Chapter 1: Miracle of Life
“It's a baby boy, Sir Gideon!” gasped Greta.
The large, golden-maned man let out a booming laugh. “WHAT DID I TELL YOU, CLAIRE? My balls are so manly they make a boy every time!”
Claire, slumped against the opulent bed of the Snider household, barely had the energy to roll her eyes. She gazed weakly at the small baby in her arms, offering a tired but knowing smile. “Stop boasting, dear. This one doesn’t look like you at all. If anything, I’d be worried.”
Gideon turned his sharp eyes on the newborn. “Claire, we both know you wouldn’t. Not with the owner of the county. Especially one so well-endowed.”
“Hmph. You're too confident, dear. There are hundreds of thousands of men in Mildgard.”
Gideon chose to ignore his wife’s remark and leaned in closer, scrutinizing the tiny figure in her arms. “This kid is pretty strange. Too small for a Snider, jet-black hair, kind of pale—he’ll stick out like a nun in a brothel amongst his siblings.”
Claire sighed, adjusting the newborn in her grasp. “Greta, tell this huge brute to zip it. My son is nothing but adorable. He’s not that different from you either, Gideon; he’s got this intense look to him, don’t you think?” She peered closer at the baby. “The little one hasn’t blinked once since he popped out.”
Gideon scratched his thick beard. “That is pretty peculiar. Dear, might he suffer from some condition?”
The black-haired baby stared back at his parents, covered in birthing slime and still attached by the cord to his mother.
What the fuck?
I’ve been trapped in this dark, wet room for God knows how long, trying to kick my way out. Next thing I know, I’m in a bed beside this giant woman who seems to have just given birth. And who the hell is this enormous dude looking at me like all disappointed? He’s too muscular to be real—anabolics for sure.
Snap out of it, Alex. You’re free at last. Take the chance and ask the giants for help!
Taking a deep breath, Alex turned his tiny face toward the towering man. Alright, let's do this.
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“HEY! HELP ME OUT, YOU GIANT FREAK! I’M WET AND HAVEN’T SEEN LIGHT FOR YEARS—ALSO, HELP THIS POOR WOMAN, GODDAMN!”
“Goo goo, gaga,” came out instead.
Greta clapped her hands together in delight. “Ooh, look, Mr. Gideon, the baby is talking to you! What a sight!”
For the first time, Gideon smiled at the child. “Smart of you to try and gain favor with the Count, boy. He might be a Snider after all.”
Claire let out an exhausted groan. “Gideon, enough of your nonsense. Leave me alone with my freaking baby.”
As the large man stepped away, Alex's mind raced. That was weird. I tried to talk, but I just spewed gibberish. And they don’t seem to speak my language either. Calm down, Alex. Remember your training. Adapt.
Taking another breath, Alex examined his surroundings more carefully. The air was thick with the scent of incense and fresh linen. Even through his newborn haze, he could see the enormous oak beams above him, polished to a shine. Rich fabrics draped the bedposts, and golden candlelight flickered across marble walls. If I ignore the exaggerated proportions of everything, I seem to be in a Victorian castle of some kind.
Then his eyes fell to something strange.
What the hell is this thing?
He grabbed the umbilical cord with his tiny hands and flicked his wrist. This fleshy rope is attached to me somehow, and it seems to end right at the—
WTF. NONONO. I CAN'T ADAPT TO THIS SHIT. OF COURSE THEY LOOK GIANT, I’M A FREAKING BABY!
“Goo goo, gaga!”
Claire chuckled softly and placed a gentle finger on his lips. “Shush, my love. I'll make us presentable in a moment.”
She lifted Alex with surprising ease and began murmuring something under her breath.
PUT ME DOWN, WOMAN! LET ME GO BACK IN! I PREFER THE CAGE OVER THIS!
Suddenly, a sharp sensation bloomed at his belly button. Alex's breath hitched as a soft, golden glow filled the room.
Little by little, droplets of blood and grime lifted from the sumptuous bed, coalescing into a floating sphere of light. He could feel his skin tingling as impurities peeled away, dissolving into the glowing orb. The entire world seemed to shimmer, motes of multicolored light swirling like fireflies.
It’s… beautiful.
The sight reminded him of the Sistine Chapel, illuminated by pixels of rainbow glow from giant mosaic windows. No. It's even better than that. It's like nothing I’ve seen on Earth at all.
“Exparium Delactum,” Claire whispered, her eyes momentarily flashing red.
The sphere of light began to sizzle, crackling with energy.
Alex's mind spiraled into a frantic churn. Fuck. The geezer was right. I am not prepared at all.
How the hell could I prepare for MAGIC??