It felt weird being a baby. You don't remember much of it the first time around. But in this life, I was fully conscious, experiencing life in my tiny body. It was something I didn't think would happen to me a second time.

My new parents picked my new twin sister and I up. Lorelai continued staring at me curiously, probably wondering who this new child was. She gurgled and averted her gaze, looking around the house we found ourselves in. It was relatively slight, with brick walls, wooden support beams, and a wooden roof. A hearth burned faintly in the back of the room. I guessed we were in some sort of living room.

My dad, who was the one carrying me, addressed the midwife. "Thank you, Gretha," he said, obviously relieved. "You're the best medic we've ever known. Your skills could make you a fortune in a bigger city, but you decide to stay here."

Gretha was a matron who looked about sixty, give or take a little. Her brown hair was nearly fully gray with age. She wore a homespun smock and a frock coat over it. Her eyes were a kindly, warm brown.

"Someone sure taught you to respect your elders," Gretha said wryly. "I'm sure I could work for some upstart noble in a city like Grandfront and then retire in ten years rolling in more money than I know what to do with." She chuckled and looked out the window with a fond smile. "But I'm more than content in a small town like this. My roots are old, and they don't have the strength to move to different soil. Besides, you two still pay well."

That last comment struck me as peculiar. Our house was modest at best, but she said that we pay well? Strange.

"The same as ever, huh?" Dad joked.

"I've been healing your scratches since you were a child, Darius. Are you so quick to get rid of me?" Gretha laughed and gathered her bag, which I guess stored her medical supplies.

"You're harder to get rid of than an unhelpful Spirit," Dad shook his head.

Spirit? What did that mean? More questions. I knew nothing about this world. And that was a huge disadvantage I would have to fix later on.

"As much as I would usually enjoy your banter, I'm tired and I need to rest," Mom said weakly.

"Of course," Gretha said warmly. "I'll take my leave." She turned to Lorelai and I, smiling kindly. "They have no idea how lucky they are to have parents like you two."

The elderly woman picked up her walking stick, using it to steady herself as she made her way to the front door, exiting our home.

"Honey, would you be a dear and help me to our bed?" Mom yawned.

"First let's get the children to their cot," Dad said gently, picking us up and giving us both kisses on the forehead. "Your mother needs some rest. Welcome to your home, you two."

Mom looked at us with warm green eyes. "Vali looks like you."

"And Lorelai looks like you," Dad said in the same soft, delighted tone.

A rush of emotion flowed through me as I was claimed by my parents.

I was born into a loving family.

But I felt guilty.

I knew I would ruin it someday.

But I'd try my damned hardest to not have that happen. I won't let Condemner of Sinners control my life.

Not this time.

I'm sorry Dad, Mom, and Mona. I'm sorry for it all.

But I have a second chance now. And I'm not going to mess it up.

***

A Year and Three Months Later

I have lived in this world for more than a year now.

I've learned a few things. The town I live in is called Willsden, the town closest to Grandfront, the capital of our kingdom, Zesal. The geography in this world was nothing like the geography of my world, which doesn't surprise me at all.

While no one was looking, I practiced both speaking and walking. I could speak for the most part, but I could only crawl. I still had my teenager mind, but with a baby body, which meant I still had childish urges and tendencies, something I hated with a passion.

My parents smothered Lorelai and I with love, something I honestly wasn't used to. I didn't think I could get used to it, not after everything that happened in my old world.

"Time to sleep, dears," my mother said in her usual soft, melodic tone, setting my sister and I down in our cot. She gave us both kisses on the forehead, smiling down at us, displaying the splendor of her beauty. Mom walked toward the candle in our room and blew it.

Lorelai made a startled sound, frightened by the sudden embrace of the darkness. Even in the dark, I could see tears threatening to slip out of her eyes.

Our mother giggled softly. "Don't think I'm mean enough to leave you two in the dark."

She held her hand out and a small ball of light appeared over her palm. It began to float upward, sticking itself to the ceiling. It dimmed until it only exuded small rays of light so that we could sleep peacefully and not be disturbed by it.

Lorelai and I stared at it in wonder. I've seen my parents use these types of powers to make everyday life easier, but no matter how many times I see it, it never fails to amaze me. It was pure and bright, unlike Condemner of Sinners, the Eldritch Creature inside of me.

It hasn't stirred in a while. Maybe it was slumbering. I figured it couldn't do much since I was just a toddler, anyway.

