Tom believes that as a swordsman you should be able to react to any situation at any time with speed and accuracy. If it’s as simple as blocking a sudden dagger or being able to stop an arrow shot at your head from your blind spot it should be done almost instantaneously, an automatic response to a negative external stimuli if you will. To me it sort of sounds like a sixth sense but Tom said it’s more like sensing someone’s intentions or willingness to injure or kill.

In order to train me to be able to detect killing intent and varying degrees of it after breakfast we trained in the Forest. I was told to go grab a few flowers from the center of the forest and that Tom was going to attack me on the way. My job was to dodge or block the attacks while getting the flowers. Tom shot arrows with corks on the head and threw wooden knives and by the end of it I had only dodged one and that was only because of the tree branch that I slipped on.

After doing it a few times I learned that a chill would cross my back before every attack and I could guess the direction of it and dodge about twice out of every five attacks. I couldn’t tell if it was an arrow or a dagger until I ran Tom’s gauntlet about 26 times when I figured out which was which I found I could locate Tom based on his killing intent. From then on I could deflect or dodge five out of five attacks. On the 36th run I caught one of the knives and threw it back at the tree I thought Tom was in and he fell out of the tree with a big smile on his face. It was getting dark so we headed home and on the way back Tom praised me with a gentle pat on the head. I healed myself after dinner but the muscle pain wouldn’t go away I guess stamina has to recharge on its own. I drift off to a night of deep sleep.

“… Hey… Wake up, when others are talking to you!!” A voice sounds in my head

As I open my eyes I see Ella standing looking down at me I also notice that her foot is pressing down on my stomach.

“Oy… Get your foot off me, Ella.” I said angrily.

“Oh my bad…” Ella lifts her foot off of me and backs away slightly.

I stand up and look around to check out my surroundings. We are in a white room that appears to be quite large. Ella gestures towards the floor and a table pops up with a few chairs. As I sit down Ella gestures again and that weird blue tea pops up in front of me. Ella takes a long sip and sets down her tea and looks at me like she’s waiting for me. I sigh and pick up the tea and take a small sip and set it back down.

“So… Let’s start the first dream meeting!” Ella said cheerfully.

“Dream meeting?”

“Yes! As your guardian angel and advisor in the Rebirth Program it’s my job to ask how you are doing and give you advice. So first of all, how are you doing? Have you settled in okay?” Ella piped up.

“Honestly, I thought that I was forgotten and abandoned by you guys. Why has it been so long since you have been in contact?” I asked seething with anger

“Um… Please don’t look at me so angrily… It’s not my fault…” Ella looks at me with tears forming in her eyes.

“That’s not going to work give me a proper answer!” I slammed down my tea and stare angrily at Ella

“Don’t be so mad… Um basically time in heaven and here on Alera go at a different rates… it’s only been about a month since you left. The gates don’t line up but once a day here and I was getting punished…” Ella said quietly.

“Fine, whatever… I’ve been okay… It’s hard to be raised again and by people who are younger than I was when I died.” I explained

“So you don’t like them?”

“No, how could I not like them. I have a huge amount of respect and love for my new family. Tom is strong and a good teacher, but he doesn’t really use his head. Kaya is a great mother, kind and sweet. Even Elena is a wonderful grandmother, but she can be pretty scary at times but more often than not she is gentle and sweet.” I said as a sudden rush of happiness hit me. I really had come to love my new in this world.

“Okay, well that’s good. I’m glad you like them. So any concerns so far?”

“Other than the fact that I was not told anything after my new life started I actually like it here. The fields and the forests here are beautiful and the people I have met are wonderful. So not a single concern with this world but I have been sheltered as my body is still young.” I answered

“Well, that is true…” Ella said as she sets her tea down and stares at the cup

We sit there in silence for a minute as I wait for her to start up the conversation again. Ella continues to stare at her tea as if hoping to divine something to that will shatter the silence. I sigh deeply and reject the silence that I thrust upon her and open my mouth to break the thing I created.

“Okay, listen I’m not mad anymore. I apologize if I made you nervous and I understand that events must of happened that were out of your hemisphere of influence. I was wrong to be angry at you. Can we start talking again?” I said after finishing off my cup of tea. It instantly refills with more of the blue tea.

“You’re not angry anymore?” Ella asked while wiping her eyes.

“No, I’m not.” I answered quickly

“…Okay… Then have your gifts been working out well?” Ella asked after breathing in to calm herself.

“I like all of them but the gift of language hasn’t really helped. I had to learn everything on my own.”

“Well, of course you do! It needs a basic language to understand so it can translate everything into it. It even does writing and translates it into your base language you learn when you arrive. It’s no good if you don’t understand the language it changes other languages too.” Ella explained looking at me like that was common sense.

“Oh… So what about like when I talk, does it come out in the language it’s supposed to or do they just here me talking in my base?” I asked curiously

“It obviously changes to the language that the person you’re speaking too is Fluent in otherwise it would be rather pointless.” Ella said while waving her hand once again over the table.

Instead of more tea a few pastries appear in front of us both. Ella’s face immediately brightened as she grabbed one and started throwing them in her mouth. I eat one rather hesitantly and all I taste is sugar. It was as if I had bitten a sugar cube that was covered in frosting, it was too sweet. I look at Ella who is scarfing them down at a frightening pace and all I can do is hope that angel’s don’t get diabetes.

