Two Months passed by in a blur, the duke's forgotten son now residing in a humble abode of the Ter spoken town of Airabel. Inside the spacious home, wooden ceilings and the rhythmic creaking of a house that smelled of fresh cedar and linseed oil. The floors were finely crafted—smooth, yet treacherous for a child or, in this case infant with no center of gravity. Flash Béarak was currently face-down on a rug. his limbs twitching with frustration,
that which was beyond his body's infantry.
This sucks, his inner voice snarled. The consciousness of an adult within him finally stabilized in the moment. I'm reincarnated well, at least that much is obvious. But where are my perks? Where's my supposed legendary strength? My head feels like someone's playing a drum on my brain, and I can't even hold my own neck up.
He tried to lunge toward the living room, but his tiny arm buckled, and He collapsed. His face met the wood with a soft thud. The sheer indignity of it triggered the one thing he hated but nonetheless couldn't control: the baby's instinct.
A loud, wailing sob escaped him.
No noo! Shut up! I was so close to the living room! He screamed mentally, but his lungs responded with more distressed wailing. As the pounding in his head dulled, a familiar sound drifted from the hearth—the light, busy footsteps of a woman. Sela appeared, apron still tied over her dress, the faint. and
savory scent of breakfast stew clinging to her like perfume. She scooped him up, already used to hearing his wails frequently, her presence warm and oddly comforting.
"Oh, look at you," she cooed, her pale yet warm, amber-tinted eyes scanning his hands and feet.
frowning as she spotted specks of wood on his skin. Even finely crafted floors had their dangers for a crawler in the cold season. She wiped his tears before she made a goofy, exaggerated face.
trying to cheer him up, yet his eyes were blank, and her eyes locked onto the depths of his hazel gaze. "Wake up!" she half shouted playfully.
Flash flinched from his movements, the volume making his ears ring. Man, I was about to cry again, and you're just making me dizzy. Outwardly, he gave way to a whine before giving way to a curious stare, absentmindedly chewing on his cubby index finger.
She laughed at his stunned expression.
"I can't help myself; you always look like you're bored or half-asleep. And now you wanna walk when you're as dirty as a gremlin... No chance." she said enthusiastically, letting him closer towards her, soothing and picking the prickly splinters on him. wow when he gets older, he'll definitely be most proactive, born to be wild. Iguess. As she finished with a sigh, stating, "Ok, little one. Time for a bath… and then food. No more crawling for today, okay?"
She leaned in close. Flash, however, was no longer listening. His head whipped toward the kitchen, and he stopped chewing on his finger momentarily as his stomach let out a roar.
His eyes were fixed on the steaming pot.
Food… man, I'm starving. Just let me eat before the scrub-down, please! He pointed frantically toward the pot, babbling a series of urgent noises he was cjustin conveyed his hunger.
Sela just tilted her head. "What did I say, hm? Sh-ow-er. Can you spell it out for mommy?"
Flash stared at her for a beat, then reached up and gripped her cheeks, squishing them with his tiny hands. Listen here, ya crazy woman! Give me the stew!
"Uoga! Aagha maa!" he barked.
She ignored the "protest" and plunked him into the warm water of a bucket. She began to hum, adding a specialized solution to the water that smelled of lavender and herbs.
Flash's light brown hair caught the morning sunl ht streaming through the high window. He momentarily stopped his mental tirade, his body relaxing as she scrubbed his face and rinsed the dust away. He coughed and burp-sighed as she moved to his feet, meticulously picking out the tiny splinter specks.
He looked up at her, his mouth finally closed. She caught his gaze and, for a second, spoke to him as if he were an equal.
"I'm sorry, my little one. I just want you clean. We're going out today and there's a flu going around. Mama wants to protect you."
She paused, then burst into a giggle. "Wait, why am I talking to him like he can hear me? Is that bad, or will it help him speak?"
Flash instinctively mirrored her smile, his small hands reaching for her. She lifted him, distracting him with a bout of playful lifting and laughter while she expertly slid him into a fresh set of clothes. The moment the fabric touched him, Flash whined. The wool was high-quality, but on his sensitive skin, it felt like a thousand tiny needles. Mom, thanks, but this feels weird! Why does it itch!
"There, much better," she said, applying a soothing ointment to his neck. "Now, let's eat."
