"Status," I whispered to myself, hidden in the shade of my parent's wooden hut. I instinctively glanced around to check that no one was watching, ensuring my secret was known only to me. Over the course of my childhood, I had discovered that others could not hear, nor see the system. A familiar chime resonated in my mind, and a translucent light blue screen materialized in front of me.
My heart raced as I beheld the information that appeared, a glimpse into the core of my being, the essence of what I had become. Lines of text formed and coalesced, forging a connection between the hidden truths of my existence and the tangible words that unfurled:
==============================
Name: Alex, Son of Gerald
Age: 2 years old
== Overall Stats ==
Strength: 4 (+2)
Agility: 3 (+1)
Stamina: 1
Mana: 1
Charisma: 5
== Traits ==
Infant, [■■■■■]
== Skills ==
[N/A]
==============================
As the words floated before me, I mulled over the numbers shown to me. I could not tell if they were high or low for my age, as I had not yet interacted with other children of my age. I was weaker than my mother, but that was normal, wasn't it? I was only two after all, hence the <
And, what was [■■■■■]? What did it mean? Did it maybe have something to do with my rebirth? I couldn't shake the uncanny feeling that there was so much more beneath the surface of my existence here on Wardenas. There were layers of meaning and significance that eluded my grasp. Something felt off. But, with a tired sigh, I acknowledged to myself that I would be unable to answer this question as well. All I could do was add it to my growing list of mysteries I had to explore.
With a final, lingering gaze at the light blue screen, I blinked and the words faded, dissolving into the air like mist scattered by the wind. The chime that had heralded the appearance of the screen echoed softly in my mind, leaving behind a sense of possibility and a myriad of questions that begged to be answered. I couldn't deny that this newfound knowledge had stirred something profound within me, a spark that promised an adventure unlike any other. A dream of the sorts I had visualized for myself on Earth.
....
With time, I went from toddling steps to confident strides, from babbling words to crafting sentences. Each day brought new challenges and triumphs, and I slowly grew into my young body, becoming used to its ever-changing clunkiness.
By the age of four, I had tried to become an active participant in the village life. Despite this, when I attempted to join other children in games of tag, hide-and-seek, and other kinds of play, a sense of isolation lingered.
My thoughts and insights were those of an adult, shaped by a hard life on Earth, while theirs were the innocent musings of sheltered children. It was a divide I struggled to bridge, leaving me an outsider in their world. I could try to fake it, but it was hard and tiring. While I was excitable, much like them, my interests were more in the world surrounding me, the experiences I could find, the knowledge I could gain. The other children were very accepting of me, but they sought a different life than me. They wished to live a life of games, an isolated life within this closed-off village.
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One day, as I watched the children playing by the village pond, a girl of my age caught my eye. Her dark hair framed a cute face that radiated curiosity and kindness. She was by herself, engrossed in building a small boat from leaves and twigs, her concentration evident in the small furrow etched upon her brow.
I approached cautiously; curiosity piqued. I had not seen this girl before. "What are you making?"
Startled, she looked up, her blue-green eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, hi! I'm making a boat. See? It's going to sail all the way to the other side of the pond!"
I nodded, then paused. Why was I talking to this kid? "Good luck."
As I turned to leave, she flashed a shy, dimpled smile. "Thanks! I'm Lily. What's your name?"
"Alex," I replied with a smile of my own.
"Alex," she muttered to herself. "What a beautiful name," she exclaimed to me as she reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards her boat, which had already begun sinking. I had made my first real friend. A friend who, like me, was enchanted by this otherworldly world and its intricate beauty.
….
From that instant onward, a connection unfurled between us. We were an inseparable pair, making many memories together.
We would often spend the entire day exploring and satiating our curiosity. I smiled as I remembered one of my first adventures with Lily; we had stumbled upon a plant with vibrant red leaves and small, bell-shaped flowers. Lily crouched down, her fingers tracing the delicate purple petals as a frown of concentration appeared on her face.
"Why are these leaves red, Alex?" she asked, fixated on the plant.
I admitted my lack of knowledge with a shrug. "I'm not sure. Maybe it's just how they grow?"
Unsatisfied, Lily sat back on her heels, lost in thought. Then, she turned to me, unsatisfied with my halfhearted answer. "I've seen red leaves in books in the village. I'm going to go see if they have an answer" she huffed as she strode back to the village.
Her words surprised me, I would've never pursued my curiosity this doggedly on Earth. What an interesting girl.
As we were returning that evening, Lily asked me about stars – those twinkling diamonds in the night sky. I caught myself wanting to tell her about the vastness of the universe, about galaxies and constellations. About explosions and creation. But instead, I found myself telling her a tale of dreams and wishes, of angels and demons. A story that made her eyes light up with wonder.
Lily often asked me such questions.
....
As we continued exploring the space around our village, Lily shone. She was in her natural element, becoming a part of our surroundings. She noticed patterns in creatures' behavior, predicting their movements. Once, encountering rabbits, she whispered to stay still. We watched as the rabbits hopped around, their mother leading them to clover. Lily explained the mother rabbit's survival lesson, learned from her own careful observations.
Her curiosity and wisdom drew others too, encouraged by the fresh wonder and joy she found and brough to the world. It was impossible not to be captivated. I watched over her as we explored the woods, but, in the village, she often was bullied for her adventurous spirit. I did what I could to make sure she felt safe and heard, but I could visibly see her wither sometimes.
Every day was an adventure with her; I could no longer imagine beginning my day without her messy, dark-auburn hair and her exuberant personality.
....
As Lily's fourth birthday approached, a shadow of concern grew from the depths of my mind. I could see that the gap between us was wide, our experiences and knowledge vastly differed. It was sometimes difficult to relate to her world and I worried that I might unintentionally hurt her with my attempts to bridge the gap between our experiences. That I might quench the mischievous gleam in her eyes, losing something truly precious.
On the day of her birthday celebration, the village square was adorned with colorful decorations. The air buzzed with excitement as villagers gathered to celebrate Lily's special day. Lily's laughter pealed through the air, cutting me.
As I was absentmindedly gazing at her, she blew out the candles on her cake and locked eyes with me joyfully. I briefly returned a smile and then looked away - when I turned back, her eyes were shining with something. Maybe it was pain. Or longing. But, she was four. What did she know about these topics? I was imagining it.
Amid the festivities, I continued to quietly watch Lily from a distance, my heart heavy with uncertainty. Would our friendship withstand the changes that were sure to come? Could I continue to protect her while keeping our connection intact?
As the day drew to a close and the villagers began to disperse, Lily approached me with a careful expression. "Alex, promise me something?"
I nodded, eager to hear her request.
"Promise me you'll always be my friend," she said earnestly, with youthful innocence. "No matter what happens, no matter how things change."
Slightly touched by her simple words, I smiled wryly. "Lily, I promise to always be there for you."
Her smile lit up the twilight, and we walked home together, hand in hand. At least for a moment, I knew that our bond was stronger than any obstacles that might arise. Our friendship was a delicate thread, woven through the fabric of time, and it was a tapestry I was determined to protect – even if it meant dying once again.