Six months have passed since I was born in Numira, and I've officially become Lyra. I absolutely love my name, by the way.
Speaking of names, I've also learned my parents' names—my father's name is Caspian, and my mother's is Morgana. Mom married into the Valora family, as we are part of the Elven kingdom. They haven't taken any other spouses, but they do have bonded monsters who they insist I call "aunties."
My parents have been doting on me constantly—sometimes to an almost ridiculous degree. Especially my dad, who practically smothers me with hugs every chance he gets. He never misses an opportunity to lift me up and spin me around, laughing with joy, his eyes twinkling with love. It's adorable, but it can get a bit overwhelming.
Mom is a bit different. In many ways, she's more of a father figure than Dad is, and it's pretty clear who wears the pants in their relationship, if you know what I mean. It makes sense, though—Mom is an Amazon, naturally strong and dominant. She's the kind of woman who commands attention the moment she enters a room, her presence radiating power.
I do wonder why she chose Dad, of all people. He's always so cheerful and lighthearted around us, which doesn't seem like the type she'd typically go for. But then again, there's something reassuring about his kindness, and I suppose that must have been what drew her in. But I suppose that's a mystery for another day.
Being the Duke and Duchess of the Elven kingdom keeps them incredibly busy, so during the day, I'm often looked after by the maids and my nanny, Mira.
Mira is actually Dad's bonded cat-kin, who I met when I was born. She resembles a panther, with slitted eyes that are totally badass. Her long black hair is silky and sleek, and her ears twitch whenever she hears the slightest sound, her senses always alert.
Despite her fierce looks, she's a complete softy at heart. Mira dotes on me almost as much as my parents do, though in her own way. She makes sure I'm always comfortable, and I often catch her smiling at me, her eyes soft with affection. Sometimes, she even purrs, which is just the cutest thing.
Recently, I've started noticing magic around me, which I assume is thanks to my High Elf heritage. It feels like a soft hum, an energy that surrounds everything in the world.
Sometimes, I even feel like I'm absorbing it, drawing it in and storing it somewhere inside me. It's a strange sensation, almost like a warm current flowing into my body, pooling in my chest. I should ask Dad about this once I'm old enough to talk, I thought to myself.
I've been practicing talking at night while lying in bed, and let me tell you—it's tough with underdeveloped vocal cords. Most of what I say ends up sounding like gibberish, a garbled mess of sounds that barely resemble words.
But I've been working diligently on saying "mama" and "dada" every night for the past two months, so... maybe it'll pay off soon.
The first time I called Dad "dada," he was over the moon. His face lit up with pure joy, and he practically glowed with happiness.
He lifted me up, spinning me around while shouting, "Did you hear that?! She said 'dada'!"
But when Mom picked me up right after, and I called her "mama," the excitement quickly drained from his face.
He looked so dejected, his shoulders slumping as he sighed dramatically. He even made up some excuse about having work to do just so he could leave me with her. It was kind of funny, honestly.
"My baby, look how smart you are," Mom said, smiling down at me as she held me close.
"But you should've given him this one first. You know how much he cares about these things. Next time, make him feel special and wait before telling me, okay?"
"K, mama," I replied, giggling and nodding. Her golden eyes softened, and she kissed my forehead gently.
"Oh, how surprising—my cute little girl is already hiding how smart she really is from her parents. Let's keep this our little secret, right, my little Lyra?" Mom whispered with a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
I nodded again, this time more seriously. I couldn't believe how quickly Mom saw through me. I'll have to be more careful around her if I want to keep my secret—that I'm actually a girl from another world who just happens to be her daughter now. Honestly, I don't think Mom would mind much, but it's Dad's reaction that scares me. If he found out right now, I think it would devastate him. He seems so happy, and I don't want to ruin that.
I'm now a year old, and ever since the "mama-dada" incident, I feel like Mom has been watching me more closely.
Her golden eyes follow me sometimes, studying me with a thoughtful expression, like she's trying to figure me out. I don't really mind, though—I'm planning to tell her my secret in a couple of years anyway.
I want her to know, but I need to be ready, and I need her to see me as her daughter before anything else. As for Dad, I'll hold off a bit longer. I don't have the heart to break it to him just yet, and I know Mom will take it better.
On another note, I've been continuing to absorb magic periodically, and I found that meditating before bed really speeds up the mana intake process.
I discovered it by accident, actually—one night, I was feeling restless, and I just focused on my breathing, trying to calm down. That's when I felt it—the magic around me, flowing in more strongly, like I'd opened a door.
