“Lilli?” Tani said, poking her cheek.

     “Huh?” I replied, looking startled.

     “Are you alright?”

     “Yea. Well, actually no. I'm really worried. Mommy comes back today and I’m afraid. What if she thinks I’m someone else?” I asked, tears welling in the corner of her eyes. 

     Tani hugged me. I’m so grateful I met her. Being stuck as a baby would have been a nightmare. Tani is my rock.

     “Thankiees, Tani,” I said, a reluctant smile appearing on my face.

     “Anything for you flower,” she replied, smiling as well.

     This last week has been extra stressful. And Tani has begun teaching me more destructive spells. So I’ve been using spells to create a protective barrier. With the time dilation of my mind palace, it feels like I'm spending three days every day awake. I feel like I'm close to a spell to restore my sight. I just need more words. 

     “What are you thinking?” Tani asked.

     “I'm thinking about all the work I have to do,” I sighed. 

     “You don’t need to work so hard, you aren’t on earth anymore…” Tani said, a worried look on her face. “Plus, you’re still a baby, you have your whole life ahead of you still.”

     “I know, still doesn’t make this any less scary.”

     “Lilli dear, it's time to get ready,” Auntie said. I stood up and held up my arms. Anna stood right behind her, watching me. “Did you have fun?” she asked in the mommy voice.

     “Yes, lots,” I giggled excitedly. But I always have fun when Tani is around. 

     “That's great, let's get you ready for dinner pretty girl,” she said, adjusting me on her hip as she carried me from the room.

     Auntie took me potty while Anna cleaned up the room. When I finished and had washed my hands, I’m so thankful we have indoor plumbing, Auntie carried me to my closet. She dismissed Anna, asking her to prep the small dining room. Tani and Auntie spent a while getting me dressed. Tani was very enthusiastic, the last few times we were in here she was just an observer. She thoroughly enjoyed picking an outfit for me. Eventually, they picked a short dress with a pair of stockings. Tani told me it was golden, well, she actually said the color of the leaves in fall. So if the same as earth, then probably a gold or brown. 

     As we left my closet, Tani made herself invisible again and sat on my shoulder. Her reassuring presence calming my nerves, which at this point were completely shot. For the first time since I was reborn, I found myself sucking on my thumb. 

     “You’ve been acting more like a baby lately, Lilli,” Auntie said, smiling as she looked at me.

     “I’ve been feeling more like one, too, or maybe it’s just the realization that my past life and me are different people,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

     “Well, I’m glad that you’re feeling more comfortable, dear,” Auntie said, kissing my forehead and tickling my side.

     “I’m happy too, though you still stress too much,” Tani said with a pout. 

     Our conversation died as we came to the dining room doors. I sighed and put on my best baby face as Auntie opened the door.

     “Lilli my precious baby girl,” Mom squealed. She came over and took me from Auntie, hugging me tight. “Mommy missed you so much, sweetie.” 

     “Missed you too, mommy,” I replied, as I hugged her. Mommy continued to hug me for a minute before Auntie coughed. 

     “Ah, Jean, thank you for your help with Lilli,” she said. Mommy took me to a chair that was like a highchair that was missing the built-in table. She scooted it up under the table and took her seat. Auntie took the one right next to hers. 

     “So how was the capital?” Auntie asked.

     “Same as always, Ernenest never calls me there unless he needs something,” Mommy replied.

     “So what did he want this time?”

     “Apparently he needed a specific size Ethereum crystal. I wasn’t the only one he made the request to, but I figure I’ll be the only one to fulfill it.”

     “Any word about when Andrel will come back?”

     “No, the rebellion seems to be increasing in scale. I suspect it’s one of the reasons the king asked for the Ethereum crystal. But that's enough of that,” Mommy said, ringing a bell. “Bring out our food if you would,” she said to an elderly man who emerged from a door.

     “At once,” he replied with a low bow, before he hurried off.

     It only took a moment before a servant wheeled in a cart laden with food by a few servants. Anna stood just behind them as they placed everyone's food in front of them. She grabbed a bowl and carried it over to me, setting it down just in front of me. One of my hands was placed against the bowl, and the other had a spoon gently placed in it. Anna put a bib around my neck, which was really nothing more than a thick towel.

     It was decided to teach me how to eat on my own. Auntie had a special bowl and spoon made for me. They were imbued with ether, so I could see them. The bowl had was enchanted to keep my food at a perfect temperature and my spoon to help guard against me spilling. I made sure to keep my hand on my bowl as I was shown. No one but Auntie knew I could see ether yet. 

     Well until I told mommy of course. 

     “Things will work out, Lilli,” Tani said as I shuddered.

     I hope so, I can’t help but worry.

     She pat my cheek as I continued to eat, Anna watching me carefully in case I need help. Auntie and Mommy talked about some trivial things I didn't really pay any attention to. I only ate probably half my food. My stomach was too busy tying itself into knots. I was trying to hold myself together as it became harder to breathe. Tani began to stroke my cheek and whisper reassurances in my ears. But her voice failed to reach me. Everything began to feel fuzzy as everyone's light started to dim. The last thing I saw was mommy’s worried expression as my eyes closed on their own.

