Although Dad had said to stop when I learned the basics, I still trained with him. It wasn't as often or for nearly as long, though. I did archery once per week for two hours and as much for sword fighting. Mom had acquiesced to let me spar with the recruits Max's age when I turned four in another six months. I gained no more stats or skills from the training. The laws of diminishing returns saw to that.

Mom was due to give birth any time in the next three weeks. I was excited to see my new sibling, especially because it meant Mom would not be able to stop me from working on my stats and skills as much as she had been while I was the baby of the family.

My parents' room was prepared with the crib I used to sleep in and many of the other essentials like diapers and creams. This wasn't their first rodeo, after all. They were prepared as much as they needed to be and no more. Life, in general, needed their attention more than trying to overprepare for something they knew well how to handle.

I helped Max carry the last of his things out of the house and onto a waiting wagon to take him to the start of classes. As much as I liked my brother, I was also glad he was leaving. For the first time in my life, thus far, I'd have my own room and, more importantly, privacy. No more sneaking around to read or practice things.

I followed my parents out of the house and into the street. The packed wagon and driver were waiting on Max to climb up. He was in tears. Mom grabbed him in as best a hug as she could manage and Dad gave him a bear hug. For my part, I gave him a hug, too, and waved goodbye.

"See you soon," I said, knowing full well that both he and Anna would be back in a few weeks when the baby came, if only for a couple of days.

"Yeah," his sad reply came.

He waved to me and our parents. Dad had to help him get up onto the wagon since he was still so small. The driver cracked his whip and the wagon trundled down the road.

It was about two weeks later that I awoke to the Mother's screams. If I hadn't known what was likely happening, I would have been freaked out. That was one point in favor of memories from a past life, anyway. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and dressed before walking towards the sounds. My parents' bedroom was filled with light. As I peeked in, I saw Dad and another man I'd never seen before helping Mom give birth. The way the man was dressed, I guessed he was a doctor of some sort, though the clothing looked much shabbier than I remembered for a doctor.

"Breathe, Dear," Dad said.

"Shut up! Aaaaah!" Mom screamed in return

It looked like I'd arrived near the climax. I had not been a huge fan of blood in my previous life, but I found that in this new world filled with monsters and magic that there were much more important things to worry about. It didn't bother me that much when I saw the baby's head push out of Mom. The doctor held the head and helped the rest of the body come out smoothly.

"Waa!" the baby cried, having been smacked on its butt and the fluid removed from its lungs.

"Congratulations!" the doctor said. "It's a girl! Dad, help me clamp the cord so Mom can hold her."

Dad nodded and assisted the doctor. When they were done, the doctor passed the baby to Mom, who held her in her arms and cried. Dad sat next to them and watched with awe.

The doctor spent the next half hour or so completing the checks on Mom to make sure she was ok before walking out the door.

"You have a new sister," he said to me, quietly as he passed.

"Mmm."

"Come on in, James," Dad said, noticing me for the first time.

I did and got a good look at my sister. She was pretty normal as far as newborns are concerned... fairly ugly and covered in blood and other grime. Birth just wasn't a pretty experience for anyone involved. It was a decidedly messy affair that people hyped up as something amazing but really was just trauma mixed with Stockholm Syndrome or something like that.

"Does she have a name yet?" I asked.

"Mary," Mom answered.

"But, Dear, we never--"

"It's Mary, Dear. You didn't have to give birth to her for five hours, I did."

"Mary it is."

"Hi, Mary," I said to the baby just in case she had reincarnated like I had. Maybe she'd remember.

It looked like she smiled at me, but it could have been poop, or gas, or just a twitch. It was hard to tell with these things. I spent the next hour in the room with them before heading back to bed for the rest of the night.

The next day, Dad left early to get Anna and Max. I helped Mom as best I could with whatever she needed... mostly warm washcloths for her and diapers for the baby. Dat and the others arrived around midday. When I saw Anna, she had grown a lot. She would be about nine now, three years since I last saw her.

"Anna!" I said, giving her a hug.

"Hey, little brother."

I gave Max a good hug as well. Two weeks hadn't really changed him much. Mom gave them both hugs and kisses before we all went to the table for lunch while the baby slept.

"Let's eat while she sleeps," Mom said.

I took a bite of my sandwich and turned to Anna.

"How is your magic?"

"I've learned a little bit of healing, but it's really complicated.

"You have to teach me that!"

"Come to the church when you're a little older and I may be able to give you a quick lesson if you have the aptitude."

"Ok."

"What's the church like?" Max asked.

"Not too bad once you get past the scriptures and stuff. Lots of good knowledge there."

"Nice! I've been training my sword fighting and archery a lot. The classes in the morning are pretty boring though."

"What have you been up to, James?" she asked.

"Um... I've been working with Dad and helping Mom."

"Don't be so modest, bro," Max said, then turned to Anna. "This little shit can read already. Can you believe that?!"

"Max, language!" Dad scolded.

"Sorry, Dad, but it's true! I've never heard of a three-year-old reading before!"

"Well, I guess he takes more after me than you, butthead," Anna stuck her tongue out at Max.

"Both of you better stop it!" Mom finally put herself in the middle to stop the fight.

Anna and Max gave a glare and looked anywhere but towards each other. Max gave me a glare, too. I supposed he was quite jealous. It's not as if I tried to read early, but such are the perks of having already known how to do it from before being born. Such is life, big bro... such is life.

"When can we see Mary?" Anna asked. "I can't stay more than just today. The teachers wouldn't allow it."

She paused.

"Oh. Mom, is there any place that hurts? I can heal you a bit if you like."

"That would be wonderful Anna Banana."

"Please don't call me that anymore. I'm nine!"

"It's because I love you sweeties, but ok. I won't call you that anymore."

Anna walked to Mom and put her hands on Mom's head. A slight light green aura appeared around Mom, causing her to gasp gently.

"Wow," she said. "Thanks, Anna."

"No problem. That's all I can do so far. Not too much, like I said."

"It's amazing," I told her. "I've never seen magic before!"

"You should see what the teachers can do. It's way better."

"Honey, you're only nine," Dad reminded her. "You'll get there when you're older."

"Mmm," was her only reply.

I finished my meal and we quietly walked into our parents' room to see the baby. She looked a lot better today than she had immediately after birth. She was clean and wrapped in warm blankets. She slept on her back in a bassinet that was placed inside my old crib.

Anna and Max blew her kisses and left to return to classes. Although cities could be somewhat dangerous after dark, it was the middle of the day and Anna was more than old enough to walk a couple of miles to the church. The uniform she wore was a mark of protection in itself. Criminals would know she was from the church. Max, on the other hand, needed an escort. Anna was more than enough for that.

I settled into what would be my schedule for the next six months. I'd follow Dad to work a couple of times a week for training in the mornings and I'd help Mom with chores around the house. This mostly meant picking up dishes, cleaning up the trash, and picking food from the garden. In my spare time, I would lift weights in my room, practice running in the yard, or anything else I could think of that might increase my stats.