Chapter Text
Rebirth. Reincarnation. Isukai. Transmigration. Dying in one world, sometimes quick and efficient, sometimes shatteringly painful. That was the idea right? Waking in a different body in a different world, with only a handful of details shifted and different between each concept.
Despite the youth of their current body, they knew those things. Just like they knew of the colorful images and words and behaviors of another world where they were free to move their own body, where it moved more or less as they wished.
He would admit to not knowing if this counted as a rebirth and reincarnation or if it was transmigration. It was hard to say when the body they had woken in was that of an infant, and infant covered in blood.
Their body lay still and cool, too cold. Instinct screamed to stay that way. A bird circled above, a deadly creature that would swoop in.
City. Pollution. Cradle. Basic sheets and a frilled dress. Blood staining everything around, ruining the dress with tacky brown red. Silent, stay silent while the predator still moved in the room.
Shadowy glints of dark brown and gold. Man? Bird? Man? Monster.
It was walking away.
Stay silent, stay still. The predator was still there. Be quiet until Mommy came. Be silent until she said it was safe.
Nothing but a helpless infant and already assassinated once, what kind of world had he been reborn into?
When his mother came, it was slow and broken. She knew… she knew her original child had died.
Would she accept him? A changeling child, a child with knowledge and memories of another world. A baby again, who needed its mother.
She wept. She cried just as loudly as he did when his lip wobbled and he reached for her. She sat on the nursery floor, rocking her child with her full body, crying over her miracle.