Max jostled in Cloudsong’s arms as his new adoptive mother walked them through the castle gardens, away from the palace and towards the city proper. Despite the allure of novel sights, his attention was fully on the system screen displaying his status.
Maximum Million Laurelfete Changeling Title Attributes Minor Traits Specialty - (0/3) Vitality - 1 Body - (0/15) Major Trait - (0/3) Finesse - 1 Mind - (3/15) Major Trait - (0/3) Endurance - 3 Soul - (2/15) Major Trait - (0/3) Will - 2 Mana - (1/15) Major Trait - (0/3) Anima - 1 Qi - (0/15) Major Trait - (0/3)
Maximum Million...
I shoulda just gone with Starcaller or something at this point.
Bet that would've gotten me a cool power.
I sound like a cheesy Saturday morning cartoon superhero.
Regardless, Max felt he had priorities other than his frustration. He was unwilling to linger on his distaste for his new name and tried to drink in every detail of his surroundings, still desperately trying to make sense of the fantastical world he had been thrust into.
Max watched, enraptured, as they passed by a shimmering pond, its waters sparkling and clear beneath an elegant bridge built from seamless ivory stones. Colorful birds flitted through the branches of trees, their sweet melodies filling his ears like a spontaneously improvised symphony. He felt surrounded by life and beauty, dazed by all the wonders around him; he had never seen such a place before.
As they moved further away from the palace, Max noticed a distinct shift from one garden biome to the next. The flowers and trees seemed to brighten into a veritable wonderland of vibrant blooms and lush greenery. He could almost feel them calling out to him, beckoning him to come closer and explore.
Everything seemed so alive here, vibrating with unseen energy that made his skin tingle with anticipation. Trees reached up towards the sky, their branches swaying back and forth as if in some kind of dance while petals of various shapes floated gracefully on the breeze like tiny butterflies. The air was thick with the sweet scent of nectar, it was almost intoxicating, and Max couldn't help but reach out to touch some of the plants as he passed them by.
I can’t explain it, but these plants seem as if they are responding to my presence with their perfume. The scent is so dense it feels like a gentle embrace from a new friend!
He looked down at the petal in his hand in wonderment and delight; what kind of power did this place possess?
System Log
[Resolute V] failed to resist [Redolent III], temporary status effect lasted 30s
Welp, that tracks. I should’ve realized such banal optimism wasn’t me but, ugh, my system will only notify me about it after the fact? Again, not exactly what I'd ask for, not really sure how it's supposed to help…
At least I know even some plants can have a [Trait], though it makes me worry I could be under the influence of something right now and I wouldn't know until it wears off. Actually, there’s no guarantee I’d know even then, if I didn’t have [Resolute] would it have even told me?
I need to figure out each [Trait] I can get to protect myself, though I guess that just goes on top of the ever-growing list of things I need to know about this world, and I can’t even be trusted to pronounce my own name clearly much less speak enough to try and ask anyone…
They continued passing through various oases of curated flora and fauna and Max was soon broken from his ruminations as he began to notice something else- small blurs darting around amidst the foliage, ducking and weaving in and out of the flowers and trees.
Man Cloudsong's really booking it, I barely got a chance to even try and catch a glimpse and I wanted to figure out what those were! Maybe I could get her to turn aroun-
System Log
Soul Trait [Curious] unlocked
Are you [Curious]?
Not enough to say yes to something that could affect my SOUL until I know it's safe! Is there some way to just, minimize the prompt? So I can come back after I figure out more about what a [Trait] is and how they affect me. I've never tried to close the window with an open prompt before but-
Yea assumed that'd be a bust. Maybe I can shrink it or try to make it see-through?
System Log
[Adaptable] passive effect satisfies prerequisites
Mind Trait [Particular] unlocked
Are you [Particular]?
Pretty safe to assume that's in response to my attempt to customize the system interface, hopefully I don't regret it but- yes!
Max experimented with altering the system window's size and opacity as Cloudsong sped through a few more unique gardens and by the time he was satisfied with the clarity of his field of view, they had reached the edge of the castle's grounds where an archway stood tall. The arboreal housing districts beyond were a blend of enchanting and peculiar; homes nestled within lush trees that seemed to dance around their dwellings. True masterpieces of harmony, each had been grown from and in tandem with the trees in which they stood. Stairs or ladders led between smaller rooms spaced across various branches or offered access to the larger ones that towered above the forest floor. Max's eyes widened with disbelief as he took in the sight, his mind racing with questions and thoughts.
Everywhere he looked was rife with activity, passersby milled about in groups or alone, dressed in finery ranging from practical leathers and linens to ostentatious velvets and brocades. There were [Eladrin] mostly, but also a smattering of races Max didn't recognize. Various groups of [Dryad] milled about mostly keeping to their own, a tiny [Sprite] family flitted overhead, their laughter like tiny silver bells; there was even a [Cervitaur] carefully managing his massive antlers as he kept pace with the crowds. Max caught sight of a scant few [Eladrin] children as they laughed and played among the intricately woven branches of their homes. The scent of fresh blossoms still filled the air, carried along by a gentle breeze that rustled the leaves overhead.
