CHAPTER 2: Birth of a Unique Baby

Hmhmm…

I am asleep…

Ah, deep asleep…

Ahhh…

Hmmmm…

Hm?

What’s that sound…

Light passed through his closed eyes.

- Is it dawn already? I still want to sleep…

“Nea, it’s a boy!”

- What boy? Whose boy?

Hm Hm…

A light laugh could be heard. It was a laugh while pressing through pain.

He could feel he was being hold, and being put in a wrap of clothes.

A few stinging pains came through.

- Ah, this kind of pain is nothing… now what’s going on? Where am I? How come my eyelids so heavy? Did my eye got burn by that freaking fire-breather?

GUSHHH..!

A loud noise came. Someone just rushed in.

“Old lady Mia! Is it done?! How’s Nea?!”

“You’re too loud..! Yes, it’s done… Nea did well. ”

“Honey… you okay? You look pale…”

“I’m fine, dear… look, you’re now a father…”

“Father? Yeah, that’s right… I’m now a father…!”

- Oh congrats… anyway where am I? In hospital or something? Did someone pick me up after that serious blow I gave to that stinking fire-spewing bastard? Ah, dizzy… and sleepy… *fuaaghhh*

The mother started to caress her newborn, gently so… Her gentle, slender fingers lightly touched the baby’s red skin…

She smiled, content.

It was a serene view to any who was watching.

- Hm? How come I feel someone is feeling me up all over… That’s rude, doing so to a sick person! Well, if it’s a cute nurse… heuheuheuk!

“Oh my…”

“Hm? The baby is laughing…”

“Is that weird old lady Mia? Shouldn’t that be good?”

“You fool! Usually a newborn would cry, not laugh!”

“Ah, I see…”

- Ah, that’s funny. Seemed like the baby was quite unusual… AH, my eyelids.. Ah, the light… It’s burning my eyes!

The newborn now could move his eyelids… after a few moments; he opened his eyes, slightly.

“Ah, he’s looking at us…”

“So cute…”

“So small…”

“Of course it’s small, you dork… it’s a newborn…”

“Huhu I know that Mia obaa-chan… it’s just amazing…”

“Life is amazing… You are amazing…”

A gentle voice.

Serene voice.

Motherly.

Averon gazed the overly large face in front of him. It was a smile of contentment, written all over the countenance of a blonde beauty… She was sweating and obviously still in pain, yet could well gave him that smile full of sincerity.

A dumbfounded look of a giant of great muscle was beside her, overlooking him. She looked at the giant, and closed her eyes, happily broadened her smile.

A slight laughter filled with satisfaction ensued.

- Ah, I see… I’m being reborn, eh… Another chance… Thank you, God.

“Thank You for being born, my son… our son.”

The gentle voice whispered.

***

Time passed on…

The baby ever since had become a toddler…

To the surprise of many, the baby managed to walk when he was barely 4 months old…

Of which actually he could do so even earlier, probably…

But the baby was worried if he would be pushing the fragile body too far…

Thus he took his time… four months. He did his best to act like a baby, though.

He became the talk of the village of Arum.

During the time of his growth…

“The baby was a bit strange, don’t you think?”

“Shh! You’re new here… Be careful not to have Lady Nea or our Master hears that… they’re very proud of the young master.”

“What? How’s so?”

“You know… the baby was interested in reading books and maps even before he’s one year old… plus his body was stronger than any his age… and he already walked through the mansion all on his own!”

“That’s strange!”

“I told you to shut it!”

The maids were whispering.

Many found it difficult to accept the baby was anything ordinary.

It was not just the maids…

Many guests were left in awe…

Many of them said something similar…

“He indeed inherited the best of both families.”

“A wonderful child, fitting for Lady Valery.”

“A strong child, he’ll be a great knight like you, Sir Valery.”

“He reminds me of his grandfather…”

During the time as toddler, Averon managed to make out certain thing.

The family he was born in…

It was a family of Knights from his father’s side… His uncles, father and grandfather were in direct service of the King.

Occasionally, his family would visit the paternal grandfather, who owned a mansion in the capital. The grandfather was a General, by the look of it.

