[74.3] An Uncertain Future

[Author's note: This part of the chapter is back to Reika's perspective]

The babies screamed, wailing as I tried to soothe them. Asmonious came out, rubbing his eyes. He had been awakened by their screams and came out to investigate. Lene was also awakened but quickly created webs to put over her ears in order to fall back asleep.

When he stepped outside, he noticed Rose standing behind a column staring at me and the babies, her eyes formed into slits as she anxiously watched the babies cry. Atta wasn't around and was most likely at the training grounds. 

Asmonious approached me, "Master, Is everything okay?"

Lovi stood behind me, trying to make the babies stop crying by using her bird but it was no use.

I shook my head quickly, "No! It's not okay!!!"

I felt the bags under my eyes getting heavier. 

Ughhh! I can't handle this anymore!!!!

I feel like I'm losing my mind!

I cried out, "What's wrong with them!? They won't take a bottle, they don't need a diaper change, and they won't be rocked to sleep!"

Rose spoke up timidly, "They want it to stop hurting…"

"But what's hurting?!" I whined, "Why can't babies talk!!!"

Asmonious bent over and opened their mouth, "Master! Look."

I looked inside and saw something poking from under their gums. My eyes widened, "T-They are teething!?"

He looked confused by this, "Master, what is teething?"

I focused my energy on my palms as I spoke, "It's when their teeth start coming in… It's very painful for a baby."

"Oooh."

"No wonder Zephyr has been biting me lately. He just needs something to chew on!"

I finished making two ice sculptures and stuck them into their mouths.

Asmonious stared at it in wonder, "Master. What's that?"

I smiled smugly, "That's my everlasting ice. It doesn't melt and lasts forever. I remember babies liked teething rings that are frozen, so I used my magic to make my ice into teething rings. Aren't I smart?"

The babies happily chewed on the rings, their cries finally dying down. I laid them in the playpen and was finally able to relax. It was then that I remembered something, "Oh! I forgot. I got some tasty for you when I went to get more baby food from the villagers."

He looked at me curiously.

I held out a piece of candy made from honey, "Here. I got it for you."

Asmonious made a face and averted his gaze, "I-I'm okay… I don't think I can eat anything sweet right now."

"Do you not like sweet things?" I hummed and put it back into my pocket, "Ah. I seem to remember you saying you prefer fruit."

He furrowed his brow, "I said that?"

I forced on a guilty smile.

Not you, but the Moni in the future did…

I never would have thought I would have to rely on that version of Moni to know what this current Asmonious likes.

Even now thinking about the Moni of the future, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

When Lovi saw I wasn't going to give the candy to him, she sneakily reached into my pocket to take it. I rolled my eyes and turned to her with a forced smile, "Lovi. How are your studies going?"

She froze, "Urk…"

I let out an exhausted sigh, "You've been neglecting your homework, haven't you?"

"N-No! I finished it already!!" 

"Let me check it then-"

She suddenly stood up and ran off to her room, "I-I will be in my room!"

Asmonious glanced around awkwardly before coming over to me and sitting down on the ground beside me. I found this odd and looked at him in confusion, but he avoided my eyes. I noticed something was off and patted my lap, "Come. Lay down."

He hesitantly lowered his head until it was on my lap. I smiled at him affectionately as focused my mana on my fingers. I rubbed his head, humming until I saw his eyelids flutter close and he was sleeping peacefully.

I glanced up and noticed Rose fidgeting behind the column, staring at us in envy. I had to hold back my laughter and patted my other free lap, "Come here."

Her eyes lit up and she ran over to me, sitting down beside me and leaning over to lay her head on my lap. I continued to hum as I ran my fingers over both of their temples to soothe them. Seeing them both asleep contently, I looked into the playpen and noticed two pairs of sparkling red eyes staring at me.

How cute!!!

I let out a heavy sigh, "What happened to my lovely children for them to become so warped in the future?!"