I think I am going to be born soon. Mommas womb has been feeling increasingly tighter and it has been difficult to shift around. It was sort of terrifying to think about experiencing birth with complete consciousness. I had become used to the warmth and constant heartbeat of my mom, and leaving was not as appealing as it once sounded. Having to know that my skull would be squeezed into some unnatural shape and having to purge my lungs of fluids was horrific.

On a less existential note, I have figured out how to open up my mana barrier. It was sorta like flexing your butthole to open, which sounds weird but that is the only what I can describe it. After opening the barrier up all my mana would flow out at a rapid pace before slowing down as ‘pressure’ was released. I have not cast any spells yet and would not want to for fear of hurting dear old Mama.

I have had only a couple of months (I think) to train to release it and have already come to a couple of breakthroughs; firstly is that mana regenerates naturally when you close your barrier up; second is that the barrier can extend beyond the skin; thirdly is that you can slow the mana release somewhat with a force of will. Other than that I have no clue how to use this information.

The multitude of colors that I experienced so long ago has been slowly replaced with white. Not in a literal sense as there was still plenty of colors I could see, but rather the dark background and faint colors had disappeared with a marble-ish color. My own marble-colored mana that resided inside of the barrier had matured into a purer white that almost seemed to glow.

Other than all the magic-related developments there was nothing else to do but wait. I had decrypted their language as far as I could with no help or pointers and now just had to wait until my parents whip out ‘The Hungry Little Caterpillar.’ and lean from there. That's if they are even good parents… WHAT IF THEY’RE NOT GOOD PARENTS!

OK, that was an overreaction, but my point still stands I can't do anything.

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Damn, I’m bored.

Felix carefully set the tub down at the foot of the smooth-cut stone table and began filling it with warm clean water. Today he was getting ready for Kerue to give birth and the Village chief had graciously lent his house to serve as a clean area to keep the baby for a while. When the first came inside he and Kerue were awed that someone could solely live in such a large space and find it convenient.

“Thanks again, Gregory. We really,” Felix looked around at the stone-cut floor and wooden walls. “ -really can't thank you enough.”

“Oh don’t sweat it!” The chief yelled from the kitchen. “It’s just one of those things any chief would do for his people.”

“Yeah, sure...” muttered Felix, as he left the house and made, is way eastward down the hill back to the village.

Kerue was in one of the guest rooms waiting for the baby to come as some of the older ladies around acted as midwives. Other than fetching materials for the ladies Felix had spent his time either hunting to work off the stress he was feeling, or asking anyone who passed through the village if they happened to be a doctor. He knew that such a thing happening was unlikely to happen but still could not stop being anxious about his wife and baby. A whole series of what ‘if’s plagued his mind constantly as he waited for the big moment.

As Felix was nearing the bottom of the hill when he heard a shrill scream coming from inside of the chief's house. Felix swiftly made his way back up as the scream continued only interrupted by brief quietness. When he finally got into the house Kerue was on the stone table with the midwives surrounding her.

“Kerue! Are you-” Felix looked at the midwives, “Is she alright? Does she- how can I help?”

The oldest of the ladies didn’t even look at him when she answered. “Yes, she’s fine and she will be fine. Yes, you can help go and sit on the porch until we call you, okay?”

Felix only gaped for a few seconds before dragging himself out like a puppy that was scolded for peeing on the carpet. He could only wait as his wife cried in the pain of childbirth. As the minutes passed and those turned into hours it seemed like her screams would never end.

Felix looked into the sky, closed his eyes, and began praying for the safety of his wife and child. As he finished his prayer the warmth of the sun was blocked and the sky darkened. Felix opened his eyes and was greeted by a shocking sight. Despite being daytime just a few seconds earlier the stars were brightly twinkling and the moon was incredibly close. Although Felix could not see the sun itself behind the moon he could see its large tendril-like arms growing out from the silhouette of the moon. He was so captivated that he didn’t even notice that Kerue had stopped screaming and the midwives call him in. He felt as if he just jumped that he could touch Zeve, the moon and he even felt lighter in its presence as if all the world was taken off his shoulders.

Then as suddenly as it happened the light came back and the sun shone once again. Felix came back to his senses stood up and went inside. Inside the midwives wiped down the table cleaning off the birth fluids which Felix noted looked oddly colored but couldn’t say why. The midwife that told him to wait outside led him to the chief's guest room and left him at the door.

Felix knocked softly and kept his voice down. “Kerue, you in there?” His entire body felt like it would crumble from how nervous he was.

“Come in Felix. Quietly.” Her soft voice soothed him slightly as he slowly creaked the door open.

Within laid his beautiful bride laying in bed, and in her arms was the most adorable baby he had ever seen. The precious little thing was quietly asleep as both her parents lovingly gazed at her.

Slowly, Kerue turned to look at Felix. ”What should her name be?”

“I- I would have thought you would think of a name.” He muttered.

“What!? I thought you had a name.” Kerue quietly retorted.

“Well, I have one but it’s a little off the top of my head,” Felix answered.

Kerue prompted him to go further with a nod of her head.

“Zeverues.” Felix glazed his baby with loving looks. Kerue had no objections to the name and looked down at the baby as well.

“Welcome to the world, my little moonlight.”

The couple stayed in the chief's house over the night getting some precious sleep.