I opened my eyes

[ Alex, Aster ]

As Alex first journeyed through the vast emptiness of space, his old body slowly vanished, like a shadow fading into the night. All that remained was a tiny, barely glowing energy—his soul, a faint echo of his former self. Words couldn't capture the emotions and feelings that overwhelmed him. As strange as it sounds, he felt like he could see sounds and hear light.

The stars and galaxies became his companions, drifting through space like he did, their movements revealing secrets only he could understand. He sensed the universe's energy and rhythm, a dance performed only for his tiny soul to see.

Every moment blended into the next, an endless river of time and space, like a millennia passed in the blink of an eye. He felt caught in the gentle flow of eternity, losing track of who he was or where he was going as if someone had ripped away those bleak attachments he had on Earth: the love he felt for his grandfather, his favorite books, his drawings, music... but also the pain, loneliness, and lack of will to live. All those became distant and irrelevant, like they were nothing more than a dream—a bad dream with tiny, nearly unnoticeable moments of happiness.

Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. The most important memories rushed back as if someone had realized he wouldn't be the same without them. But Alex felt they weren't complete. They lacked feelings and sensations, especially emotional ones, and even some knowledge. He felt an invisible touch on his mind and even a loving intention behind it as if it had been made deliberately to help him...

To make him stand out less? To not look out of place? To be less... adult?

It was difficult to grasp what he had lost when memories slipped away, leaving no trace behind. For a fleeting moment, this feeling scared him like nothing had ever done before. Yet, a gentle touch soon provided the comfort he couldn't muster on his own, urging him to let those go so as not to ruin the new experiences, feelings, and attachments he was about to have. And the moment he did... the very memory of this moment, the knowledge that he forgot something, faded away as well.

Suddenly, before he could understand what had just happened and why he felt so empty, his reaction was a tangled mess of confusion, dizziness, and disarray, like waking from a dream; the world around him shifted, forming a new reality. Then, he found himself thrown into a new body.

The sensation of being thrust into a new form was beyond anything Alex could have imagined. It was like being a prisoner, trapped in a cage made of flesh and bone, with no escape. His tiny lungs had no air; he tried to breathe, but no air came, and his chest didn't move, like he was underwater, choking to death. Every fiber of his being seemed to be on fire.

After a few terrifying moments, Alex felt a strange pressure in his small chest, as if someone tried to fix what was wrong, to save him. Then, suddenly, the pressure released, and his chest expanded, filling with cool air. His entire body trembled with the effort of taking his first breath.

The sensation was overwhelming, and he couldn't help but let out a scream of pain and terror, his tiny hands and feet flailing wildly. All he wanted was to escape from this nightmare, to not be inside this strange, fragile body. Everything was too much, too overwhelming, and he felt utterly powerless to stop it. His journey through the cosmos had brought him to this new, pathetic existence. He wanted to wake up, but this felt all too real.

Then, amidst all the chaos and confusion, he heard a sound, at first distant and muffled but gradually growing clearer. It was a woman's voice, gentle and soothing. Alex desperately struggled to focus on it, his mind still spinning from the abrupt change.

The woman's voice began to speak in a low, melodic tone, and Alex relaxed as he listened. Something about it was soothing, her words wrapping around him like a warm blanket, even though he couldn't understand them. The more he focused on her voice, the more his breathing slowed, and his body felt lighter. The panic that had gripped him seemed to fade away, replaced by a sense of calm and safety.

Slowly, Alex tried to open his eyes, blinking and squinting as he attempted to make sense of the blurry world around him. As his vision cleared, he could barely discern the contours of the woman's face, her features vague and indistinct. It was like looking through a foggy window, with only hints of her features emerging. He tried his best to focus on her, his eyes straining to make out her face, and when he finally succeeded, he was met with an expression of worry and concern.

The long eyelashes of her blue eyes glistened with tears, her silver hair clinging to her pale skin, damp from the sweat. Her eyes were of an incredible shade of blue, deep and infinite like the ocean; tears didn't seem to make them any less mesmerizing. Fair cheeks were streaked with tears; lips were dry, cracked, and hair tangled and disheveled. Her face seemed tired and worn out, her movements slow and sluggish, and she was exhausted beyond any point. But what caught Alex's attention were her ears — long and pointed, sticking out from her long hair. She was an elf. And not the Santa's helper type, either. A real, beautiful elf!

His thoughts were cloudy; his infant mind struggled to come up with even simple ones. 'Is this... real?' Alex managed to think with great effort, wondering if he had finally lost his mind. The woman's ears looked just like the ones from fantasy books, and now he was an infant in some unknown place. None of it made sense.

Hunger and the yearning for Mother's comfort dominated his every thought like a river he had to fight against to keep his mind clear. His memory felt hazy, his thoughts jumbled. He, of course, remembered who he was before, how he died, his family, and his passion for art, but it required immense effort to hold onto these memories. It was as if they were slipping away, replaced by simpler, more primal instincts. 'Don't... don't forget...' he desperately clung to them, hoping they wouldn't disappear forever.

The elven woman noticed his distress, and a small smile colored her face. The moment she cradled him in her arms, he knew... It was his mother. The way her cheeks flushed with color, how she smiled at him, tiny wrinkles at her eyes, how she held him close, how she touched him with care, her gentle heartbeat... No one could fake such things. She was indeed his mother. Alex snuggled close, his little body instinctively seeking the warmth and comfort of her embrace.

Still afraid that he might lose his memories, Alex began reminding himself of all the facts about his past life: memories of his grandpa, how he met Elysia when he was five, how much he loved music and art... Everything seemed to be alright, more or less. However, it was difficult for him to focus on any of these memories for too long, probably because of how young he was. 'Whew... Good,' he let out a sigh of relief, as it seemed like his memories were safe for now. Alex relaxed and let himself be soothed by his mother's melodic voice and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. 'This is... nice.'