It took a few hours journey in carriage, which was quite near. It seemed his father, a Knight, was stationed in an outpost quite near to the capital. And it was his mother’s idea that they stayed in the village close to the outpost.

When they visited the mansion, the maids would often play with him, activity that he really engrossed in. They would hug him, caress and even kiss him often.

Of which he seemed to enjoy…

Heuheuheuk!

…

…

…

…ehem…

Yet as time passed, the maids noticed that the baby was unusual… in several ways.

First, he would ignore, deny and refuse any foods or juices offered to him, even when the food was edible and sweet. He would throw a tantrum, should he be forced to consume them.

As a result, his mother told them not to force him any food or drinks anymore. If it was other baby, they would enjoy such delicacy without restrain. He would accept cool water though. Within the two years, he was just breast-fed, and had fresh, cool water afterwards.

Second, he would sometimes listen to conversation of adults, and even seemed to catch on what they were saying.

They did not notice his unusual behaviour when he was with them though, since he was quite the actor…

But something else, he did not try to cover…

Of which, was his interest to talks of politics, whenever the men of the family gathered.

He would pay full attention to the talks, even when the maids or ladies from other family were caressing him. He even seemed to catch on some phrases and cunning plans used by the nobles in their power struggle.

“Em, em…”

The sight of him understanding the conversation was eerie. They became curious, since they barely understood it whenever the men got serious in their conversation.

“Men… and their talk…”

Third, his eyes shone brightly whenever his grandfather told him stories of his feats in battle. From the duels, formal matches and battles… punitive expedition, and up to the war from ten years ago, of which he commanded a division then an army.

Due to his attention and excitement whenever the old man started talking, the old man was very pleased. He showered him with attention, and whenever he visited, spent time with him more so than his sons. He was carrying his grandson on his hand, walking around the garden accompanied by his mother and a maid.

“My boy, you’ll be a Great Knight one day, so it’s best for you to prepare early on!”

“Ahhh… Em!”

He gripped both palm, showing his determination.

Unusual for a baby of such age to show such feeling.

“Gracious, father… the boy is barely a year old… He couldn’t possibly understand what you said.”

“Nonsense, Nea! This boy has the thick blood of great warriors flowing through his veins! He understands well what I meant.”

“Haahh… Men… just make sure you don’t force him to do any sword training Father… it’s too soon.”

“…Sword… train..ning…”

He said, gesturing the act of practicing the repetitive swinging of sword, up and down.

“Hahahah! See? I told you so! Nea, this child you bore is amazing! He’ll be a Knight surpassing even me one day!”

“Father… do you even listen to what I just said?”

“…Sword…train…ning…!”

“Ahahahaha! I see, I see… Come, Averon my boy! We’ll begin your sword training now!”

“Em!”

“Father!”

Regarding his name, he was quite surprised at first, but knew very well that it was God’s Will to give him his previous name as his first name. He was grateful.

And Forth,

The baby was really interested in physical training, moving and jumping. He was barely a year old when he managed to walk through the whole mansion on his own… with a maid accompanying, of course.

He showed strong physical attribute and constitution. Earlier on, he would watch his uncles in their training, engrossed in it to the point of ignoring the maids.

He imitated the complex movement of his uncles’ when they sparred. In doing so, he fell down and injured himself, yet he did not even cry or show any irritation.

- This body is still too weak…

They were worried if he did not have the ability to feel pain, so his uncles pinched him, and he understood, so he reacted from it.

“Hurts!”

That put their mind at ease.

On his birthday, his grandfather, the Master of the House, gave him a wooden sword to practice with.

“For starters, it’s enough for you to swing it 1,000 times my boy!”

“Father, he’s still a baby… please don’t say something impossible.”

“Impossible? Nonsense! He’s the successor of the house of Valery! Can’t you see his eyes? That burning eyes of a Great Knight… He’s just like me, so I knew what he can and cannot!”

“Haah… What to do…”

“Don’t you worry, Nea! I’ll train him well!”

“Like I said, he’s barely one year-old!”

Averon gazed the sword with sparkling eyes. It had been a year, in his memory, since the last time he held a sword, so even getting a wooden sword burned his manly desire to be strong.