She carried him to the hearth and tasted the stew. "Argh! Ooh, that's burning!" She quickly pulled a piece of glowing coal from the base of the fire. As Flash's vision began to blur with the onset of "food coma," he watched Sela use a focused flick of her wrist. Using her water magic, she made small, warm bubbles of the stew rise from the pot and float through the air. Flash watched a bubble hover before his face before it drifted into his mouth.
Gulp. It was warm and rich, but Sela's control was visibly shaky; the bubbles wobbled dangerously. He nearly choked, and she quickly patted his back.
"Dang it, my water control is still so unstable," she sighed. "I need more practice… oh! I almost forgot! We need to head to Anscalt's bakery and get you your medicine, snot-nosed boy."
Flash had forgotten his nose was running—just a reaction to the dust, but in Sela's mind, it was the omen of a plague. Soothed by the food and the warmth, Flash drifted off. Sela looked at a framed photo of her and Riven on the mantle, adjusted her hold on the baby, and threw on her fur coat.
She stepped out into the brittle morning air, the door locking with a firm click. The street was a sloped cobblestone path leading down toward the harbors like Jaylin's and Merc's Port.
"Brr, almost there," she shivered, picking up her pace.
"Good day, Madame! I mean, Professor!" Sela perked up, her voice echoing across the street as she spotted Ms. Sunspur.
The Professor stopped, startled, then sighed. "Remind me… didn't I tell you not to yell across the streets? You've got to mind your manners, young lady." She fixed her glasses. "Anyway, do you need anything? It's freezing; the baby could catch a cold. And where's that fiancé of yours, Or is it husband now?"
" Oh him He's working," Sela replied in shy fondness. "I'm just getting some winter medicine for the little one."
Just as she uttered those words. A sudden "stampede" of farmers and livestock descended the slope.
"Look out!" Sunspur cried. Sela moved out of the way, her grip faltering as the ground trembled, but Sunspur caught the baby.
"Well, isn't that interesting? He must be a heavy sleeper," Sunspur remarked softly. Flash woke up and sneezed. A small boy, Damian, stepped forward with his arms open.
"Wait No, Damian, he's already—" Sela intervened.
"I think it's alright just hold on to him so he doesn't fall."
"Ok I promise. I'll Just carry him gently," he replied Compliantly, Damian then took the baby with surprising expertise.
"I'm impressed," said sela. Damian however had no response. "Um, is this awkward? Does he not talk?"
Sunspur shook her head. "Oh he's like that all the time he's just a bit shy. Sunspur turned towards Sela diverting the focus onto their own conversation. "Be that as it may, have you been by any chance—
catching up on those magical practice books I sent you?"
Sela froze trying to remember the last time she studied. C'mon sela...think..Oh! Shoot. Wasn't it those velvet and green painted cover stuff? Weren't they as firewood.
Sela quickly realized that those books were the one's she should be studying for her final exam.
"Um! I don't know what you're talking about," She said giving out a lying—poor excuse.
"Just...Don't burn the last six," Sunspur stated sighing,
already figuring out the truth, Sela had an unconscious speech almost like a rehearsal with just her lips no sound.
They continued their conversation as they walked alongside bent, elongated and slightly curved pavement of sediments and limestoned blocks.
The cascadence of shadows from the rise of the sun stretching out the shadows of nearby houses.
Up ahead straight up was the open plaza or
"Center" where the land was pronounced as "thinner" rest just above the belly of Waters and older infrastructure,
considered the rest of architectural landscape
Of Airabel used as the transition between it and Atéra.
also known as mainland Airabel.
Damian looked down at Flash, who was staring back blankly. Ah, it's pricking me! Flash thought, wiggling in his itchy clothes. His whines turned to cries. Damian began walking, taking him toward the warmth of the sunlight. "Here, is this what you wanted?" Damian asked curiously.
Before he could bring Flash into the light any further,
Sela nearly bolted over scooping Flash back up attentively. "Sorry, Professor, maybe we could talk another day?"Sela managed to mutter in her Stupor.
As Flash made baby noises she soothed him
"Shh shhhh shh I'm right here now,"
Sela muttered with care at flash's nonsensical gurgles.
Then she looked up "Oh I'm so sorry professor it's just that when he's exposed to the sun, for too long —he starts making these weird noises,often times he'll start crying afterwards or worse."
She said as tears swelled a bit in her eyes.
