SSS Rank Sword Mage: Awakening Starts with Weakest Mana Affinity Chapter 2: My New Name and Mother

Where am I...? Sigh. I doubt anybody would hear through my thoughts. Let try shouting out...

*Shout*

huh, I can't speak? Strange.

What is this place? I can't see anything. Is it because there's nothing to see? Or am I completely blind? Oh no, did I lose my eyesight but was I dically treated after the accident? Nooo no I highly doubt that kind of accident could be dically solved. I couldn't be brought back to life after such an impact. Being blind is hard! I'd rather go deaf. But why would I choose one over the other? Stupid.

Wait, yeah, that's right I rember now. Didn't I just get hit by a truck? Sigh, hope that kid didn't get traumatized by my death. Sigh. After all, I felt good giving wise advice. I would have made a great dad well, cough cough, that was if I didn't just die a virgin.

All that work left with no ti to really socialize. Sure, I interacted with colleagues during mandatory work events, but it was never with the intention of making real friends. Honestly, I think my past experiences especially with my siblings played a big part in that. Those relationships left a mark, and over ti, I just stopped trying. I figured it was easier to focus on myself. You know? Sigh.

Anyways, where was I? Ohhh

Shouldn't I be dead by now…?

Why am I especially conscious of my thoughts? That's not supposed to happen, right? Unless…

Well, I do believe in the afterlife, but this is definitely not what I expected, in all honesty. It's far from that.

And the weirdest part? I feel so warm. All around , I feel it.

Warm.

Cozy.

Like the feeling you get on a cold, rainy day after months of relentless heat

when you finally curl up under soft sheets, and everything just feels… soooo good. One of the best feelings i tell ya.

Comfort in its purest form.

It's... kinda annoyingly nice, considering what I just went through to experience this much comfort.

If I were to be precise with my explanation on how it felt, it's like, ummm... like I'm being cradled inside a perfectly regulated environnt.

Not too hot. Not too cold.

It's… infuriatingly pleasant like it wants to forget all my worries and fears.

According to everything I know about dying, I should be freezing right now. Yeah, that's right. With the kind of impact I just experienced, my blood should be draining out of my body either gushing out, oozing all over the place, or pouring out of my mouth, eyes… all over my body.

Then the hypothermia should be kicking in. Cold limbs. Tingling fingers. Fading vision.

I guess it has already faded my vision, because why can't I still see a damn thing?

I should be gasping for air

Not this… heated blanket of safety all around .

Wait, why can't I move my head?

Actually… Why can't I move anything?

Am I... crippled?

Shit.

Wait. No. I can feel my arms. My hands. My legs too.phew

But they're all… curled up?

Everything's tucked in tight.

My posture, it's like a curved-up ball. I'm literally curled like a shrimp. A tight little burrito of limbs Not really the best description to use to explain it , sign. All this explaining with food is making rember I didn't have anything to eat before I died. Fr

Okay…now, that's unsettling. I should have at least had sothing before I kicked the bucket.

Strange I don't feel … I'm not even hungry.

That's strange. I rember being starving right before I died desperately so. My stomach was gnawing at itself like a wild animal. And now… nothing. Not even a faint ache. Just stillness. I guess this is what it feels like.

In so cultures, they say it's important to eat before starting the journey to the afterlife. Food for the road. I didn't even get a bite.

Wait what's… that sound?

*Sound*

Ba-dum... Ba-dum …Ba-dum....

Wow so heavy, sound Big and scary, Wait this sounds familiar that rhythm that's definitely a heart beat , a calm one.

It doesn't sound like my own, where it is coming from I wonder. It's louder now that I focus on it.

*Focusing*

Actually wait a minute if I focus a bit harder. It's like… I can hear two heartbeats.

Yeah. From different angles. yeah im sure of it now.

One is louder but on the slower side right above it seems..

*Sound*

BA-DUM... BA-DUM …BA-DUM...

