"Good morning Sweetie."
The first words heard in the new life of this fellow. Boy. Child. It was all rather overwhelming and there was no real response from the younger as he blankly stared at his mother. A seemingly younger adult of her species, what he would guess was mid-twenties as far as human aging was considered. Also like him, though that was to be expected.
…and vaguely cute. He'd always adored animals in his past life so perhaps this was an unexpected blessing. It was hard not to find fluffy things cute. But before he could even think his body reacted a bit instinctively and simply hugged around his mom. The confusion was profound in his mind, why had he moved, why had he hugged, it wasn't something /he/ wanted to do. But then he began to realize that it was as Affection had said… he was merging? Or simply he was just memories of another life and fully the child, and just confused because it was all coming at once?
Whatever it was, it was warm and loving and everything smelled comfortable and familiar despite it being his first time actually being here rather than witnessing it through a third party view.
–
Of course what the newly reincarnated boy hadn't expected was though his mother put on a smiling face for him, the moment he instinctively cuddled in she quickly scooped him up and trotted out to find his father.
"His eyes! They've changed color… have you heard of anything like that before?" His mother was speaking quietly, clearly trying not to disturb him, though he could hear his father mumble out a response in confusion and take a look himself before agreeing. Something about 'was brown but now green'. Of course, Rou kind of realized the problem immediately.
He customized his looks somewhat innocently without having realized it might have an impact on this. ‘Stupid Goddess, she couldn't have just… eased things in? Maybe adjust memories or make it so it was always that way?!‘
"Of course not! It's not my fault, I… just didn't think of that." Affection's voice rang out in the boys head. "You'll be fine, they'll be fine, I will… sort it out."
That said, sorting it out wasn't immediate. His parents were quite concerned, duly, as they'd also noticed other changes about the kid. Fur patterns, colors here and there, Rou had customized a bit but not a lot. …okay he'd actually adjusted quite a bit, but apparently neither he nor the Goddess had actually thought about the consequences.
As he was ferried about the small village out in a wooded area, he was able to occasionally see a clear sky without much going on. Everything was quite antiquated though there was a few signs of strange technology here and there. What looked more like bits of broken machinery he might otherwise be familiar with, but only parts. Parts that still worked despite not the rest of it being attached. A watering can that didn't have any water and was just a hand-held something that poured water. A hand-held fan that was just a single blade attached to a hand-held something. The boy made a note to ask about it later as he was suddenly whisked into a church.
In the church itself, nothing much was going on, though an older feline fellow raised his head and looked at the couple before inquiring as to what all the fuss was about. And eventually when he, too, started to look the kid over, he paused and turned to look at a collection of statuettes on the far wall. For a moment, nothing, then one of the statues fell over.
"Mm… I wouldn't worry too much about it at the moment." the old feline mused. "Whatever it is, the Gods are aware. Or at least Affection is aware." He nodded at the statues and the one that fell over, his parents having already noticed it. Clearly on alert, fur ruffled and panicked, but at his assurances they relaxed a tiny bit. The older priest walked back over and righted the figure.
"You are aware, yes?" he asked aloud. After a moment the wooden statuette.
"Should there be any concern?" he asked once more after righting it. This time, it stayed upright.
"See?" he smiled towards the boy's parents.
Though the parents started to speak out and ask further, he shook his head. "Whatever it is, she's aware, and says we should not be concerned. Best not to ask questions of the gods they have not answered already. Clarification, surely, but best not to question.
His mothers demeanor drooped a little and she simply hugged him rather firmly, clearly still worried.
Suddenly a scoff ran through Rou's mind, "Mortals."
At which point the three jumped slightly as a Screen appeared in front of them.
Status Screen 1.03
Name: Rou Erial
Titles: [Miracle Child - A child born of a barren woman? Someone had a hand in that.]
[Affection's Pet Project - Don't ask for what you shouldn't know.]
Perks
[Subject to Affection's Whims - You worry too much.]
Status
[Healthy Body - He's fine.]
And then the screen vanished after they had all had a chance to read it.
