Chapter 1
I wonder when the days started to blur. Meaningless days for a meaningless life. We could say that everyone is responsible for his own destiny, but at which point the weight of our own decisions start dragging us down into the abyss?
Rain splatters against my room’s window. Really don’t know the last time I’ve been outside. In the middle of the mess consisting from food packages to unpaid bills, lies myself. Alone, my pallid and unkempt appearance would certainly frighten those who knew the snotty, arrogant bastard I once was. I might be sick as well, no way to know without proper diagnostic. Something you need money for.
Desperately typing into my notebook, I try to salvage another failed business deal. Perhaps if I grovel enough, they’ll take me back despite my complete lack of commitment to schedules, or standards for that matter.
Finishing it up. I lie down again. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. Wondering if I could be just like the rain falling incessantly the last few days. Just flowing down through life without guilt or consequence.
Is there such thing as second chances? Or perhaps time travel? I wonder if I could’ve avoided what happened to my family, to my girlfriend, and every friend I ever had? Perhaps not. The chain of bad habits and general “assholishness” would just follow back with me. I’m my own worst enemy. But daydreaming doesn’t cost a cent, right?
I wonder if I could start over again. A new life perhaps. A chance to make things right, where I could try and love people with no implied expectations. A simpler life. I wonder how that would be? Perhaps I should just sleep. Nothing like the sweet embrace of unconsciousness to forget.
And sleep I did, perhaps the longest I’ve ever did. It’s like years and years passed in state of semi consciousness. Like the very concept of time had no meaning whatsoever. And in it, I just drifted. Like all the hardships so far had been a lie. Perhaps oblivion isn’t so bad after all.
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Green. That’s all I could see when I woke up. Have I been moved somewhere while I was sleeping? Who would even care to do such a thing? As time passes, and my sleep induced stupor passes, I began observing my surroundings. Apparently, I’m in a forest. Gigantic trees spread around me. A curious mix of conifers and broadleaves, unlike any biome I’ve ever personally been to. Not to mention the weird glow emitted by the leaves. What possibly could make them do that?
The sky, somewhat hidden by the green mass. Looks perfectly clear, with the sun gently shining among the forest. A perfect idyllic scene. Huge contrast to the urban hell I’m used to.
Perhaps I should try to move a bit. From the touch sensation on my back, I can imply I’m resting on a bed of leaves. Walking around I could at least begin to make sense of my situation.
And here comes the first problem. I just can’t get up. Apparently the most I can do right now is turn my head around. I feel my extremities and can somewhat move them, so I’m not paralyzed. I’m just too weak to move around. I even feel naked, with the gentle wind brushing against me. Nice one guys, leaving a guy naked in the middle of the woods. Nice prank. This is going to be a problem if it gets dark. Not to mention hunger is making itself known.
Let’s try and look at the state of my body at least. And here comes the shock of a lifetime. My hands are small and pudgy. No, my whole body is small and pudgy, it’s like I’m a baby. Wait. I am a baby!
How can something like this happen? I know I wanted a second chance and all, but this? Is this like one of those stories? Is perhaps a god or something watching and laughing at my unfortunate circumstances? I’d like to file a complaint with HR, thank you.
Usually in these kinds of situations you would at least be briefed on what is happening. A dynamite bodied goddess would show up in front of you and explain like somehow your sorry ass is the only thing standing between a magical world and its destruction on the hands of the evil Demon King or something. Then she would shower you with all kinds of cheats and be done with it. Off you go to your thrilling adventures and a harem consisting of catgirls. Instead, what I got is the “naked baby in the woods package”. Great.
Well. Nothing more to do then wait, I guess. If I’m dead anyway, might as well be doing it by taking a nap. Good night.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
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Good day! Here it’s me again. Unfortunate isekai victim. Still a baby int the woods. Now even hungrier. By the looks of it, we might still have like half an hour of daylight remaining. The temperature already began falling, which is a great immediate worry, seeing as I’m naked and all. But somehow, it seems like the temperature is not affecting me much. Is this magic or something? Or perhaps babies in whatever this is, are just that much stronger? No way to find out.
While I’m immersed in my delusions, suddenly a sound of ruffling leaves can be heard approaching. Is someone coming to pick me up? Is this the fated encounter where I’m an abandoned prince or something?
Looking at the side I finally see what is coming and the sight makes me involuntarily cry like the baby I am. A pack of wolves! And not normal wolves. They’re huge, with odd patterns in its fur, and what it looks like horns. This is definitely not earth. Is this how I end up? As otherworldly dog food? What is this dark souls like level of difficulty?
