“… Ah Elaine, I am very grateful you are still alive… but uh please… let me give my extreme condolences to your - WAIT WHAT?! THE BABY IS ALIVE?! AND IT'S A BOY?! ELLE THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS! HA HA H-”

“SHHH Quiet or you're going to wake the baby!”

It seems like mother is having a visitor over and doesn’t want to disturb my sleep, how considerate. It was too late though, I had already awoken. I didn’t care anyways, because I was thinking about that dream I just had.

I was back in that snowy wasteland again, but that time…

I thought about the girl in the black maiden dress and the veiled women. Was that just a dream!? I thought this was a dream! By the minute, the details of what I could remember from that state were becoming fuzzy. I looked around vigilantly, to see where I was. To my surprise, I was tucked neatly and cozily away under a blanket with colorful patterns in a nicely designed wooden cradle. While looking at the neat design of the cradle I was nested in, I spotted a familiar figure outside of the cradle.

There she was, the girl with the faintly glowing green eyes. But this time I could not see them through the wooden glasses and the dirty-golden colored hair that covered her face because of the book that she was intently reading on her lap.

I guess she is here to keep an eye on me, though she is not doing a good job. But what was her name again?

Sasha… Was it?

‘Hey Sasha I woke up now feed me I'm hungry.’ Is what I wanted to say; but,

“Gouh, Guaah!!”

Is what came out of my mouth. Damn… this is embarrassing…

However, I saw Sasha fumbled her book and nearly fell out of her chair when she heard me. She looked a little panicky while staring at me. Was she that deep into her book?

“Uh h-how long have you been awake?”

She slightly stammered.

“I didn’t expect you to be this quiet… especially after what happened a couple days ago…”

She added as she got up and bent down to take a closer look at me smiling with intense curiosity. Her eyes weren’t shining this time, was it because of the glasses?

It had already been a couple days?

Quickly afterwards, I heard a door open and a flurry of footsteps. I figured they must’ve heard the mini-commotion Sasha had caused.

“Sasha! Is Johan awake?! Is everything okay?!” I heard my new mother’s inquiring voice.

“Yes Lady Elaine, he had just awoken and I was just about to inform you.” Sasha hurriedly responded.

‘No you were not!’

“Muah!! Muah!!”

I tried to protest otherwise but the words I tried to pronounce came out like classic baby garble. I was awake for a few minutes before I even made a noise. It probably would have been more time if I hadn’t, If she wasn’t so caught up in her book. But Elaine? It’s that my mother’s name? I never knew my old mother’s name. It was quite beautiful for a name.

“This… This is…”

I heard a deep masulince voice that I had never heard before. It was filled with such great strength and power that even if he was speaking softly right now, I could feel his dominance. It was an indescribable dominance that felt like it was eating at your skin. Does Someone like this really exist in this world? I was only a few days old and I could already feel the goosebumps.

“Careful with your aura Garry! Johan is only just a newborn!”

My mother Elaine quickly realized my predicament and reprimanded this scary ‘Garry’ guy. She rushed to pick me up and coddled me while at same time making sure that I was okay.

“For a newborn to be sensitive to my aura, ah I must be too excited,”

Feeling confident again in my mother’s embrace, I turned my head to face the owner of that voice. Wow… I know I am a newborn and all, but this man is gigantic. Dressed in a tight leather tunic highlighting the tense outlines of his physical features with a large and seemingly blunt sword strapped to him.

With my mother standing face to face with him, Elaine had to look up from his collarbone. His body was structured like a mountain and carved like one too. He was examining me with extremely shocked eyes. Who is this guy exactly?

“Ah… Please excuse me as I came rushing from the wall as soon I heard the news. I wanted to be the first to console you, but Little Sister, this was actually unbelievably and completely unexpected.”

The big guy took a deep breath to control himself and continued.

“I can barely contain myself! You know the whole entire family is in for a big surprise! The ENTIRE family!”

