A faint murmur drifted through the darkness.
It was distant at first—like echoes underwater—soft, indistinct, impossible to grasp. The words blurred together, slipping away before they could be understood. Our protagonist stirred weakly, his awareness flickering like a dying flame. His body felt impossibly heavy, as though even the act of existing demanded too much effort.
He tried to move.
Nothing.
He tried to speak.
Only silence.
A strange fear crept into his mind, but it was dulled—muted by the overwhelming exhaustion pressing down on him. Slowly, with immense effort, he forced his eyes open.
Light.
Blinding, unfamiliar light flooded his vision. He instinctively shut his eyes again, his body reacting sluggishly. A moment passed before he tried once more, this time adjusting little by little. Shapes began to form, colors bleeding into existence.
Two figures hovered above him.
At first, they were only silhouettes—soft outlines against the light. But as his vision sharpened, details emerged, and what he saw left him stunned.
They were beautiful.
Both of them had long, flowing silver hair that shimmered like moonlight, cascading down their shoulders in soft waves. Their eyes—those eyes—were mesmerizing, a unique blend of deep crimson red mixed with warm sunset orange, glowing faintly as if holding some hidden power.
They looked almost identical.
Like siblings.
Or reflections of each other.
His mind struggled to process what he was seeing. Who were they? Where was he? Why did everything feel so small?
Before he could gather his thoughts, the woman leaned closer. Her expression softened, and with a gentle motion, she lifted him effortlessly into her arms.
Warmth.
He was pressed against her chest, cradled securely as if he were something fragile and precious. Her embrace felt safe. Instinctively, his small body relaxed against her, even though his mind was racing with confusion.
She turned her gaze toward the man beside her, her lips trembling slightly as emotion welled up in her eyes.
"Darling… look at him," she said softly. "He looks just like us."
Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, catching the light like tiny gemstones.
The man smiled gently.
"Yes," he replied. "He looks exactly like us… he is our son."
The word "son" echoed faintly in the boy's mind.
The man stepped closer, wrapping his arm around the woman's waist. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against her temple.
Our protagonist could not fully understand their words.
Not yet.
But fragments reached him—broken pieces of meaning that his mind desperately tried to connect. Look… like us… son…
A strange realization began to form.
Parents…?
Before he could think further, the door to the room opened.
A man entered, his presence hurried yet filled with excitement. What stood out immediately was his appearance—black cat ears perched atop his head, twitching slightly as he moved.
The boy blinked.
Cat ears…?
Was he hallucinating?
The man's eyes were bright, glistening with tears as he spoke.
"Lord Nightlock, my wife has given birth to a daughter… I have become a father!"
His voice carried pure joy.
The silver-haired man smiled warmly.
"Congratulations, David."
"That is wonderful news," the woman added gently.
Their voices were calm, yet genuinely happy.
The woman carefully placed the boy back onto the soft bed. The moment her warmth left him, he felt a faint sense of loss.
"Come," she said. "Let's visit them."
The three of them exited the room, leaving the child alone.
Silence returned.
The boy stared at the ceiling, his tiny body still. His thoughts, however, were restless.
What was that?
His mind struggled.
The words he had heard… he couldn't fully understand them, but something inside him was trying to connect them. Son… father… mother… and that name…
Nightlock.
It felt important.
Very important.
He tried to think harder, but his head began to throb. His thoughts slowed, as if his brain itself wasn't fully developed.
Minutes passed.
Then—
Ding.
A soft sound echoed inside his mind.
"Language understanding level up."
His eyes widened slightly.
Suddenly, everything clicked.
The voices replayed in his mind—but now he understood every word.
"So… they really are my parents…"
The realization settled in.
His family name…
Nightlock.
A mix of confusion, disbelief, and curiosity filled him.
But the strain was too much.
Exhaustion hit him like a wave.
His thoughts faded…
And he fell asleep.
Meanwhile, in the servant dormitory…
David stood beside a simple wooden bed, his excitement now mixed with nervousness. Sitting on the bed was his wife, Marie, gently cradling a newborn baby.
The door opened.
Lord Nightlock and his wife entered.
"My lord… my lady…" David straightened.
"There's no need to be so formal," she said with a soft smile.
She stepped closer and looked at the baby.
"She's beautiful… so small and adorable."
Marie smiled weakly. "Thank you, my lady."
Lord Nightlock nodded. "Congratulations. You have both been blessed."
"Thank you, my lord…" David said, his eyes moist.
The room filled with warmth as they began to talk—about the birth, about the future, about their children.
Two newborns.
Born on the same day.
Under the same roof.
Unaware of the paths that awaited them.