The night went by rather rapidly, swiftly transitioning into the next day. Soon, it would be time for Aiden to be woken up by one of the caretakers, but before that moment arrived, I woke up. Leaving Aiden's bed, I didn't go straight to preparing myself for the day as Aiden would usually. Instead, I used the ring on my finger to tear a rift through space to retrieve something from it. The object was a seemingly plastic carry-case, which, with its size and my size, would have normally looked oversized on me. However, the case, compared to its appearance, was very light. The rift still left open, I brought the case to my bed, opening it to reveal its contents.
Inside the case were wooden glass cases, precisely twenty-five of them. Each case was of a different color, neatly labeled and displayed in order. There were vibrant hues, subtle pastels, and rich earth tones, each one unique in its own right. However, there was one clear absence - one of the twenty-five cases was missing, leaving a total of twenty-four cases neatly arranged in the carry-case.
When incarnating into the vessel Theta had arranged for me, it didn't take me long to realize that there was something wrong with my vision. From the look of it, I suffered from what in my old world was referred to as "hypermetropia," which made it that I struggled to see nearby objects while being able to see clearly what's in the distance.
Being someone who had prior experience with what normal vision should look like, it didn't take me long to notice it and voice it out. So, not long after, I was specially made glasses, which apparently is something new to Fiendfell, only very recently popularized from the faraway continent: Stoneholm, land of the dwarves or as it is also commonly referred to the continent of the Undead King, and that’s without a doubt is a relief to me. After all, I can't imagine what it would've been like if another Dungeon Master before me was born with a similar condition, in a time where eyeglasses weren't commonly introduced yet.
Of course, I doubt we wouldn't be able to come up with glasses ourselves, we would be, but wearing glass in a world where glasses are very still uncommon would be akin to flagging ourselves as "reincarnee" for other reincarnate to notice, and that was the last thing a Dungeon Master would ever want considering our stance toward any other reincarnate known and unknown that isn't us. I suppose one's only hope then would be to acquire a skill that improves sight otherwise, I don't know what they can do.
I was born in a time where, while they’ll still attract some attention, glasses aren't all that uncommon, so I can wear them without much of a worry. Well, I say that, but I've spent most of my time in Theta's facilities, so I never really had to worry about that until the day I was first allowed out.
As weird as I initially remember it being, especially now that I no longer need them, to have to wear something to see things that were once effortlessly visible to me, I quickly adjusted myself to them, so much that I saw them as an extension of me.
I don't really remember when exactly I began collecting glasses, but I do remember when exactly I began seriously collecting them: it was when I realized there was much more that I could do than just collecting "mere" glasses.
I reached for a green glass case labeled "1.67" and another blue one labeled "SCTR 14." The latter was initially one of the main reasons for which I forwarded to Dungeon Master 02 the request to retrieve my spatial ring. "SCTR 14" was a gift from Theta; much like an appraisal stone, it allowed the wearer to appraise someone without needing the physical contact an appraisal stone requires. It openly displayed the full status, skills, and abilities, except for attributes, making it basically the equivalent of a level 5 appraisal skill. Its only flaw was its vulnerability against "Anti-appraisal," which meant it wouldn't function against a level 1 anti-appraisal wielder. However, given the scarcity of that skill, that flaw would rarely ever present itself.
With my appraisal skill being lowered to level 1, all I could see of someone I would appraise would be their level, their name, class, and race. I initially planned to use SCTR 14 to appraise the girl Celestina to figure out what the deal was with her. However, I did so under the assumption that Dungeon Master 02 wouldn't tell me anything, but as it happened last night, he told me everything, or at least I believe he did. So there wasn't much reason for me to use it anymore. That being said, I still planned on appraising the girl, just not today.
After prompt consideration, I put the blue glasses case back where I took it from and closed the case before gently sending it back into the rift I grabbed it from, ultimately closing it.
