Chapter 24

Baby's POV

I woke up from our trip to the Imperial palace to discover we already arrived back home and a maid was trying to get me into a nightgown without waking me. I cooperated and pretended to go to sleep. The multiple revelations at the palace were eye opening, but it didn't resolve all of my questions. Since my brother's and dad's sign language skills were even more rudimentary than my language skills my questions would remain unanswered for the time being. I kept having to remind myself that I was not even two years old and that I still had time.

I practiced shaping my aura into different shapes and threading it through the bottom feet of the table and chair legs around the room; mastering total control over it. I pushed myself until I fell back to sleep.

A maid came into my room early the next morning to get me ready. The family was having an early breakfast, for which I was glad because I was ravenous after my late night practice.

I was seated at the table in my usual spot and there waiting for me was my mash with fruit and a cup of water.

'Your lucky I'm so hungry or you'd be wearing this mash' I thought grumpily as I ate.

"I cannot wait until Baby Girl has her ceremony and we don't have to eat this boring stuff anymore" Sapphire said sounding like bratty teenager from my past life.

"It's only for a couple more days" my mom reassured her.

"Why can't she just eat it by herself. It's not like she can see what we're eating".

Sapphire's statement suddenly hit me. I suddenly realized that I had never smelled anything else coming from the dining table whenever I joined them. 'Were they also eating mash and water as well?' I wondered.

"We did the same thing for both you and your brother. It's only fair that we also eat mash along with Baby girl. Besides, in a couple of days this will all be over and we will never have to eat this again unless we want to".

"But we only had to eat it for 3 months! This has been going on for a year!"

"Your know why" my mom said sternly.

"Yeah, stupid poison...I'm done" Sapphire said as she pushed away from the table and left.

I was dumbfounded by the conversation and had stopped eating; completely fascinated by the conversation playing out before me.

"Baby girl, keep eating" my mom reminded me gently.

"Why isn't Baby coming with us to the palace's gardens? She'd love it there!" Jasper spoke for the first time since he wished me good morning when I entered the dining room.

"Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to watch her the entire time to ensure she didn't eat anything she isn't supposed to. With her ceremony in just a couple of days, we can't risk her eating something besides her coruse and tamonns."

"Why is it required that the babies eat only that for at least 3 months before the ceremony?" Jasper asked.

I had just wondered the same thing and couldn't wait to hear her response.

" The coruse and tamonns are spiritual foods that help cleanse the body to make it more likely that they babies get a strong element during the ceremony. We have been doing it this way for generations. We thought it was just tradition, but then realized that all the parents who couldn't afford to feed their children the mixture or just refused to showed no elemental aptitude. Since then, no parent has risked not following the requirements before the ceremony".

After the enlightenment, I have to admit that I ate my mash and fruit, or coruse and tamonns as they call it with a lot more enthusiasm.

We parted ways after breakfast. My mom, sister and brother headed off to a garden party at the imperial palace and I was carried back to my room.

Or so I thought, until I realized that we never went upstairs. I began to struggle at the same time I spread my aura out. I hadn't realized until just now that my room and family made me feel safe and when I was away from either, I was scared.

Again I felt powerless and was reminded again of how vulnerable I truly was. I hated this feeling more than anything.