Annou WE ARE BACK BABY!!!

  It's been a while. I'm three years old now. Let me repeat that: I AM THREE YEARS OLD. I reached that age a couple of days ago.

  Like my first birthday, there wasn't a party per se, but all my family and some guests gathered in a hall of the mansion, I received gratutions from everyone, some presents and they expio me certain things that would happen from now on.

  Let's go with the good news. Did I already say I turhree years old? No? Well, I am three years old! Why am I so happy about it? Well, because at this age I am sidered “self-aware”. Or rather, the correct way in this world would be to say that my soul/sciousness has “awakened” and there are now certain advantages I enjoy.

  For example, I have much more freedom! Now that I walk, I move almost anywhere without falling... if I am careful. And as long as I don't run too fast. I definitely haven't fallen and scraped my hands and knees... nor have I cried. I don't cry!

  …

  Ahem…

  I've also finally given up diapers (not going to talk about that), and I unicate more easily with the rest of the family and servants. It's still hard to speak well though, but I'll talk about that ter.

  Now that I've earhe opportunity to wander; with an escort obviously, at my leisure through a good part of the mansion's grounds, I've realized how really big the Baeliae is. It takes me a long time to walk from one side of the property to the other. Yes, you allude to the fact that I am small and my steps are short, but it is impressive heless. I calcuted that it could be about 400 meters (Basically, a quarter mile) from one side to the other at its lo point.

  Yes, my home is absurdly rge.

  Taking advantage of my freedom, I have tely been taking solo walks through the gardens, the various halls, studies, and other parts of the house. I am familiarizing myself with the structure and the people. Although that may not always be the best thing to do. The truth is, having the freedom to go wherever I want doesn't mean I have to go wherever I want, which has led to some problems. But let's take it oep at a time.

  I am currently on...

  *drum roll*

  The garden!

  What, you expected me to be in my pyroom from when I was younger? Well, no. I've graduated from that pce. Well... not really, I still go there from time to time, but most of my day is spent elsewhere. I even have a proper room now! I eveertais!

  ...not that I do it right now, I'm still too young. But, when I'm 5 years old, ha! My tea parties will be legendary.

  Back to the topic.

  I was currently in the garden taking a walk through the flower beds that were in full bloom. This had bee one of my daily routines since I ermitted to go on my own.

  Of course, my cute exclusive (unofficial) maid, Ameli, is right behind me, making sure I don't hurt myself... or do any mischief. Which I definitely haven't.

  Seriously, I don't do any mischief. The time I came home covered in mud was an act, it wasn't because I thought it was fun to jump in puddles and fall ihat looked suspiciously shallow, but in the end wasn't at all.

  It also doesn't t the time I got covered ihers from sneaking- *cough cough* I mean, actally walking past the Ekus' stables and, pletely ially getting to py with the chicks.

  Anyway, Ameli, my pretty Ameli has grown up too. She has a more mature expression and has bee especially good at her job. She gets things done before I even think to ask and is alrepared for auality. Lately, though, I've noticed her a little stiff and more serious than usual. But I guess it's just because she needs a break. I should talk to Maki about letting her have a few days off.

  Speaking of her, Maki has been a little down since Sarka returo the academy. She left at the beginning of the summer after I celebrated my first year. We said goodbye to my big sister that m amid tears. Mostly mine and Zenya's. But at least she would be back this ing year, so at least we would soon be able to see her again.

  As I said, Maki was somewhat down sihat time, though not enough to sider her sad. However, she sometimes looks a bit nostalgic when my sister's name is mentioned.

  Maki has ged quite a bit from when I first met her. In some ways she's still the same as she always was, only now she smiles a lot more, talks more freely, and, of course, tends to flirt more with Mom whenever she gets the ce. This hasn't been much sin is busy most of the time, but at least Maki is much more open than before. Kind of surprising for an almost 60-year-old female.

  Remember when I said how sometimes it's not the best when you go anywhere? Well, once while expl through the rooms, I opened one and found them very...taogether.

  One of those moments where your parents usually say they're “pying wrestling”, only here it took them a moment to notice my prese took me too long to realize what was going on and Ameli took too long to respond to the situation.

  It was... an enlightening day... I didn't know the Vahs could be used in THAT way. But I'm not going to mention anything else about my mothers love life. Some things are better not to remember.

  The point is that Maki looks so much happier since she showed herself as she is.