“So… Ella, you said that you had some advisory things to talk to me about?” I asked as she pops yet another pastry in her mouth.

“Oh… that’s right I almost forgot! As you advisor I have a few things to tell you. Just give me a second I wrote them down so I wouldn’t forget.” Ella said as she digs into her pocket and pulls out a piece of paper

“Ah, this is it… okay, first of all mother and father said hi and send their love. Now, onto your future in Alera. Good news, your time restriction here has been lifted you are to stay until you die or say you’re ready to leave upon which you will return to heaven.” Ella rattled off

“So, I have longer than 35 years?” I asked

“Yep, unless you die then you will be reborn here on Alera again until you complete your assessment of the state of the world. From time to time we’ll do this meeting thing and you’ll tell me what’s going on. One last thing… Father told me to tell you that you are allowed another gift but there has been a delay in sending it. He said it should arrive in the next few years so look forward to it.” Ella explained

“Okay, I will then. So is that it?” I said while looking for an exit but to no avail

“Yep, for now anyways… Hey, what’s your new name?” Ella asked while fidgeting in her chair and looking down

“Oh, that would make it easier to talk with me… My name is Aero White.” I said happily

“I rather like that name. Nice to finally meet you Aero! Now be off it’s time for you to get up… Wow, they sure do work you hard there huh?” Ella whistled with empathy.

Ella reaches across the table and gives me a tight hug. With a blink of my eyes everything fades to black. I blink again and I see the inside of my room with the sun peeking through the window. I get up and go downstairs for breakfast like any other morning.

“Good morning, Aero. How did you sleep? I slept great!” Tom asked while grabbing Kaya’s butt, who blushes and smacks his hand away.

“Fine, Father. Don’t think I slept as well as you did though? When can I expect siblings, mother?” I asked jokingly which earned me a tap on the head.

“Good one son! Shouldn’t be much longer!” Tom declares loudly

“Gosh, both of you quit it!” Kaya exclaimed while beating on Tom’s chest.

“Ha-ha what’s the matter Kaya? Isn’t it fine?” Elena piped up

“Mother, not you too! Fine, if you must know in about 8 months!” Kaya shouted

The room went dead silent it was as if all of the air had rushed out and a vacuum was left in its place. The first to recover was not me but Elena, the shock turning to joy as she leaps out of her chair and hugs Kaya.

“Good, Great!! It’s about time! I am so happy more grandchildren!” Elena shouted happily while literally jumping for joy.

“Hear that, Aero you are getting a sibling! Do your best to be a good older brother.” Tom said seriously.

Before I can respond Tom jumps up and kisses Kaya deeply and hugs her tightly. Kaya smiles and blushes while Elena starts laughing happily. This is my family here on Alera and I must say that they can be quite goofy but I love them. I run over and embrace them all and we fall down onto the kitchen floor laughing. It has been almost 8 years since I was born so I’m sure that Tom and Kaya must have been worried because they hadn’t had children since me. It feels as if a weight had been lifted that I hadn’t known off. Kaya and Elena are crying and laughing while Tom and I are just laughing. After a few minutes of rolling around on the floor Tom lifts Kaya up walks upstairs.

“Let’s put another baby in you darling… Aero, go outside and play or train. Father has to go devour your mother ha-ha.” Tom said as he carried Kaya to their room.

Tom is a wolf when it comes to those things. He’s told me that he was pretty popular before he met Kaya. I didn’t believe it but both Kaya and Elena backed him up when I asked.

“Hmm… that man is a wolf…” Elena mumbled in a seemingly jealous tone.

Even though Elena is my grandmother she actually is quite young. I haven’t asked but she seems to be in her early thirties. Also because she is an elf she doesn’t seem to age that much. Elena probably can still have children so I might have some new uncles or aunts in the future.

“Grandmother, don’t worry, you are quite beautiful so I also think it would be okay for you to have another child.” I said bluntly

“Ha-ha you think so? That’s true but you already have one uncle so I’m going to hold off. But you know it’s going to get busy with another child so you need to step up and help us out.” Elena said while patting my head gently.

“I have an uncle? Where is he?” I asked curiously

“Hmm… he works for the king… now that I think of it you have an aunt too…” Elena pondered

Did she really forget another child she had? I think Elena is actually an amazing person in many ways but to forget a child is rather worrisome.

“The aunt isn’t my child she’s married to your uncle. Your uncle used to drop by from time to time but the trip from the capital takes a few weeks and I don’t think he likes leaving his wife behind.” Elena explained

Grandmother just read my thoughts!

“Oh, when will I meet them?” I asked

“I don’t know but you’ll meet them one day. Now let’s you and me go outside and tell everyone the good news.” Elena said as she grabs my hand and takes me outside. As we leave the house I can hear the sounds of Tom trying to put yet another baby inside Kaya

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AN: I changed my mind when I saw I had 3 followers!! I posted this chapter as a thank you but now i seriously am going to take a short break. I'm trying to put up what I have already written by the end of tomorrow or actually after I sleep. I'll probably post a few more chapters before going to bed.

Thanks for following and reading!