Development [2]

28 weeks in, I was currently faced with a predicament—

"Gnilrad, dluoc uoy teg em a puc fo retaw." (Darling, could you get me a cup of water.)

"Sey, I lliw eb thgir kcab." (Yes, I will be right back.)

"Knaht uoy." (Thank you.)

—an otherworld language. Although I could make up the letters, I had no way of knowing what they meant. What I could make of though, was that my mother's words sounded as sincere as my father's.

'This is troublesome...'

Let's not talk about depressing stuff as I would naturally get to learn the language.

At this time, I was able to dream which meant I could sleep, making things easy for me to keep track of time. It also meant I could have lucid dreams. I took the time to make the layout of my mother's house through her footsteps and echoes.

The floor was made of something hard like wood and not carpet. It was a double-storey house and there was enough soft furniture to avoid much echoing. Their bedroom, from the sound of it, was relatively spacious as my mother would take a bit of time to reach the door.

It was a master bedroom as my mother would wake up early and open a single door to enter the bathroom and do her business. The wooden stairs were creaking less so it was a sign that our house wasn't old and was in good condition.

As for beyond our house, it didn't sound like we were in a neighbourhood and were situated in a remote place as it was too serene and quiet.

One thing I've noticed was that my father was absent for most of the day, meaning he must have an occupation to sustain their life. It was a good sign that they weren't poor and were normal people.

The state of my growth also proved they weren't poor as whenever I felt hungry, I wouldn't feel so a couple of minutes later, through my trusty friend, placenta.

"...Gnilrad, ebyam gnihtemos si gnorw?" (...Darling, maybe something is wrong?)

Something later, my mother said with concern. It sounded like something bad had happened.

It was clear to me that "Gnilrad" wasn't a name as my father would also refer to my mother as such. Perhaps it was something like 'sweetheart', 'babe', 'darling' or the like. So were they a couple? Most likely as fantasy worlds seem to be uptight about stuff like kids after marriage.

"I ma erus gnihtyreve lliw ed lla thgir." (I am sure everything will be alright.)

My father replied to my mother's concern. Were they having trouble? It was at the time they were about to sleep. Was there maybe something wrong with my father?

I was also concerned as this could be something that could affect me.

But the couple seemed to be on good terms...

"T-Tub ti sah ydaerla neeb xis shtnom dna eht ybad sah ton dekcik! I-I ma diarfa taht gnihtemos tsum eb gnorw...!" (B-But it has already been six months and the baby has not kicked! I-I am afraid that something must be wrong...!)

I didn't fail to notice that my mother was deeply worried about something and after that, my father couldn't think of anything to say.

I had a hunch that I was their first child as I didn't hear any third voice. So my mother might lack experience with this and get anxious as I remembered I was supposed to move my body about four weeks ago...

'I completely forgot about that...'

I didn't waste time and made my first kick to cheer up my mother and let her know I was alive and well. It took a moment for her to react, and she sounded very happy about it.

"G-Gnilrad! I kniht I tlef ti! Ti dekcik!" (D-Darling! I think I felt it! It kicked!)

"Y-Yllaer?!" (R-Really?!")

And my father sounded surprised as both of them placed their palms on her belly and I didn't disappoint.

I made the kick.

"Niaga! Uoy tlef taht oot, thgir?!" (Again! You felt that too, right?!)

My mother exclaimed in excitement and my father did the same.

"Uoy era thgir! Ti dekcik!" (You are right! It kicked!)

Following that, I made two more kicks and their reactions were joyous as my mother began to sob out of utter joy. She must have been worried, I thought. They were worried because their baby hadn't made signs of movement and thought something could've been wrong with it.

After that, they realised I was no longer active and they went to sleep. I didn't want to keep them all night as my father needed a good night's rest to get to work tomorrow full of energy. I also needed to sleep.

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It was clear that my mother was a housewife and would welcome back my father with a kiss and food. This meant that during the day, she was lonely. But with my newfound realisation, I was able to cure her loneliness and keep her entertained with my timely kicks.

She would say 'kcik!' in a repetitive manner and I guessed it meant 'kick' and its past tense was 'dekcik'. I was slowly learning the language.

Sometimes, she would sing me a nice lullaby in the middle of the day and it would somehow make me feel drowsy. I was slowly building a connection with her. I guess this was why babies get a special attachment towards their mothers as they get to hear her calming voice.

"Darling, ruo baby nac dnatsrednu ym sdrow!" (Darling, our baby can understand my words!)

"T'nod eb suolucidir." (Don't be ridiculous.)

The couple was having a conversation over dinner and it sounded like my father found her wife's words unbelievable or something like they weren't to be taken seriously. I didn't know what they were talking about, but she sounded so sure about it. And it was something about me as I heard her say "ybad" which translated to 'baby'...

"Hmph! If you t'nod evileb me, neht just say 'kick' and you'll dnif tuo!" (Hmph! If you don't believe me, then just say 'kick' and you'll find out!)

My understanding had increased and I could make out what was happening as my father left his chair to place his hand on her wife's belly and said, "Kick."

He sounded very demotivated as if he didn't expect me to understand what he said.

Yeah, he doubted my mother who said I could understand her and was told to confirm it himself.

I heeded his command, but he didn't seem to be convinced as he thought it to be a coincidence and said it again, but I kicked.

"I-It must be a suineg..." (I-It must be a genius...)

"I told you, didn't I? Our baby is laiceps." (I told you, didn't I? Our baby is special)

Then again, it could be instinctive learning as I thought anybody could understand a word's action just by it being repeatedly said.

And that was all. They finished their dinner and went upstairs to sleep as their daily life continued.

My birth was nearing.

Now I got why babies cried when they got out of the womb as being upside down for a long time was actually taxing. I know the brightness of a new world and the tightness of the tunnel took effect, but still, it was painful. Having been in that dark place and having to part with their long-last partner, the placenta... It was no wonder they cried.

But I for one was glad. It served as a good way to temper my mind.

...Was there a doctor nearby? It appeared that my father could be one as he assisted my mother with her delivery.

It refreshed my mind.

Aphrodite said to defeat her sister. And to defeat someone didn't necessarily mean to kill them. So I plan to subdue her and put her under my bidding and present her to Aphrodite as a long-time no see gift...

Beyond every shadow, there was light as I was accompanied by my mother's painful groans.

"Gnah in there, darling! The daeh is tsomla tuo!" (Hang in there, darling! The head is almost out!)

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<<<HIATUS ANNOUNCEMENT>>>

Apparently, my writing equipment has been stolen shortly after I uploaded <Development [1]> (I went on a little stroll and when I got back...) and I'm currently using someone else's phone to type this. Like Bryan said; It's survival of the fittest, craftiest, and shrewdest of people I guess. It really pains me to say this, but I'll be gone for a couple of months (To get new equipment or catch the culprit). An author can write anywhere so a pen and paper will do. After this, I won't be able to see your worries, sympathy, and frustrations until my return.

You can check out my other story if you want to <Nephala God>

Sayonara~