  And, since I mentioned Sarka.

  Her girlfriend makes visits to the mansion from time to time. Mostly to meet Maki, who takes her to her private offid they talk for hours. I don't kly what the deal was betweewo of them 2 years ago, but they seem to get along quite well. Nisire even stops by to say hello and py with me every time she es over. She is a sweet girl and very friendly, I like her a lot. I wish she and my sister could be together without any more problems.

  I even found out that Nisire was a knight's apprentiot a squire, but an apprentice. A big step for her and she came to celebrate with us when she ced among the reserves. In other words, she is now officially part of the Order, she will not be sent anywhere but will undergo stant training. Pretty much the same as before, but now it's an official member. It was a very good day.

  “Young dy, it's time for breakfast.” The sweet Ameli voiterrupted my thoughts, callio finish the m walk.

  The flowers were bright today, made even brighter by the m dew that gave them an even more radiant appearance. I picked myself up off the ground as I nodded, and walked beside her, taking her hand as we made our way home.

  The garden looked especially beautiful during the spring. Even though we were already close to the ge of season. The heat was already starting to show and my clothes had adapted to that fact. I was wearing a nice blue summer dress with bck shorts underh. Mom had insisted that I wear them sihat day with the mud act. She didn't like my underwear getting dirty like that at all. She retty upset. So now I'm wearing these shorts that are good at repelling that kind of dirt. Kind of like a hydrophobic fabric. Very ve and magical.

  My walks in the garden were always shortly before breakfast. It is a habit I imposed on myself to keep my body healthy as I used to do in my old world. Although I did not know if they were really of any be to my current species.

  In a few minutes, we finally arrived at the mansion, and quickly made our way to the dining room, where the family was already gathered around the table.

  “Goo monin,” I said giving a small bow to the family, who were quick to return my greeting.

  “Good m my little star.” Dad greeted me, giving me one of his big, full-toothed smiles. He ate breakfast while going through some papers oable. From what I heard, there have been some things going on in the empire that have been keeping him somewhat busy tely, going bad forth from the imperial pace.

  Although he usually smiles when he sees me, his expression has beore serious. He doesn't often escape from his duties as he used to, which has been strange sidering that Dad is, in short, a free spirit. I don't know what's currently going on in the political or socioeiviro of the empire, but if Dad could still afford to have a leisurely breakfast with us, then I don't think I should worry about it for now.

  “Good m honey.” Greeted Mom with her calm, motherly smile. She, well, it's a bit of a surprise to see her today. She's usually busy w on that pure mana stone project she had started with Aunt Kar.

  The business had prospered enough to move on to its phase. Or so I gathered. Lady Dilia, the girl who I still suspect is an elf, had accepted the proposal offered to her and almost every day she came to talk to Mom about different things reted to that business.

  The little I have been able to glean from all this is that they have had few setbacks, the profits have been siderable and they hope to create a small revolution in the magical items industry in the few years.

  I have no idea what that will mean for the future, but it may be a bit like the ercial use of puters, whided up positively affeg a lot of fields.

  The bad news about all this, and which is somewhat tradictory to Mom's inal goal, is that she spends less aime with me and Zenya. At least she has designated a few hours, one day a week to visit ah me, but it feels a bit terproductive to make this whole pn to improve my future and my sister's by abandoning both of us during su important age.

  I 't say I don't uand her, because I do, but my own goal of having a good retionship with my mother has been falling apart because of this, which has made me quite sad. I really wao have a childhood where I had a stroionship with my mother.

  My only sotion is that Mom never fets important dates and whenever she tells me she will do something she does it without fail. I always rely on her because of that.

  Still, it gets lonely.

  This reminds me, during my birthday she told me she reparing a special gift, and she still hasn't given it to me. I wonder what it will be...

  “Good m my little Mishka.” Maki greeted me by getting up from her pd giving me a couple of kisses on my cheeks as she helped me sit o her.

  Ki, as I have grown aced to calling her out loud; as it is easier to say and makes me feel closer to her, has beuch, much more cheerful as I mentioned before. And this is noticeable at the moment. For some reason I don't uand; not pining though, she has started to her tail around me whenever I'm close. Just like now.

  I'm sitting in the chair o her, aail has ed around my waist. The funny thing is that it's not just with me, she does it with Zenya when they are together. I have no idea what the impetus for that is, or what is the purpose, but si's a fluffy, soft, warm tail, I'm never going to pin.