Max took in the beauty of his new surroundings, reaching out tentatively, his fingers brushed against the soft petals of a flower that had caught his attention. The delicate touch sent a shiver through him, the sensation foreign yet somehow comforting. He turned to Cloudsong with a look of awe, his voice barely more than a whisper. "It's so... real."
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
"Of course it is my little one," Cloudsong replied gently, gazing at him with warmth. "Do you still find it hard to believe this isn't a dream of some kind?"
Max blushed at his new mother's accusation but couldn't help himself and kept glancing around at the vibrant world that surrounded him. His wide eyes darted from one fascinating sight to another, taking in the lush foliage and the bustling fae folk going about their daily lives. He shifted restlessly in Cloudsong's arms, his tiny hands reaching out as if trying to grasp the beauty of it all.
So many different creatures in one place. Max stared openly, unable to contain a delighted grin. Cloudsong chuckled, grasping his outstretched hand and giving it an indulgent squeeze. "Quite the spectacle, isn't it? Elaeden is often less bustling but the Seventh Seventh Festival was just a few days ago, which always brings a flurry of activity and travelers into town. Of course, only [Seelie] races are allowed entry so you still won't see the same diversity we get in the Freelands."
Max breathed deep, relishing the mingled scents of the forest, magic, and things unknown. It was all so vivid, so visceral. The chatter of voices, the riot of colors, the brush of fabric against his skin- if this was all just a dream, a simulation, or even a delusion of some kind it was an incredibly convincing one.
I'm not sure how many times I'll have to tell myself that I'm finally accepting this is real but I just-
There's no way I can accept I dreamt this up, full dive tech is still sci-fi, and my mind is far too clear to accept this is a psychotic break.
Max sighed internally as he found himself once again confronting his doubts.
I keep having to remind myself that this has to be real, there's just no other explanation. I don't think I'll ever be able to force myself to accept this as my reality, but if I keep trying to engage with this world it'll sink in… hopefully. Whether it's my baby lips or just my stutter resurfacing I'm not talking well enough to ask all my questions, I gotta keep her monologuing if I'm gonna learn anything and I bet she'll have something to say about that-
Ahead of them, atop a large dais in the central plaza stood an [Eladrin] woman near a massive loom that held the beginnings of a tapestry. Her hair, white with age, was woven into an intricate braid that nearly reached the ground and swayed gently as she somehow manipulated fibers far above her head.
"Mmn," Max grunted, tugging gently at Cloudsong's sleeve. "Wh- hho?"
Cloudsong paused for a moment, her gaze following Max's to rest upon the elderly [Weaver]. A fond smile graced her lips as she replied, "That, my dear, is Elder Willowbark. She has been a part of our community for longer than anyone can remember. Her tapestries tell the stories of our people- the triumphs, the sorrows, and everything in between."
Max did his best to beg with his eyes, his curiosity piqued by the woman's steady hands and serene countenance.
"Ah, you want to know more?" Cloudsong mused, her eyes taking on a distant, nostalgic sheen. "When I was a child, she would often regale me with stories of the old days- tales of heroes and villains, of love and loss, and of the delicate balance that exists between the two." Her voice grew wistful as she continued, "In many ways, she was like a grandmother to me... and to many others in our community. One of the few [Eladrin] not to shun me since my marriage, I suspect she'll come calling soon and you can ask your questions directly. Best not to disturb her while she works, she’s been there since the festival and will be there a few days yet. Recording our 5 [Cyclical] annual festivals is one of her most important duties."
A town full of people to ask about and I pick the one who hasn’t cut her out and she tells me to ask myself. Good to know I'm just as unlucky in my choices in this world, really just drives home the whole, "I'm still me just in a new body" bit. Grade-A consistency, yay me. Ugh, guess I'm being patient and waiting to get some more context. I think I can manage that.
Venturing further into the town, the sounds of laughter and conversation gave way to the rhythmic clatter of tools and the hum of industrious workers. The market district buzzed with activity, as merchants hawked their wares and customers haggled fiercely for the best prices. The scent of fresh bread wafted from a nearby bakery, mingling with the fragrant aroma of herbs and spices from a nearby apothecary.
The dense district was a cacophony of sounds and scents, all impeccably organized. Each stall boasted an array of vibrant colors, from the textiles woven with shimmering threads to the mounds of succulent fruits that enticed Max's senses. Their sickly sweet perfume blended with the savory aroma of freshly baked buttery pastries and roasting meat. His stomach rumbled- although adrenaline and constant distractions had kept him from noticing till now, his new body had been without food for over a day. Max's initial confusion faded as he remembered yet again he wasn't his old self, and though to his perception it had been less than half a day since his arrival in this world he had no idea how long it had been since this body had eaten when he acquired it.
Right… this isn't my body. I mean it is now, but it wasn't… always. I still don't understand how I ended up in a fae-napped baby- or got to this world I guess, but it's a pretty solid guess I died as Max back on Earth. It's too iconic a trope to discount, even if I don’t remember croaking and didn't have some meeting with God apologizing for an accident.