And then I hear a voice. A beautiful melodic voice in a language I don’t understand. The wolves then make way for her. If somehow later people ask me to describe a “fated encounter”. This is what I would talk about. She was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. She was tall, with a flawless skin covered in weird, white tattoos. Her pointed face and piercing blue eyes were framed by a very long and loose silver blond hair that went almost to her knees. It was like she was glowing. Is this the goddess I’ve been waiting for? Must be. Maybe I’ll take down that complaint with HR after all.
Other things quite obvious is that she had long ears that somehow dropped down. Is this the so-called elf? Is this some kind of fantasy RPG world? And also, that she was very much naked. Is this a thing here? Nudism? Actually, I could live with that. Especially if everyone is as beautiful as her.
She continued making her way towards me, as if gliding through the forest. It was as if the very nature was subservient to her. And when she got to me, she carefully regarded me for a while before seemingly coming to a decision. I could hear what I assume was comforting words, and then I was being carried in her lap. It was so warm and comfortable. It was a feeling I never thought to feel again. Maybe it was all worth it for this. As my tears fell again, sleep came like a brick. Apparently more exhausted than I thought.
When I woke up, I was in a glade. It was a beautiful place. Sheltered from the weather by a rock projection overhead and cavernous walls covering most sides where the trees reached. The light of the moon shined upon the center, with what I assume are magical light bugs circling around the place. The wolves seen previously where all around with the rest of the pack. Puppies played and mothers fed others. I was currently still on the lap of the woman. She sat on what I assume is a mound of very fluffy moss that covered the area. Almost like a throne of nature.
We sat in silence while she gently caressed me like I’m a baby. Well, I am a baby now though. The situation downing on me after all the shock. Occasionally she gently talked to me. I wish I could understand what she’s saying.
Suddenly I heard a bubbling sound. Apparently, it was my stomach and I was starving. Followed by a cute laugh from my recent benefactor, I was hoisted towards her boobs.
Is this what I’m thinking it is? Would she still offer her breasts so freely if she knew it was actually a creepy old guy? No way to know really. By her somewhat blackened areolae, we can assume she’s lactating.
In the end, any hang-ups on the ethics of it all, were wholly drowned by the extent of my hunger. I happily drank it till full. No perversion there. Nope.
After being fed, she gently laid me upon the fluffy mat and kissed me good night. I was let wondering about the meaning of it all. Is this the second chance I’ve been waiting for? Am I even allowed to do that? Isn’t it unfair that I’m allowed to discard my mistakes like they didn’t even happen? Perhaps I will forever carry that weight.
The only thing I could do is strive to do better this time. And perhaps hope that someday this guilt will wash away like that rain pouring over my apartment’s window.
Feeling the comfortable embrace of my new benefactor. I once again fall asleep.
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Hello! Here I am today with some observations. First one: Magic exists. Really? Just now you noticed? kind of suspected with all that happened, but it’s nice to have some confirmation. I wondered how the lady could be always so clean living in the middle of the woods. Magic is the answer. Good thing her magic solves my problems as well. I really didn’t think a baby could be so disgusting.
Another very sad observation that I really don’t know how it took so long to realize: My little brother is gone! My lifelong partner is no more, like it hadn’t ever existed. Rest in piece my cherished instrument, I will dearly miss you. I might have cried a bit too much after that, but no matter. Babies cry all the time. Yeah. This is what it is.
As the days passed. I begun making sense of the life around these parts. The lady, apparently called Haltia, as she graciously pointed to herself while made sounds like you would to a toddler. Lived here among the wolves. It was strange. A life of harmony with nature it might seem. Where the animals respected her, and seemed to instinctually understand what she wanted and obeyed.
Occasionally she would leave to hunt and forage for fruits. Not before leaving me covered in kisses. I wonder how would she react if she found out about the ugly contents inside? Then Leaving me attended by the female wolves, which graciously took care of, and protected me from the puppies trying to play with the strange hairless puppy lying down on a crib of moss. That they also fed me is something that greatly embarrasses me. But not much I could do.
With time, I began being able to move a bit better and crawl around a bit over the place. To the great delight of lady Haltia. Who seemed to take it like a proud mother when her baby took its first steps. Not that I can do anything resembling a step still.
She’s also taking time to teach me words. Pointing objects and naming them. As well as telling simple stories about the moon and the forest.
I really wonder if there’s some civilization out there, or if they all look like her. Questions for another time.