As the light grew closer Jonas could feel a warmth envelope his body, and a hand gripping the nape of his neck and pulling him out of the darkness.
He was dragged abruptly up into the arms of the grey haired midwife and given a quick once over. Then passed off to a younger woman where he was checked for air way blockages and a more thorough health check up.
*'Well i guess heaven isn't real, there's no way god would let a couple of fossils toss a new born around like this'*
Jonas scanned his surroundings to gain baring of what country he had been reincarnated into. First he noticed the strange clothes that the people in the room wore, too expensive to be from crippling poverty, too low quality to be from nobility anyone rich. This led him to believe he was born into a working class family.
Continuing his survey he peered out the small window that let in the only light to the room. Rolling green hills with a mixture of agricultural fields and pastures filled with animals separated by hand made dry stone walls. He could see what seemed to be a village however his sight was too limited to see how small or large it was.
Something felt very off to Jonas, none of this was similar to the Underdark of Nancolle that he was lying in just moments ago awaiting his death. There's no black smog that clouded the streets making it difficult to breathe or black sludge forming from waste of chemicals that had reacted. The lack of machinery also was a tell tale sign that this place was far different from Nancolle or any other place that he had heard of.
"Okay Erza, that's half the battle done." The midwife swept the sweat from her brow and prepared herself for another grueling battle.
The pale, exhausted woman on the bed replied with an almost sarcastic smile between her deep breaths. Even in such a state she was beautiful, her long black hair messily decorated the pillow, and despite her pale complexation her skin looked rather well kept for a working class lady.
A series of grunts and moans followed as she forced the second child out, all the while the man kneeling at the side of her bed grasped her hand in support.
The room was filled with around 5 or 6 other participants, one being unfathomably tall and wide taking up most of the room in the cramped room.
*'Oh no, don't tell me I've got a twin'*
Jonas was wrapped in a soft cotton blanket and passed off to a pretty blonde woman in her late twenties where he was then pampered with attention from the other participants in the room. The big burly man towered over the woman looking at the child from above but didn't bother holding Jonas like the rest of them, probably because he would accidentally snap the child in half.
After what seemed like an eternity, the second child was born. Once again being handed off to the younger midwife and assessed for blockages and general health. They both looked at each other a little concerned that neither child was crying. Ultimately too exhausted to worry they wrapped the second child up in the blankets and handed it to the father and took a seat on the edge of the bed.
The worn out mother could barely even keep her eyes open as both children were presented to her in perfect health. She eked out a weak smile in between her exasperated breaths.
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“Don’t just sit around girl, give the woman some relief!” the older midwife commanded.
The younger woman sluggishly got up from the bed and started a short chant. The room lit up with fluorescent green light that covered the mother, it wasn’t the first time that Jonas had seen magic but this seemed different. The magic from his world was used to power unfathomable machinery, and only those who could afford to go to the universities in the upper districts had access to magic.
Jonas' face lit up once he saw this welcoming green light, it brought relief and rejuvenated the mother, the color returning to her face and her breathing reduced its pace and depth back to normal. The pain she felt seemed to have been lifted like it was never there to begin with. All this powerful magic from just a trainee midwife was unheard of in his previous world.
The reinvigorated woman reorganized herself against the pillows that she was just lay on and snatched the children up into her arms. Tears of joy crawled down her cheeks, falling on the heads of Jonas and his new sister.
"Have you got any names in mind Erza?"
"How about Kisara and Kayn?"
"Yeah, that sounds perfect." The fathers smile became more somber as he said those words.
As the rest of the attendants busied themselves cleaning up and packing away the birthing supplies, Jonas' new father shifted his attention back to Erza and their newborn children. The smile on his face carried the weight of countless unspoken worries and silent hopes. Despite the exhaustion etched into every line of her face, Erza held her babies close, her eyes brimming with the kind of love that Jonas had only ever read about in fairy tales.
Jonas, nestled against his mother’s chest, felt a strange mix of emotions. He was grateful to be alive, to have another chance, but there was a pang of sadness for the friends and family he left behind, and a gnawing curiosity about what lay ahead. The name "Kayn" echoed in his mind, cementing his new identity in this unfamiliar world.
He observed the room around him, taking note of the modest yet comfortable surroundings. The stone walls were adorned with simple tapestries, and the wooden beams overhead added a rustic charm. The scent of fresh hay and blooming flowers wafted through the open window, mixing with the earthy aroma of the room. It was a stark contrast to the oppressive, industrial atmosphere of Nancolle.
Erza’s husband, whose name Jonas would later learn was Elric, gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“We are never having more children”
"Yeah, it was so tough for you, sitting pretty while I'm lay here dying. Go do your job and get me something to drink." Erza replied with an infuriated tone.
As the husband left to get a drink, the midwives finished their work and began to leave the room, offering quiet congratulations to the parents. The younger midwife, the one who had used the healing magic, lingered for a moment, her eyes filled with a mix of wonder and concern. She glanced at Jonas and his sister, then at Erza. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call,” she said before finally stepping out and closing the door behind her.
As the excitement of new children died down the guests slowly filtered out, the last to leave being the young woman and terrifying bear of a man.
The room fell into a peaceful silence, broken only by the soft coos of the newborns and the gentle rustling of the wind outside. Jonas felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him. Despite the confusion and the lingering questions about his new life, he felt an unexpected sense of security in his mother’s arms.
As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what challenges and adventures awaited him in this new world. Could he use his knowledge from his previous life to shape a better life than the poverty he just come from? The questions swirled in his mind, but for now, he allowed himself to be enveloped in the warmth and safety of his new family.
Little did he know that this peaceful beginning was just the calm before the storm. The world he had been born into was full of mysteries and dangers, and his journey was only just beginning. But for now, in this quiet moment, he was simply a newborn named Kayn, loved and cherished by his family.
As the light of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting a dark golden glow on the room, Jonas fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. His new life had begun, and with it, a new chapter in his reincarnated life.