A:N- what do you think of Reincarnated Chrome in this Light Novel?
The Sages' Granddaughter
It's cold…
It hurts…
It's painful…
These were the first impressions I felt.
When I awoke, I tried to retrace my memories before I lost my consciousness, however, it wasn't clear.
I don't have any memories of how I died or who I was.
But I do have knowledge at least. How I lived before and what I learned.
But the faces of people I was with...why were they...shrouded in darkness? I couldn't see their faces...but at least they were good to me.
It hurt to forget people who treated you good. But I suppose it was pointless remembering them now.
Although I started to think of various situations, it wasn't viable because of my painful condition.
I tried to move my body, but it wasn't responding well.
I tried opening my eyes, but that also didn't go so well. I have no idea how old this infant is. Last I checked, they take a while to open their eyes, right?
Finally, because of the unpleasant situation, I tried to speak.
'Aa—'
!
I was surprised of my own voice.
It was a high-pitched cry that of an infant.
I tried to speak again.
'Au, au, a—'
Because my tongue wasn't moving well, it wasn't possible to talk.
Because of uncontrollable emotions, I suddenly burst into tears.
Although it was a shameful act as an adult, I couldn't help it.
I hate this.
I hate being weak.
I worked so hard to be strong!
What is this?
While I was crying for a while, I heard approaching footsteps.
As I thought, it was cold and raining outside, and the footsteps I heard issued some squeaky noises.
'I'm saved.'
I thought so for a brief moment, then, I heard a voice.
'XX XXXX, XXX XXXXXXXX.' it was an old man's kind voice.
I couldn't understand it at all.
But from how he sounded, I can somewhat make out along the lines of 'how terrible'. What happened around me?
I'm an infant with closed eyes, can't even open them so I don't know.
Falling into even further confusion, I was enveloped in a warm light, wrapped with a warm cloth, eliminating the pain I felt.
I, who felt relieved, suddenly lost my consciousness.
This man put me to sleep!
xxx
The next day when I woke up, I could open my eyes.
I guess I'm that old enough to open my eyes and see in my baby body.
This is my new reality.
I was reborn into a new life. Clearly adopted by this old man. We live in a log cabin, apparently.
He dresses funny too...why dress in a...dress and robes?
The old man who helped me walked to the fireplace and ignited fire right from his hand.
Flames?
No, its literal fire. Its not Dying Will Flames.
Magic.
That word crossed my mind. When I looked around the house, I noticed there were no modern appliances.
Although the place looked like it was still during the primitive era, the standard of living didn't seem low.
From a modern person's way of thinking, it was feasible one would think the situation was odd.
'This place is definitely not Earth.'
There was no such thing as magic on Earth.
The closest thing to magic Earth can get is Dying Will Flames.
The closest was Mist Flames' Illusions and the Arcobaleno System.
However, even after assuming 'magic does indeed exist', from what I saw of the state of the house, it was suggestive that this place was not Earth.
Given the situation, why am I here?
Not Earth, but a world where magic exists.
I, myself, have turned into a baby.
A language I couldn't understand.
The answer I arrived after considering the situation was…
Reincarnation.
A situation that could only happen out of a fantasy was readily accepted.
Because the memory I have regarding the death of my previous life was rather vague, I know I died by multiple gunshots but whys and whens was beyond me.
But now was not the time to think about it; my parents didn't care for me and I was unwanted by them. But I gained a family of my own through my friends who accepted me. I have a lover who roared in anguish and rage when I died he went on a rampage because I shielded him from foul play and I died. Oh, and I was pregnant. Just a month along and he never knew. Never told him.
Maybe he found out when I got autopsied...he lost me and our child.
...When one looks back at such life, I felt sorry for my child and my lover. My actions killed an innocent life within me because I couldn't bear to lose my lover. But who he was to me and how much I care was vague too. I just had knowledge of my previous life, but not of feelings. I can't even see their faces.
To be reincarnated in a world where magic exists; everyone must have thought of such things at least once. But now, I am experiencing the reality of 'being reborn with the memories of the past.'
As I worried for my lover, the old man who helped me once brought a bowl of soup.
Again, after my stomach was full, my consciousness drifted away.
As a baby, all I could do was eat, sleep, and uhm...mess myself. But old man who I now call 'grandpa' in my head would cheerfully make it go away with a wave of his hand and give me clean nappies once I was clean and take my soiled nappies away. No diapers in this world for sure.
What about vaccinations?
xxx
Days later, an old woman came. She and grandpa talked.
I observed them.
Its annoying to be unable to understand them.
She later looked shocked, and dismay after that before approaching me and took me from the basket I was in.
She stayed over...and I considered her 'grandma'.
I counted the days...weeks...months...
Soon, I could walk.
If Arcobaleno can walk in infant bodies, so can I!
I challenged myself, while cursing my weak, frail body.
Grandpa and grandma encouraged my attempts to train, and making sure I don't fall with their hands. They were close by.
Is this what its like to have a caring family?
Comparing them to my cold, neglectful past parents to the grandparents who cared for and doted on me...I like them better.
This way, I can learn how to be a proper parent when I have a child on my own.
Had I survived the gunshots...would I have been a good mother then...when I don't even know how to be a good one?
I don't have an example to follow.
