Chapter 3: From Void To Vesper - Part 1
Drakonis, that was now the name of my new homeland. From what I could tell, this place seemed to go on for as far as my underdeveloped eyes would allow me to see. The furthest thing I could discern with my vision was a large, man-made wall looming far off in the distance. Though my current situation was not the most favorable, I decided not to bet on risky chances and see how things played out here first.
As for how my new life was going, I had now begun practicing the art of "crying" more often. As it would happen, it was quite the convenient tool and could get these humans to suit my needs at any given moment. Thinking of it like that, I had somehow gotten used to such a bizarre practice in mere months.
Yes, I was now three months old. Since my body had now developed a bit more in some regard, I was steadily gaining control of this body's motor functions one at a time. There was something I noticed as well, the more I developed, the keener my senses would become. Though I had finally regained them after leaving the void, I soon realized that they weren't exactly as keen as I'd hoped, or to be more specific, they required time to properly sync up with this body.
It seems spending an extended period of time in that place had left a jarring impact on my very soul, if I had stayed any longer, I might have completely lost the ability to regain any of my senses. Luckily, such a grim reality hadn't come to pass, and I was now indulging myself in a brand-new discovery, it was a new sense of perception that I had only just discovered.
While it was very faint, I could sense it, no – I could feel it.
How long had it been since I felt this strange essence?
Silently making that note to myself, I once again checked to confirm, and sure enough I was right, there was mana here. The power to use magic was once again within reach, and at the thought, my infantile form began to form an unconscious smile.
"Look dear, Arlen is smiling" Shiina called out, abruptly removing the food sac from my mouth to get a better look at my current expression.
"Oh really!?" Dashing over Michael came down for a better view as well. Since we were now in the "living room" and he was apparently "upstairs" I could hear the heavy stomping of his feet much before he had even arrived.
"Gosh dear, you know you're not supposed to be running through the house like that!"
"Ehehe.....sorry, I just got back so I got a little too excited...."
Michael's response was a strange one, it sounded oddly subservient. I had yet to completely figure out the dynamic of the relationship between these two, often times Michael would take charge, but other times Shiina would do the same. She was also the one that tended to all my needs directly and even went as far as to initiate my slumber.
Was she the one in charge here?
Often times, I found myself pondering over the fact.
"I think I'm getting used to this now....the whole being a mother thing."
Looking down at me, Shiina held a confident smile as she said those words, and her eyes reflected a sense of sublime gratitude.
"Maybe I really was just worried over nothing. I mean he's crying at least three time a day now."
"Arlen will be fine, and you'll be fine too. He's probably just a late bloomer like his old man that's all."
Michael chimed in with his nonchalant retort, but apparently this time his input had actually worked.
"What part of you is a late bloomer?" Shiina shot him an embarrassed glare
"Ahaha.....I really am."
I knew exactly where this was going, from my short-lived experience, I can confidently say that every time they start some bantering squabble like this, it was going to last for a while and so, I decided to abandon the process of piecing together their useless conversation and instead decided to focus my efforts on the surroundings.
Anything was better than listening to this.
I began to survey the room, and as I did, I ended up drawing the same conclusion as I did many times before.
This must be what human wealth looks like.... I thought to myself.
The entire room was spacious and completely spotless. The "living room" as they called it, held an ornate fireplace at the very front and center of it, and littering the walls painted in an intertwining mix of blue and white were paintings of all kinds. I don't know what they were displaying exactly, but it was obvious that these pieces were all of high quality.
In the center of the room, there was an exquisite white rug that was supposedly made from the carcass of some beast, quite a savage display of one's fashion taste but it must have been something the human elites took great pride in.
On the far-right corner of the room was a bookshelf that literally covered the entire wall. In my current condition, I couldn't even see past the halfway point of the shelf much less read, but the reflective sheen the book covers would display when graced by the flashing embers of the fireplace began to invoke my innate curiosity once more.
The fireplace itself wasn't especially necessary for illumination either, as there was some strange device emitting light in the center of the ceiling, but seeing as it was practically always on, I had yet to discern the device's true form.
Still cradled in Shiina's arms, she was now sitting in a chair so soft it felt like my fingers were being consumed by it every time my small hands did so much as make contact. Opposite of her was Michael, now sitting in a chair of the same kind a wearing some strange clothing. It was what he always dawned whenever he mentioned "going out."
"So you finished work early today?"
Shiina asked, seemingly getting back to the main topic a hand.
"Of course, after all I did promise to go with you when you were taking Arlen out into town for the first time."
"I'm just making sure; you tend to easily get caught up in things."
It was faint, but from here I'm certain I saw the faint reddening of Shiina's cheeks.
"You're actually happy about it aren't you?"
"N-not really."
Her stuttered reply wasn't even enough to convince me of the fact, so clearly, Michael had been right.
"Then, I'll finish changing out of these clothes, I'll be down as soon as I'm ready." With those words the man promptly went back "upstairs" to perform some important task.
"It's just the two of us now Arlen, what should we do in the meantime?"
Hearing that name had unconsciously grabbed my attention, and my vision immediately met hers, seeing my simple reaction had been more than enough to make her smile.
"Oh that's right!...I almost forgot. Lewis, could you get the carriage ready for me?"
Shiina called out in the now empty room, but despite that, she still received a reply.
"Of course, my lady, I've already began sorting the preparations needed for your outing today."
The voice sounded respectful yet monotone, struggling to lift my neck, I was barely able to glimpse at the one who had just given such a prompt response.
It was a man by the name of Lewis. His face held well aged features, in the form of wrinkles lining the corners of his mouth and his now greying moustache and beard that perfectly matched the hue of his pale white hair. His hair was a different kind from what I'd seen so far, as it was neatly slickened back and standing on edge to a degree where it seemed like it was frozen in the air.
His eyes held a darkened hue of chestnut brown, and the penetrating gaze they cast always seemed to be fixed on one particular target. He was wearing the same black outfit I'd always seen him in and had never once changed out of it in the time I was here. I believe they said it had something to do with him being a "butler."
"Shall I assign more guards to accompany you as well?" The man asked without a hint of luster in his monotone voice.
"No that's fine, we already have Michael coming with us after all."
"I see, then I suppose I'll go double check the initial preparations. You can summon me at your word M'lady."
Soon after, the man named Lewis departed with a professional eagerness that simply radiated from him.
"He's so professional huh Arlen?"
Shiina had once again begun speaking to me, even though she knew full well she'd never get a response, something about this was undoubtedly entertaining to her.
"Since we have some time, how about I sing you a little lullaby."
If I recall correctly, that was a human song. Hmph, it was the height of lunacy to think something like that would ever work on me.
Or so I thought..... soon after, Shiina had begun chanting a supple melody with a captivating tune that left me feeling all but powerless. As I looked up at her, meeting her azure eyes, the quiet days I had spent in that void kept flooding back to my mind, and in my own negligence, I began to slowly lose my grit, and with each passing second, I could feel the strength slipping from my limbs.
Fatigue?.....Damn this human body...
As I feel prey to Shiina's melody, the last semblances of my consciousness escaped my mental grasp.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone