Albion was currently reading a short storybook after his parents started teaching him how to read. He had finished reading the baby books they gave him. And after a small, embarrassing temper tantrum, they allowed him to read better books. They were both watching from the table as Albion sat on the floor reading a book. They looked at each other and started whispering.
Mother: I don't remember growing this fast. Physical I was amazing and grew up fast but mentally I was still a baby.
Albion's mother leaned over the table.
Father: I guess I grew up faster than a normal elf both physically and mentally but nowhere near this fast. It's only been slightly over two months since he said his first words.
Mother: He's only 6 months old but he already looks like he's approaching two. And his mind. I don't know what's on his mind. He doesn't talk much but he can read.
They both looked at him from the table as Albion paid no attention. Reading the book and trying to figure out words and pronounce them.
Father: Maybe I should take him to work with me. If he's growing up fast we'll need to let him see the outside world faster than we expected.
The mother became tense as she looked at her small baby boy. He was growing so fast yet he was still so small. Especially compared to her.
Father: I-I know you don't like going outside. And this will be the first time… that you've been without him. But… you need to let him see the outside. I know better than anyone that you don't want to burden him.
While Albion didn't talk as much as he could have and the parents knew he had the ability to they still loved him so much. His mother constantly doted on him. Often hugging him and just holding him when he slept. He was the most precious thing she had. She didn't want him to leave. She didn't know if she could handle it.
Mother: I-I-I don't want to leave him.
The mother had tears falling down her face as the father hugged her. Her tears fell onto his shirt.
Father: You're not abandoning him. You're giving him room to grow.
The mother sobbed more as she then felt a tug on her blue dress. She looked down as she saw Albion at her feet. Looking up at her with a sad-looking face.
Albion: Why is Mum crying? Is she… hur…t?
Albion had difficulty pronouncing but it came out right. His mother wiped her tears from her face as she slowly picked Albion up. She hugged him gently as Albion enjoyed her warm and strong embrace.
Mother: I will always love you Albion. I'll never leave you. I-I was just remembering a bad ######.
Albion: I love you lots.
Albion hugged his mother. He really did love his parents. He may have only known them for a few months but it was only a few less than his past parents. And his parents now were kind to him. They both loved him. He wouldn't change a thing about them. His father looked as if just hugging Albion brought joy to his wife's face. So it hurt him so much but he needed to ask this so their child would grow up well.
Father: Albion. Do you want to go to my work? Outside.
Albion looked at his father. He knew he was only a few months old and it was an unlikely occurrence that they would let him out. Even if he could speak like a child and looked like a toddler he was still a baby. But when he looked at his mum he had a saddened face.
Albion: Mum… are you ok?
Mother turned her sad face into a smile as she looked at her child's genuine concern.
Mother: I'm okay, go with Daddy to work. I'm sure you will enjoy it. When you get back home you'll have a large bowl of chicken soup waiting for you.
Albion looked in concern as he hugged his mother. Looking at his father and holding out his arms. His father picked him up. Holding him in one arm as they walked towards the front door.
Albion looked at the door. One that had always remained closed unless his father was walking in and out of it. He wasn't allowed anywhere near it. But now as his father unlocked it with a key he finally got to see the outside. The bright sunlight hit his eyes and the wind hit his face.
And as he opened his eyes he saw it. It was nothing like the dark city he used to live in that was busy 24/7. A city that even in the day still seemed dark with its nightlife.
When he opened his eyes he was greeted by a whole new world.
Their small house was high up on top of a green hill. The hill was tall and large. The grass was perfect in both its bright vibrant green colour and its length that brushed against his father's brown leather shoes. The bright blue sky had only a few clouds in but they were white fluffy cotton clouds that looked perfect. Slowly floating and moving in the sky. Their house was surrounded by a small wooden fence and a gate. In his father's arms, he could see a small village in the distance. Just like his own house, they didn't look advanced and they looked small. Albion heard the gentle tweets of birds he had never seen before. He didn't even know if the birds were similar to the ones in his old world. Only ever seeing pigeons and crows.
