Seven months had passed for Gaon in the new body, in this unknown land. He lay on a wooden surface while a woman in her 60s carefully changed his clothes. He was still trapped in the body of an infant. As she removed his diaper, Gaon thought to himself, I guess it's really not just a dream. I've transmigrated into the body of an infant.
Although the language remained a mystery to him, he had begun to understand bits and pieces. First, my new name is Edmund. I still don't know my full name since I spend all my time with my mom and nanny, named Agatha—at least, that's what my mom calls her. Both of them call me Ed or Edmund. No one addresses my mom by her name, so I don't know that either. I've only met my father once, and that was the day someone forced my eyes open.
Agatha paused after removing the diaper and began speaking to a man clad in a white robe.
"⚉ ⟁ ⧿ ⟁ 𖤐⬡⬟⬟ ⬭𓂀⬭⬯⚛⬟ ⚛⬯⬭⬟ ⬭⬭⚛ ⬩⬭ ⚉𓂀⚛⬭ ⩎⬭ ⚉𓂀⚛⬭, ⬩⚛⬯ Edmund ⚛⬟⬭ ⚶⬭⚛⬭⬯⬡⬭⚶𓂀 ⩎ 𖤐rash ⩎⬯⬭⬡," said Agatha.
The man in the white robe replied, "⧿𓂀⩎⬯'⬯ ⬟⚉⬟⬟⚉ 𑁍⬡𓂀⬯ ⚉⬯, ⚉⬯'⬯ ⧊⚉𖣔⬯ quite ⬭⬡⩎⬭⬡ ⬩⬭ ⬩ ⧫𖣔⬩⚉ baby ⬯⚛ ⚶⬭⚛⬭⬯⬡⬭⚶𓂀 ⩎ 𖤐rash."
Gaon watched intently as the man approached him. Second, there is magic in this world, he thought as he felt relief flood his body and the rash on his skin healed instantly.
"⚶⟁⚶ ⧿𓂀⩎𖣔," the healer murmured as he turned to leave. Agatha replied, "⬯⚉⟁⚩𖤐 ⧿ ⟁⚶⬯," and the healer exited the room.
After changing Edmund's diaper and placing him back in the cradle, Agatha left as well.
Third, I am a noble, Edmund thought with a grin. Fourth, technology here is far behind the world I came from. They're still using paper diapers, hence the rash. He pulled a sour face. Well, that's good for me. I can think of some basic technology from my time and earn a lot. I wouldn't have to worry about anything and could laze around all day.
A wide, stupid grin spread across his face. Ah, an easy life of a noble, just what I needed. I've been enjoying my time, even as a baby. I'm surrounded by beautiful people who lo—
Suddenly, a memory of his dad's words came back to him—the time when his dad said he loved him, standing in their kitchen.
I don't need to think about my past anymore. It's no point worrying about it. They've surely moved on. He shook his head aggressively, trying to push the thoughts away.
Suddenly, strange noises broke through his thoughts—thwacks, clanks, and screams.
What's going on? he thought, his face contorting in confusion. The noises grew louder—footsteps, the clash of swords, and desperate cries filled the air.
The door burst open, revealing two guards along with his mother and Agatha.
"𓂀 ⧫𖣔⬯⚛ ⬯⬡ ⬯⚛⧿⬯⚉," Agatha said, her face filled with worry as she glanced out the window.
"⚉ ⬡⩎𓂀⚉, ⧩⚉⬯⬭ ⬡⚉⬯𓂀 ⚶ ⬭⬯𖤐⬭ ⧫⚉⩎⚶⚛ ⬭⚛⧿⚛⬭⬡ ⧿⬯⚛ ⬯⚛," said his mom, her voice trembling. Tears welled in her eyes as she forced a weak smile and gently lifted Edmund from the cradle.
One of the guards bolted the door while the other tied a rope to the window, securing it tightly. Agatha began fastening a bedsheet to her back.
"⚉ ⟁ ⧿ ⬯⬡⬟⬟ Edmund, ⚉ ⟁ ⧿ ⬯⬡⬟⬟ ⬯⬭⬡ ⧿⬯ ⬟ time ⬯⚛⧿⬯⚉⬡⬭⬯ ⬭⬡ ⬯⬭𖤐⬭⬯⬡, mommy ⬶⬭⚉⬡ ⚉⬭⬯ Edmund, ⬯⨀⬯ ⧿⚛⬭⬡ ⚉⬡⬭⬯⬡ ⚛⬡⚉," his mom said, her voice breaking.
She held him close as the door rattled under the force of something pounding against it. The guards rushed to brace it, swords drawn.
Agatha stepped forward, urgency in her voice. "𓂀 ⧿⬯⩎⬯'⬯ ⧫𖣔⬯⚛ time," she said as she grabbed Edmund.
"𑁍⚶𓂀𖣔⬭ ⬟⬯⚛⬡⬭ ⬯⚛⚉ ⧩⬯ ⧩⚉⚛⬯ ⧿𓂀⬡⬯," said his mother, handing him to Agatha with trembling hands.
Agatha nodded and replied firmly, "⚉ ⧿⚛⚶⚶." She tied Edmund securely to her back using the bedsheet and climbed out the window using the rope.
As they descended, the sound of the door breaking down echoed above them, followed by the clash of swords and screams.
Agatha hit the ground running, clutching Edmund tightly. As they fled, he looked back to see flames consuming most of the estate. The park where he had spent time in his mother's arms was now ablaze.
Tears streamed down Edmund's face, but he tried to hold them back. Agatha didn't stop, her focus solely on getting them to safety.
Edmund stared back at the burning estate, his tiny heart heavy with fear and loss. What's happening to this world?