Feels like a drum being struck just over my head. It's… super scary and it gives a powerful sound. A constant, booming presence.

The other… It's Faster. Closer. Very aggressive. Right in front of fast and quick. Like after a good run type of heart beating

*Sound*

Ba-dum...Ba-dum …Ba-dum....Ba-dum....

Ba-dum....Ba-dum....Ba-dum....Ba-dum..

But it sounds lower. Definitely More aggressive. Still a bit subtle. It's not loud, just…. A gentle, muffled thud. Like soone tapping on a pillow.

It's comforting. Almost like it's my own heartbeat. But I know for a fact it's not. Strange.

Heartbeats. Two of them.

And wait a minute. This could be losing my mind, but... could I be inside a two-hearted monster?! No. No no. Please, no. I can't let that thought be my reality.

But everything… it feels too familiar. Too much like those transmigration novels I used to read. All the signs are there. The floating feeling, the warmth, the heartbeats, the silence that isn't really silent.

Am I… in a..womb?

The thought hit like an enlightennt in my mind. And just as quickly, it fades. Because suddenly... I'm tired.

My mind drifts, heavy, like it's being pulled under sedation. My Thoughts blur. Questions slip away before I can hold them.

I want to scream. Demand answers. But I have no mouth. No voice. Just thought. And even that… is fading.

This drowsiness it doesn't feel normal. It's like sothing is telling : Not yet. Not ti to think. Not ti to know.

Just... rest.

So sleepy. So... sleeeeepy… slee…

***

My thoughts slowly stitched themselves back together, forming the shape of consciousness.

How long had I been asleep?

I tried to search my mory… strange, I could access it fragnts and all.

But in a place like this…

Did mories even matter?

But I could now feel I occupied more space this ti… wondering to myself, trying to rember my last hypothesis about where I could be. I rember I ca up with 2–3 conclusions. If there were any solid evidence I could use to get an answer, then this new sensation and my ability to occupy more space proved one thing: I was definitely growing in size.

That alone removed one conclusion from my mind about being in the afterlife, right?

Now I'm left with the idea that I'm either a monster with two independently separate hearts… actually, three hearts. I can hear my own clearly now, beating at its own rhythm along with the others. That leaves with one final conclusion.

I really wondered why it took so long to figure it out.

I'm definitely in a womb. A baby. Yes, that must be it.

But… Why do I hear two other heartbeats? Could my mother be a hybrid human? Or so kind of mystical creature?

Then I felt it

A foot-like movent against my side. A kick. A small one, but unmistakable.

What... was that?

Before I could process it, another sensation ca

This one was different. Softer. Heavier. Like sothing gently pressing against the outer wall of the world I floated in.

Not from within.

Outside.

It was subtle, like the weight of a palm resting where I resided. A shift in pressure. A warmth pressing through layers of skin and fluid.

Two different touches. Yes I'm sure of it.

I focused on my sense of touch.

*sensing*

Then I heard it. A loud excitent outside the body I resided in, like when you're underwater and soone calls out your na. You don't catch the full sentence, but you know they're talking to you.

My hearing had definitely improved and matured, in fact.

So I tried focusing

If it was even possible to hear anything clearly from in here.

Listening...

"I can feel the baby kicking… oh my goodness!"

A young woman's voice loud and full of delight, with heavy laughter followed by giggling.

I strained to catch more.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Fula! So happy you're going to be a mother soon."

More excitent followed as different people said different things, but it was clearly out of excitent from multiple female voices. But it was like happiness passing through water.

Then I heard her. The woman in whose womb I resided, my mother. She sounded so nice and very well-spoken. I hadn't seen her face or knew what she should look like, but from the way she spoke and the tone of her voice, I wouldn't be surprised if she was indeed an incredibly beautiful woman. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel·fire·net

Her softer voice was familiar in a way and every ounce of it felt motherly and replied to the strange girl excitedly pressing her stomach, my place of rest.

"Thank you, Nini… but don't press on my tummy too hard now," she said, laughing gently.

Wow, I wondered. My mother does have an amazing laugh. No wonder Dad sealed the deal.

I wonder what type of world I would be born into and how many types of pretty girls I would have the chance of eting. This ti I'm not gonna miss out on girls, maybe. Fingers crossed. Sigh.

The girl now known as Nini does sound like a klutz to . Soone clumsy. Tsk. Who puts that much pressure on a pregnant woman's belly? The nerve of so people.

Let try listening more to know what's happening.

*Listening*

"Oh… my… I'm so sorry, Mrs. Fula!" Nini responded quickly, flustered but still giggling.

It went quiet for a while. I wondered if everything and everyone was okay. Then I heard a shocking revelation about my mother's pregnancy.

Nini asked my mother like she was even scared to say it out loud,

"But Mrs. Fula, what if what the midwife old lady said was true? What if… it might be twins you're about to have?"

Twins? What? This is completely not what I was expecting.

Another lookalike of ? Or just born at the sa ti?

Eh… having a twin might not be that bad.

And besides, aren't twins known for forming the strongest bonds? Sigh.

What could my other half be doing right there?

So it was you who kicked last ti… and the heartbeat now it makes sense.

But how would I even know what type of twin I'd get male or female?

Well, I guess only until we both co out.

But wait… what if he could hear through thoughts?

I then tried calling out to my twin.

Thought calling

Hello… twin sister or brother? Hello…?

I realized my twin couldn't hear , or maybe I'm the only one who is conscious.

Before I could continue to ponder, I heard the voice of my mother.

She definitely sounded like she was replying… but she sounded defensive and worried. I wondered why…what could make my mother so troubled?

"Nini, please don't say twins… the midwife said it was just her hunch. And besides, I have the standard belly for one child. I would have loved twins, but it's forbidden, as they are a sign of looming danger. I wouldn't want my husband to get his position compromised… please, it's one child, okay Nini? Okay?"

What? It's forbidden to have twins? What kind of sicko place was I transmigrated to?

Great. Just what I needed more trouble.

My mother still believes it's only one child in here?

There's definitely another baby in here, Mom. Whatever are you going to do? Sigh.

Already don't wanna be born. Sigh.

I listened more to be sure I hadn't missed out on anything important… as they continued to talk.

"Ohh, I'm sorry, ma'am. and my big mouth," Nini said, clearly knowing she had said things beyond her position. "I shouldn't have said sothing like that."

The other female voice appeared to have left the room apparently before they brought up this discussion of twins. Could Nini be a personal maid or sothing? I wonder.

"No, Nini, it's okay… this town and its archaic beliefs. I will allow no one to touch my baby or babies if it cos to that."

Wow. Nothing felt better than hearing those words.

I hadn't even been born yet, and here I thought I was dood from the start.

My mother does sound as if she knows what she's doing.

Wait… what's this sensation again?

I'm starting to feel my thoughts becoming heavy… my mind clouding up.

I feel sleepy again.

Why is it I can't stay for long? Sigh.

I must try and listen more before this damn sleep takes away…

Listens

"And what would be the na of the child, Mrs. Fula?" Nini asked, with the intention of knowing if plans for naming had been finalized.

"Well…" my mother sounded in deep thought, "I already had it figured out. I would na the child..if male..after my great-grandfather. Hmm… his na was strange, but he did amazing things during his lifeti. But I would remove the extra G in his na to make my child feel unique… well, I would call her Astraya if it's a girl, and if it's a boy, I would definitely call him Astraga."

Nini replied, amazed, as I finally felt my consciousness drifting into slumber.

I murmured to myself,

Hmm… Astraga… definitely has a roughness to it. I like it.

"Astraaaga Fula," it is then…

And into deep sleep I went

Who knows when next I would awake from this slumber?