Awakening

The room was quiet except for the faint crackle of candlelight. I lay bundled in the shawl, warm yet uneasy, my thoughts racing as I tried to make sense of my new reality. Was this a new world? Or some divine twist of fate? My rebirth was still a mystery, and answers were nowhere in sight.

“Raizen,” my mother’s voice broke the silence, soft yet steady. Her silver eyes shimmered as she gazed at me, holding me close to her chest. I felt her heartbeat—calm and comforting, grounding me in this strange new existence. Her name was Roseline Sturd, and while her presence was soothing, questions bubbled in my mind like a storm waiting to break.

“He’s perfect,” Fren muttered awkwardly, his rough voice making Roseline chuckle softly. He stood beside her, scratching his unkempt black hair. Despite his imposing, muscular frame, he had the look of someone perpetually uncertain, like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself.

Celine, the blonde midwife, leaned in with a grin that seemed far too mischievous for the occasion. “I have to say, Roseline, he’s a sturdy little one—just like his father.” She adjusted her round glasses, her green eyes sparkling behind the lenses.

“Stop teasing him, Celine,” Roseline said with a laugh, shifting me slightly in her arms. Her voice carried a mixture of warmth and mild exasperation. Celine smirked but said nothing, turning her attention back to tidying up.

As I lay there, I tried to process my surroundings. The room had a rustic charm—wooden walls adorned with intricate carvings, shelves filled with strange, glowing objects, and books that looked ancient. A large window framed by heavy curtains let in the faint light of dawn.

Everything about this world felt different—otherworldly, yet oddly familiar.

Fren, who had been lingering awkwardly, finally mustered the courage to step closer. He reached out hesitantly, his large hands surprisingly gentle as he took me into his arms.

“He’s going to grow up strong, like his mother,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a faint note of pride.

Roseline smiled softly, her expression filled with warmth. “Let’s just hope he gets your courage, Fren.”

“I wonder how he’ll turn out. He has Fren’s genes and yours, so if it’s either strength or mana… actually, I’ll let the little guy show it himself. My imagination isn’t that wild,” Celine sighed.

Roseline laughed, though her expression softened as she shifted me in her arms. “He’ll discover life at his own pace,” she said, her voice tinged with a faint pride she didn’t often show.

Celine shrugged nonchalantly, her movements quick and practiced as she began arranging cloths on a table. The room fell into peaceful silence, broken only by the occasional sound of Fren pacing by the window.

As the morning light grew brighter, my thoughts became clearer: Whatever this world was, it was now my reality. My rebirth was a mystery I couldn’t yet solve, but one thing was certain—this second chance was a gift I wouldn’t take lightly.