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This huge man explained himself while closely eyeing me, repeating himself. But wait… What? Little sister?! This man is my mother’s older brother?! Or in other words my uncle…

My mother giggled slightly,

“You’re not even supposed to be here right now.”

“But first… Elaine… I need to give my respect to somebody…”

The burly man slowly turned towards Sasha, who was standing dutifully by the wooden cradle with the same book she was reading earlier clasped tightly between her hands. She had her head slightly dipped towards the floor, not making any eye contact with the man.

He carefully walked over and kneeled to her height; tightly balled his hand into a fist; swifty put it over his heart and bowed elegantly towards her. Sasha raised her head in surprise as her body shook gently and she audibly gasped. She looked shocked to the soul.

He started speaking with intense zeal,

“I’m deeply sorry I doubted you. From the depth of my heart, please forgive me, I want to thank you supremely for saving my beloved little sister and her son when nobody else would. In the name of Garan Von Angru, I shall be in your debt...”

Even after he declared his oath he maintained his position. I stared at the scene with incredulity, why is a full-grown man bowing to such a small girl? I looked up to see my Mother’s reaction, only to see her eyes were red, brimming with tears.

‘Just what deeds did that girl do?’

I wondered, as far I know she only helped deliver me… Well, it seems like there is more to the situation I don’t know about.

“P-please G-great sir, this lowly one w-was only doing what she was t-told”

Sasha responded shyly as she put her head back down, stuttering, she tried to continue.

“Please D-do not feel the need to-”

“The moment you left the Monteclair Family to save my little sister and nephew, knowing that you may never be welcomed back... ”

The mountain of a man who goes by Garan Interrupted her and abruptly opened his arms around Sasha and closed them.

“The way little Elle talks about you is enough…”

He let out a soft sigh.

“Sasha Vey Monteclair, I consider you family. So please… Take care of Elaine.”

I saw through the mountain of muscle that was wrapped around Sasha and saw her body tremble. She bit her lip and sniffled hard to hold back the tears that seemed like they could burst from any moment.

“I-I will d-do my best… S-Sir Great Knight Garan...”

“Please Sasha, no need for honorifics,”

The huge man named Garan formed a smile and released his bear hug on Sasha. He added finally,

“If you need anything and Elaine isn’t around, just come to the wall and holler my name…”

He then turned and walked toward my mother and I with an even grander smile than before. The emotionally tense atmosphere was wiped completely. He was staring at me again, the surprised look from before was completely wiped clean, replaced with a look of adoration.

“Can I hold him?”

his voice turned so low it was barely a whisper. Am I sensing nervousness from this man? Why?

“Yes… but please be extremely gentle,”

Elaine sternly cautioned with her brows furrowed.

She then tilted her head down to me and introduced me gently,

“Johan, this is my older brother and your uncle, Garan Von Angru, please be nice,”

she kindly rubbed my head and carefully passed me into the arms of my new uncle. Wow! His arms were twice the size of my entire body. Originally, I thought I would be roughly handled by such a large man, but he was surprisingly gentle. I was closer to him than earlier, so I could distinguish his facial features a bit better.

His scruffy hair was a little unkempt but he had the same colored hair as my mother, midnight blue. His full-grown goatee with sideburns hiding his well-defined jawline gave me a wild but refined aura. Up close I could see his pearly teeth from his brazen smile that he couldn’t hide any longer. He looked as if he was in utter joy as he was holding me.

“Haha what a fine addition to the Angru family. I can’t believe it…”

Garan extended both of his arms and prostrated me high up into the air.

“Grow up fast, tiny one, so this uncle can teach you the best sword techniques known throughout all of Sanduhria!”

Best sword techniques? Known throughout all of Sanduhria? Haha… Give me a break. I just reincarnated, now you want me to learn the sword? Hahaha, I think not!

