"You can finally speak!" Jagartha was surprised. In truth, Zenith being four years of age and having not uttered words before was quite weird.
Hearing him suddenly speak a sentence now in an understanding tone, no less was indeed surprising. Jagartha almost dropped him had it not been for her suddenly remembering.
Zenith glanced at Jagartha and spoke again. "My name is Zenith" He uttered again as if to remind them both. "Zenith? What does it mean? Where did you learn that word? " Nelel spoke as she approached while trying to contain her shock, her eyes widened and mouth nearly forming an o shape.
"I want to read books..." He avoided the question and gave another sentence. Jagartha, who was holding the young boy, was glancing at him strangely. She knew this child was somewhat odd at birth, and she always had this nagging feeling that he could understand them with those expressionless yet focused eyes of his.
"Nelel take his chair to the library" She spoke while Nelel who looked excited suddenly grumbled as she wanted to talk to Zenith some more. Still, she obeyed Jagartha's words giving Zenith another glance before heading off.
Jagartha made her way towards a fur and wood seat and softly sat Zenith down on it. Making sure to be careful while she then sat on a nearby rickety wooden chair that was one of her favourites.
"Odd child truly odd!." jagartha eyed him up and down seeing that Zenith's eyes were focusing on her. she wasn't an idiot, always knowing that something was up with this child she couldn't help but speak. "Can you understand everything I say?"
Zenith responded. "Yes" showing no real need to lie. He understood this old lady was quite wise, and trying to trick her and lie all the time would be too tedious. The earlier he could settle things with her, the better and less cautious he could be.
"Do you remember everything since you were born?" This question seemed to nag on Jagartha's mind the day she had pulled this child out of his mother's womb he seemed alert and aware she had never heard of this before.
"Yes," Zenith replied again without much care, in truth he had some confidence in protecting himself these days as he had made some discoveries regarding his own body.
"Interesting..." Although Jagartha's thoughtful tone seemed relaxed, her mind was about to shake apart from this situation. This boy was unlike any she had ever heard of or seen before. A child that was aware since their birth. She had heard of many unique tales from the outside about unusual births of children. She had also seen one before, but never something like this.
Her old body shook a little as there was one idea that was appearing in her mind, but she dared not speak but truly wanted to, and yet, in the end, she couldn't help but respond.
"Little one are you an r...reincarnated being??" this was a great taboo no one had ever heard of reincarnation genuinely occurring. Although many young prodigies were said to be reincarnations of some experts those were overblown terms and were not be taken seriously. If an apex expert truly reincarnated with their knowledge in a new body, who could compete with them.
Zeniths eyes narrowed a little he had to admit this old lady was quite good at picking up on things. He remained silent for several moments then responded. "My name is Zenith."
Jagartha wanted to swear, but in the end, he was just a crippled four years old as mysterious as he may be she gritted her teeth and continued "Zenith....please answer my question!" she raised her tone a little unaware of doing so.
If reincarnation was possible and this child was indeed reincarnated, not just this world not just this realm there were figures she wouldn't dream of that would overturn the heavens to get this child.
"Noisy" he grumbled to her as her higher tone was quite irritating to his ears more so as he was still in pain from the burns. Jagartha was stunned hearing him criticise her she felt that she who usually picked on others was like a baby in front of this toddler she was about to complain, but Zenith continued. "A price was paid the exchange was not worth it."
After he had spoken, jagartha analysed this sentence she pondered about it. In truth, this had confirmed reincarnation was indeed possible this was incredible, but that there was a price and that in the end, it might not even be worth it.
She wondered if it had anything to do with his body. She had so many questions and wanted to continue to speak, but Zenith understood her mindset to a degree.
"In my past life, we had a saying. Curiosity killed the cat. You pry deep enough you will regret what you discover. Adjustment between corporeal and spiritual body. My soul is too strong for this body. time is needed to adjust."
His voice, although young and pained slightly, he spoke with precise clarity. He intended to let Jagartha know that knowing too much was bad for her and that he was not a cursed child but the fact that since he had reincarnated and retained his memories, his soul was just too strong.
"Good....it is good that you aren't a demon...or cursed" this had been a serious thought on her mind for a long time. Always that small little trace that couldn't be swept away, but the boy she had with her was the only known being she knew of that had reincarnated successfully with memories intact.
When he heard the terms demon and cursed, he couldn't help but have a few flashes of images of the more gruesome times he had, the pain and suffering he had seen, and even caused. He quietly sighed.
"Grandma...i want to live peacefully I hope you know what I mean" When he used the word grandma he was, of course, respectful Afterall this lady had taken care of him since he was born. How could he not feel any affection towards her? At the same time, his sentence was to give her an idea as he didn't treat Jagartha as an idiot; she would know what he meant.