I hope…
I hope whatever second chance I got also was offered to the baby whose body I took. It seems like it was for sure going to die, or already had, way before I woke up in this world but I'd like to think he's being born on Earth in some cosmic exchange program.
Though Max had already gotten lost in his distractible thoughts, Cloudsong had not forgotten her new son’s hunger and brought them to a stall that held a small seating area, ordering him a bowl of something Max equated to a savory porridge. He'd never been much of a foodie, mainly having been relegated to feeding himself on Earth, dry cereal and packaged cold-cut cracker lunch kits were staples. Unless there were guests to be entertained Max ate by himself in the kitchen, usually microwaving whatever frozen dinner he could find from the latest MLM health food scam his family had purchased and immediately forgotten, relegated to the son they wished they could similarly forget. Yet now, looking down at what amounted to grains cooked into a glop he realized he was extremely excited to eat. Whether it was the roasted aroma of the creamy broth or the changes his evolution to [Changeling] initiated that had left an already empty-stomached infant in a starvation state, who could say?
They settled into a table and after feeding him only a few bites a duo of [Harengon] dashed by, winding between tables and hotly pursuing a [Kitsune]. Maxym blinked, then laughed at such an odd mashup of Western and Eastern clichés.
Rabbits in waistcoats chasing a foxgirl, see it's this shit that's making it hard to believe I'm not in a delusional fairy tale. The breadth and depth is the only reason I'm sure this isn't my fantasy, so far there are a few too many things that are quasi-relatable or… expectable somehow. Just a tad too represented in Earth stories and legends to be coincidence.
At least lunch is yummy, hopefully being a [Changeling] means my constitution can handle eating something like congee already… I really don't want to have to think about trying to find milk for me, this seems like a wetnurse era, not one where they pop some formula in a bottle!
Max tried to avoid completing that train of thought as Cloudsong continued to feed him and did her best not to pry too heavily into Max's tumultuous emotions- despite the signals she saw whenever she gazed upon the boy. [Empathic Communicator], at tier II, was her highest leveled [Major Trait] and she felt it was not far off from reaching tier I. She'd long ago learned that leaning too heavily into the insight it granted, while immensely helpful in negotiations or politicking, would nearly always backfire in intimate relationships. Now, watching the anguish and dread no infant should have to suffer flicker behind the wonder and innocence she expected, she chastised herself for her impulsive need to soothe whatever was ailing him. The poor boy had been ripped from his family and the realm that was his home and not only somehow survived, but developed enough mentally to rival most fae at the same age. He'd been instrumental in her ploy to use Tim's arrogance and ambition to overwhelm his caution, and then seemingly truly considered the implications of being adopted by her. There was not much chance in her mind that someone who was that aware could go through so much without trauma, and unless he chose to share she resolved to continue to restrain herself.
At a glance, the pair resembled any burgeoning family; any passersby could see the profound joy emanating from the Duchess. She'd well concealed her conflicting desire to repay the gift of motherhood she'd been given, in spite of her grand sentiment of privacy. Cloudsong could simply dote on Max to her heart's content, it wouldn't necessarily be a response to the hurt she wanted to help heal. Max had quite literally been an answer to prayers that she'd never expected to receive, even in her wildest dreams. Similarly, while Max's blank expression could easily be mistaken for a typical babe staring off into space, he was actually practicing dismissing only his most recent system message, keeping the [Curious] window open.
System Log
Maxiflax Gruel's [Nourishing- III] and [Fibrous- V] grant temporary status effect
[Nourished- V] status will expire in 12hr
Cloudsong took his hand again as she stood to leave. "Now, shall we continue our tour? There's still so much to explore in our little corner of Faerie."
Max grinned. She was right- in this vibrant, magical realm, there would surely always be wonders for him to discover.
Cloudsong’s smile widened. “I thought that might please you. Come along then, let’s see what we might spy!” As she carried Max through the winding cobblestone streets, he was drinking in the sights and sounds around them. Shopkeepers hawked their wares from stalls festooned with colorful silks and ribbons, displaying everything from potted plants, extravagant gowns, and rare potion ingredients to fresh produce and live fowl.
Craning his neck to see over the bustling crowd, Max marveled at skilled craftspeople laboring over their wares- gleaming armor and weaponry, a plethora of garments, home furnishings, and even delicate desserts that seemed to defy description. His gaze drifted from a tent selling enchanted baubles to one offering potions and elixirs, each glass bottle filled with a mysterious concoction and labeled in spidery script. Another displayed leather-bound tomes of spells and folklore, the yellowed pages whispering with magic.
During their stroll through the town, Max was overwhelmed by how foreign everything seemed. The sights, sounds, and smells were simply unfamiliar to him so while he still felt out of sorts, the more they ventured around and discovered new things, the more secure his place in this world became.
Cloudsong sighed, gazing out at the rolling farmland ahead. "I know you must have questions about your new home. It's only natural to be curious."
Max nodded, eyes wide. He had so many questions, he didn't know where to start.