Chương 2: CHAPTER 2 : New World

In a small shack standing in the middle of the forest, the voice and loud groaning of a woman could be heard. Her face showed extreme difficulty, with large beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Tears were welling up in her tired eyes.

"Ahhh!!! Ugghhh!"

"You can do it, my love."

Finally, Akira was born into his new world. He was covered in blood and blinded by the intense light, unaccustomed to the brightness after his time in the dark. He tried to adjust to the unfamiliar brightness.

He thought,

"Ahh!! Finally, I'm out!"

He tried to speak but couldn't control his tongue yet, only managing natural coos, a sign of his new beginning. He felt a mix of comfort and confusion.

The room was very small, indicating that its inhabitants were not wealthy, but love overflowed from every corner. He was adjusting to his new sensations, as he seemed used to a dark and tight space. He had almost forgotten the normal feeling of being outside.

He stretched his tiny arms.

He whispered in his mind,

"Ah, fresh air. I missed this."

A smiling woman watched him, her face showing the exhaustion of childbirth. A man approached as well, his eyes filled with tears. He carefully lifted Akira.

He wanted to struggle but couldn't do anything.

Feeling uncomfortable with the situation, he sighed.

"Can I get some personal space here?"

The man gently stroked his tiny face.

"It seems this is what they call a 'hands-on' welcome."

The man's eyes continued to tear up as he looked at his child, then he turned his gaze to his wife. Their eyes met in a silent and joyful exchange. He couldn't contain his happiness. It crossed his mind that they needed to confirm what they would name their child.

The man gently stroked his child's cheek again before he started to speak.

"Let's name him."

His wife, who was now lying down while watching the father and son, immediately responded.

"Let's name him after you."

He responded immediately to his wife.

"No, let's call him Castiel."

His wife's eyes sparkled.

"Castiel? Oh, what a beautiful name. I love it."

Akira, unfamiliar with the sound of his new name, thought silently while listening to his parents' conversation:

"Castiel, huh? Not bad. I can get used to that."

Their voices both expressed agreement, seemingly accepting the upcoming challenges and joys their child would bring to their lives.

In that quiet moment, Akira, now Castiel, trapped in his new body, suddenly felt the urge to urinate and accidentally peed on the man's face.

"Oops..."

Castiel started laughing because of the unexpected event. When his parents heard it, they started to laugh too. Amidst their joyful laughter, memories of his past life began to run through his mind. Parts of his previous life were cut short by the sudden collision with a truck.

"Did I really get hit by a truck? Unbelievable. But maybe this is better than my old life."

He paused as he savored his new reality, taking a deep breath.

"Thanks, I guess, for the second chance."

After his dramatic reflection on his past life, he observed his surroundings. He realized he was in a modest family. But that didn't matter to him; he was happy to have new hope and the opportunity to live again.

The couple were just ordinary people, struggling each day but managing to get by. They found some happiness in their small shack in the middle of the forest. It might be hard for others, but they learned to be content.

The house was small, with a tiny window that let in the gentle morning light. It had simple furniture and arranged flowers and herbs that gave off a pleasant scent. You could also smell the damp soil around it.

His mother was silent due to exhaustion, but her eyes had a quiet sparkle; her wet hair stuck to her damp forehead. Every breath and touch was an intonation of endless love directed at her newborn child.

She seemed to exude an air of protection around the room, as if surrounding it with warmth and a gentle breeze. Though her hands were slightly rough from work, she held Castiel tenderly. Her eyes showed fatigue but also the pride of being a mother.

Castiel's eyes were fixed on his mother. He could hardly look away. He admired her beauty greatly. He looked at her with respect because he owed his new life to her.

*She's like royalty.*

On the other hand, his father had a strong and tall build. His face showed kindness behind a rough presence, as if he had faced numerous challenges in life. He wore traditional clothing and seemed to have spent his whole life in the forest.

This great man, though seemingly mysterious, showed tenderness to his child. His laughter was infectious as he wiped Castiel's urine from his face with a cloth.

"Wow, Son."

He brushed aside his stray hair and turned his attention back to his son.

"That was quite an entrance. Mwahaha!"

Castiel observed his father closely.

"So, this is my father, huh? He looks so young."

He paused for a moment to imagine what he had looked like in the past.

"I looked older in my past life."

He felt a sense of insecurity, but he smiled while thinking:

He seems so powerful, yet so kind. What kind of life do they face here? *

With a curious mind, he continued...

"Are their challenges as dangerous as in my previous world? It looks like he has a lot to teach me."

The love and kind gaze from his father's eyes left him in awe and with playful questions.

The couple sat down, their happiness intensifying, bending over their newborn child while they exchanged silent hopes and dreams.

Arthur looked closely at Castiel and spoke:

"We will teach him everything we know."

Tears welled up in Helene's eyes.

"Yes, we will teach him how to be strong like us."

Their words hinted at a lifetime filled with learning, adventures, and love. Despite their modest means, they were rich in love. Their home felt like a sanctuary, and the warmth of their relationship was unmistakable.

Castiel quietly explored the various sounds; he was curious; it's so different from the urban life he was used to.

Outside, the forest resonated with various sounds, the rustling of leaves, and countless bird songs. Occasionally, strange creatures would appear to peek from the surroundings. And the air was incredibly fresh.

Their little shack was nestled in the middle of the forest. Although it seemed old and parts were slightly decaying, it remained sturdy to protect them from the rain and heat.

The walls were lined with shelves holding different books, herbs, potions, and strange trinkets from their travels. In one corner of the hut, there was a small fireplace used for heating or cooking their food.

The couple's life was very simple, yet they were filled with love for each other. They were ready to face all the challenges that would come in this new chapter of their lives with their newborn child.

Due to the peaceful atmosphere, Castiel felt sleepy, but before he completely drifted off, he made a promise to himself.

He yawned.

"I'll make sure to be happy in this new life. I'll follow my dreams and create happy memories with my new family."

His tiny eyes slowly closed, and he finally fell asleep.

Arthur tried to touch their son's face and spoke.

"I think we have a sleepyhead here," he said.

But Helene quickly stopped him and hushed him.

"Shhh! Don't be loud. You might wake him up. Look how cute he is."

Arthur cleared his throat and whispered softly:

"Who does he look like?"

Helene lightly slapped Arthur on the shoulder.

"Of course, me."