  And speaking of Zenya.

  “Good m, Tya.” I was greeted by my beloved older sister with... well, a much ftter tohan usual. Ah, don't get me wrong, it's not that anything has happened between us, we've actually gotten a lot closer. It's just... well, let me tell you everything that's happened while I enjoy my breakfast.

  Shortly before Sarka left for the academy, Zenya and I were in my pyroom pying as usual. She was making time while Sarka finished with her studies at the library, as she promised her that they would go out for a walk iy iernoon. Seeing that sister did not show up yet, she went to look for her.

  A short time ter, she returned with an expression that was hard to uand. I almost thought Sarka had told her they couldn't go after all, but that wasn't the case. Zenya hugged me and was silent for a while, as she seemed to be thinking deeply about something. I didn't think too much of it at the time, so I just enjoyed having her with me.

  When Sarka finally appeared, my sister let go of me and, with a plicated expression that worried me for a moment, immediately ged to her usual eic smile a with our older sister.

  The day Sarka left, Zenya spent the whole day in her room. She asked for food to be brought to her room and I didn't hear from her until the afternoon of the day when I learhat she was now the one who went to the library and locked herself in there reading various books. Ki, somewhat ed, went and talked. I never knew what the two of them talked about, but after a few days, it was Dad's turn to ehe picture.

  Zenya went to Dad and, again, they talked for a long time until she finally left the office with a relieved aermined expression. From then on, Zenya went to Dad's office every day and stayed there for hours until, when she finally came out, went to py with me.

  It seemed like that would be our new routine, until st year when Zenya and Mom fought. Mom found out what Zenya had been doing and they argued. I couldn't hear more than a few words before Ki ordered Ameli to get me out of the room.

  From the text, Zenya seemed to want to do something family-reted, but Mom was adamantly refusing because of something I couldn't hear.

  It took a couple of months of Dad and Ki trying to vin to let her do whatever Zenya was doing, until finally, and for the third time, they both locked themselves in a room and talked for hours.

  Again, I didn't know what they talked about, only that they had reciled, but from that day on, Zenya ged pletely. She became much more serious, she studied hard and, that childish and cheerful feeling was repced by an aura of a “noble dy”. Not the best way to describe it, but that was the feeling I got.

  She was still my dear sister, whom I admired very much, but she gained some... maturity? And sometimes she felt a bit distant. I didn't know what things she was thinking or pnning, but, despite that attitude, she opped ag like my adored big sister, so there was nothing I could do but be patient a her be.

  Well, that cludes my report about my family. Time to talk about myself, right?

  Let's start with the important stuff!

  “Nita, finish eating.”

  “Y-yesh, Ki.”

  Well, I got so engrossed in Zenya's topic that I fot to eat.

  Back to what I was saying.

  Good news, I'm three years old! And if you're w, yes, I'm going to repeat it until I get bored.

  But seriously speaking, there have been some iing things these st two years. As I said at the beginning, and I think you tell, I still find it a bit difficult to talk. And it wasn't hard to figure out why after doing it more often.

  I'm dumb. Well, no, but yes.

  Let me expin.

  I already expihat my teeth are very different, right? That has to do with it. Having 16 es, fangs, or whatever you want to call them, is not easy. It's scary and it screws up your pronunciation. Especially when you're trying not to actally mutite yourself while speaking. It's happeo me, I've bitten my tongue and the inside of my cheeks a couple of times, though o the point of actually making me bleed too much. But, as you'd expect, it hurts. I mean, those are some damhat tear through flesh like it's freshly baked bread it's going to hurt!

  And it gets worse.

  My tongue is also responsible for all this. It's lohan a human's. How long? Well, I reach a little above the tip of my nose. I don't know how long a human tongue should be on a girl my age, but I'm pretty sure that's not the normal measurement.

  bih of those things with my mind being used to using a human mouth to speak and you have the answer as to why I have trouble pronoung some words.

  Never listen to those isekai where the MC is reborn as a non-human and speaks perfectly. They lie like politis.

  And really, it's not that my family, or anyone else for that matter, expects me at three years old to be fluent, but I would expect improvement in that when I should have gotteo it by now...

  Anyway.