Only thereafter it briefly appeared again.
Status Screen 1.03
Name: Rou Erial
Titles: [Miracle Child] [Affection's Pet Project]
Perks
[Subject to Affection's Whims]
Status
[Healthy Body - I was overly curt, I still love you all and I am not frustrated with anyone. Go about your lives, I'm otherwise busy.]
Affection was very much frustrated at having to go out of her way to manage this. Enough so that Rou noticed it immediately and began to laugh. He actually laughed quite heavily, startling his parents and the priest, though as he started to laugh he heard a mental huff in his mind and winced as he felt a mental pinch of sorts, causing him to stop.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
–
As the week went on, Rou's parents - as he'd found out his name was through the Status screen he'd seen, had started to relax finally and accepted the change. There was still the odd glance now and then, the lift of an arm or tail to see if something else had changed, but they eventually had to simply accept it.
It took him almost a month to actually get a little more control and start to actually feel like he was alive rather than simply existing again. Small movements, controlling the hand, trying to say words, grabbing onto his tail - yes, a tail. It was stubby and fluffy and soft and modestly amusing to try and play with as he didn't have much else to focus on when his parents were off doing their own things.
But another problem had come up as he laid there, staring at the shabby ceiling in the simple cottage they were living in. The cottage he hadn't even been outside of much as it was the winter months and they felt it was too cold for him outside at the moment.
"!"
He didn't know how to open the 'Screen' that Affection had referred to, the very one he saw in the church. He'd been trying for a few days now, but his methods and attempts were either correct but not sufficient, or incorrect and he was wasting his time. Status! Screen! Open! Words didn't do much, nor did thinking. It wasn't until he was close to giving up that he heard a familiar cackle of laughter, very fox-like, and a voice crossed his mind.
"Come now, it's not that difficult. Everyone can do it. You are overthinking it. Then again if it was not already common knowledge… mm, I'll suggest this to Aether. Reach up and tap your right temple. If you do that while thinking about opening the screen, it will open."
Rou just stared upwardly with a cross expression, thinking and hoping the goddess would hear.. 'So Aether discovered this concept from someone who had watched too many science fiction shows from my world, yes?'
"No idea, never asked. It's been a while though. She visits other worlds from time to time out of boredom, the gods do have travel passes. Helps us get better ideas."
Rou mentally filed away that Aether might simply be a nerd and reached up to try and make his screen work.
Status Screen 1.03
Name: Rou Erial
Titles: [Pathetic] [Miracle Child] [Affection's Pet Project]
Strength: G - 1 [What do you expect, you're a child.]
Agility: G - 1 [What do you expect, you're a child.]
Intelligence: D - 1++ [A child with an adults memories from another world.]
Constitution: G - 1+ [Still a child, but has Healthy Body perk.]
Charisma: E - 10 [Cute child.]
Magic - Power: G - 1 [Unlearned]
Magic - Control: G - 1 [Unlearned]
Magic - Capacity: G - 1 [Unlearned]
Perks
[Subject to Affection's Whims] [Subject to Aether's Whims] [Healthy Body] [Customized Looks]
Status
[Healthy Body] [Adapting to Reincarnation - 27% - Unable to fully control body as own until finished adapting.]
"So, what do you think?" Affection's tone was playful, seemingly in a decent mood. Though he couldn't see her and she wasn't here, Rou could imagine her sitting on a chair that appeared out of nowhere, grinning at him toothily and flicking her fingers at him.
'It is… certainly something. But subject to your whims?' Rou responded with a slight complaint.
"Of course. Simply means I have made it a point before bringing you here that I will be toying with you further. Consider it… bookkeeping. We cannot interfere with others willy nilly, but as your status is not stored on you, but in our realm, we can tweak things if we mention it ahead of time. You may thank me."
Rou half rolled his eyes before giving a simple, 'Thank you. I'd give you a kiss in thanks but, you know… stuck on my back.'
A cackling laughter returned before the goddess simply said, "Noted. As for Aether… she tagged your status too and will idly watch as you experiment. If you come across things that are novel to her or that she has not accounted for, she might adjust accordingly. But don't be expectant. She might do nothing at all."