Their house overlooked the village on the verge of turning into a small town, with only a single large stone road leaving it. Thick forest surrounding the village. Their house was just before the edge of the forest that surrounded the village.
Albion: Is there where you do your job?
Father: In the village yes. Your daddy's a ######. I help heal people.
Albion: Cool! Then what is mother? She stays inside a lot.
Albion's father remained silent for a bit before answering. Trying to think of an answer Albion would understand.
Father: Your mother is a housewife. And she… she just doesn't like the outside.
His father had a sad face but he quickly tried to cheer up. Albion could tell something was going on but if his father didn't want to tell him the details he wouldn't ask again. Albion knew that sometimes you just had to stay silent about the past to forget about it. Letting yourself naturally forget about it. If at all possible.
So as his father carried him down the hill and into the village they passed a local market. All types of food were for sale. Some Albion didn't even know of. It was busy and there were a lot of exchanging hands. Bronze and silver coins were seen. He saw one man giving over 2 bronze coins for a loaf of bread. But then he noticed the man giving even smaller bronze coins back. 2 specifically.
Albion: {So if I say a load of bread is $1.30 then 2 bronze coins is a bit more than that. Maybe that's $1.50 and each small bronze coin is $0.10. But what's the conversion to silver? I've only seen one coin given and I don't know what they brought because I can't see it.}
As his father continued to walk they got to a small building. Opening the door his father was greeted by a man in white robes.
???: Morning Alekia. Oh? Is this your kid? He's much bigger than I thought he'd be. Isn't he only supposed to be 7 months?
Albion was surprised to finally learn his father's name. Alekia was nice. Somewhat similar to his.
Alekia: Morning. And he's 6 months old. Me and his mother have been quite surprised by the way he's growing. He can even talk now.
His father laughed as his colleague looked in shock.
???: He… He can talk!
Alekia: Come on Albion. Say hi to one of my friends. His name is Marcus. He works for me.
Albion looked at the man. Brown hair, brown eyes. Father was much taller than the man. The man was dressed in a white medical gown and what looked like black leather gloves and a mask. He didn't seem to be an elf. Instead, he looked like a plain human with a regular name.
Albion: Hello! Nice to meet you.
Albion said with a smile as he gently waved his hand far out towards Marcus.
Marcus: HE REALLY CAN TALK!
Marcus was arguably more surprised than his mother as he got up close to Albion inspecting him. Making sure it was an actual baby. Albion slightly backed away in his father's arms.
Marcus: Wow. He looks exactly like you and Souvee.
Albion: {Is that mother's name?}
Alekia: Let me just place him on a bed and I'll get changed.
Alekia walked over to a line of beds. The beds all had basic white pillows and sheets. He placed Albion on the one closest to the entrance.
Alekia: You stay on this chair ok. This is Daddy's workplace and you have to behave yourself.
Albion: Ok!
Albion sat down as Alekia smiled. Pulling out a book from his brown leather bag. It wasn't a book he had seen before. It had a weird symbol on the front. Not the language he was learning but a circle with more circles and lines. Even a weird language of symbols.
Alekia: This is a special book you get to try and read today. It's the most basic spell for my job. And if you can tell me the name of the spell and what it does by the end of my shift. I will let you buy anything you want at the late open stores.
Albion looked up at his father in surprise and then down at the book.
Albion: {This… This is magic!}
Albion immediately opened up the book and began trying to read what he could. All the writing inside of the book was handwritten as if it was research done by his father. His father smiled and rubbed Albion on his short but growing hair.
As his father walked off to a different room he came back a bit later. Dressed in the same attire Marcus was wearing. But his father wearing a small pair of glasses over his eyes. A smaller pair of glasses over those and again another pair.
Albion looked at his father wearing what he could only assume was the uniform and thought one thing.
Albion: {Cool!}