Sunspur's face softened before she said "Ok I hear you Sela, just slow down you know how emotional you can get when explaining stuff like this."
Sela wiped her eyes as another moment of silence befell the group.
"Ha-he-hehe" she chuckled as she wiped her eyes back with the back of her scarf.
"I guess I went a bit to far with that one she sniffled The silence stretched on uncomfortably
"I guess I'll be going now."
"Wait, before you go." Sunspur handed over a gift-wrapped box. " I sincerely apologize for missing your marriage ceremony... " She said not looking directly at sela. "Still that doesn't excuse your lack of spell practices, Oh and make sure that Riven boy is treating you well."
She add with a hint of vigor as if
nodding to the a unknowning universal Fact
Sela waved goodbye and nodded, But Then she called out.
"Wait!.. professor Sunspur if I can may I know Where are you Headed..please?"
Sunspur gasped slightly looks like she finally said my name.... Something up and I know it's deeper than this.
She thought not one to mistake any inconsistencies. Even arcoss, behaviors of people she knows.
" I'm headed towards the dock's seriously now Sela I thank you for your concern but missing this trip.... could.... She continued no more turning her face to hide her expression as she wiped her glasses off clearly getting emotional a bit "still don't worry about the destination though. And when I come back....."
She turned
Shifting her heels, now facing towards the busy and bustling port.
just up ahead behind the front rows of houses at shoreline meeting with the Harbors.
As she took out a long whinding breath, visibly she still was calm still in control.
but Damian felt her grip tightened, Shaking. Even their luggage bags started to rattle.
she followed up by saying" It's family matters, Nothing to worry about really."
At that point it was already clear to Sela the topic was something deeply troubling for her teacher to handle emotionally even now.
"Oh I'm so sorry, really this time I didn't think straight I should've asked if yo-."
She cut herself off realizing.
Sunspur was already towards the docks. Mid way her stride she secured a slightly worried Damian in her arms, and only continued her march towards the harbors.
As the air settled Sela looked down her hair covering her face. Oh no now you've done it Sela. There you go again....how could thing have ended up this way? She thought. she never saw Sunspur in a hurry like that and couldn't imagine her crying over anything, in particular so... it must've been something else entirely.
She believed muttering under her breath prayers for her teacher's safe journey.
Suddenly sensing something pungent and wet She curled her nose, thinking Ugh, What is That? She sniffled then she sneezed.
"A-Aachou!"checking herself to see where that smell was coming from she looked at down in her arms,
only to find them wet through Flash's garments.
the Mundane act grounding her away from her previous overthinking of Lady sunspur's leave.
"Ah! Oh no, you didn't!"
She said half serious half smiling but her nose was too sensitive towards the stench.
Oh no. You need to be changed Immediately, Ugh! that smell is horrible."
Quickly She looked around,before picking up her walking pace.
As just got pass the rows of houses on the slope like roadway - she was already in the heart of the early morning commerce (flea market)
or at least near there.
Avoiding that she continued upwards
Wouldn't want them to think of me kidnapping you now would we?
Right Flash?
Though the infant was awake long enough, through his experience it was the equivalent of a roller coaster ride.
Oh no I'm not built for this!
He thought, why the hell is she so strong anyways. I'm lucky it's only my head and legs she's mostly holding.
Not able to move in her arms the infant made one move it was confident enough to: whine
"C'mon dummy I'm a baby and even I see them, look! Mama look! People and uhm." He gripped her tighter.
Trying to stabilize the shocking experience of her stride as she came down to a slower pace.
"What Now pumpkin?" She said her voice a bit distressed.
But— just then her ears twitched.
The sound of laughter & murmuring caught her attention.
Her expression quickly changed to one of surprise.
as she saw them they were still far— far enough from her to the point where they wouldn't notice.
"Hey wait a sec, I think someone's there maybe. They could help us with directions."
Of of the ladies said. Stopping to turn towards the other who had Yet to see sela's silhouette that was still quite a distance away from a "uphill" perspective.
"Huh? wait that sign or whatever it is is human or something" the other replied slightly confused.
From above Sela looked down at them trying to come up with a way to move out of their hindsight without making it more obvious to the other lady that she's a person.
Dang it! What the hell are they still doing here?
And them seem to be lost tourist too just my luck.
She thought rubbing her temples. Before realizing she just gave away herself in that instance.
"Shoot I need to hide quick."