Mom smiled at our reactions. "That got your attention? Maybe one day you'll learn how to use Essence when you get to summon your Spirit."

Essence. That's what it's called. I still didn't quite understand what a Spirit was. Was that how you got to use Essence?

I had so many questions and so little answers. Do you know how hard it is to find answers when you're just a baby? If I begin to speak, the townsfolk will think I'm possessed by a demon or something and then I'll end up dead… again.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

God, please don't let me die for the fourth time.

Our mother looked at my sister and I. "Lorelai gets scared really easily, but Vali doesn't get scared at all," she muttered, turning her gaze toward me. "You're a very gloomy baby." She giggled. "You don't really give much of a reaction to anything."

I noticed by the way she was speaking that she wasn't really paying attention to the words she was saying, but rather, she was focusing on the tone she said it in. A baby learns by seeing and hearing, it seems. While babies wouldn't be able to understand what she was saying—excluding myself—they would instinctively recognize her tone. Everyday, she teaches us a little bit of her language, just by speaking to us.

These are the types of things you don't really notice unless you're a parent or you're a baby. Which brings me to my next question: how can I understand this language? I had no explanation, just that I could understand it. It felt as natural to me as breathing. I couldn't differentiate this language from English, no matter how hard I tried to pick up subtleties in the syllables and pronunciations of the words. It was almost like my brain was hardwired to understand and speak this lexicon.

My mother picked me up, smiling warmly at me. "You're the older twin, so it's going to be your responsibility to protect your sister in the future, Vali."

A knot of emotion formed in my chest from those words. The love and affection in her eyes almost hurt. I didn't realize how much I craved such affection.

Yes, Mom. I will do anything for my sister. Because I couldn't do anything for my sister in another life.

I won't fail this time. I'm going to do better.

She set me back down next to Lorelai. "Goodnight, sweets, may the Divines watch over you." Then she stepped out of the room and gently closed the door behind her.

I sighed and closed my eyes, so tired that I thought I would fall asleep instantly.

One thing I hated about being a baby was that I got tired too easily. What did I even get tired of? All babies do is eat, shit, and sleep.

A minute passed and I couldn't sleep because I felt something watching me. I opened my eyes and looked over at Lorelai, who was just… staring at me.

I checked to see if our mother was still there, before whispering, "What? Can you talk too?"

Lorelai didn't respond, continuing to stare at me, almost curiously.

"Come on, you don't have to hide it from me," I said, chuckling nervously. "Please don't tell me I'm the only one that got reincarnated. You could be like my Ruby Hoshino, but without the incest."

I must have made a funny face, because my sister giggled.

I sighed. "I guess you're a regular baby, then. It's pretty ridiculous that I'm speaking to a baby. But then again, I'm also a baby."

It sucked that my twin sister wasn't like me. I desperately wanted someone to talk to. It was lonely being the only conscious baby.

"Well, whatever, let's just go to sleep. Goodnight." I closed my eyes once again.

I heard a rustling sound coming from next to me and opened my eyes. Lorelai snuggled into me, and as soon as she closed her eyes, I heard her soft, rhythmic breathing, a telltale sign that she was asleep.

The more I saw her, the more she reminded me of Mona. The comparison always brought an ache in me. Lorelai was the mirror image of her. But that made me all the more determined to be the best brother I could possibly be.

I closed my eyes for the last time that night, finally allowing sleep to swallow me in its wake.

***

Seven Years Later

"Val! Wake up!" a voice said, ripping me out of my sleep. Someone was shaking me, trying to force me to wake up.

"Five more minutes," I groaned and turned over, trying to get back to sleep.

The person made a frustrated sound, but stopped bothering me. Or so I thought.

A weight suddenly fell on top of me, yanking all traces of grogginess out of me. I yelped from the suddenness and snapped my eyes open, glowering at the person who woke me up.

"You're finally awake." Lorelai glared back at me. "Today we get to summon our Spirits!"

"It's too early for this," I yawned. "You could just get ready and wake me up later. We still have time. Besides, it isn't the only day they're summoning our Spirits."

"No," she replied stubbornly. "We're going to summon them together. You promised me, remember?"

I sighed as I remembered the exact words I said. We promised to summon our Spirits together back when we were five-year-olds. "You're annoying. You remember the things you shouldn't."