"Anyways, I'm off." Affection started to leave only for Rou to call out mentally, 'Wait, please?'
"...? What is it?" she responded, a bit annoyed.
'Is it okay if we talk more frequently? It's quite boring here with no one else around. I don't have my cats, or computer, or internet access. Just myself and the ceiling and four walls.'
The somewhat timid answer confused Affection before she actually seemed a little uncertain. It wasn't an unreasonable request and all told, it was actually understandable. But she didn't respond and silence returned for Rou, feeling awkward. Was he ignored? No idea.
–
It wasn't until a day later that he suddenly got a notification.
Notice:
Perk Gained - [Contact: Affection] Note: Don't abuse it, or I'll shit beetle you for your next two lives.
–
It wasn't long before Rou's parents both came in to find the boy laughing from seemingly nothing. The hard-to-stop laughter remained going for a minute, said parents looking concerned at first before just being confused and writing it off as strange kid stuff. Though it did lighten their moods.
"Well, if he's in this good of a mood, perhaps we can wrap him up and let him out?" his father asked curiously, looking at the boy.
His mother seemed thoughtful before nodding, "Sure, why not. It's not that bad outside."
Soon enough he was lifted, dressed and allowed to toddle outside for a change. The little village he was in wasn't much to speak about. He had seen it several times when it was just a third person view of the boys life before reincarnating. And the one time more recently. The other villagers looked his way and offered a wave or smile but didn't say anything. They'd all figured out after having been talked to by the local priest that it was best to just… not bring anything further to attention. It was in the care of the gods and all was well. Sure, some had their doubts, but as they were all fairly religious by default they just accepted it.
Which was fine by Rou. He didn't want to talk about it either. Instead, he looked around for what had caught his attention before, the various magic implements. Tools. Artifacts? He wasn't sure. The one he was most familiar with was the ones his mother had been using to clean him. One to wash his backside after he relieved himself, and another to give him a bath with. Effectively the same tool all told but as they had a different one for each of those purposes, he hadn't questioned what he assumed was obvious.
Some measure of performative hygiene. Don't cross the streams and all that.
He'd been looking for an excuse to ask about magic for the month but hadn't quite thought of a way that made sense. At his age, why would he even know what it is, let alone know what to ask about. So his grand plan? To walk over to the wooden tub which was lined with a device that seemed to act as a washing machine. It caused the water itself to just cycle and swirl endlessly while active.
His parents watched what he was doing only to realize that the kid seemed interested in it. Well, made sense, he hadn't seen one before. But what surprised them was the fact he started to look around before spotting and going up to each tool he could find to stare at it a while. And then he was off to the next. Eventually he returned and asked rather softly, "Who is making them move?"
Ah. It all clicked into place. Of course! His parents, still awkward regarding his relation to Affection, relaxed and began to snicker amongst themselves before his mom explained simply, "They have a crystal in them that gives them magic, and the magic lets it move." She walked over to the washbasin and pressed a switch to stop it before tugging out a light blue crystal about the size of an adults thumb.
"This is a crystal. Water crystal. Goes inside, and then it works."
She put it back in and pressed the switch to turn it on. Made of some kind of metal as it was, he understood the concept fairly easily with his own memories. But his child self? Rou asked another silly question. "Like the one you wash my butt with?"
The adults around all got a good laugh out of that, remembering their own children at that age, as did his parents. Seems he managed to pull off that performance, as they smiled and nodded and he got to smile as well.
Perfect.
Now he had an excuse to get a bit… overly obsessed with the things and ask more and more questions about them!
"What is Magic?"
"Oh right, we've never… showed you that have we?" she answered before looking towards her partner. "No, no, I suppose we haven't." Dominic thought about it and how best to answer. The names of Rou's parents were Dominic and Shiela as he had come to learn over his time around them. Rarely said to each other, more for others speaking to them.
"Well… how about we teach you how to see your Screen first and you can share that with us and we can go from there?"