As she held him close, Alex's eyes wandered around the room. He was so focused on her face that he hadn't noticed anything else. The room was small and sparse, with little furniture or decoration. The walls were made of rough wood, contrasting with the polished surfaces of the hospital he was used to. 'No electricity,' Alex noted, observing their surroundings. There was no trace of modern technology, not even a single sign. A lonely candle on the windowsill was the only light source, casting flickering shadows across the walls. But even that much light was too much for his sensitive eyes.

When they grew heavy, Alex closed them, surrendering himself to the comforting embrace of his beautiful mother. Even though he was curious about this world and still freaking out a bit from this whole situation, the baby half of his nature demanded rest, and it was damn hard to ignore. His breathing began to slow, and his tiny heart finally found peace. The world, for the moment, seemed far away.

As he relaxed, he felt a soft hand on his head, and then he was gently moved. 'No... I want to sleep for a bit. Just a little while,' Alex whined internally. He tried to tell that he didn't like it, but the only sound that came out of his mouth was a weak squeak. When he blinked his eyes open, he was greeted by another beautiful elf — an elven girl, probably five or six years old.

She looked like a miniature version of her mother, with the only difference being her smaller ears and even more beautiful golden eyes that seemed to peer deep into his soul. Her gaze was filled with curiosity and innocence, and a gentle smile graced her puffy lips. Her eyes were also red with tears, her fair cheeks wet from crying. 'I have... sister!' Alex realized through the infant fog in his mind, feeling a surge of happiness. It truly looked like a nice family to be a part of, and even though he was still adjusting to the situation, he already felt a sense of belonging in this elven family.

She momentarily turned away, likely communicating with their mother using words Alex couldn't comprehend.

"Myma, weril dethra leja onthu belod?" the girl said to her mother.

"A... Elvaka drau? Qethel to youl lovaq, tyl halom?" the elven woman answered.

After a quiet pause, she fixed her gaze on him again, uttering unfamiliar words, "Vek, Aster?"

His mother repeated the word "Aster" a few times, making it clear it was his name now. It was close enough to his old name... hell, it was even better than his old name. He liked it a lot. 'Aster,' he repeated mentally, trying to memorize it. Considering how much his brain struggled, he wanted to make sure he would remember it.

When his mother came into view and called him by his new name, Aster gripped her gigantic finger with his tiny hand. It was the only way he could respond, and he could see the joy it brought to her, making her smile even brighter. Then, he glanced at his sister and took hers, a smaller finger but still enormous compared to his, into his other hand. He saw in her golden eyes how much it meant to her, and he was just happy to make those tears disappear.

His eyes closed once again, almost on their own, and Aster drifted into a peaceful slumber. The girls continued talking about something, but little Aster was too tired to pay attention. Their soft, hushed voices were a source of warmth and comfort for him. Their presence alone was enough to make him feel safe and secure.

Then, again, he was moved away. This time, from his sister back into his mother's arms, she was now in new clothing. The boy couldn't help but whimper; he had just started to get comfortable here! 'Noooooo,' Aster cried out, but his tiny voice was just an indistinguishable squeak. When he felt his mother's soft hands, he immediately went quiet, looking up at her face with big golden eyes. She looked much better now: clean and refreshed, her hair combed.

"Silvie, crogna ereva lezae, qethel?" the mother said to the little girl before smiling down at Aster, her expression warm and loving. She stroked his head with her enormous fingers, her touch gentle and reassuring. Another conversation between his mother and sister started and ended without him understanding anything. And then, something... unexpected happened.

She lifted her shirt and showed the most fantastic pair of breasts. They were perfect. Perfect. Everything. Down to the last-minute details. His baby instincts kicked in like crazy; all he could think of was milk as if he was some drug addict. They were soft and round, with two pink nipples adorning the tips, begging to be touched, kissed, and suckled. The mere sight of them was enough to make his mouth water.

The way they jiggled from the slightest movement... and jumped whenever she breathed... puffy, pink nipples just begging for her son's caress. The smell of her body made his tiny arms move towards them. At that moment, all he wanted was to reach out and touch them, to feel the soft, supple flesh beneath his fingertips. The baby part of his body took control, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Alex stared at them. They were absolutely gorgeous, so firm and full, a perfect pair. They were a sight to behold, and he couldn't tear his gaze away. But when she squeezed one of her breasts, a stream of milk flowed from the nipple, making a long trickle of saliva flow from Aster's mouth. They continued to talk about something, but little Aster was too distracted to listen.

Aster's gaze was fixed on her breasts, watching them dangle just in front of his face. 'Is this... heavens? Feels... like it...' he wondered, his thoughts tangled even more than before. The way milk flowed from her nipple, pooling in her palm and dripping off... He needed a taste, and he needed it now.

Then, after an eternity of waiting, the tit came closer to his face. His mother placed her nipple on his soft lips, and without a second thought, his instinct kicked in. Like a vacuum cleaner, his mouth engulfed the nipple, latching on with impressive strength for an infant. His tiny tongue began to flick and swirl, and the sweet, creamy liquid flowed freely from her breast, feeling his tummy with its warmth.

It tasted heavenly, and Aster couldn't get enough of it. His hunger and thirst, which he didn't even know about, disappeared. The world around him faded into the background, and all he could focus on was the taste, the sensation, and the warmth. At that moment, he only wanted to be a tiny baby and suckle on his mother's perfect fit. Nothing else mattered anymore. A part of his brain thought it was wrong, but another part just... didn't care. All he knew was that her milk tasted delicious and made him feel amazing, and it was more than enough for his simple, baby mind.

But then... Something happened, something that can only be described as betrayal.