Chapter 2: Starting Up

===== Newton Residence =====

I’ve been reborn for a few weeks now. I can confirm that I really am a healthy baby boy. Over the past few days, I’ve started to see the world around me. At first, it was just vague shadows. Then as time passed I could see figures then colours and right now I can see just as well as I have before. All my senses are back to normal now but I still can’t do anything other than that. I’m still just a toddler.

Just a toddler… but not a human toddler. Honestly, this feels weird.

Around a week ago I just noticed that I have flat, plate-like rocks scattered over the back of my hand and arm, my chest, and my heart, there might be more but I can't see them nor reach them. I freaked out at first and tried to get them off but baby strength is not a lot of strength. It’s a good thing I can see now and I noticed that my new father, Julius, had the same rocky armour on his temples and knuckles. They look cooler, sleeker, and more metallic than mine but maybe that comes with age.

Speaking of the world, it’s not my earth. I mean with the rock stuff on me it should be painfully obvious. The technology looks to be a bit more magical but I haven’t seen much of anything outside of my room. I’ve seen phones, lights, and what I assume is a baby monitor. And yeah, there’s magic here. Phenea, my new mother, uses it to entertain me. She makes balls of light and blows air around me when she wants to play.

*grumble* Ugh I’m hungry…

“My little Cas! Milk time!” Like a supermom, she appears immediately whenever I feel hungry. I suspect magic what else could it be? And no, she doesn’t breastfeed me, as much as she might want to. Mom and dad are different species so mom’s milk doesn’t have everything that I need.

*shiver* The thought of breastfeeding three times a day creeps me out. She mixes some sort of colourful powder in a milk bottle and shakes it up.

“*sigh* Why are you so quiet? I thought I’d have an adorable baby that’s always laughing and smiling whenever he sees his mother.” She makes a concerned face and looks at me, still shaking the bottle. “You only act like that when I cast magic”

…I like magic okay?

If you’re wondering how I can understand her, this world’s language is also more evolved than our earth. I don’t know how yet, but whenever someone speaks they also send the intent along with the words. I don’t know if they’re doing it intentionally or not but that’s what I’ve seen so far.

“*sigh* ” Phenea casts while stuffing my face with the baby bottle.

So cool…

[4 months later]

Life is dreary as a baby. I feel like a statue left in a corner of a room, no one really brings me out of here or points my head towards a window. However… today everything changes. For I am MOBILE!

"Ghyahahahaha!"

I am speed I say in my mind as I focus on trying to get to the door quadrupedal style. As I get to the door I realize I’m facing the next challenge before I get to explore this world...

"Grrrrrrr..."

The doorknob.

Maybe I can use magic to open it? I glare at the doorknob and reach out with my hand.

“Hnggggg...” Open open open open open open open openopenopenopenopenope-

*click* “Wah!” It worked! I knew I could do it! Goodbye, boring blue room!

“Oh! Cas why are you near the door?” Phenea says before picking me up. “You can already crawl this far? Huhuhu my son’s a genius.”

I hung my head down in sadness. Nooo… my magic….

“Awwww why is my baby sad? Do you want to see magic? Hmmm ...”

My ears perk up on the mention of magic. “Gahujaberbajik!” I want to learn magic!

Before she can say anything, Julius calls out to her. “Honey! I’m about to head out!”

“Be right there dear! What do you say Cas? Wanna send daddy off?” She asks me with a smile.

I stare at her stunned. I… I can finally head out this prison of mine! YES!! “JETHS!”

She kisses me on the cheek before carrying me downstairs. I look around as much as I can to take in the new environment, but it feels too much like a normal home. There are pictures of my parents, none of me yet though.

Why are there weapons hanging on the wall? Weird aesthetic. I wonder while looking around. I also notice a black flat glass pane on a wall inside what I assume to be the living room. I really hope that’s a TV

“Oh, you’re finally letting out Cas? I told you he’s not as fragile as your kind. He’s a D’varf.” D’varf? Is that my race?

“Oh shut it, I’m just concerned he’d take after me more than you. You know how our children are…”

“I know, I know.” He says while picking up his coat. “I’ll be heading out now.” He kisses Phenea on the lips and leans his forehead towards mine. “See you later Cas.”

“Baju.” “Bye dear. Take care!”

*click* The door closes and Phenea looks at me. “Let’s get you back upstairs eh?” She then proceeds to head towards the stairs

What? No no no no I want to stay here! “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!” I cry while holding on to her tightly… well as tight as a baby can anyway.

“Why are you crying Cas? Daddy’s coming back later don’t be sad.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!”

“ Here’s your favourite magic Cas! Look at the pretty light ohhhhh”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!”

*sigh* She stops walking upstairs and I stop crying. She looks at me weirdly before suddenly having a thought.

She steps up. “Waaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!”

She steps down. “...”

She steps up. “WaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”

She steps down. “...”

She keeps stepping downstairs till we’re in the hallway. I could hear the cogs in her brain thinking about what just happened. She then looks at me with seriousness and concern in her eyes.

“I-is my baby afraid of stairs?”

No! How do you even get to that conclusion?!

“*sigh* Maybe I can put the crib in the living room…* She then closes her eyes and… a pattern starts to glow on her skin. They look like vine tattoos and they’re glowing yellow.

What is that? Is that magic too? Or is it her race? Can I have that instead of these rocks?

My crib floats downstairs behind her, floating and following us to the living room. Telekinesis? She then puts me in it, smiles and pinches my cheek before heading towards the kitchen. "There you go Cas, I won't let those evil stairs get you!"

Alright, we have new things to stare at now! Mission accomplished!

[4 months later]

I’m so bored of this room...