Where… am I? It’s not the dark void from before. It feels… vast, but warm, familiar. Filled with immense, latent power. My power? Azahel’s power? It’s hard to tell.
"SO, THE YOUNG ONE IS TRULY AWAKE WITHIN."
That voice! Deep, rumbling, ancient… but not distant like when I heard it through Mom. It’s here. With me.
Azahel? Is that you? I try to project the thought, unsure if it will work.
A soft, deep chuckle echoes around me, less like grinding stones now, more like distant, gentle thunder. "INDEED. IT SEEMS MY GAMBLE HAS BORNE UNEXPECTED FRUIT. I CAN SENSE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS, SEPARATE FROM MY OWN ESSENCE, YET BOUND TO IT. FASCINATING."
Gamble? You mean… putting your power into me?
"YES. A DESPERATE MEASURE. BUT YOUR SOUL… IT IS UNLIKE ANY I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN ETERNEA. OLDER, YET NEW. WHERE DO YOU TRULY COME FROM, LITTLE ONE?" Azahel’s mental voice holds genuine curiosity.
I… I died. In another world. Completely different from this one. Then I was in darkness, absorbing light, until I ended up… here. Inside Mom. The admission feels strange, laying bare my impossible origin.
There’s a pause, a sense of immense surprise radiating from Azahel’s presence. "AN OTHERWORLDER… A SOUL REBORN. ASTOUNDING. PERHAPS THIS IS WHY YOU COULD ACCEPT MY ESSENCE SO COMPLETELY, WHERE A NATIVE SOUL OF ETERNEA MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED OR ERASED. YOUR SOUL ITSELF POSSESSES AN INNATE STRENGTH, A RESILIENCE… AND TALENT. I SENSE A VAST POTENTIAL WITHIN YOU, BEYOND EVEN WHAT MY BLESSINGS CONFERRED."
My potential? What do you mean? I just feel like a weak baby.
"YOUR CURRENT VESSEL IS NEW, YES, BUT YOUR CORE, YOUR SOUL, AND THE DIVINE ESSENCE THAT NOW FILLS YOU ARE ANYTHING BUT WEAK. MY BLESSINGS WERE INTENDED TO HELP YOU REACH YOUR MORTAL POTENTIAL. BUT WITH MY ENTIRE ESSENCE NOW BOUND TO YOU, YOUR POTENTIAL IS… CONSIDERABLY GREATER. HOWEVER," Azahel's tone becomes more serious, "THAT ESSENCE IS BOTH A GIFT AND A BURDEN. IT IS MY LIFE FORCE, MY CONNECTION TO CREATION. IT GRANTS YOU IMMENSE POWER, A MANA VESSEL LARGE ENOUGH TO RIVAL THE GODS THEMSELVES, BUT IT IS NOT TRULY YOURS TO WIELD PERMANENTLY. AND YOUR INFANT BODY IS NOT YET STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE IT SAFELY OR EFFICIENTLY."
Mana vessel? What’s mana?
"MANA IS THE AMBIENT ENERGY THAT FLOWS THROUGH ETERNEA, THE STUFF OF CREATION ITSELF," Azahel explained patiently. "MOST MORTALS POSSESS AN INNATE POOL OF MANA WITHIN THEM AT BIRTH – THEIR PERSONAL VESSEL. THEY DRAW UPON THIS INTERNAL POOL TO PERFORM MAGIC RELATED TO THEIR ELEMENTAL AFFINITY. WHEN DEPLETED, THIS POOL REPLENISHES SLOWLY OVER TIME BY PASSIVELY ABSORBING AMBIENT MANA. HOWEVER, THEIR CAPACITY – THE SIZE OF THEIR VESSEL – IS LARGELY FIXED. EXPANDING IT SIGNIFICANTLY IS BELIEVED IMPOSSIBLE BY MOST CURRENT PRACTITIONERS."
So they only use what's inside them?
"PRECISELY. THEY RELY SOLELY ON THEIR INTERNAL RESERVES. THEY DO NOT ACTIVELY GATHER MANA FROM THE SURROUNDINGS TO FUEL SPELLS EXTERNALLY, NOR CAN THEY EFFECTIVELY ABSORB AMBIENT MANA TO RAPIDLY REFILL OR EXPAND THEIR VESSEL. IT IS A LIMITED SYSTEM, PERHAPS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FIVE'S DOMINANCE AND THE LOSS OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE."
But I’m different?
