Emisarry Of Time And Space Chapter 3: Orion

The chamber door creaked open, admitting a young lady who bore a striking resemblance to the silver-haired man, her hair and eyes mirroring his. Upon entering, she felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from the woman within, forcing her to her knees. The silver-haired man merely spared her a glance before the woman retracted her oppressive aura with a scoff.

’’My apologies for the intrusion, esteemed lords.’’

’’Compose yourself, Lyra. Your interruption must signify something of great importance. What troubles you?’’ the silver-haired man inquired, addressing her directly.

Lyra surveyed the room, her hesitation evident as she contemplated revealing sensitive information in such company. Whispering to her patriarch was out of the question; she understood the formidable power of those present.

Erevan met her gaze, perceiving her reluctance to speak freely amidst the assembled individuals.

’’It appears I must withdraw. Please, continue your meeting without me; I shall abide by whatever decision you reach later.’’

He exchanged a final look with Lyra before vanishing from the room.

Lyra suddenly found herself floating in the sky beside Erevan, her eyes widening in sheer astonishment. A single look from Erevan was enough to restore her composure, and she swiftly knelt to show deference to her patriarch.

’’My lord, Lady Aurora has successfully given birth. The news arrived via transmission moments ago.’’

She gazed upward, witnessing a sight she’d never conceived possible. Her lord, whose expression had remained impassive for as long as she could remember, was beaming like a child presented with a bounty of sweets. It was almost unbelievable.

’’Was it a boy or a girl?’’ Erevan inquired with haste.

’’A boy, my lord,’’ she replied.

’’Excellent! My lineage has finally secured its heir. Aurora has performed admirably. I trust she has a fitting name prepared for him.’’

Erevan’s grin was wide, his exhilaration palpable and unrestrained.

As his gaze fell upon the fortress below, his joyous expression dissolved into a frown, a clear sign of his mounting displeasure.

’’It seems I shall not cradle my child as an infant. It will be a full year before I can officially return home.’’

He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

He then turned back to Lyra, his face regaining its characteristic stoicism.

’’This changes nothing for the present. We shall persevere through the remaining year in this desolate place, just as we have.’’

’’Yes, my lord,’’ Lyra responded promptly.

FOUR MONTHS LATER

’’Young Master Orion! Young Master Orion!!!’’

A maid scurried through the halls, flinging open doors in a frantic search for her elusive young charge.

She finally entered an opulently decorated bedchamber.

’’My lady, I cannot locate the young master anywhere!!’’

The maid stood panting, hands on her knees, the physical toll of her extended search evident.

’’Haha,’’ Aurora chuckled softly.

’’Rest yourself, Isolde. He is likely in the library once more. Lyrielle must have managed to smuggle him in again. Those two grow more mischievous by the day, especially Orion. I often wonder what occupies that child’s mind, even at such a tender age. My apologies, Isolde. If you find them in the library, could you please bring Orion back? It is time for his meal, and I must insist on breastfeeding him again,’’ she sighed.

She had never encountered a child who actively disliked being breastfed. Yet, what choice did she have? He was her son, and her love for him was immense, despite his peculiar habits.

’’Certainly, my lady. I shall investigate the library immediately,’’ Isolde affirmed.

Meanwhile...

’’Orion, what captivating tome have you unearthed?’’

Lyrielle, now four years and a few months old, possessed silver hair mirroring her father’s and already displayed the ethereal beauty inherited from her mother. She observed her four-month-old brother engrossed in a book that even she found difficult to fully grasp.

’’Can you truly comprehend its contents, or are you merely deciphering the characters?’’

She struggled to accept that he could read such complex material, yet the intense focus in his eyes suggested otherwise. While playing with him, she had seen him lift the book and show it to her, and inexplicably, she understood his unspoken request. She could never fully comprehend her brother; the allure of reading proved a complete mystery to her.

’’We ought to depart soon, lest Isolde discovers our whereabouts.’’

Orion swiftly lifted his gaze from the book, glancing outside to see the sun already dipping below the horizon. He recognized the time and felt a familiar reluctance to return for another breastfeeding session. He sighed and turned back to his current read, determined to absorb as much as possible before being apprehended.

