Isekaid

The light began to fade, and slowly, my vision returned. A warm, orange-red glow illuminated my surroundings, likely from a candle. Above me, a wooden ceiling came into focus.

Wait a minute, wooden ceiling? Candlelight? As far as I knew, I should be dead. If this was the so-called afterlife, it definitely needed a renovation.

I tried to move, but my body refused to respond, pinned down by something. As I adjusted to my disoriented state, a cascade of silver hair entered my line of sight, framing an angelic face with soft, silver eyes that gleamed in the flickering light. Her skin was smooth and radiant, almost luminous.

“Isn’t he supposed to cry?” she asked, her gentle voice lilting with curiosity as she glanced toward someone beyond my field of vision.

“He has to. Otherwise, his lungs won’t function properly,” another woman replied, her tone matter-of-fact but warm. As my mind began piecing together the situation, I realized something strange: the silver-haired woman wasn’t just angelic; she was enormous—or rather, I was unnaturally small. But why? My thoughts jumbled and stalled as a figure emerged from the shadows.

Maybe this is just how deities are. It certainly makes sense they’d be giants compared to us mortals.

The second woman approached, her blonde hair braided into twin tails draping neatly over her shoulders. Her green eyes, framed by round glasses, sparkled behind the reflection of the candlelight. Wait—goddesses wear glasses? A preference maybe, though I wonder why she’d be using one with lenses.

Before I could dwell on my peculiar observation, I felt myself being lifted. Panic bubbled inside me, but when I opened my mouth to protest, the words came out garbled. No! It wasn’t words—it was the babble of a child. The realization hit but my brain couldn’t quite process the whole scenario. I was covered in a simple shawl, my body impossibly tiny.

I couldn’t deny it anymore. This was real. Somehow, I had been reborn, memories intact, into the body of a newborn.

The blonde woman, whom I presumed to be the midwife, cradled me with surprising strength. She shifted me onto my stomach and prepared to perform her duty. I tried to communicate—tried to explain—but all that came out were infantile noises.

The silver-haired angel, who I now assumed was my mother, looked on tenderly. Even on my deathbed tears were hard to come by. Now I’m expected to by force?

And then it happened—the midwife’s firm hand delivered several sharp whacks to my bottom. Pain flared, primal and raw, and instinct overrode reason.

I cried. The sound filled the room, a piercing wail that seemed to satisfy the midwife. Even with a mature mind, this body was still a child's.

But be sure that I will never forget this, you sadistic evil midwife. Her grin was something that I quickly resented.

“There we go,” she murmured with a pleased smile, adjusting her glasses as she wrapped me back in the shawl. If anything, I’d already marked the sadistic midwife an enemy to all children. She handed me carefully to my mother, who held me close with an expression of pure joy.

This made no sense whatsoever. How am I even in this situation? Maybe I got pitied by some deity out there. Though it is nice of them to do so but I don’t want to be some sad case that a god thought to get involved!

“You can come in now, Fren,” my mother called, her voice soft but tinged with irritation.

A large man entered the room, his long, unkempt black hair sticking out in all directions. He towered over everyone, his muscular frame in stark contrast to his youthful face. His expression, though, was puzzling—a mix of fear, exhaustion, and perhaps even joy.

Now that I think of it, everyone in this room seems too young for all this. I’d say none of them could be passed twenty four including this Fren guy as well.

“Stop making that face. You’re going to scare poor Raizen,” my mother scolded lightly, smiling down at me. “If you want to hold him, then do it!”

The blonde midwife gave the man a gentle shove towards us. Guess I wasn’t the only one being bullied.

My mother passed me into his massive arms.

His black eyes locked onto mine, and in that moment, I saw a hint of myself reflected in his uncertainty. We were alike—both unsure of how to act in this strange situation. There was a connection but also something deeper and greater within him. A flame I couldn't understand. Or it’s just that we are both victims of that sadist. Either way, I approve of you Fren, though that wouldn’t mean a thing.

Some moments went by with Fren returning me to my mother. Sadly, the only thing I know so far is these people’s names. The angelic goddess in whose arms I’m safely cradled is Rose, the sadist in glasses is Celine and the awkward guy whose eyelids scream of sleep deprivation is Fren. That is all I know, pathetic as it might be.

How about you try becoming a detective when you are less than an hour old. Like you could do better.

I’m just lucky I even understand this language. It doesn’t seem like anything I’ve heard before. It’s like if you mix German and French. That’s how I’d describe it but I’m no language expert. The only things that might be normal is their names with one exception.

“Seems like the little one is more interested in his mother. If Fren isn’t careful, Raizen will steal Rose away.” Celine jokes, reminding me that all this while I was staring at Rose. Honestly……………what the hell do they expect! She’s the one holding me in this position that makes it impossible to look away. Plus what’s there not to look at? If anything it’s only natural I’d be focused on her. Well despite being a sadist, Celine too has her own beauty but Rose definitely wins by a landslide. Also don’t go putting any labels on me! I’m only appreciating my mother’s beauty, nothing more. I’m well aware of my position.

Now getting to the serious problem………………………….WHAT THE HELL IS A RAIZEN?! A type of food, an animal maybe, tree? Could’ve give me a normal name like you all have but no! Still, I’m lucky. Given how young my new parents are, Raizen might be on the better side, compared to what new couples online say they want to call their kids.

“Well that’s not totally impossible.” Rose stated, her warm fingers trailing down my cheek.

“I won’t lose so easy however.” Fren stated with a grin for the first time. I’m yet to grasp his character with how exhausted he might be but I wonder why he is that tired.

The people in the room aside, what are the chances I’m still in the same world? Not one thing here seems familiar. The whole setting of this room gives off some mid-evil era feel.

Maybe I was reborn in the past. Though I’d be depressed if that were the case so I hope not.

Why am I even so concerned about the whys and where in the first place? It’s not like it would make that much of a difference. I got a second chance at life, shouldn’t that be enough? I have an angelic goddess like lady as my mother, an awkward interesting guy as my father and there’s the sadist. Maybe the last one isn’t too enticing but I’m barely more than an hour old. Any complex thoughts should be left to a future Raizen if I live that long.

Live that long? This is a new body thankfully with the same gender as my previous life. Not sure how I look like but doesn’t that mean I’m free of that death sentence of an illness? I should be thinking of living longer and not questioning how long that will be.

“All in all, the kid’s got both your genes. Wonder how strong he’ll be. I doubt my imagination is up to the task” Celine joked, throwing me into a loop.

“Don’t tease. He’ll grow as strong as he wants to be. Even if he surpasses the both of us.” Rose stated with a calm reassuring smile. I couldn’t appreciate because they were now speaking jargon.

“Please don’t even joke about that. My brain is too fragile to even process what that would look like” Celine stated a slight shiver running down her spine. Just when I thought I could grasp this world, they’ve moved on to leave me floating. Like, the hell are ya’ll talking about?