Due to Theta's habit of not naming her experiments but instead labeling them with obscure code series, all the children mentioned in the notebook were referred to by their name code. Celestina, too, being one of the children, had a code name. However, the fact that the interface now referred to her as "Tina," not even her official name but a nickname, meant that I wouldn't be able to find info about her in the notebook. With SCTR 14, I planned on using the skills or abilities she was born with to cross-reference with the notebook and figure out her name code. If what I believe links that girl with the director is true, then I won't even have to go through that trouble, but I'll figure that out tonight. For now, I just need this.
I glanced at the only remaining glass case in my hand, labeled "1.67." "Well, let's just hope that this is the right one." Just as I said that, I heard the room's door opening. Turning around, I saw one of the caretakers entering the room. I don't usually wake up until Aiden himself wakes up, so it was my first time seeing them enter the room to wake Aiden up, and my first time seeing how early they actually are.
"Oh, Aiden, you're already awake," she said, clearly surprised to see him standing there in the middle of the room.
Tsk, can't be helped. I internally sneered, surrendering control to Aiden.
Regaining control, thus awakened, Aiden blinked, his eyes adjusting to the light streaming into the room. He looked momentarily disoriented, his mind still groggy from sleep. In spite of the confusion he just registered over standing in the middle of the room instead of being in his bed, he greeted, "Good morning," his voice a little hoarse from sleep.
"Good morning," the caretaker replied. "You're awake early today."
"Early..." he mumbled, still confused.
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"This is?" the caretaker asked, glancing at the glasses case in his hand.
It was only at that moment that Aiden noticed it, and as he did, reaching into it, he also came to notice the ring that was now adorning his finger. When surrendering control, I didn't bother to hide either, for I believed I had no reason to. The ring A-47 was a gift from Theta, a special spatial ring that only I could use. As for 1.67, it had no enhanced properties, so I really had no reason to hide it. The main reason I didn't even bother trying to be discreet about it was the fact that I was surrounded by Ascetics working for Theta, who didn't seem to mind the fact that I had two magical devices in my possession.
"Where did you get these, Aiden?" the caretaker asked, crouching to Aiden's level.
"I don't know," he genuinely replied. Momentarily ignoring the ring, he then proceeded to open the glass case to see the glasses within. Screaming the name of the one, the sight of the glasses almost instantly reminded him of, "Maa," he shouted, his gaze frantically looking around for someone who obviously wasn't there.
"Did something happen?" The caretaker asked, but Aiden ignored her, walking past her and leaving the room to arrive at the dormitory's hallway, still looking frantic as he faintly called my name.
Perhaps having familiarized myself with these little outbursts of Aiden, I had come up with a way to calm him down. The caretaker gently reached out to Aiden's shoulder, saying, "Miss Lenorre prepared raspberry crepes for breakfast this morning; let's get you ready for it."
After a brief moment of hesitation, Aiden nodded, allowing himself to be led to the dormitory's bathroom.
Tsktsktsk, just how easily bribable are you, little one? But well, fine, we'll eventually talk about this.
***
After a good bath and being readied for the day, Aiden was escorted to the refectory where Celestina was, for once, not already waiting for him. Instead, she was sitting on his usual chair, her legs swinging back and forth as she waited. Not long after, Celestina arrived, escorted by none other than the director. Upon arriving, the little girl spotted Aiden from a distance and rushed over, her face lighting up with excitement.
"Good morning," Aiden greeted as per usual.
"Good morning. You're already here?" Celestina exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Yeah," Aiden replied, a small smile forming on his lips.
"But you always arrive after me," Celestina said, tilting her head to the side in confusion.
"I know," Aiden shrugged, a proud smile on his face. "Guess today I woke up first."
As they chatted, Celestina's gaze wandered to the glasses case in Aiden's hand and the ring on his finger. "What's that?" she asked, frowning at the case and the ring Aiden was holding onto.
Aiden looked down at them, furrowing his brows. "I don't know. I just woke up with them."
