Time: ????
“What…. Is this?”
It was a strange feeling, suddenly being aware after a while of… not being aware. But that feeling itself did not come without its drawbacks. The world around him was pitch-black, like an inky void that swallowed the little bits of light in his surroundings. He was weightless, adrift in a vast expanse of… liquid.
It was not cold… and definitely not hot… but warm? Yeah… warm water pressing gently against his skin, like a soft, soothing embrace… and it felt.
Right…?
Attempting to open his eyes proved futile, as some kind of fleshy membrane prevented him from doing so. The first instinct of a creature that has suddenly lost the ability to use one of its five senses would be fear, but that feeling of fear was quickly washed away by a warmth that suddenly wrapped around him like a comforting blanket. Before long, the worry faded into the lower spectrum of his mind, leaving only the peaceful pull of drowsiness as he surrendered to it.
His multiple arms went still, his body shivering for a moment before curling inward into itself like a fetus, the familiar instinct of protection taking over as his form sought a position of safety. His eyes, or lack thereof, faded away into the void where they once were. With a final shudder, his body fell once again into a deep, dreamless sleep.
<hr>
Time: ????
“Frolven dex mig sarvo.”
Sounds...
they were, weird... and definitely didn''t sound like the English he was familiar with. He didn''t know quite well when he began to hear them, but it was most likely a week after that light suddenly burst into the deep that he began to hear strange noises all around him.
And he was no longer alone… A tiny face drifted beside him in the water, its features soft and indistinct. A thin, cord-like appendage stretched from his navel, snaking upward toward the unseen ceiling of this strange place. The boy, suspended in the gentle currents, remained blissfully unaware of his quiet companion.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Looking at his companion wasn''t healthy, as he felt like eating him each time he looked at him. He silenced those urges as quickly as they came, though, and slapped away any of his tentacles that tried to reach out for the boy.
One might assume that insanity would have claimed him after spending so long in this place, utterly alone, without a single soul to interact with. But no, insanity never took hold of him. Instead, he discovered a peculiar pastime.
Occasionally, strange lights would drift into the void. He had no idea what they were, but he quickly realized how effortlessly they responded to his thoughts. They twisted, shifted, and transformed at his will, bending to his imagination. It was exhilarating and almost enjoyable.
If only the agonized screams that tore through the void each time he shaped the lights into fire didn’t shatter the moment. Then, perhaps, he might have truly loved it. Absorbing them was even more satisfying. They were crunchy and strangely smooth on the tongue, a bit tasteless, yes, yet they filled him with energy.
It was also at that time that he realized he had been reincarnated, though the specifics of how he died still remained a mystery to him. But he had some remnants of his past life.
Gathering all the tentacles sprouting from his back, he wrapped them tightly around himself, forming a protective cocoon. Enveloped in their embrace, he let out a slow breath and surrendered to the comforting pull of sleep.
By the time he woke up, he was sure that he was going to see the sunlight.
<hr>
Time: 6:58 a.m. Year: 427 A.D.E. Timeline: 5th century DCE.
It was a grim day for the village. A big festival had been arranged to celebrate the expected arrival of the chieftain''s wife''s baby, who could arrive at any time. The village mages, regular visitors keeping an eye on her health, thought that the Etheris disturbance in the air indicated the birth of a truly powerful sorcerer or mage. However, when the time came for the baby to be born, what happened was nothing short of a tragedy.
It was no secret that the chieftain was deeply infatuated with his cousin, and it was those feelings that led to them eventually forming a relationship. Eventually, the two wanted to have a child, even though they had been warned about the potential consequences. Their offspring could be born with deformities, face grave complications, or even be cursed from the start. Yet, against all odds, their affection for each other was undeniable. They completely ignored the warnings and went ahead with their relationship, leading to the arrival of their child.
Sophia gave birth to two sons, Octavius and Thalos, both of whom were afflicted by a terrible curse. Octavius suffered from extreme malnutrition and fragile bones, rendering him incapable of using magic. On the other hand, Thalos was born with devilish features, including horns, multiple hands, and skin as pale as snow, along with teeth that appeared beastly. Despite possessing a significant amount of Etheris, he was rejected by the path of eternal procession.
Consequently, the king and his holiness decreed that both children should be executed, viewing their existence as punishment for the wrongdoings of the chieftain and his wife. The arrival of these ill-fated children, believed to be the consequence of their illicit romance, was interpreted as a clear message of divine retribution. The village, which had once brimmed with hope and expectation for a mighty heir, now found itself engulfed in chaos.
Despite being children without any influence over the circumstances that led to their birth, they were still sentenced to death for their mere existence. Such a senseless pity. their parents passionately fought for their well-being. It was decided that both children would be carefully tracked regarding their development, although the kingdom would not officially acknowledge them as its own.
Following that, the finest doctors the village could procure were summoned to attend to Thalos, and soon after, the tentacle protruding from his back was successfully extracted.