But grandma and grandpa were good parents...
xxx
Toddlerhood came.
No idea how old am I but I can now talk.
I tried the universal 'ma' of mama when grandma carried me.
She squealed and chuckled...and they began teaching me language.
About time.
It took me a while...that I learned that I was three years old when I learned enough.
I learned language first from my grandparents. This was so I can learn and understand.
...and they named me Felicia.
I suppose that name is appropriate.
I wonder how grandpa found me. All I know was that how he found me, was terrible.
Felicia.
A name derived from 'felice' in italian, meaning 'lucky'.
How was I lucky?
I was also old enough to look at myself in the mirror.
I have purple hair so vibrant and glossy, and dark purple eyes.
Grandpa was Merlin Walford. Merlin is a very lax person and constantly spoils her and doting on her, teaching all of his knowledge to her without a stop. He has a young vibe to him and prone to childishness and immaturity to which, grandma was clearly the common sense in the house. He taught me all he knows about magic and magic combat.
Grandma was Melinda Bowen. She's the common sense, voice of reason to her grandpa, prone to getting irritated and annoyed, sometimes nagging and choking him. She taught me how to be a girl, and creation of Magic Tools...and as I got older, skills girls should know.
If grandpa taught me how to hunt and survive, grandma taught me household chores and arts and crafts girls my age should know.
Speaking of being taught how to use magic...the way to use magic in this world is not by chanting long incantations, saying the name of the spell, or the like.
Magic is 'imagination.'
The phenomenon known as magic is the caster's 'imagination' and their ability to materialize it.
Not that much different from Mist Flames. But unlike Conjured, Materialized Illusions, magic is very, veeeery real!
But since it is difficult to 'imagine' using magic when one first started learning magic, they would have some kind of visual in front of them to make it easier to imagine.
So it seems everybody pretty much cast the similar magic.
The reason for this is because of 'imagination.'
Although the majority cast the similar magic, there are also those who differ.
For example, me; an original resident of modern day Earth, overflowing with creativity as an Illusionist who was then transported into this world. Since incantation wasn't needed, it was easy enough to reproduce things. As an Illusionist, studying magic created in fiction novels, manga and anime is a must, as well as knowing psychology in and out as we attack the mind. But now, I can do both!
Next, I was taught how to control my magical powers.
Even if a person's imagination is stable, if something goes wrong and the magic is not properly invoked, it could turn into chaos.
Magic control is needed to conjure magic. Magic is present anywhere and everywhere in this world, but there's no one who can control all kinds of magic perfectly.
Because this is a world where magic exists, people here will unconsciously use magic at a level where their body will act on reflex. Truthfully, it was at a point where if one cannot use magic, it will hinder the activities of their daily lifestyle. For example, to produce drinking water, one would have to generate a small flame.
But without reasonable magic control, magic will go wonky.
Other than not being able to imagine it, they also would not have enough magic power to imitate it.
I am very proficient thanks to my daily magic control training with grandpa and grandma; they taught me and helped me verify the extent of what is and isn't possible with magic.
Although I tend to blow their minds out with what I can do...
And when I made things...and explained how they work, they freaked out!
Well, its guns and stuff...
'Felicia, never let any outsider know these weapons of yours!' grandma cried, 'I can only imagine temptations of wars with your creations! While its OK for you to have it, never make one for others, understand?!'
I was thus allowed magical tools and standard weapons only. Grandma kept an eye on me...
xxx
Years later...
I am now 8 years old.
Due to my upbringing as a lady of the mafia, my most important weapon is my beauty and charms as a female.
I spent years making potions and 'restructuring' my body with magic down to my last cell so I would grow up with the best traits my genes can afford me in order to look 'beautiful, vulnerable and sweet'.
That's my specialty.
A lot of people underestimate me.
I was often the Belladonna of the family. Fools think they can take advantage of me. Just by being myself alone is a weapon. I didn't need effort to lure idiots to me while other women I knew had to put effort in seduction.
Thus at age 8 I grew up very cute, but come teenagehood, I shall be a beauty. A beauty of death.
But right now, my victims are animals for food.
Grandpa and grandma would tell me to only hunt enough for a day's meal. Overhunting is bad and unsustainable.
I took out my sniper rifle. Instead of bullets, it fires magic needles. Its also soundless.
Ordinary animals cannot feel me coming but magic beings can feel it so its useless in a fight. Its mostly for hunting purposes only.
Looking at the enchanted scope...and using my magic, I focus on the eyes...and I pulled the trigger.
One uhm...weird mohawk chicken dead.
Yes, mohawk. Its even blonde.
This world has weird animals. Really.
If not hunting, I make crafts at home...unless told by grandma to help out in chores.
I specialize in embroidery and knitting, two things I've never done before but had a knack for it. Given my imagination, I pretty much, spent time on projects, decorating our home with my creations. A mafia woman worth her salt must be capable of decorating a house.
As for food...well...
I amazed grandpa and grandma and a later resident in our home, Uncle Michel who teaches me martial arts. And visitor 'Uncle Dis', who comes to complain to her grandparents, mope and sulk in their home.
Uncle Dis BEGGED me to teach cooking to his family cook once...
Well, she has grandparents and two uncles now.
Was this what's it like to have reliable adults in her life?