Chapter 7: Small Steps Forward 

In the weeks following his rebirth, Soham began to slowly gain more control over his infant faculties. The blurry giants that initially surrounded him became more familiar over time as his vision sharpened. Sounds that first seemed only like indecipherable noise gradually started to resolve into recognizable words and meanings.

One sunny morning, Eric awoke feeling especially alert and aware. Golden sunlight streamed in through the nursery window, bathing the room in a warm inviting glow. His mother, Ellara, hummed a cheerful tune to herself as she gently changed his soiled swaddling clothes.

Soham babbled nonsense sounds while watching her, then paused in surprise. Had he just voluntarily made those gurgling noises? Somewhere deep in his developing mind, the remnants of his old identity stirred.

Ellara smiled down tenderly at him. "Trying to talk, little one?" she cooed. She scooped Eric up, nuzzling her nose against his cheek. "Can you say 'mama'? Ma-ma," she sounded out slowly.

Soham scrunched up his face, utterly focused and determined to communicate. He tried mimicking the shapes her mouth made as she repeated the simple syllable over and over. "Mm...baa," he managed to garble.

Ellara laughed melodiously. "So close! I know you can do it. Say 'Mama,'" she encouraged.

Digging deep, Soham concentrated with all his limited willpower. He could feel his new infant tongue struggling to form the sounds. After several failed attempts, he finally pushed hard from his belly and forced out: "Maa-maa."

"Yes, that's it!" Ellara exclaimed, overcome with emotion. She scooped Eric up and kissed him tenderly on the forehead. Pride and joy swelled up powerfully within his tiny heart. At last, after weeks of struggle, he had taken his first fledgling step toward actively engaging with this unfamiliar new world.

Over the next several days under Ellara's attentive care, Soham gradually learned to repeat simple words like "Papa," "milk," and his own name. Each small success filled him with hope and confidence. Still, communication remained a monumental challenge. Soham knew he possessed a lifetime of knowledge and thoughts, but his undeveloped vocal cords could only handle the simplest of syllables. For now, he would have to be patient with his baby steps forward.

Soham also became increasingly aware of his clumsy, flailing limbs. He learned how to grip his parents' fingers firmly, although controlling his random kicking proved near impossible. One afternoon, Papa Alaric helped prop Soham up against the crib pillows into a seated position. To Eric's surprise, he managed to hold himself upright, wobbling only slightly. Alaric knelt before him, hands extended.

"Come on, little buddy," Alaric urged gently. "You can do it."

Soham knew what his father wanted. He wanted to walk. An intense look of concentration crossed Eric's face as he struggled to command his leg muscles. Ever so slowly, he leaned forward on unsteady feet. The crib's edge just barely kept him upright. Then he gingerly lifted one chubby leg, swayed dangerously, but managed to take one teetering step into his father's awaiting hands.

"Atta boy!" Alaric cheered, tossing Eric playfully into the air before kissing his button nose. Soham giggled aloud, marveling at this major milestone. How he wished he could share his many thoughts and questions with his attentive parents! But for now, he was simply proud to discover his growing ability to influence this world, step by tiny step.