Looking at the young boy in front of her. She heard his respectful tone and understood the appreciation he had towards her. Such a thing made her feel relief and joy in her heart.
"-He at least recognises the sacrifices i made kekek-" she spoke in her mind before speaking to Zenith "Of course little-...eh. Zenith. Well, say that you are quite gifted in learning. someone like you no doubt needs time to adjust there are so many questions I have..."
Listening to her words he wasn't really in much of a mood to have a chit chat with anyone he responded to her after she had more or less gotten the gist of him wanting to be low key. "In time, Questions can be asked, but right now, I want books. what I don't want is food."
Having said this, Zenith's tone seemed a little annoyed. He was grateful to them no doubt, but he had more or less adjusted his body to feed off Aether After he had gathered Aether within his body.
Now gaining sustenance from Aether the closest thing one could call it was a more advanced sort of photosynthesis. And because he only took what his body needed, he didn't need to go to the bathroom anymore either.
Jagartha wanted to laugh but instead gave a wide grin with her old teeth showing. She knew that it was a little bit humiliating for this so-called reincarnated expert to go through such things she more or less understood that.
Having such methods to not even worry about food at four years of age this in itself was something many empires would crave for their soldiers as things such as famine were large issues "-Experts have their methods...not needing to eat or use the bathroom-" she was impressed.
Suddenly Nelels voice called out from outside the room. "Grandma I'm done!" Jagartha looked at Zenith again after turning her head to listen she sighed and spoke. "Well...I'm sure you can handle letting her understand young genius" Jagartha uttered.
Hearing the word genius, Zenith felt disdain. He didn't believe that an intellectual or talent or even special birthright powers were anything special they were just handicapped headstarts that were worth crap for those weaklings to brag about.
He admired Zarn'iak, this boy who didn't have any of them used only the fuel of his anger and determination to become an apex being and more or less the second-last survivor of four universes.
As long as one was determined enough and never gave up, they could achieve more than they think they could. After Nelel had called out, Jagartha had taken Zenith towards the library.
The library room was packed with various ancient tomes both dusty and new, some in beast skin others were parchments and proper tomes with either wooden or leather covers.
Jagartha left Zenith with Nelel while she needed her own time to adjust her state of mind considering the conversation she had just had. It was surprising she hadn't gone insane from excitement.
Nelel was sitting not too far from Zenith a curious smile on her face as her right hand held her right cheek while she glanced at Zenith with her elbow on the wooden table.
Zenith was currently going over a thick tome that was nearly as big as him as it lay on the table though he felt a little bit of frustration with Nelel glancing at him.
He didn't blame the girl she was just happy. "Questions big sister?" his tone suddenly soft and kind while speaking to her, she had also taken care of him much and treated him like her own little brother.
Her growing up suffering from no parents an orphan like him and a slight reminder of the young children who had suffered hardship in the past. "Zenith that's so great! that name isn't like those tribal ones. You can speak proper sentences to!...oh are my words too hard for you to understand or?" She caught herself wondering if the way she was speaking was too complicated for him.
"It's fine Big sister I can understand you clearly" he replied. Nelel smiled widely and replied "Call me Big sis! Can you understand what you are reading? Do you need me to help you? Grandma taught me how to read by the time I was 11. I'm talented, you know!."
Zenith shook his head softly. "It's fine, Big sis. Can i please get some alone time?" his voice tender and a little worried yet this was on purpose to get through her mind., Although she was semi-mature, she still had a childish nature on the exterior when it came towards him and Jagartha.
Nelel blinked a few times and looked at the bandaged boy whos eyes were more gentle then before when focused on her she smiled and stood up making her way towards him and embracing him in a soft hug. "Ok Zenith I'm just happy you can speak now. I thought you were in pain, constantly unable to talk while begging for help. il check on you later on on"
She spoke then began to head off. Zenith quietly sighed. This girl had a kind heart, this feeling of family in him that he hadn't experienced before even when he had in the past had his own was quite lovely.
When he had made his own family, there were always his former kids that we're spoiled and still after benefits. His so-called wives that he married for the sake of establishing relations also never showing true love or affection. However, it was millions of years later that he distanced himself from them to which they more or less went their ways.
"I don't need to be the same; I should relax a little" speaking to himself while continuing to look over the book. Learning how to read was much more straightforward for him. Thanks to having such a strong soul and adapted mind. It seemed this world had one language. as well which was odd until he continued to read
This massive book detailed history for the planet he was currently on. Spanning back ten to twelve thousand years, it also gave information regarding the realm.
In truth, the planet he was on and its society were not as old as he thought. They were relatively new, more or less inhabited by refugees from a war in the past from another realm.
"Interesting" he spoke after continuing to read. Instead then calling it a universe they were called realms and were interconnected with one another to form a chained multiverse.