it up to something the being had done to assist him for some purpose or simply for an unknown reason.
Another bonus for Avrin was that his father's surname was Sygin, and his mother had named him Avrin, so he got to retain his prior life's name. This was obviously some specific tampering as it was too coincidental for it to be luck. Though he wasn't fussed, after all with what he had seen after dying, it didn't seem that important; it was obviously divine intervention. What mattered now was that he needed to grow to a point where he didn't need to rely on his parents to get anything done.
They knew that Avrin was different from the rest; he was obviously half-human and half-demon. His father had asked the village herbalist, who was the wisest around, before he got that answer. This at first caused a little stir as it was impossible to keep it hidden, but it was eventually seen as a blessing considering his mother's circumstances and his father's position as the leading hunter of the village.
From an early age, Avrin would try to talk, but his vocal cords were not fully developed. At 11 months old, he had begun speaking his first words; the first was, of course, "mum." His mother was overjoyed, and his dad a little annoyed for obvious reasons, but it was natural as the mother was with him more.
More time would flow as if in the blink of an eye. Avrin was now 9 years old. He sat inside his room upstairs, reading a book. His early intelligence was paraded by his parents; he showed early maturity and wisdom but still held himself back as he might be seen as a bit odd. After all, he still had limited knowledge of this place.
Shutting the book in his hand, Avrin closed his eyes. This body, or whatever had been done to him, made everything so easy and effortless. He simply needed to skim over a sentence, and it would be memorized and stored. He felt his understanding increase by the day. This was simply far beyond a child's memory; it was something more.
With his right hand, he reached out and touched his chest. From the moment he could move freely, he had tried his best to understand what the being had done to him, from meditating to thinking, but nothing seemed to work. The only result he had achieved over 9 years was that in his mind, if he focused hard enough, he could see a swirling mass of darkness, like a fog hiding something.
Since he couldn't force it, there was no need to worry too much. Right now, he simply needed to learn what he could, and he had made great progress. He learned the name of his home, Tarbor Village, situated beside a large forest that got more dangerous the deeper one ventured.
His father, the lead hunter, would often go alone or with others to hunt game to bring back. They would use what they could and sell what they couldn't to the nearby villages. Life was calm here but not exciting. His father had told Avrin that the most exciting thing that had happened, other than finding him as a child, was that he had seen an enormous red dragon with someone riding it.
Avrin wanted to learn more, but his father couldn't tell much else, other than that the livestock had fallen to their knees, not daring to make a sound even when the dragon passed over. Avrin would always pester his father and even other adults who were close to his dad about things. He learned that they didn't know much about the current world, but it was one ruled not by technology, but magic.
This was a place ruled by those who could utilize mana, mages who could cast spells that bent nature and the laws to their whim. Avrin was definitely awed by this. He didn't press further as they obviously didn't seem to know the inner workings of mana. It didn't stop Avrin from trying to feel mana the moment he found out about it.
But he got nothing other than feeling floating gentle specks. He assumed that if he had spirit veins, he would be able to better utilize or even store whatever this was, but like his former father had said, he was a cripple with no spirit veins.
Avrin didn't give up though. He had plenty of ways of surviving in such a harsh world; his experience wouldn't fail him. He didn't put his hopes up on the being that reincarnated him like this, as there would probably be limits to what he wanted to do. Otherwise, what would be the point in doing it for Avrin?
Avrin opened his eyes after gazing at that darkness-enshrouded sphere in his mind as he heard footsteps approaching. The door opened as his father appeared, a little older compared to when he rescued Avrin, but just as strong-looking.
"Son, you're not out playing today? It's beautiful outside, all the other kids are doing something," he spoke gently.
Avrin slowly stood up and gazed at his father with respect. This was the man who saved him and raised him, after all. "Sorry, I just enjoy reading and learning a lot. Playing outside for me is really boring. Besides, last time I tried, the other kids treated me differently," he honestly spoke.
The last time he had tried in earnest after being forced by his parents to make friends, he was bullied and ridiculed for looking different and having pointy ears. They said he was a monster baby. Sure, Avrin was pissed off, but these were just kids, and it was his own body's weak emotions coming into play. What was he to do at that time, stoop to their level or cry back to his parents?
His father looked bitterly at his son, walking over and gently patting his back before leading him to the nearby window. "Avrin, look, outside can teach you so much more than what the books here can show you. Besides, you've read everything over several times. All that's left are those family records the other houses have; there's not a book here you haven't touched, well, maybe that old herbalist's too, of course."
Avrin's eyes lit up. That was right, the herbalist definitely had books, though he hadn't seen him since he was a child as he always kept to himself or was out harvesting. Apparently, he also was eccentric. His father, seeing that light in Avrin's eyes, shook with worry. He knew what his son was thinking.
"Hey now, you better not cause him trouble. He will nag my ear off."
Avrin smiled at his father's words. "I won't. I guess you're right, dad. I already exercise, right? I taught you some I made up as well." When Avrin spoke, his father looked sheepish. His son did indeed tell him about this fun exercise he made up when he was 7. His father at first thought it was just some silly game, but his son would pester him to keep doing it.
They were pushups, pullups, and other methods. His father played it off, but when he started trying he realized he couldn't do much. As the lead hunter, he felt shameful that with such a simple method, he was struggling. In two years though, and with Avrin's pestering and even practicing the exercise beside him, he found that the results were extraordinary. He felt more energetic, and his stamina improved along with his body shape. Audrene obviously didn't complain, that was until he got eyed by the single women of the village, which would in turn lead to him being dragged back by his wife and scolded.
"T-that's right, but hey, you are more special than the other kids. It's just a shame to be inside all day," with his father being persistent, Avrin had an idea. He grinned and spoke. "My birthday's tomorrow. Why don't you teach me how to use a sword and bow, or even to hunt!?"