Chapter 6

Seeing me sleeping peacefully, my parents stood in quiet awe, their voices soft, as though afraid to disturb the fragile stillness.

"Honey?" my mother whispered, her words gentle and filled with warmth. "What should we name her?"

My father straightened up proudly, tapping his chest as if he had been waiting for this very moment. "Of course! That's been on my mind since the moment I saw her." He extended his arm dramatically, pointing at himself.

"Al—after Alfred."

Then he turned toward my mother, pointing at her with the same flourish. "And Leena—after you."

"Al-Leena," he said slowly, as if testing the name out loud.

A smile broke across my mother's face, her eyes shimmering with joy. "Aleena... it's perfect."

And thus, the once-feared goddess of death, the entity who had stood above life itself, was reincarnated as a helpless, adorable little girl named Aleena.

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A Few Days Later

Days drifted by as I grew more accustomed to this strange, futuristic world. Though I was confined to a single room, my senses told me everything I needed to know. This place was nothing like Elmestine, the medieval world I had once known. Here, technology replaced magic, yet it accomplished the same—if not greater—feats. Machines hummed and beeped with purpose, and light came not from lanterns or spells, but from glowing glass fixtures mounted on the ceiling.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of years ahead, I mused, watching silently as my parents went about their daily routines.

I had quickly learned that my parents were ordinary people. They worked long hours, shuffling between their tasks and taking care of me as best they could. This left me with plenty of alone time—time that I put to good use.

During one of these free moments, I stretched out my arms, feeling the familiar pull of mana flowing through my infant body. Though it was restricted, I could tell that all my magic had returned to me.

"Woosh!" I muttered, a hint of excitement slipping into my voice as I gently lifted myself into the air.

My body floated upwards, light as a feather, and for the first time since my rebirth, I smiled widely. Flying was something I had taken for granted as a goddess, but in this small, fragile form, it felt thrilling—like rediscovering a part of myself I had long forgotten.

The room became my playground. I glided above the cradle, soared through narrow spaces between furniture, and looped around the ceiling with glee. The limitations of my body made every movement feel fresh and exciting.

"Yay!" I cried out in delight, rolling mid-air.

But my enthusiasm got the better of me. Distracted by my own fun, I turned too sharply and—

Thunk!

I crashed headfirst into the cradle's wooden edge. My tiny body tumbled unceremoniously to the floor, landing with a dull thud.

Pain flared across my forehead, and I instinctively rubbed the sore spot. That hurt! I thought, more embarrassed than anything else.

The noise must have reached my mother because, in the next instant, the door flew open, and she appeared in a panic, her face filled with worry. A strange flat object—something she called a "laptop"—dangled loosely in her hand. I had seen her use it to speak with people across vast distances without magic. It was an impressive feat, though I still didn't understand how it worked.

"Aleena!" she gasped, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of me on the floor. The laptop clattered onto a nearby chair as she rushed to my side.

"Oh God, are you okay?" Her hands gently cradled my head as she checked me over for injuries, her movements both frantic and tender. I stared up at her worried face, feeling a flicker of guilt for causing her distress.

Satisfied that I wasn't hurt, she sighed deeply and stroked my hair, her shoulders slumping with relief. "Now, no more going out of the cradle, or you'll make Mama panic!" she scolded gently, though her voice was laced with affection.

She scooped me up and placed me back in the cradle, tucking me in carefully. I blinked up at her, feeling oddly conflicted. The warmth of her arms had disappeared, replaced by the cool emptiness of the cradle.

I extended my arms toward her, wriggling impatiently as I let out soft, nonsensical noises. Speaking clearly was still beyond me in this form, but I needed her to understand—I don't want to be put down!

She paused, noticing my distress. Her expression softened, and she reached for me again, lifting me into her arms. "Aw, is my little Aleena hungry?" she cooed, gently rubbing her cheek against mine.

I blinked at her, then opened my mouth and made exaggerated chewing motions to sell the lie. In truth, as a goddess—even one reincarnated into a mortal body—I did not experience hunger the way humans did. Sustenance was trivial to me.

But in that moment, I didn't care. All I wanted was to stay close to her, to feel the warmth and comfort of her embrace.

She smiled knowingly and began walking out of the room, rocking me gently as she went. "Don't worry, little one. Mama's got you."

Nestled against her chest, I felt an unfamiliar sense of peace. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to bask in her care, something I had never known in my previous life.

I lied about being hungry, I admitted silently, a small smile tugging at my lips. But it doesn't matter. I just... I love being with Mama.