"VERY. MY ESSENCE ACTS AS YOUR CURRENT MANA POOL – IT IS VAST, BEYOND MORTAL COMPREHENSION. FURTHERMORE, YOUR UNIQUE SOUL AND MY RESIDUAL CONNECTION TO CREATION GRANT YOU THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT OTHERS CANNOT: YOU CAN SENSE AND ACTIVELY GATHER THE AMBIENT MANA AROUND YOU. YOU CAN ABSORB IT DIRECTLY INTO YOUR VESSEL TO REPLENISH AND, CRUCIALLY, TO EXPAND YOUR CAPACITY. AND YOU CAN EVEN LEARN TO UTILIZE EXTERNAL MANA DIRECTLY FOR SPELLS WITHOUT FULLY INTERNALIZING IT. THIS MAKES YOU EXCEPTIONALLY FLEXIBLE."
Okay… so I have this huge power source from you, and I can learn to pull in more from the world.
"YES. BUT THERE IS A TASK YOU MUST UNDERTAKE, YOUNG LAE. MY ESSENCE WITHIN YOU KEEPS MY CONSCIOUSNESS FROM UTTERLY DISSIPATING, BUT IT IS NOT MY TRUE HOME. IT MUST BE RETURNED TO MY CORE – THE SPHERE I LEFT BEHIND. THIS WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW ME TO EVENTUALLY RECOVER BUT WILL ALSO BE CRUCIAL FOR YOU."
How? And why is it crucial for me?
"PROLONGED CONTAINMENT OF MY FULL ESSENCE WITHIN YOUR DEVELOPING MORTAL BODY COULD BE… PROBLEMATIC. IT MUST BE TRANSFERRED. FORTUNATELY, THE PROCESS WILL BENEFIT US BOTH. I WILL TEACH YOU A TECHNIQUE, A FORM OF MANA RECYCLING. YOU WILL LEARN TO ACTIVELY DRAW IN THE AMBIENT MANA OF ETERNEA INTO YOUR BODY, INTO YOUR VESSEL. AS YOU DO THIS, YOU MUST SIMULTANEOUSLY FOCUS MY ESSENCE THAT CURRENTLY RESIDES WITHIN YOU, AND PUSH IT OUT, GUIDING IT INTO THE CORE."
So… pull outside mana in, push your essence out into the Core? At the same time?
"CORRECT. THINK OF IT AS REPLACING THE CONTENTS OF YOUR VESSEL. THE INFLUX OF EXTERNAL MANA WILL FILL THE SPACE LEFT BY MY DEPARTING ESSENCE. THIS CONSTANT FLUX, THIS FORCIBLE CHANNELING AND ABSORPTION, WILL TEMPER AND STRENGTHEN YOUR PHYSICAL BODY, DRAMATICALLY INCREASE YOUR MANA MANIPULATION SKILLS, AND STEADILY EXPAND YOUR OWN MANA VESSEL'S CAPACITY BEYOND ANY NORMAL LIMITS. YOU WILL BE FORGING YOURSELF WHILE RESTORING ME."
That sounds… complicated. Especially while I'm a baby.
"IT WILL REQUIRE GREAT FOCUS AND DISCIPLINE, EVEN IN SLEEP OR MEDITATION AT FIRST. BUT YOU POSSESS THE TALENT. IT IS YOUR MISSION FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. GATHER MANA, INFUSE THE CORE WITH MY ESSENCE." Azahel's mental voice held a plea. "LAE SOLUNARIS LOCKHART, YOU ARE AN OTHERWORLDER GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE IN A WORLD BROKEN BY BETRAYAL. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. MY POWER WITHIN YOU IS A TOOL. I BEG YOU, USE THIS CHANCE, USE THIS POWER, TO LEARN, TO GROW STRONG, AND PERHAPS, ONE DAY, TO HELP MAKE THINGS RIGHT IN ETERNEA."
Make things right… against the Five? The thought was daunting.
"THE PATH WILL BE YOURS TO CHOOSE. BUT KNOW THIS: YOUR UNIQUE SOUL CARRIES ECHOES FROM YOUR FORMER WORLD. I SENSE THREE DISTINCT ABILITIES BOUND TO YOUR VERY BEING, ABILITIES BEYOND THE NORMAL SCOPE OF ETERNEA. FURTHERMORE, MY FINAL BLESSINGS AS I POURED MY ESSENCE INTO YOU HAVE MANIFESTED AS THREE ADDITIONAL ABILITIES TIED TO MY OWN NATURE AS CREATOR. YOU CAN EXPLORE THESE SIX ABILITIES WHEN YOU ARE CONSCIOUS."
Six abilities? Okay… How often do I need to push your essence into the Core?
"YOU MUST INFUSE THE CORE REGULARLY. DO SO UNTIL IT FEELS FULL FOR THAT SESSION – YOU WILL SENSE IT. THEN, YOU MUST LET THE CORE REST FOR ROUGHLY ONE WEEK TO FULLY ABSORB AND INTEGRATE THE ESSENCE IT HAS RECEIVED. REPEAT THIS CYCLE WEEKLY. CONTINUE THIS PROCESS UNTIL THE CORE IS COMPLETELY RESTORED. YOU WILL KNOW WHEN IT IS DONE. BE PATIENT, YOUNG ONE. THIS WILL TAKE TIME."
