Chapter 3
The midwife's eyes remained fixed on the newborn's face, her expression a mixture of confusion and concern. The young woman, sensing her unease, reached out and gently touched her arm. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The midwife hesitated, unsure of how to explain the strange sensations that seemed to emanate from the baby. It was as if he was... aware, somehow. Aware of his surroundings, aware of the people around him, aware of the world in a way that no newborn should be.
As she watched, the baby's face contorted in a mixture of pain and awe, his tiny brow furrowing as if he was struggling to comprehend something. The midwife felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that this was no ordinary child. There was something... old about him, something that seemed to emanate from his very soul.
The mix of confusion, awe, and pain that seemed to writhe across his face was almost palpable, a living, breathing thing that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. The midwife had seen many babies in her years, but she had never seen anything like this.
The young woman, sensing her unease, leaned forward and gently took the baby from the midwife's arms. As she cradled him against her chest, the baby's face seemed to relax, his tiny body trembling with a mixture of exhaustion and... something else. Something that seemed to defy explanation.
The midwife watched, her expression softening slightly, as the young woman gently rocked the baby back and forth, her voice whispering softly in his ear. The baby's eyes, still fixed on the midwife's face, seemed to bore into her very soul, a piercing, ancient gaze that seemed to see right through her...
As the young woman cradled him against her chest, Temujin's tiny body began to relax, the tension seeping out of his muscles like water from a cracked vessel. His face, once contorted in a mixture of pain and awe, slowly smoothed out, his features softening into a gentle, almost serene expression.
The midwife, Liz, watched with a mixture of fascination and concern as the baby's eyes, once fixed intently on her face, began to droop, his eyelids fluttering closed as he let out a soft, contented sigh. It was as if the gentle carriage of his mother's arms had somehow soothed away the pain and confusion that had seemed to writhe across his face like a living thing.
The young woman smiled, her eyes shining with a warm, maternal light as she gazed down at her child. "Look how cute he is," she cooed, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's the cutest thing in the world." She glanced up at Liz, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. "I'm sure a lot of girls will be flocking to him in the future, hehe."
As the young woman gazed lovingly at her child, a soft, gentle smile played on her lips. "I think I'll name him Temujin," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liz's eyes flicked up to meet the young woman's, a hint of surprise dancing in their depths. "That's a unique name," she said, her voice neutral.
But the baby's reaction was anything but neutral. As the name "Temujin" left his mother's lips, his eyes snapped open, his gaze locking onto her face with an unnerving intensity. For a moment, he simply stared, his tiny chest rising and falling with rapid, shallow breaths.
Then, in a movement that seemed almost involuntary, his tiny hands clenched into fists, his face contorting in a mixture of shock and confusion. It was as if he had been punched in the gut, the wind knocked out of him by some unseen force.
The young woman's eyes widened in concern as she gazed down at her child, her voice rising in alarm. "What's wrong, baby?" she cooed, her hands instinctively reaching out to soothe him.
But Temujin was beyond soothing. His eyes seemed to bore into his mother's face, his gaze searching for answers to some unspoken question. It was as if he was trying to process some impossible truth, his tiny mind reeling with the implications of what he had just heard.
Liz's eyes narrowed, her expression thoughtful as she watched the scene unfold. There was something strange about this baby, something that didn't quite add up. And now, as she watched him react to his own name, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this child than met the eye...
The baby's face remained contorted, his eyes fixed intently on his mother's face as if searching for answers. His tiny chest rose and fell with rapid, shallow breaths, his fists still clenched in a mixture of shock and confusion, as he can't believe this coincidence, or maybe it is intented to be.
"Temujin," his mother cooed again, her voice soft and gentle. "It's a beautiful name, my baby. You'll grow up to be strong and brave"
Liz's expression softened, a warm smile spreading across her face as she gazed at the peaceful scene before her. The baby, now calm and serene, seemed to be basking in the warmth and love that radiated from his mother, his tiny body relaxed and content in her arms. For a moment, the strange, unsettling sensations that had seemed to emanate from him earlier seemed to fade away, replaced by a sense of peace and tranquility.
* * *
I lay here, my eyes closed, and my mind racing. I can hear the conversation between them, their voices silent but laced with concern. I try to make sense of my surroundings, piecing together the fragments of information that filter through my newborn senses.
At first, I think I'm in a small room, the air thick with the scent of wood and earth. But as I listen more closely, I realize that the sounds outside are not those of a bustling village or city. The rustle of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the distant howl of a wolf all suggest that I'm in a more remote location. A forest, perhaps?
I focus on the conversation, trying to glean more information about my situation. The woman who held me, Shea, is my mother. And the other woman, Liz, seems to be a midwife or a healer of some sort. They're talking about me, their voices filled with a mix of wonder and worry.
"...don't know how we're going to do this, Liz," my mother says, her voice laced with concern. "Raising him on my own, without a father... it's going to be tough."
"I know, Shea," Liz replies, her voice soft and reassuring. "But you're not alone. I'll be here to help you, and we'll figure it out together. We always do."
