Waking up to a child’s body is definitely a peculiar experience.
Minutes and hours left to contemplate and stare into nothingness, the act serving to bore him into sleep a couple of times, and what’s with waking up and staying awake in the middle of the night, because as he is, incapable of major movements, or speak for that matter.
Leaving him perplexed and wondering what to do.
A good perk though is White beside him, else he would have gone crazy, or sad from the lack of conversation, his parents are good candidates for such occasion, but wouldn’t that just turn eyes and confuse minds?
He is a baby after all, hearing a child of 0 years old speak, would be a bewilderment worthy of being called the work of the devil, quite an exaggeration.
There’s also his parents trying to guess what he needs at the moment through different attempts at communication. Lucky for the couple, they were able to get the major cues for food, sleep, or interests.
Despite how cooperative their baby is, they do wonder over the seeming lack of antics a baby would have. Nevertheless, they sigh in relief that their son isn’t so attention intensive compared to other babies.
There is another thing to make note off too, how is their son able to use magic at such a young age. They know because even that small fire that floated seamlessly on top of their baby’s is not of their magic, even if the flame was tiny.
Of course, as worried parents, they had quickly snuffed it out. Only to find the baby playing with a different element the next day. Yet again, they are baffled, because how are they to find out the answer to their question when the subject in question is still unable to speak.
That chuckle from the baby was cute though, as if reading their bewildered state and laughing it off as if it’s comedic.
It should have served as a caution for Ken, as a baby with that kind of capabilities, surely would turn heads, especially people holding great statuses and immense influence, one would be the nobles and established wizards and mages he read prior to arriving here.
Lucky for him wherever he is currently, is not within the scope of influence nor attention of the key figures he needs to lay low from.
That wouldn’t be the same for his parents though, as what White had informed him, his ‘Parents’ are formidable individuals on their own right. Seeing as they were able to sense magic and trace it back to its caster, which was their son.
Ken even overheard his parents considering conducting experiments on him, giving him a spike of anxiety, just to know how their baby was able to achieve such feats, fortunately, both parents agreed not to do so, and approach this agenda, slowly.
Like on their 10 long year project. Such a grand one, without the support of any financer but achieved what the two had poured their blood, sweat, and tears to make, yet the credit ended up being given to some noble who framed them of “stealing” their design.
Lucky for them, destroying such a project was as easy as burning a paper.
The flood of emotions circling itself on the surface of his mother’s face, as Ken listened to his parents reminisce the life they left from the capital, making Ken remember that he also read this information, but it looks to be an event these two went through.
Looks like he can’t just treat those information he was given as if they can be used whenever, looking into it’s history would help him utilize the vast knowledge he has.
Not to mention that he too was also in awe of such a project even when just reading about it. Nothing much he could do now, except be a child…..?
He is both open and bewildered at the idea.
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(1 yr. Old and 6 months)
Being a baby wasn’t so bad though, playing around and getting into all kinds of shenanigans, slowly put a smile on Ken’s heart, getting carried around, placed here and there, slowly understanding the language his parents spoke.
Responding to word and sound cues, clapping his hands, crawling on the floor, baby batter all over his face (or the equivalent of one in this era), dirtying himself, floating on air.
That one’s especially funny too, as he watched as his parents frantically try to pull him down yet unable to do so due to one of the spells his parents tried teaching him.
As a sort of test whether their son would be able to learn, and to their surprise. Fainting and having a heart attack would be an understatement, especially when he was seen by the people of their village as he slowly drifted on air.
Luckily for the couple, Ken was obedient to their words and would follow them the moment his parents would be stern with him.
“Are the people on the information you gave me still functioning this year?” asked Ken, as he grasped the blanket on his body to the side, leaned to the side as he tried to sit on his bums and watch as the sun slowly neared its rays on him.
Relishing the warmth as it touches his skin.
“Yes, I personally visited them updated myself on their current activities, you find them on the information section.” Ken nods and summons the system window and reads through the updated info.
One of the few things he was able to do in the slow and peaceful life of a child with an adult’s mind. Lucky for him, he loves reading.
“You’ll be able to do this after 23 years right?” referring to White scouting people found on the collection of information. And apparently being up to date.
“Yes, and I believe you already know why.” Ken could not agree more, for this task was done in exchange of the mana Ken was able to produce, as White was bound to him, any visits or trips outside of a certain range away from him, drains White and Ken of mana.
With the little experiment the two did, they were able to create a mana dome where White can be supplied with mana and roam freely wherever he wants. Though that’s been thwarted with an announcement from the system.
Prohibiting him or White from doing any trips outside of their current area. But White knows it was not so Ken could not progress his mission early, warnings such as these were only issued when their host makes a decision concerning their wellbeing.
And he hasn’t told Ken that the mana dome they used had only lessened the mana the two of them could consume, but it would still drain their mana if kept up for a long time. What him being a baby and all.
“Then I look forward to when I can use your services again.” Ken closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, allowing his body to lean on the side of his crib letting the sunlight bathe him in its warm glow.
If White had a mouth, he would be smiling, as he sees his host, slowly learning what it means to draw out energy from his surroundings, albeit slow, yet the process is there.
The couple slowly waking up, found their child leaning on its bed, and felt their heart warm at the sight, not wanting to disturb the little child, Ken’s mother softly approached, giving the child enough time to soak the sun as she scoops him up for his morning meal.
After his meal, Ken returned to reading the information White gathered for him, while quietly nestled on his father’s arms.
‘The King and Queen ordered for an oracle? Oh, here is why.’ It was understandable, when the two pillars of the kingdom want to know the whereabouts of their newly born child, they would do any means necessary to get information from any source.
It was a good choice to call for an oracle.
‘So, the likely place I’d be visiting first would be the Kingdom of Ithel, right?’
‘Yes.’ replied White.
‘Fair enough.’
{Congratulations! Requirements met. Mission: Return the First Prince of the Kingdom of Ithel. Deadline: 23 years}
‘It really had to coincide with that time frame huh, oh well, I accept.’
The system Window closing itself and appearing as a small mail on the left corner of his main menu screen.
He has to figure out the boy’s face first too. A hassle, but he has accepted the mission, so there’s not much he can do.
---
After the family went about their day, doing chores, practicing magic alongside their baby, teaching him how to read and slowly pronounce words, interacting with the village people. The couple found their son by a book on the wooden floor.
With Ken flipping the pages clumsily.
Ken’s mother went to pick him up on the floor and put him back on his crib, he hadn't noticed that it was high noon, meaning he had to eat, so that's what he did, he was fed milk, Ken’s father eagerly held him, letting him burp and sleep on his shoulder.
His father then turned up to play games with him once he was up and then proceeded to smooch him with cuddles and kisses all over, Ken laughed and shouted happily, because who wouldn't be happy where both parents are spending time with their child.
The family shared tons of laughter that afternoon, Ken will surely treasure this moment of his life, one that he hadn’t felt for a long time now.
Once they saw that their son yawned, the couple concluded that it was enough fun for the afternoon, and tucked Ken back to his bed, they gave him good night kisses, and warm words, a sweet joy slowly growing in his heart.
Though he should be used to these things by now, it was still a welcome addition. ‘I like this…. and I'm not gonna let anyone ruin this moment for me.’ bashful feelings and shyness enveloping his heart.
By night came his mother woke him up for his breastfeeding and once he had his full, she tucked him back on his bed and walked to their bed, her husband waiting with open arms, situated beside his crib, and went to sleep.
Without much to discuss for the day, Ken slept soundly, the ball of white watching closely.
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