 

*****

 

     It was warm, and soft. I tried to open my eyes but couldn’t. I panicked, I couldn’t see, I couldn’t feel. It was just like when I first became aware, when I was still inside mommy. Where am I anyway? Wasn’t I just eating dinner?

     “Tani?” I thought I said, but no sound came out. 

     Why can’t I see anything? Right, I’m blind… so then where am I? There isn't any ether here. 

     “Come,” someone said. Though there was no voice and no sound. 

     “Tani? Where are you?” I ask, still no voice, no sound. 

     “Come,” the soundless voice said again.

     “To where?” I ask wordlessly

     “The repository!” the soundless voice said urgently.

     My eyes snapped open to see a worried Tani floating over me.

     “Flower!” she said, tears flowing down her face.

     “I sowwy,” I said sheepishly. 

     “Miri, someone’s awake,” Auntie said, causing Mommy to look over.

     We were back in my room, I was lying in my crib with Mr. Bear.

     “Hi baby girl, are you ok now?” Mommy asked sweetly, worry in her voice.

     “Yes I better,” I said

     “That's good, who's your friend?”

     I spent the next hour at least explaining what happened, my previous life, and my abilities. She asked questions here and there. Eventually I told her everything I wanted, she fell silent. A look of concentration on her face.

     “Does mommy hate me now?” My voice quivered as I asked.

     “What!?” she scooped me up, “Of course I don’t hate you. You’re my precious daughter. I could never hate you.”

     “But I have someone else's memories,” I said softly. 

     “That doesn’t make you any less you, sweetie. It just means you are extra special.”

     “So about this repository,” Auntie began, “I think we should take Lilli once she fulfills more of the conditions.”

     “That's too dangerous for her, she can’t even see,” she looked down at me and her face softened. “At least not in a normal way. We’ll have to work on making some special furniture for her.”

     “Please at least think about it. It’s my belief that the repository might contain an answer to our current problem. Who knows what kind of ancient magic might lie within. With the dungeon’s producing fewer monsters, this might be the answer to our problems. This could bring stability to our kingdom.”

     “It could also bring war!” Mommy shouted, standing up. “I don’t want Lilli at the center of a dispute like this.”

     “Mirri, whether we go or not, war is already near. We could prevent a much larger disaster.”

     Mom sat down and sighed. “How long do you think we can wait?””

     “Five, maybe six years,” Auntie shrugged.

     “Six or seven…” Mommy looked at the floor, lost in thought.

     “Mommy, I am strong,” I said reassuringly.

     “Of course you are, sweetie, but I still worry about you. And as strong as you are with Ether, you are still a baby,” she said, tickling my side before giving me a hug. “Still I’m opposed. We will wait until Lilli is at least ten before we go,” she said, a tone of finality to her voice. 

     “If I can make it safe enough, will you let her go sooner?” Tani asked

     “I’ll see,” Mommy replied.

     With the big reveal out of the way, Mommy looked at Tani and asked, “So what exactly is your relation to my daughter?”

     “Mommy!” I exclaimed, covering my face as my cheeks grew warm.

     “Well, I noticed her when she broke your barrier…”

     “That was Lilli?” Mom asked incredulously 

     “Sorry,” I replied softly.

     “It's fine.” She hugged me.

     “I saw how much power she had, and how she was using it in a manner that showed she had intelligence,” Tani resumed. She explained how she taught me despite the language barrier. How I eventually figured out how to hear her, her teaching me to read and write, and eventually magic. She left some things out, like Auntie did. Especially how close we had grown.

     “And what are your feelings towards her?” she asked, looking at Tani then me.

     Tani fidgeted and looked away for a brief moment. Mom just kept staring at her.

     “I love her,” she said softly.

     “Love her or are in love with her?”

     “Yes,” Tani said with an impish grin, making mom frown.

     “That's not an answer,” she said, tapping her foot.

     “We don't have the same notion of love as humans do. We don’t need to reproduce, at least not like humans do. So any feelings are purely platonic, she displays a wisdom far beyond her years.”

     “Mommy, I don’t want to do grown up things. That's one part of me that’s the same.”

     Mom began to rub the bridge of her nose. “We can deal with that later. Just please don’t do anything rash. But it's getting late, a certain baby girl needs to go potty then take her bath,” Mommy said carrying me to the bathroom.

One bath later, I was snuggling with Tani while Mom and Auntie talked. As I drifted off to sleep, I pulled myself into my mind palace. The familiar white space thrummed with energy. I immediately turned the time dilation up to what was my current maximum, then slowly pushed past it before sitting down at our computer.

 

 

     I have to thank Tani again for this message. It’s because of this message that I have been able to make more progress with deciphering. Once again, I set about on my quest to translate this language.