Rebirth

When I opened my eyes again there was light. Tiny specks of golden sunbeams poking through the lattice walls that surrounded me. The surface of them is woven yet rough like a basket.

I’m in a basket.

Have I reincarnated as a picnic lunch?

No. My body feels small and kind of chubby. I can barely coordinate myself and moving my arms and legs in any sort of controlled manner is quite difficult. I must be a baby.

But how is this possible? I shouldn’t be able to think about being a baby. I shouldn’t be able to think about anything but eating, crying, and crapping my pants.

Somehow, I can remember everything from my past life.

All the memories and details from my previous existence are still in my head. It’s like I’ve been isekai’d onto another planet but without the part where I get absolutely demolished by Truck-Kun.

If that’s true, then this world probably operates under an entirely new set of rules.

Despite dying just a few minutes ago, I’m feeling very optimistic about this.

Suddenly, the basket lid is removed from above my head. My eyes take a few seconds to adjust to the harsh sunlight, when they do, I see a man and woman’s face staring at me.

The man is well-built, with a brown buzz cut and handlebar moustache. He wears a patch over his left eye and is missing one of his front teeth.

The woman is slender, with bright blue hair shaved on one side. She has a septum piercing in her nose.

The man opens his mouth to speak.

“Blah flim blim bong. Rakmat shah pim pom askellot heg nim tek.”

Right then. That’s not English, or Japanese, or any other language for that matter.

The woman replies.

“Hirkell! Asman rig fryk lim khah achul rog.”

I don’t know if it’s my baby brain, but these people aren’t making any sense at all.

Also, unless people are birthed by baskets in this world, these two probably aren’t even my parents. Instead, it seems that somebody else has given birth to me and left me in a basket to be found by somebody else.

Ouch. Not the start I was hoping for to be honest.

Oh well. Whilst one part of my mind is screaming stranger danger, I guess I’ve got no choice but to give these folks a chance. Let’s see what life has in store for me this time.

***

Well. Those five years went by in a flash.

“Rumtuk, can you bring me those dirty dishes please?”

“Yes mother.” I respond.

I am now Rumtuk, son of Rakmat and Hirkell.

My new life was simple. I get to run around and play, eat dinner when it’s ready, hang out with my parents. You know, normal kid stuff.

I have managed to gain a good grasp on the language naturally through reading and listening to other people talk. Plus, there was no need to be educated in the traditional sense anyway, to learn skills such as maths, reading and writing.

Such knowledge was assimilated into the air through magic.

Tomorrow, I turn five, by which point all that basic information will have been integrated into my mind.

Pretty cool, right?

That’s just one of the blessings of The Garden – the name of this world I now live in.

“Hurry up Tuk, this water is getting cold.”

Oh yeah, the dishes. I nearly forgot.

“Sorry Ra, I’ll be right there.” I replied.

“How many times do I have to tell you young man? I am not Ra or Rakmat to you and neither is your father Hirkell. We are your mother and father.”

Crap. I better not make Ra angry, Hirkell will lecture me for hours if I do.

Both of my parents are in their early thirties. They tell me that they are retired adventurers that used to be in a party together before they settled down and had me. Rakmat was a haemomancer and Hirkell a warp-child of the Grove rank.

They’re both quite eccentric, and I’ve gathered that they both aren’t exactly a good fit for normal society.

Apparently, a lot of people get grossed out by blood magic and dislike my mother as a result and Hirkell? Well, he’s just a little strange, I guess.

“There you go. Mother.” I say, dumping the dishes into the soapy water.

“Thank you, Tuk. You should work harder to help me and your father out. Giving birth to you wasn’t exactly an easy task for me you know.”

What is she talking about? She didn’t give birth to me. She found me in a picnic basket.

Adoption must be taboo in this world because both of my parents refuse to acknowledge that I’m not biologically theirs.

Also, why is Ra talking to a four-year-old about childbirth? What a bizarre lady.

Ra mostly spends her time doing housework and complaining about various things and Hirkell spends most of his waking hour’s training.

Truthfully, I have no idea what he does during his absences. He can be gone for days at a time without anyone knowing where he’s gone or what he’s doing.

I guess they could be worse though. It’s obvious they love me, and I’ve never really wanted for anything so far in this life.

Yeah, they’re weird. We live atop a hill in an abandoned windmill and the nearest village (and other humans) is three hours away, but I can’t complain too much.

Besides, tonight my life will change for the better. I am turning five, which means that my Soul Seed will begin sprouting.

Another blessing of The Garden, when you turn five in this world the unknown ability you were blessed with at birth begins to manifest. Basically, I’m going to get some magic.

Obviously, I’m very excited.

“I can’t wait until tomorrow mother. I’m going to be a wizard!” I exclaim, drying soap bubbles off my hands with a towel.

“Now then Tuk, remember that only well-behaved boys get strong powers. If you’re not careful then the witch will curse you and feed your bones to her nasty familiars.” She says in a spooky voice, pulling a creepy face and waving her hands about.

Ah yes, the witch. A controversial figure in this world.

On the one hand, she’s credited as the creator and guardian of The Garden and all its blessings. However, she is also feared by all for her tremendous power and numerous terrible deeds.

Nobody has seen her in centuries though. Some presume her dead. Nevertheless, in this household she serves as sort of a bogeyman to try and scare me.

It does not work.

I have a vague recollection of hearing about the witch and her familiars in my past life but its seemingly the only thing that I can’t remember.

Oh well. I’m sure it’ll come to me at some point.

Before I know it, the afternoon has bled into the evening. Father returns from training, and we sit down to eat a meal. Then I’m off to bed.

I don’t feel as nervous as I thought I’d be. Instead, a quiet anticipation grips my whole body.

As I drift off, the world darkens, becoming black. Like a void.

A feminine voice calls out to me.

“Hello again, child.”