It was warm all around, like a warm sea.
He could breathe in the water, inhaling gold and exhaling silver.
Time lost all meaning until his body grew, his strength stirred, and his consciousness flickered back to life from a long slumber. Amidst that silvery-white sea, Laven reached out and pierced through the shell.
The moment he opened his eyes, he saw the ground below. It looked further away than a fifth-story balcony, and a chilling wind whistled past his body.
Wait... why is the ground rushing toward me so fast?
Laven's heart hammered in alarm. Having just woken up, his mind hadn't yet gained full control over his limbs. He flailed his arms uselessly before slamming face-first into the floor. His body bounced several meters high before finally settling.
Guh!
The sensation of a heavy impact lingered on his face, yet there was little pain. I'm done for, Raven thought, certain his brains had been turned to mush. Fortunately, a moment later, he felt his weight pressing against something soft and warm, confirming his senses were still intact.
The thing beneath him seemed to be moving. Raven hurried to roll off and pushed himself up with his hands, coming face-to-face with a young girl lying on the ground, wearing a scholar's cap.
It seemed he had landed right on top of her. Though he hadn't grasped the situation, Raven offered an apology: "I'm sorry, are you okay?"
The girl, clutching a book, looked at Raven and giggled. The smile, however, carried a hint of the uncanny. Uneasy under her gaze, Raven braced himself against the floor, trying to stand so he could help her up.
Suddenly, the girl leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before retreating. She pretended to return to her book, but she kept her face tilted, watching his reaction out of the corner of her eye.
Startled by the sudden "attack," Raven sprang to his feet, a chill running through him. He realized he was covered in a glowing, silvery-white slime. As he looked around, his eyes widened in shock.
Dozens of young girls lay prostrate on the floor around him—at least twenty or thirty at a glance—and every single one shared the same face. Dressed in academic robes, they either held books or raised flickering candlesticks. Now, they propped themselves up, watching Raven with curiosity.
"Hee hee hee..."
"La la la..."
Raven spun around, surrounded by a chorus of identical giggles and songs that made his skin crawl. A gust of cold wind blew past, and as the slime evaporated, it took his body heat with it. He shivered, wanting to run, but he had no idea where to go.
The rustle of robes sounded overhead as a figure drifted down from above, pulling him into a tight, desperate embrace.
Raven struggled, but the other person said nothing. They only held him tighter, as if they would never let go—even if the heavens collapsed or the world ended—ensuring not a sliver of harm could reach him.
He heard her sobbing, and the steady, powerful rhythm of her heart.
Gradually, Raven stopped resisting and lay quietly in her arms. Her robes were thick and as smooth as silk; the previous chill was instantly replaced by warmth.
"Oh, child... my sweet child. Forgive me, I slept too soundly and let you fall from your egg."
Smiles bloomed on her tear-streaked face as she laughed through her tears and wept through her joy. "You have finally been born. Mother has waited so long. They said you would never be born—everyone said so—but I would never leave you. Never."
Her voice was as clear and beautiful as moonlight. She spoke a language Raven ven had never heard before, yet he understood every word perfectly.
Raven opened his mouth to respond, but he realized that while he could comprehend the tongue, he couldn't speak a single word of it. In the end, he could only manage a soft, "Mm."
She wasn't his mother; she had the wrong person. His mother had passed away when he was born.
And yet, this warmth made him reluctant to push her away... Hesitantly, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her.