"And that's a good thing." She gave me a satisfied smirk. "Now get your butt up so we can leave as soon as possible."

"Yeah, yeah, just get off of me," I said, pushing her off of me and onto the ground.

"Ow, hey!" she complained indignantly. "That was mean."

"That's my job as the older brother." I shrugged and headed out the door of our room.

"You were born two minutes before me!" she snapped, following me out of the room.

I gave her a playful grin. "Still older."

Lorelai grumbled something under her breath but said nothing.

It was still strange seeing her. I pretty much watched her grow up alongside me. Her golden hair was luscious, draping past her shoulders, grazing her back just a little. Her eyes were an even more vibrant hue than before, sparkling like emeralds. Her personality reminded me more of Mona as we were growing up every passing day. It was honestly unnerving.

We stalked into the kitchen, where our mom was cooking up breakfast. Her blonde hair was tied into a bun and she wore an apron. When she saw us, she smiled brightly and warmly enough to light up the world. I always felt better when she smiled. It made me want to smile, too. But I never did. I never could.

"There you are," she said in her usual melodic tone. "Happy Birthday, my dears. I can't believe it's already your seventh birthday. Time has gone by so fast."

"Thanks, Mom!" Lorelai grinned cheerfully. "We would have gotten here earlier if someone didn't take so long to wake up." She gave me a sideways glance.

I rolled my eyes. "My annoying little sister didn't have to jump on top of me."

"You were born only two minutes before me!"

Mom giggled at us. "Your dad and I thought you two wouldn't get along since you're brother and sister. But I'm glad our worries were unfounded."

"I can't hate her," I admitted, ruffling Lorelai's hair. "She would annoy me if I did."

"Hey!" she complained, swatting my hand away.

"It doesn't matter. You haven't brushed your hair yet, right?"

"Still!" she harrumphed.

"You're dramatic."

"Aw, I thought it worked." Lorelai's face went back to normal.

"Yeah, it was obvious you were pretending to make me feel bad." I sighed.

She just stuck her tongue out.

Our mother watched us with a smile, walking over to us. She wrapped both of us in a hug.

"The two of you are polar opposites," she said softly. "Vali, you're the gloomiest child I've ever seen. And Lorelai, you're always hyperactive and cheerful. But I guess that's just what makes you, you. It's a peculiar combination. So take care of each other, okay?"

Mom released us, patting her hands on her apron. "Now come on, eat your breakfast. Today is a big day. The two of you get to summon your Spirits today."

***

What? Do you think I sat back and relaxed for seven years? No, I learned everything I could about this world. When no one was looking, I grabbed books from the bookshelf in our house and read them. If I waited until I grew to the age when I would normally learn all of these things, I would be at a huge disadvantage. I still had Condemner of Sinners to deal with, and I wasn't about to be caught unawares.

Spirits are what grant people power in this world. They are creatures from different realms that make contracts with humans. These humans host them and, in exchange, get to use their Essence.

At seven-years-old, a human's body is strong enough to handle the power of a Spirit. Since it's our birthday, Lorelai and I are going to summon them as early as possible.

Under normal circumstances, we would summon our Spirits and then grow up while learning how to use them.

But these weren't normal circumstances. I had no idea if Condemner of Souls counted as a Spirit or not. Could I summon one while hosting it? Since I couldn't tell anyone about it, I would be forced to go through the ceremony as if I didn't have one.

There were so many unknown variables, so I had no choice but to take the leap. Best case scenario is that I end up not being able to summon anything and I'll be declared "Essence-less." But the worst-case scenario is that they identify what is inside of me and I get executed before I even get to start my life.

I had no option but to bite the bullet.

"Are you two ready?" Mom asked Lorelai and I as we walked into the kitchen, ready to leave.

"We are," Lorelai nodded excitedly.

"Let's just get this over with," I said tiredly.

She raised one eyebrow. "You don't look excited."

"I am," I said blankly.

Lorelai sighed and shook her head. "Boys," she muttered.

I gave her a sidelong smirk and walked over to our mother. "By the way, where's Dad?"

"Your father is helping with the ceremonies," Mom said. "He said he'll meet us there."

My dad was apparently some hotshot Essence Mage. I never understood what it is he does, but he is pretty important, from what I've heard.

"Let's go!" Lorelai grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door.

"You don't have to drag me," I complained, but followed her anyway.

I swear I could feel our mom trying not to laugh at me from behind me.