  I finished eating and Ameli came over to wipe off any food residue left on my face, even though there was usually never any. I'm a well-mannered girl... even if the cept is a little different from what I uood oh. We'll talk about that another day. Right now, it was time for one of my favorite things siurned my glorious three. Lessons with Ki!

  “Ready for today, Nita?” said Maki getting up from her chair. My other parents were already gone; including Zenya who followed Dad to his offiow it was just Ki, Ameli, and me.

  I didn't have to get up by myself, as her tail; surprisingly strohan it looked, did it for me, gently putting me on the floor. I quickly took her hand so that we could go together to her office where we normally ducted these lessons.

  This art of those ges that were to e when I had my third birthday. The Maki, acc to the traditions of the Atenosia, was the one who was in charge of teag the children, so this was her responsibility.

  But what did they sist of?

  A lot of things. For example, giving me basiguage lessons, something that normally wouldn't happen, but I'm slower than other kids. It's my mouth's fault that I 't speak properly. Hmph!

  I am also taught basic things reted to my race, my parents' race, some s and traditions, and things reted to self-awareness. As I said, very basic things that as a child I have to learn. In short, they are teag me on sense. And I couldn't be happier that this kind of thing is being done.

  How many times have you seen yeneric isekai protagonist, reborn and doing the most out of on-sehings in their new world, or even the old o's as if they never had any on seo begin with. I was a bit sick of seeing the MC suddenly learn that magic exists and ihan two pages cast a nuke-level fire spell and think that was the “normal” thing to do in that world, or even substandard.

  I don't know what the hell the authors think sometimes when they do that....

  We advahrough the corridors to Maki's offid entered immediately. The room was still as normal as ever, with bookshelves with some books and dots, few decorations on the walls, and the tral desk he window with many papers stacked on it. The sofas are to one side, for receiving guests, and the only out-of-the-ordinary feature is a small chair to one side of the desk.

  “Go and sit-down Nita, I'll be with you in a moment.”

  At her and, I quickly went to that chair and sat down expetly. Ki is a very good teacher, but quite serious about it. If I make a mistake or say something wrong, she has the patieo slowly correct me, no matter how many times she has to repeat herself.

  I followed her with my eyes as she reached for a notebook on one of the shelves, ope, and checked the notes inside. She o herself and walked back towards the desk, where she sat down and looked at me with a soft smile.

  “I already taught you about the days of the week and the months. Last time we went over the names of the family's races and some of the servants.” Maki hummed thoughtfully, toug the tip of her h her index finger; a habit I noticed she had when she was thinking deeply while rexed. Then she o herself again, having e to a decision. “How about we go over them to see if you remember correctly, and then ractice your pronunciation a bit?”

  I nodded in response, ready for this little surprise “test”. I took a deep breath, getting ready to begin.

  “Okay.” Ki smiled as she stood in front of me. “So, tell me what each day of the week is called.”

  I quickly remembered the names and quickly answered. “Da fis day, Misaa, Da sego-”

  “Nita. what did I tell you?” Ki interrupted me and immediately threw that question out with a slight frown.

  I tried to think what she meant and quickly realized.

  Oh... I lowered my head in embarrassment at the realization. “Ponance well...”

  “Correct, pronounce well. Let’s try again.” Ki crouched down in front of me, pg herself at my eye level. In a soft, sympathetic voice, she enced me “It's okay if you take your time, but try to pronounce each word correctly, so you get the hang of it. okay?”

  I nodded, ready tain as she asked. “The, first, day, Mi-sa-ra” I pronouhe first sentence as best I could while staring at Ki, waiting for her approval. She nodded, urgio tihe, sed, day, A-le-mis. The, third, day, Di-ari-sa...” I paused, realizing a faint sign on Ki's face that told me I made a mistake about something. I went over the third day again in my mind, until I remembered that it was Diarika. I o myself and tried again. “Di-ari-ka?”

  “Very good Nita. You're doing well, keep going.”

  “The, fourth, day, Su-ran-da. The, fifth, day, Ni-vha... Ni-va-ra. And, the, sixth, day, Se... Ce... She... Ki, how you say st?”

  Ki started ughing at my attempt to pronouhe st word but quickly signaled me to say it with her.

  “Ze.”

  “Zhe?”

  “No, no. Look and listen, Ze. ZE.”

  “Z-ze”

  “Good. Now, phi.”

  “Phi.”

  “Ras.”

  “Ras.”