Since then, I've made it a nightly ritual, sitting cross-legged in my crib, my eyes closed as I breathe in deeply. I haven't attempted any spells yet—not because I can't, but because I want to thoroughly understand and connect with the basics before diving into real magic. I want to know my limits before I start pushing them.
~~~~
I'm now five years old, standing at about 4'1", and it seems I have a lot more growing ahead of me, considering both of my parents are giants.
I have platinum white hair that falls to my shoulder blades, soft and shiny, and two crystal blue eyes that Dad never stops complimenting. He says they remind him of the clearest sky, and every time he says it, I see the pride in his eyes.
Right now, I look quite cute with my slightly chubby cheeks, and it seems like I'm destined to be a beautiful woman in the future. My ears are pointed like Dad's, but they have a slight curve that gives them a unique shape, a mix of both my parents' traits.
I can't wait to see how I'll look when I'm older.
~~~~
Knock, knock.
"Mom, I'm coming in," I say as I push open the double doors to her office. The doors are heavy, carved with intricate patterns that depict scenes of battles and victories—symbols of my mother's Amazonian heritage.
"What's the matter, Lyra?" Mom asks, standing up from her desk and walking over to me.
She bends down to pick me up effortlessly, her strong arms wrapping around me as she lifts me up. She smells like fresh air and the faint scent of iron, a reminder of her training sessions.
Once I'm in her arms, she turns and sits on the sofa, settling me on her lap. Her presence is warm and comforting, her body a solid wall of strength behind me.
"You know, I'm getting too big for this, right?" I say, looking up at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Blasphemy! My daughter will never be too big to sit on her mother's lap," Morgana replies with a grin, her eyes glinting with amusement. She boops my nose playfully, and I can't help but giggle.
Shaking my head, I look up at her seriously and ask what I came for. "Can I have access to the library? I want to start learning new things."
"Oho, I've actually been expecting this conversation for a while now, my dear. But before that, I need to ask you a question I've been putting off for far too long." Her tone shifts, and I feel a chill run down my spine.
Uh-oh, she's serious. I thought I had waited long enough to avoid her suspicions, but it looks like I was wrong. I guess there's no avoiding it now.
Mom clears her throat, and her expression turns serious, creating an almost oppressive aura. Her golden eyes bore into mine, and I feel my heart skip a beat. "Are you truly my daughter?"
"Y-Yes, why wouldn't I be, Mother?" I stammer, averting my eyes and looking down, tears welling up as I try to hold them back. My hands grip the fabric of her shirt, and I feel a lump form in my throat.
"My baby, there's no need to cry," Mom says softly, her voice gentle as she cups my cheek.
"You've always been too smart for your age. Even when you were born, you didn't cry. And I've noticed how quickly you've been collecting mana—faster than any child should.
Tell me, did you replace my true daughter?"
Hearing those words, the dam breaks, and tears pour down my face.
I bury my face in her chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Seeing this, Mom pulls me into a comforting hug, holding me against her chest and letting me cry. Her hand strokes my hair gently, her other arm wrapped around me protectively.
After what feels like minutes, my tears finally dry, and I look up at her, my eyes red and puffy.
"N-No, it's always been me," I say shakily.
"I remember being in your stomach for a long time. There was never anyone else, no other soul. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't bring myself to ruin everything." My voice cracks, and I feel another tear slip down my cheek.
"Okay, okay, I believe you," she says, her voice filled with warmth as she wipes my tears away with her thumb.
"But do you know why you became my daughter?"
I then proceed to tell her my story—about my previous parents, how they died, and how I ended up becoming her daughter.
Her eyes widen slightly as she listens, her expression softening.
"Oh, my baby, I'm so sorry for doubting you," Mom says, her eyes filled with regret.
"You had such a hard life, and you even died as a child." She pulls me into a bear hug, and to my surprise, a tear rolls down her cheek. Mom has never cried, not even when I was born. She's not one to show her vulnerable side—not even to Dad.
"We will never leave you like that," she says, her voice filled with determination.
"M-Mother, don't cry," I say, trying to comfort her. "It's okay. I'm over it now, and I have you, Dad, and even the aunties."
"Am I actually crying?" she whispers, touching her face, seemingly dazed by the sight of her own tears.
Snapping out of her daze, she smiles softly. "My daughter, you may have access to the library, on one condition: you promise to tell your father tomorrow. I don't want to keep this secret from him either."
"The library? Oh, yes! I promise!" I nod enthusiastically, momentarily forgetting the reason I sought her out.
"Remember, you will always be my baby, and I will always love you," Mom says as I begin to leave her office.
And with that, a strange sense of peace settled between us. I knew that no matter what, I had my family by my side.