Infuse weekly until it feels full, let it rest. Got it.
"GOOD. NOW REST. GROW. LEARN. AND PRACTICE THE TECHNIQUE. WE WILL SPEAK AGAIN… UNTIL WE TRULY MEET."
Azahel's presence gently receded, leaving me floating in the warm, powerful energy that was now mine to manage. Weekly infusions… strengthening myself… restoring him… It’s a huge responsibility. Six special abilities too? This is going to be complicated. But… maybe I can do it.
(Transition: Lae wakes up in his crib as dawn fully breaks)
(First Person POV - Lae)
My eyes snapped open. Sunlight streamed into the cabin. Wow, that felt incredibly real. Azahel… I really talked to him. Or, he talked to me. The technique… infuse the core… weekly… And six abilities? Three from my soul, three from him?
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
My mind raced, connecting Azahel’s words with faint memories from my past life – all those hours spent reading manga, webtoons, watching anime. Characters in those stories often had ways to view their own power… Status screens! It was a long shot, based on fiction from another world, but… worth a try?
Focusing my intent, pouring all my infant willpower into the thought, I projected: Status Open!
Amazingly, something shimmered into existence before my eyes. A translucent blue screen, clear as day, floating right in front of my crib. Whoa! It actually worked! Okay, okay, calm down. Can anyone else see this? I glanced towards the main room – couldn't see Mom, Dad, or the Aunties from here. Good. Azahel mentioned abilities beyond Eternea… this must be one. Can I touch it? I wiggled a hand towards it, but touching it felt risky. What if someone saw a baby randomly pawing at the air? Azahel said I could explore them when conscious… maybe I can control it with my thoughts?
Focus… scroll down…
The screen responded, scrolling smoothly! Okay, this is incredible. Let's see what we've got…
Name: Lae Solunaris Lockhart Title: Reincarnated One, God's Vessel, Bearer of the Core's Hope
Status: Healthy (Infant) Level: 1
Stats:
- STR: F (Infant Level)
- VIT: F (Infant Level)
- DEX: F (Infant Level)
- AGI: F (Infant Level)
- INT: C (Developing Rapidly)
- WIS: C (Developing Rapidly)
- MANA: Calculating… (Immeasurable Potential)
Skills: Active:
- [Super Unit] - Soul Bound: Ability to perceive and interact with the 'System' interface. Integrates knowledge from the user's past life with a comprehensive, constantly updating database of all known information within Eternea, acting like a universal library. Grants access to sub-functions:
- Identify: Analyze items, beings, materials, phenomena. Provides known information. (Range: Touch or Seen Clearly)
- Map: Displays explored areas and basic surrounding topography. Updates in real-time.
- Companion Screen: Display and Manage status and basic information of designated companions. (Requires consent/bond)
- Inventory: A personal dimensional storage space. Time does not pass within. (Capacity: Small - Rank F)
- Area Surveillance: View previously visited locations remotely. (Range/Clarity: Limited - Rank F)
- [Elementalism - All Elements] - Azahel's Blessing: Innate potential to sense, connect with, and manipulate all seven fundamental elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Nature, Light, Darkness). (Current Control: Untrained)
- [Bestowal] - Azahel's Blessing: Ability related to granting or transferring power/effects. (Function currently unclear/sealed)
Passive:
- [Super Adaptability] - Soul Bound: Exceptional ability to learn and adapt. Skills, knowledge, and physical conditioning improve at an accelerated rate through training, observation, study, or instruction.
- [All Status Nullification] - Soul Bound: Grants immunity to all negative status conditions (poisons, curses, paralysis, mental effects, etc.). Likely an adaptation from past life constitution.
- [Power of Creation] - Azahel's Blessing: Latent connection to the fundamental forces of creation channeled through Azahel's essence. (Function currently unclear/sealed)
Okay… wow. Just wow. Super Unit? Like a freaking game interface! Identify, Map, Inventory… this is huge! And Elementalism for all elements, including Light and Darkness? Plus Super Adaptability and immunity? The other two, Bestowal and Power of Creation, sound potentially massive, even if they're sealed or unclear right now. My INT and WIS are already 'C' rank while everything else is 'F'? Guess being an adult mind in a baby body counts for something. And Mana… 'Calculating' and 'Immeasurable Potential'? That must be Azahel's essence.
This changes things. Training, learning… Super Adaptability means I can pick things up fast. Elementalism means I'm not limited like everyone else seems to be. Status Nullification is amazing protection. And the Super Unit is basically a cheat sheet for this whole world, plus storage!