  “Ze-phi-ras.”

  “Ze-phi-ras.”

  “Very good.” Ki praised me as she stroked my head. Pronoung some words well was difficult, but with a teacher like her, I could take my time to learn it the right way.

  Now, you may ask, what was all this for? Well, as Maki said, it was to help me with my pronunciation. And obviously to see if I was able to remember things correctly. From what I uood, children in this world are taught from a very early age, with great care and attention, hoping that they i with the world quickly, but also as good as possible. Surprisingly, even among oners, there is a very high literacy rate. Why do I know this? Something Ki mentioned on the first day.

  She stood up and walked to the desk where she picked up some papers that were on top of it. Then, anizing them, she showed me the first one.

  “Nita, you remember where the name Miltara es from?” The first picture i of the biggest sun in the sky. A drawing of a rge, yellow sun.

  I nodded remembering that lesson. “Mil-ta-ra, is the home, of Er-ka. It's in Mita, big, sister.”

  “Very good, that's right. Perfectly done, Nita.”

  The days of the week seemed to be one of the most on ways to teach children because they represent the names Erka and Erias have used throughout history. Both are the Pilrs that are most associated with children. For some reason that was the main reason why this method was used. However, it also had to do with the fact that the names seemed to have a good bance of difficult to pronound easy to remember.

  Miltara is the name of the home built in Mita, where Erka is said to live. Alemis was the first name by which Erka was knowhe pilrs still walked among mortals. Depicted as a slender woman, with brown skin, long golden hair tied in a braid with several ribbons ad it, and bright white eyes. Diarika is the first h which she was registered in written form, and that, over the years, was ged until it remained as Erka. The image that Ki showed me was its written form.

  In Erias' case, Suranda, which, as with Miltara, is how the home Erias inhabits in Sura is known, is the smallest star and of a bluish hue.

  What? What do you mean I never mentiohat? Well, now you know. Mita is a yellow sun, and Sura is a small sun of bluish hue.1

  Nivara, the name she used while traveling the world with her sister, is depicted as a thinner and smaller woman, her skin is paler than her sister's, loose wavy hair of a silvery white, with eyes of an almost ethereal light blue. And Zephiras, her first written version that ended up evolving into Erias, as she is currently known. And again, the image Ki showed me was its written version.

  With each thing Ki showed me, I had to say the name and where the name came from. Both she and Ameli; who, by the way, yes, she was with us, would appud and gratute me with every guess I made.

  Finally, as we were about to move on to the hing, there was a knock at the door, and one of the maids announg herself.

  “Madam Fiana, I am Felia, I bring some letters for you... and also for the young dy.”

  For me? Who could write me a letter?

  Raising an eyebrow, curious as I was, Ki o Ameli who quickly allowed Felia to ehe room. The girl gracefully advao us, holding a few letters in her hand which she immediately hao my seother. After giving us a salute, of course.

  There were about 4 letters that she read on the spot, pg them on the desk as she fihem. It seemed like they were nothing urgent, as there was no ge in her expression, but by the time she got to the st one, she opened her eyes wide, and then looked at me with a mischievous smile, almost as if she had e up with a way to tease me. I was very curious, so I got up from my chair, and, when I took the first step...

  “Nita, no. What have I told you when we're here?”

  “...” I immediately sat down again. Ki had told me that, as long as I was taking these csses, I had to remaied until she instructed me otherwise. Something to do with etiquette. “Keep seat unti Ki says,” I replied before sighing somewhat annoyed. It felt a little unfair.

  “You don't have to be mad about that,” Ki said with a small ugh. “It doesn't do you any good to hurry up a if you 't read it anyway.”

  “...” I had to admit she was right about that; and, while I hoped to learn soon, that didn't take away my desire to see it.

  “I'll give you the aer, you may go Felia.”

  “Yes, ma'am.”

  Felia curtsied, gave me a discreet good bye, a immediately. Maki approached me with the letter in hand and I noticed something very important about it that made my eyes widen in surprise, as well as excitement.

  “Oh? Have you noticed who the letter is from?” she asked with some mischief in her voice. Her expression revealed that she was ready to tease me at any moment.

  But that didn't matter to me, I nodded without a sed's hesitation. That letter was one I didn't expect to receive but wao receive. That Heraldic seal was ohat I reized very easily; it was the coat of arms of the Nazzik house.

  FivesZeta