Rebirth - Part 5
Since the night the light appeared, Eryon became the center of subtle changes in Eldenbrook—changes noticed only by those who were sensitive enough, or close enough to him. The baby was no longer just a small child taken in by compassion; he became a breathing mystery, an inexplicable magical pulse.
The first morning after the event, Mireille woke up earlier than usual. She stood beside the small wooden crib where Eryon slept. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, hitting the baby's face, but what astonished her was how the sunlight seemed to deflect when it touched Eryon. It wasn't a strong light, nor was it the effect of an explosive magic like the previous night, but there was something… something that followed the rhythm of his breathing.
Every exhaled breath from Eryon created a thin ripple in the air.
Not wind. Not heat.
But a resonance—a subtle vibration that seemed to have strings, sounding like a faint whisper from a distant world.
Mireille rubbed her messy hair.
"This is not normal…" she murmured softly.
But when Eryon opened his eyes and looked at her, those gray eyes eased all her fears. There was tenderness there. There was a depth that no other child possessed.
As if… he knew this world longer than his short life.
The First Phenomenon
The day began as usual. Aeran took his tools, preparing to go out to fix a neighbor's fence. Eryon was in Mireille's arms; the little boy laughed silently, raising his hands in the air as if trying to reach for something invisible.
When Aeran looked at his son, his eyebrows rose.
"What's with the air around him?"
Mireille just shook her head, hugging Eryon tighter.
"Since last night… it feels like he carries something."
Aeran moved closer and touched Eryon's forehead with his finger.
For an instant—
"Wreeenn…"
A subtle sound, like the friction of crystal strings, resonated in Aeran's head.
He froze.
Mireille was startled.
"Did you hear it too?"
Aeran took half a step back.
"That… that wasn't a baby's sound. It was like…"
He paused, swallowing hard.
Magic.
That's what people used to call it.
But a resonance like that—a wave that felt directly into the soul, not the ear—was something even legends rarely mentioned.
Eryon blinked slowly, as if unaware of what had just happened.
Eldenbrook Transformed
In the following days, one anomaly after another began to occur.
1. Grass that Grew Overnight
In the Vale house yard, the grass looked like it had been freshly cut yesterday… even though they hadn't touched it at all. Several wildflowers bloomed in the morning, despite being planted only last week.
But strangely, the flowers only flourished in the area where Eryon was often laid down.
2. Water that Warmed When He Cried
When Eryon cried, the water pitcher in the kitchen produced small bubbles and warmed up. Not boiling—just warm, as if touched by a gentle flame.
3. Animals Avoid, But Stare from Afar
The birds that usually perched on their small balcony no longer dared to approach. Yet they always stayed on the roof, as if waiting.
Sometimes a young deer would stand at the edge of the forest, staring at the house for a while before retreating into the trees.
4. Voices Inaudible to Adults
Some village children claimed to hear a sound like a soft whisper when they were near the Vale house.
A sound that made them shiver, yet curious.
"It's like someone is calling," said one small child.
"It's like from a dream," added another.
Mireille didn't like hearing it.
Because she, too… heard the whisper sometimes.
Aeran Starts to Notice the Pattern
One morning, Aeran took Eryon out for a walk around the village. The cold air made his breath visible as small mist, but around the baby, no mist formed at all.
Aeran stopped under an old oak tree.
"Your breath isn't cold, huh?" he muttered softly.
Then he saw it.
Just above Eryon's head, the air vibrated in a circular pattern—almost invisible, but real.
"Resonance…" Aeran massaged his temples.
"He really is emitting a resonance."
Magical resonance was something that should only belong to high-level sorcerers. Even then, it was rare. A vibration too strong from the soul, usually appearing when someone was restraining power unsuitable for their body.
But Eryon…
He couldn't even speak fluently yet.
Aeran felt a cold sensation on the back of his neck.
If someone saw this… they would surely…
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
The Arthea Academy has eyes and ears in many places.
And a soul resonance this strong…
they would definitely be interested.
Mireille is Too Calm… or Too Afraid
Mireille sat at the dining table when Aeran returned with Eryon. She looked at her husband for a long time before speaking.
"Aeran… we need to think of something."
Aeran looked at his wife's face—not the face of a panicked woman, but a woman trying to cover a hole of fear.
"Mireille…"
"This is not just a small change. This is not just a special baby or child. This is something bigger than us."
Her voice trembled.
Aeran pulled up a chair and sat down.
He didn't deny it. He couldn't.
"The longer we hide this," Mireille continued, "the greater the chance someone will get suspicious."
She gently stroked the face of Eryon, who was giggling softly.
"And I… I don't want them to take him."
Aeran held his wife's hand.
"We will protect him. No matter what happens."
Mireille smiled faintly, but her gaze held a fear she had never shown before—a fear tucked behind the warm smile of a mother.
-- To be continued