’It has been four months since my arrival in this world, or at least, that’s what I gather from the conversations. My sense of time feels utterly distorted from all the sleep. I haven’t seen that peculiar blue interface since then. I’m certain it’s the reason for my presence here. I often wonder how my original family is faring. I must have passed away over there.’

He still found it hard to believe, truly from another world; the experiences had been too numerous to deny it any longer. The customs, the cuisine, the practices, and most astonishingly, the existence of 'MAGIC' – nearly everything here diverged from his former life.

While not exactly a bookworm, he'd consumed enough isekai anime and heard ample tales from friends to grasp the concept of reincarnation. Yet, this situation couldn't be labeled as such.

He hadn't experienced death, or at least, no memory of it surfaced, and he was certain dying was a prerequisite for reincarnation.

No, this was something distinct. He had been tempted to use the term 'transmigration,' but even that fell short of explaining the phenomenon, especially considering he was now an infant instead of a young adult.

For the time being, he understood his predicament was tied to that peculiar panel; the inscriptions he'd read remained vivid in his mind. Alas, adaptation was his only recourse. He had been diligently utilizing every moment of awareness and freedom to devour books about this world. Thankfully, he could comprehend the language, though the mechanism behind it remained a mystery – just one among countless phenomena beyond his understanding. Scientifically speaking, his brain shouldn't even be capable of processing a fraction of the information he could now comprehend.

The door creaked open suddenly, and Lyrielle froze like a startled deer.

"Young Master Orion and Lady Lyrielle, I've scoured everywhere for you! How could you do this to me? I was so worried, you know," Isolde exclaimed, slightly out of breath.

"Apologies, Isolde. Orion was engrossed in his book, and we simply lost track of time," Lyrielle replied.

Isolde quickly scooped up Orion, who was reluctant to be parted from the book he was reading.

"The Lady summons you both," Isolde announced with a sigh.

A frown creased Orion's brow as best as an infant's could, and he squirmed in Isolde's arms, aware of the reason for his mother's summons.

"There's no escaping your feeding this time, young master," Isolde said, holding Orion a bit tighter, understanding his resistance.

Orion ceased his struggles, recognizing the futility. He resigned himself to enduring the embarrassment of being breastfed.

"I understand, Orion, but why am I being summoned?" Lyrielle inquired.

"I have no idea, Lady Lyrielle," Isolde responded.

"Very well, let's proceed."

They made their way to Aurora's chambers and knocked.

"Enter!"

"My little ones, how was your excursion? You certainly gave Isolde quite a bit of trouble. My apologies once more, Isolde," Aurora said warmly.

"Not at all, my lady," Isolde bowed respectfully before passing Orion to Aurora.

Aurora could sense Orion's displeasure and found herself at a loss with this child.

"You will be breastfed again, Orion, whether you like it or not," Aurora stated firmly, meeting Orion's gaze.

Orion merely frowned but offered no resistance, much to Aurora's surprise.

"Mother, Orion was reading that large black book again," Lyrielle piped up, seeking to assert her presence while Orion was being attended to.

"Is that so? He truly seems fond of that book," Aurora mused, tapping a finger against her chin.

*Knock Knock Knock*

"Who is there?" Aurora asked.

"It is Genevieve, my lady," a young maid's voice called from the other side.

"Sir Edward has something to report, my lady," the maid relayed.

"My lady is currently occupied," Isolde interjected.

"Very well, I shall inform him," the maid replied before departing.

Once she observed Orion had finished, Aurora adjusted her attire and exited the room.

*Running such a grand estate must entail considerable effort,* Orion thought.

*Meh, she'll manage.*

Orion lay on the bed, eyes closed. To an observer, he appeared to be a napping infant, but his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

In his previous existence, Orion had been an exemplary student, poised for a distinguished graduation and a promising future, his entire life meticulously planned. All that remained was to live it out.

Who could have foreseen fate's different trajectory? He had always set ambitious goals, believing those without purpose and the drive to achieve it were merely squandering their lives. Now, he found himself among them.

*Where am I headed in this new world? What is it that I truly wish to accomplish?*