I sense a deep-seated worry in my mother's voice, a fear that goes beyond the usual concerns of a new parent. It's as if she's afraid of something specific, something that she's not saying out loud. I try to listen more closely, to pick up on any clues that might explain her fears. But for now, I'm stuck in this tiny, helpless body, unable to do anything but listen and observe.
* * *
As the months passed, I grew stronger and more aware of my surroundings. I lay in my crib, watching Liz as she moved around the small cottage, performing various tasks with ease. She'd wave her hand, and the fire would spark to life. She'd whisper a few words, and the vegetables would chop themselves, ready for cooking. It was as if magic was an integral part of her daily routine.
I, on the other hand, was still learning to control my own body. But as I observed Liz, I began to notice something peculiar. My own body seemed to be... better than my past one. My senses were sharper, my reflexes quicker. I could feel a strange energy coursing through my veins, as if my Magia was already manifesting itself.
I thought back to my past life, to the battles I'd fought and the injuries I'd sustained. My body had been a map of scars, a testament to my strength and resilience. But this new body, this baby's body, seemed different. It was as if I'd been given a second chance, a chance to start anew.
I wondered if it was because I'd been actively trying to use my Magia, even as a baby. I'd watch Liz, mesmerized, as she performed her daily tasks with ease. And I'd try to mimic her, to tap into the strange energy that flowed through me. It was a slow process, but I could feel myself getting stronger, more in control.
Liz seemed to be a Magia user, but Shea wasn't. My mother would watch Liz with a mixture of awe and trepidation, as if she didn't quite understand the magic that flowed through her friend. But I did. I understood it, and I was determined to master it.
As I lay in my crib, I raised my hand, and to my surprise, a tiny spark of light flickered to life. It was small, barely noticeable, but it was there. And I knew that I was on the right path, that I was slowly unlocking the secrets of my Magia.
As I lay in my crib, I couldn't help but watch my mother, Shea, as she moved around the small cottage. She was a beautiful girl, with long blonde hair that cascaded down her back like a river of gold. Her green eyes sparkled with a warmth and kindness that made me feel safe and loved.
Her voice was like music, calming and soothing, yet it had a charming quality to it that made me want to listen to her all day. She'd talk to me in a soft, gentle tone, telling me stories and singing lullabies that seemed to transport me to different parts of this another world.
I couldn't help but feel a hint of sadness as I thought about how hard it must have been for her to give birth to me at such a young age. She was barely 16, and yet she'd taken on the responsibility of caring for me with a maturity and dedication that I admired.
Despite the challenges she faced, Shea was a sweet person, always smiling and laughing, even on the toughest of days. She'd help Liz with the household chores, and the two of them would chat and giggle like old friends.
As I watched her, I felt a sense of gratitude towards her. She'd given me life, and she was doing everything in her power to make sure I was happy and healthy. I may not have been able to express it in words, but I knew that I loved her, and I was determined to make her proud.
Shea's eyes met mine, and she smiled, her face lighting up with a warmth and love that made my heart skip a beat. "Hello, little one," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "How are you doing today?"
As the days passed, Temujin grew more stronger and more aware of his surroundings. He'd listen intently as Liz and Shea talked, trying to make sense of their conversations. One day, as they sat by the fire, Liz mentioned something about Shea's past, and Temujin's ears perked up.
"Shea, I'm glad we got out of there when we did," Liz said, her voice low and serious. "I don't think I could have taken much more of their cruelty."
Shea nodded, her eyes clouding over with a mixture of sadness and anger. "I know, me neither. They were always so cold, so heartless. They never cared about me, only about their precious family name and fortune."
Temujin's eyes locked onto his mother's face, and he could sense the pain and hurt emanating from her. He didn't understand what was going on, but he knew it was something important.
"What happened, Shea?" Liz asked, her voice gentle. "You never told me the whole story. What made you leave?"
Shea took a deep breath, and her eyes seemed to glaze over as she stared into the past. "It was Yozui, my husband. He was the son of the count, and they thought they were above everyone else. They treated me like dirt, like I was nothing more than a servant. But it was worse than that. Yozui... he hurt me, Liz. He raped me, and they killed my parents. They took everything from me."
Liz's face contorted in anger, and she reached out to take Shea's hand. "I'm so sorry, Shea. I had no idea it was that bad."
Shea's eyes snapped back into focus, and she looked at Liz with a determined glint in her eye. "That's why we ran away, Liz. They were going to kill the baby, Temujin. They didn't want him to exist, and I couldn't let that happen. I had to protect him, no matter what."
Temujin's mind reeled as he processed the information. His father, Yozui, was a cruel man who had hurt his mother. He was also the son of the count, a rich and powerful person in the town where Shea was born. But what really stuck with Temujin was the fact that his grandparents had killed his mother's parents, and they had wanted to kill him too. A surge of anger and protectiveness welled up inside him, and he knew that he would do everything in his power to keep his mother safe.