Chapter 10: Peaceful Life
In the peaceful village of Bramblehaven, surrounded by vast green fields stretching under Aerthos' blue skies, time continued to flow.
Seasons passed, and the once-helpless crying baby had now grown to about ten months old.
He was still small, but his body had filled out; his cheeks were chubby, and his eyes sparkled with clever curiosity.
Desmond. That was the name given to him by his new parents, still held onto the deep frustration from his unwanted transmigration.
Sometimes, he sat lost in thought, remembering his family, his friends, and the life he once had in the modern world.
But he knew there was no point in endlessly grieving.
Since that cursed die incident, and the appearance of that eccentric System, he had decided to focus all his energy on one main goal:
Going back to his original world.
To do that, he needed to understand this new world, its powers, and how it worked.
He could already sit up steadily on his own, crawl quickly, and even try to stand.
His tiny muscles were slowly growing stronger as they adapted to his new body. He had gotten to know his new parents quite well by now.
There was Celestine, his mother, with beautifully wavy black hair, a stunning face, and an elegant aura that made her seem like a noblewoman, even though they lived in a simple village.
Then there was Cassian, his father, with short brown hair, an athletic build, and a warm smile that could soothe anyone. Cassian was a strong father who loved his family deeply.
That morning, like always, Desmond woke up in his crib. He stretched his little limbs, trying to loosen up his muscles.
His eyes fell on the edge of the crib. Determined, he began to try to stand. His tiny hands grabbed the wooden rails, and his feet kicked and shuffled, searching for balance.
I need to learn how to stand and walk as soon as possible. By the time I'm three, I have to start understanding everything about this world! he thought fiercely.
He struggled, his small muscles trembling, his face turning red with effort. Slowly, with a bit of wobble, he managed to lift himself up, standing tall for a few seconds even though his legs were still shaky.
A proud smile spread across his toothless lips. This was an achievement!
Damn, I didn't think it would be this hard. No wonder my little Sister back home didn't start walking until she was fifteen months old.
Just then, the door to his room creaked open softly. Celestine walked in with her graceful steps, holding a bundle of freshly folded laundry. Her eyes immediately fell on her son, wide with surprise and delight.
A bright, joyful smile spread across Celestine's beautiful face when she saw Desmond standing tall in his crib.
"Cassian! Cassian, come here!" she called out excitedly, her voice full of glee.
She dropped the laundry on the nearest chair and rushed to the doorway, calling for her husband again. "Hurry up! Desmond… Desmond is standing already!"
Not long after, the sound of heavy but fast footsteps approached.
"Are you serious, Celestine?" he called back, his voice full of surprise and excitement. Cassian appeared at the doorway, his face alight with curiosity and excitement.
When he saw his tiny son standing upright, gripping the crib's rails, he burst out into a loud, hearty laugh.
The laugh was warm and contagious, filling the room with a bright, joyful energy.
"Hahaha! Look at him, Celestine! Our boy is amazing!" Cassian exclaimed, his eyes glowing with pride.
He stepped closer, his strong, athletic frame radiating a comforting strength.
"I knew it! Didn't I say he'd grow up to be a mighty knight! Look at those little muscles of his, he's born strong!"
Celestine shook her head, though her smile never faded.
"No, Cassian. He won't be a knight. My child is meant to be a Polaris Master! Look at how curious he is about everything around him, how sharp his eyes are when he studies things. He's smart! He has the soul of a scholar!"
"Polaris Master? Oh, come on, Celestine. He's only ten months old! You know boys like us never cared much about books. One day, he'll become the most handsome knight in all of Avarion. Just wait and see!" Cassian insisted, though his voice was gentle, laced with playful teasing.
"No, knights are too dangerous. I don't want my child getting hurt. He will be the best mage in Polaris Academy, you'll see!" Celestine countered, her eyes shining with fierce determination.
They continued their gentle argument, a scene Desmond had seen many times since he got "stuck" in this little body.
They always argued about his future, whether he would become a powerful knight like his father dreamed, or a wise mage like his mother wished.
Desmond listened, though all he could do was grumble inwardly. He didn't care what they wanted him to be in this world. The only thing he truly wanted was to go home.