I looked towards my mother, hoping to see a look of concern; but no, she carried a faint smile and even gave me some words of encouragement.

Wait… Is My mom a swordswoman too? Was I born into a family of swordsmen?! After uncle Garan was done giving me a proper inspection, he carefully placed me back into the arms of my mother. Looking back at him I saw a satisfied expression, as if something that was weighing down on him greatly was suddenly lifted.

But it was only for a few moments before his expression shifted towards a downcast. He then sighed with his arms crossed and said quietly.

“Elle, I wish he could have been here…”

“...”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as I felt my mother’s calm and serene fingers tremble.

“Huughhh… What they did, Elaine… What they did was unforgivable…”

Garan continued. The mood instantly shifted downwards…

“Garan… Please… Not in front of the baby…” Elaine pleaded despondently.

He could have been here? Who?

The room was filled with a tense silence for a few moments but it felt like ages. Eventually the tense mood was lifted as they moved the discussion to other things. We moved outside Elaine’s room and into the main room where there were a few simple pieces of comfortable wooden furniture. We ended up at a small but even and circular wood table with a clear window displaying the outside environment. My uncle and mom were sitting face to face with me being cuddled in Elaine’s soft arms.

There seemed to be tea already brewed as I smelled the sweet aroma. After a light sip, Garan continued the conversation.

“Beast activity by the wall is at a low for the past year and there hasn’t been a lot for the soldiers stationed at the wall to do… So some were delegated to fortify the southern front for the expected increase in skirmishes over the border. As of now, all royal families are keeping a low profile, especially the Monteclair family - which is unexpected especially after what happened - although I’m sure you know the reason Elaine.”

Garan was explaining the situation, but when the words ‘Monteclair family’ were uttered, his face scrunched together into an ugly expression.

The Monteclair family…What does this all mean?

“We’ll be fine.”

My mother, who was holding me, gave me a small smile and responded plainly.

“Houuu, I knew you would say that…”

Garan sighed deeply and crossed his arms. His face softened a little bit as he tiredly replied,

“… Just please be safe. Enjoy the peace while you can, I can’t wait to see how the boy grows…. It's gonna be a sight to see…”

Gulp gulp

Garan downed the rest of his tea and suddenly smiled and sighed.

“You know - after all the tribulations… seeing you with a baby makes me want to try again with Jane…”

He started trailing off at the end of sentence and quietly stared out the window viewing the scenery.

Elaine bowed her head and took a long look at me. I stared back, Her violet eyes twinkling; lost in thought, and then she looked back up and smiled brightly. responding with a phrase unknown to me,

“That’s so great to hear! May Lumin’s grace guide you…”

Lumin’s grace?

“May he guide us all,”

Uncle Garan replied and the phrase. He then stood up with a sigh and exhaling,

… Well… uh I should get going, my unit might collapse if I leave the vices in charge for too long… ugh well you know how it is… goodbye!”

Garan scratched his head as he stood up and said his farewell.

“Ah… I know very well… ”

Elaine laughed. My mother and Garan conversed for a little bit more. However my mother stressed to him that this should be kept a secret, until Johan - which is myself - grows older. The sun was setting when we saw him off. Sasha was standing next to Elaine, who was holding me, outside at the entrance. They were discussing some mundane topics before his departure.

“It has been awfully windy these past couple days, but my mount has been lovin it.”

I still have the eyes of a newborn, but the environment… It really is different...

For the first time in this new world, I could feel the heavy winds smack my newborn eyes and face. And once again, I started crying; I just couldn't help myself. So Elaine and Garan took my wailing as signal to finally bid their farewells.

"Have a safe journey back!"

I heard my mother yell at the top of her lungs as we saw Garan off.

We stared at him as he walked past the open clearing and into the forest; but before he did, he gave us one last look with a faint wave. A few moments later after he vanished, a large winged mount launched fast from beneath the trees with a cry and flew off into the distantly setting sunset, heading west.