Celestina's eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she opened her mouth to ask more questions, but at that moment, they were interrupted by the caretaker who brought over the promised raspberry crepes for breakfast.
"Here you both go, don’t forget reciting your graces to the Celestial above the moon," the caretaker said, placing a plate of crepes in front of Aiden and Celestina.
"Thank you!" Celestina chirped along with Aiden, before promptly and vicariously reciting the grace they’d been taught.
"O, Seraphim of the eight elements, Bearer of light and guardian of peace, Owner of the blue moon above the sky, Bless this nourishment before us, Sustenance from the earth and waters, Infused with the warmth of fire, And the refreshing breath of air. May it grant us strength and clarity, To uphold your teachings of harmony, And spread kindness in all we do. So mote it be."
After breakfast, Aiden and Celestina proceeded through their usual routine, playing and engaging in activities typical of their days at the orphanage. As the hours passed, they found themselves in the middle of the day at the orphanage's outdoor playground.
It was here that Celestina finally asked Aiden about the glass box he had been holding onto all day. Approaching him, she repeated the question, "What is it?"
Aiden opened the glass box and replied simply, "Glasses."
"Glasses..." Celestina mumbled, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"You've never seen one?" Aiden asked, surprised.
Shaking her head, Celestina admitted that she had never seen glasses before. Of course she hadn’t. Had she before, her problem would’ve already been fixed.
To demonstrate how they worked, Aiden retrieved a pair of glasses from the box and explained, "Maa said that glasses help her see. When she puts them on, she sees well. When she doesn't, she doesn't see well." Veering off course from his explanation, Aiden posed with his glasses and remarked, "I look like Maa, don't I?" How’s she supposed to know what to answer to that?
Ignoring Aiden's questionably rhetorical question, Celestina's curiosity peaked. "Can I try it?"
Aiden nodded, agreeing to her request. He gently placed the glasses on Celestina's nose, stepping back to observe her reaction. After a moment, he commented, "You look like Maa."
Celestina, completely oblivious to Aiden's comment, was. Her frown turned into a look of wonder as she examined her surroundings.
The girl, seemingly oblivious to Aiden's playful comment, was holding onto the sides of the glasses with an expression that deviated from her usual frowning demeanor. She looked around, up, down, at Aiden, and then at the nearby caretaker, mesmerized by the newfound sight she was taking in. Noticing Celestina staring at him, Aiden asked, "What is it?"
Seemingly unable to contain her excitement, Celestina exclaimed, "Things... aren't fuzzy anymore."
"Fuzzy?"
"Before, everything was kind of blurry. But now, the ground, my hands, Aiden, and even Marina," she said, glancing at the caretaker, "I see it all clearly now!"
As the caretaker approached to confirm what she just heard from the little girl, I readied myself to take control. I had the strange feeling that any moment Aiden, who very obviously was still confused by what the girl just explained, could very much say, "wearing it too long will give you headaches," because I did often say that to dissuade him from playing with my glasses. However, before I got the opportunity to do that, the girl, who had just finished explaining to the caretaker how much it changed what she was seeing, turned around to Aiden, dearly holding onto the glasses with both hands, boldly asking, "can I keep it?"
I considered answering on Aiden's behalf, however, at that moment, the latter confidently said, "Yes!" Whoa, there. Young man, where's that confidence in giving those glasses away coming from? You don't even know who's the owner of it. You just woke up with them in hand.
But well, it wasn't like I was complaining. After all, even though this wasn't exactly the way I expected it to happen, this was the outcome I was looking for.
"Thanks!" the girl genuinely voiced.
Yeah, you better be. Now we're even about that cat problem we had. Heck, now that I think of it, it's not even comparable. Without my intervention, you would have lived most, if not all, your life partially blind, so you sure better be thankful to him, especially after what you pulled out.
"I'll take good care of it."
Great, great, now let's hope this will get rid of that glare you look at people with.