The Day I Couldn’t Speak (And Everyone Thought I Was Dying)
(Location: Noble Academy, Everywhere I Didn't Want to Be)
Let me be clear: I did not lose my voice because of heroism, battle, or any noble sacrifice. No. I lost it because a plant wanted to marry me.
Let me explain.
Yesterday, in the most ironic turn of events since my reincarnation as a noble baby with four fiancées and a defective System, I got sentenced to Magical Detention. The crime? Accidentally causing a minor greenhouse explosion by sneezing near Belladonna's "breath-enhancer" potion. (Note: It enhanced breath so much that the shrubbery screamed in Latin.)
So Headmaster Owlinus, a 4-foot-tall talking owl in academic robes, sentenced me to care for the greenhouse's most emotionally needy residents: the Screaming Shrubs of Sorrows.
They don't like silence. They adore compliments. And, apparently, they really liked the sound of my voice.
Inner Me: I always knew my charisma would be my downfall.
I read them poetry. I whispered sweet nothings. I tried singing a lullaby. That last one made one of them fall in love with me.
Which led to an enthusiastic magical pollen cloud engulfing my face and... well, I woke up today utterly voiceless.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Status Effect Applied — Mute (24 hours). Enjoy the silence.
Me (writing on paper): Are you serious right now?
SYSTEM: Dead serious.
---
### Hour One: The Misunderstandings Begin
My morning started with a dramatic gasp from Seraphina.
"You're quiet. Too quiet. What have you done?"
I handed her a note that read: I lost my voice due to shrub-based magical trauma.
She read it, blinked, and went still.
"So... this is the beginning of your tragic downfall arc."
Inner Me: That escalated quickly.
Before I could write a rebuttal, Belladonna kicked open the door.
"KAEL?! You're not screaming! You ALWAYS scream!"
I held up another note: Can't talk. Mute status. Temporary.
Belladonna: "Oh gods, you've been cursed!"
She pulled out five potions and a squirming mushroom.
"Don't worry, I'll fix it with SCIENCE!"
I ran.
---
### Hour Two: Aureline, Prophet of Doom
I made the mistake of sneaking into the academy library to avoid Belladonna.
Aureline was already there, sipping black tea while her shadow familiars read books for her.
"Kael," she said gently, "you are unnaturally quiet today."
I nodded.
She closed her book. "...Are you dying?"
I shook my head.
"You've seen a vision, then."
I shook harder.
"Or have you finally transcended mortal expression and become a vessel of higher prophecy?"
I tried miming that it was all a misunderstanding.
Her shadow whispered, "He glows with the silence of the forsaken."
Inner Me: What does that even mean?!
---
### Hour Three: Virellia is Suspiciously Helpful
I hid in the training courtyard. Because hiding was all I had left.
Virellia found me. Because of course she did.
"You are speechless," she observed.
I nodded.
She handed me a sword. "Point at who did this. I shall act."
Inner Me: I don't know whether to feel touched or terrified.
I scribbled on my notebook: It's just a magical plant thing. No need to stab.
She stared at me. Slowly put the sword away. Then handed me a cup of tea. Unsweetened. No words.
We sat in complete silence.
And, weirdly, it was... peaceful.
Until the tea turned into a frog. But that's beside the point.
---
### Hour Four: The System Takes Advantage
SYSTEM: Enjoying your mute day? Here, have some bonuses.
PASSIVE SKILL GAINED: Silent Manipulation
Effect: Everyone thinks you're deep.
NEW TITLE UNLOCKED: Whisper of Mystery
BONUS EFFECT: Girls' Curiosity Level +15%
Inner Me: I swear, this System lives to mess with me.
And then came the worst part...
---
### Hour Five: Public Speaking Class
Yes. Of course I had Public Speaking today. And of course the professor — an animated lectern named Lectoro — called on me to give my speech on "Why Nobility Needs Empathy."
I wrote furiously on a scroll and held it up.
Lectoro squinted. "What is this? A silent protest against performative empathy?"
The class applauded.
I got an A+.
Inner Me: This feels like cheating. Delicious, accidental cheating.
---
### Hour Six to Nine: The Rumor Mill
By lunchtime, the academy was buzzing.
* "Kael has taken a vow of silence."
* "He's possessed by a speechless god."
* "He's preparing for a duel with the Spirit of Echoes."
Meanwhile, I was just trying to eat soup.
It was not easy.
Especially when Belladonna tried to pour a potion into it and I had to throw bread at her face to stop her.
Seraphina passed me a note: If you're pretending to be silent for attention, I'll hex your socks.
Inner Me: What kind of threat is that?
---
### Hour Ten: Emotional Misfires
Aureline passed me in the hallway.
"Kael," she said gently. "I wrote a haiku about your journey through silence."
She handed me a scroll.
Silent winds of fate
Kael walks alone, eyes screaming
Echoes bloom in dust.
Inner Me: ...That was actually beautiful. And deeply confusing.
Virellia stood nearby. She handed me a wrapped sandwich. No explanation.
Belladonna left a musical box outside my dorm. It only played frog sounds.
---
### Hour Eleven: Seraphina Breaks the Silence
Night fell. I sat in the courtyard, enjoying the rare peace.
Seraphina walked over, cape swaying like a judgmental curtain.
"You were... tolerable today," she said.
I blinked.
She looked away. "It was quiet. It was... nice."
She sat beside me.
We watched the stars.
"Still mute?"
I nodded.
"Don't milk it."
I wrote: Would never.
She snorted.
Then Belladonna flew past on a broom screaming, "THE SHRUBS HAVE ESCAPED! THEY'RE LOOKING FOR KAEL!"
And just like that, the silence ended.
---
### Final Hour: The Shrub Returns
A single shrub appeared in the moonlit courtyard. It had little flowers and a tiny bouquet in its branches.
Shrub: "I HAVE COME FOR MY GROOM."
Seraphina stood.
"Kael. Fix this. Now."
I opened my mouth to protest and...
I spoke.
"NO THANK YOU!"
Shrub: "REJECTIONNNNNNNNN—!"
It exploded into petals.
Inner Me: And with that... my silence was officially over.
SYSTEM: Status Removed. Title Retained.
Great.
---
### Next Time on "Yes, I Was Reborn..."
Kael tries to avoid Magical P.E. Class.
Fails. Instantly.
Magical dodgeballs are now sentient.
One of them has a grudge.
---
Kael's Message to Readers:
Did you miss my voice? No? Rude.
Did you laugh, cry, or offer a shrub a bouquet in my honor? Leave a comment. My life depends on reader sympathy.
Inner Me: Or shrub-proof armor.