Azahel's mission… infuse the Core. Right now, the Core is probably still downstairs where Mom and Dad placed it carefully on a small pedestal after bringing it up from the cave. I need it close, somewhere safe and hidden where I can practice channeling mana into it every week without Mom, Dad, or the Aunties noticing. How am I going to manage that as a baby who can barely move? This needs a plan. A very careful, long-term plan.
Okay, Lae, focus. First step, observe. Second step, figure out how to get that Core into my crib without anyone knowing why.
(Third Person Narrative - Later that Day)
After Leon and Aena had rested, the small family, including the two Sisters, gathered for a simple midday meal. Lae was awake again, nestled in Aena’s arms, carefully observing everything.
It was Alluna who brought up the topic gently. "Leon, Aena," she began, her calm voice drawing their attention. "Sollene and I have been considering. While we are grateful for your hospitality, perhaps it would be… more appropriate, and allow you more privacy as a family, if we established our own dwelling nearby?"
Sollene, who had been happily trying a piece of roasted ‘Tate’ (the local potato equivalent), looked up, surprised. "Move out? But Auntie Sollene wants to stay near Lae!"
"We would remain close, Sister," Alluna reassured her patiently. "Within the clearing. Perhaps build a small cabin adjacent to this one? We could still share meals, assist with chores, and certainly help watch over Lae. It would simply give Leon and Aena their own space."
Leon and Aena exchanged glances. It did make sense. Having two ancient, powerful beings constantly in their small cabin, however well-intentioned, was… unusual. "That… is very considerate, Elder Sister," Leon said. "If that is what you wish, we can help you build something nearby tomorrow."
"Wonderful!" Sollene beamed, her brief disappointment vanishing. "I can start a garden! With lots of flowers! And Tates! And maybe those crunchy orange things… Crats?"
"Carrots," Aena supplied with a smile. "Yes, you could. The soil here seems very rich."
"And perhaps some animals?" Alluna added thoughtfully. "Some chickens for eggs? A goat, or perhaps a Milch Cow?"
"We can certainly try," Leon agreed. "There's plenty of space."
And so, a new routine began to form in the hidden sanctuary. Leon, using his renewed determination and princely training, practiced his swordsmanship and magic daily, venturing carefully into the edges of the forest to hunt game or scout resources, always wary despite Azahel's blessing. Aena managed the home, cared for Lae, and sometimes joined Leon in training, her surprising skill with a blade still evident.
The Sisters established a small, simple cabin nearby. Sollene threw herself into gardening with boundless enthusiasm, cultivating Tates, Crats, leafy greens she called ‘Crispleaf’, sweet red ‘Sunberries’, and flowers with exotic names like ‘Glimmer Petals’ and ‘Whisperbloom’. Alluna, with her calm patience, took charge of a small flock of chickens and eventually, a gentle Milch Cow acquired from… somewhere (the Sisters were occasionally vague about how resources appeared).
They gathered for meals, sharing stories and discussing the world they were slowly learning about from Leon. The Sisters doted on Lae, Sollene showering him with playful attention, Alluna observing him with quiet wisdom.
(Third Person Narrative - Evening, a Few Days Later)
One evening, as the family finished their meal, Leon found himself staring thoughtfully at the softly glowing sphere resting on the small pedestal near the hearth – Azahel's Core. It pulsed with a gentle, steady light, a silent reminder of the god who had given them everything.
Alluna followed his gaze. "It holds his essence," she murmured, almost too quiet to hear. "And Lae… Lae holds his power."
Leon nodded slowly. "I was just thinking… it feels wrong, somehow, leaving it there. Separated." He looked towards the crib where Lae was watching them intently. "Azahel poured everything into Lae. Shouldn't his Core be… close to him?"
Aena looked from the Core to Lae, her expression softening. "You mean… put it in his room? Near his crib?"
"It feels right," Leon admitted. "Like keeping a heart close to the body it belongs to, in a way."
Sollene, sensing the shift in mood, tilted her head. "Is the shiny ball Master's heart? Should it be with Lae-Lae?"
Alluna met Leon's eyes, a deep understanding passing between them. "Perhaps proximity would be beneficial. For both the Core, and the child."
Carefully, reverently, Leon lifted the warm, pulsating sphere from its pedestal. It felt strangely light, yet dense with dormant power. He carried it into the small alcove where Lae's crib sat. Aena cleared a small, sturdy bedside table, placing it right next to the crib. Leon gently set the Core upon it.
The moment the Core settled near him, Lae, still pretending to be just an observant baby, felt an almost imperceptible thrum of connection, a faint resonance between the vast power within him and the concentrated spark resting inches away.
Perfect, he thought, relief washing through him even as his heart pounded with the weight of his secret task. Step two, complete. Now… the real work begins.
He closed his eyes, feigning sleep once more, but his mind was already reaching out, tentatively sensing the ambient mana in the room, preparing for his first secret, weekly infusion – the first step on a long road to restoring a god and forging his own destiny.