It was a sword as tall as himself, yet he could train with it well within a day…

He swung the sword repeatedly. His weak body, the body of a year-old, hindered his progress. Yet with much effort, he managed to finish 1,000 swings under his grandfather’s supervision.

That little incident made the grandfather extremely proud. He would take him on a stroll around city riding a horse, and seemed to enjoy the time of his life.

They would train in the morning and evening. His mother was worried, but since the grandfather guaranteed her that he would not to overdo it, she let it go… for now. When they return to the village, the old man would often long for another time to spend with his grandson.

And fifth…

Since he was a year-old, his mother would bring him to her study room in the library. Sometimes, she picked some children books and read it for him.

“The Story of the Sages. In our loving world, Ein Gard, there exist people who are cruel and oppress others. They are those, who do not feel compassion and pity to people who are unfortunate, poor and mistreated even when they have the power to help, cause their suffering and at times, they even do the act themselves. They bully the weak and take their food. And feel no remorse in doing so…”

“…Averon, do Mama a favour, never be cruel and oppress others, alright?”

She looked at him with compassion.

- Maybe it’s too hard for one year-old toddler.

“Em!”

- He understands it? Heh heh…

She chuckled.

“To the most extreme of people like these, the God send over his immediate punishments… The Sages. Humans like us, but clearly, they are granted with power by God. They are very few in this world, but they go to these cruel and evil people, and deliver the appropriate punishments… This is the story of the people in the East, simple people… villagers who were oppressed by the Feudal Lord…”

She continued to tell the story of the Sages, the very few people in this world who possessed power and wisdom, who quench evil and injustice in this world.

He did seem to enjoy such books, and asked for another…

“Books!”

Eerily so, he would walk around and take books randomly… or so they thought at first. It was not random. It was evident the toddler knew exactly what he was searching for.

His mother was a bit perplexed, yet she read the easiest one among them nonetheless. She taught him the alphabet and characters used in the books, and he listened to her attentively. He made mental note to remind himself the different characters. It was different from what Astaria used, but how did he understand the language?

- So it’s God’s work… I’m grateful.

“Averon, you’re really clever… you might inherit more of my traits than your father’s.”

“Hm? Mama, clever… what’s inherit… and traits…”

“Oh I used difficult words this time… let me explain…”

She patiently explained the words to him… and Averon was enjoying this tranquil time of his life.

- Since I’m a toddler, it would be strange for me to know those words… I should live my part as a child from time to time… besides, it’s a good feeling. This feeling… of being pampered. What a nice lady, my mother…

Later, when his mother went into study as he fell asleep, he woke up silently without alarming his mother, who was giving her full attention reading and writing up her research. He chose more difficult books as he already learned the alphabets being used. By his side, several dictionary and encyclopedia, including picture encyclopedia. Since his family was wealthy, they could afford such expensive books.

His mother finally broke out of her study trance.

“Oh my Averon… when did you wake up…”

She went up to him. To her surprise, several books were by his side. The subjects of the books were related to History, Magic and Martial Arts. She later observed that he was interested in history, philosophy, weapons, military strategy and politics.

However, Military and History seemed to be the area of his main interest.

He would make a gesture befitting a scholar, and made a sound as if he understood what the book was mentioning.

At first, she thought he was imitating her, who was a magic scholar. And that he was interested in drawings available in those books. Later, when she left him with the maids…

He reads through all the books available from the time his mother left him to the time she returned. Within some hours, he could finish a thick book all on his own… and he did not leave any impression that he was merely glimpsing through.

The book he prioritized first would be general knowledge of the world. Soon, the books he managed to finish were attracting attention; the maids in particular.

“How could a year old boy interested in such thick books?”

“Scary… scary… this child seemed to understand what is written…”

“Don’t you think he’s just imitating his mother?”

“No, doubly so… look at that eyes… such deep eyes… how could a mere baby wear such an eye?!”

Some of them even thought he was possessed. Yet none dared to utter such nonsense out loud. And it seemed, aside from the time he was in his study, he seemed like a normal, cute toddler. If you could call a toddler who wielded wooden sword as tall as himself around… normal.

***