Queen Chi's heart swelled as she stepped into her daughter's room, her voice bright with joy. "My darling mummy is here," she beamed, expecting to see her infant princess cooing in her crib. Instead, a swirling cloud of dark smoke shrouded the room, obscuring the crib entirely.
"My queen, please stay back!" a guard barked, his hand on his sword as he and his comrades formed a protective line, ushering her backward. The queen's sapphire eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.
As the dark cloud began to dissipate, it gave way to a radiant golden light that pulsed like a heartbeat. From within the glow, a tall figure emerged, kneeling before the crib. His armor gleamed faintly, and his voice, deep and steady, cut through the tense silence. "It is an honor to meet you, master. I am your knight, King Arus."
The room froze in stunned silence. Queen Chi's mind reeled, her maternal instincts screaming. Her daughter was being kidnapped! "Guards, seize that man and save my baby!" she cried, her voice sharp with panic.
"Yes, Queen Chi!" the guards responded in unison, drawing their swords and advancing cautiously toward the figure.
"Oi, oi, Mama, he's not a bad guy!" a small, clear voice echoed—not from the crib, but directly into their minds. The guards faltered, glancing at one another in confusion. Princess Ruka, barely a few months old, sat calmly in Arus' arms, her sapphire eyes sparkling with an intelligence far beyond her age. Though her lips didn't move, her words rang clear.
One of the knights, a grizzled veteran with a scar across his cheek, muttered, "Since when do babies talk like that?" His gaze locked onto Ruka, who stared back.
Ruka's tiny face twisted into a displeased pout. 'Bad timing,' she thought. 'Just when I was testing my powers.'
"My daughter's been possessed by a demon!" Queen Chi shrieked, her hands trembling as she clutched the folds of her gown.
"Mum, I'm not possessed," Ruka's voice projected again, calm but firm. "I've just awakened some powers. That's all."
An elderly woman with short brown hair streaked with white, light brown eyes stepped into the room, her presence commanding despite her unassuming appearance. "It's possible, Your Majesty," she said, her voice steady and wise.
Queen Chi turned to her, desperation in her sapphire eyes. "Is it, Nanny Zu?"
Nanny Zu nodded, her brown skin glowing softly in the candlelight. "Yes. I've heard tales of children born across the world who speak as infants, gifted with extraordinary abilities. They call them the Blessed Children. Princess Ruka may be one of them."
Queen Chi's gaze shifted to the man holding her daughter. "And who are you?" she demanded, her tone sharp despite her fear.
Arus bowed slightly, his composure unshaken. "I am King Arus, Ruka's servant," he said, his voice smooth as polished steel.
"King Arus?" Queen Chi echoed, her brow furrowing. "There is no king here but His Majesty Kain Wang."
"Mother," Ruka interjected, her mental voice gentle but firm, "he's a servant I summoned. I don't fully understand how it works, but he's my personal knight now." In her heart, Ruka buzzed with excitement. King Arus—the legendary hero from her history books back on Earth, the warrior who wielded Excalibur and slew demons and dragons! Yet, his aura was different, and he was way too calm, too composed. It set her on edge.
Queen Chi's lips pressed into a thin line. How could her newborn daughter, barely able to sit up, display such intelligence? Who wouldn't suspect something unnatural? "Hmm," she grunted, her eyes narrowing as she studied Ruka.
"Let's trust your daughter, Your Majesty," Nanny Zu said softly, taking Queen Chi's trembling hands in her own. "The Blessed Children are said to be exceptionally wise, often carrying memories of their past lives."
Queen Chi's eyes widened. "Memories of past lives? How do you know this, Nanny Zu?"
"I overheard people from other countries discussing it," Nanny Zu replied.
Queen Chi turned to her daughter, her voice softening. "Is it true, Ruka?"
"Arus," Ruka said, and the knight understood instantly. He stepped forward, ignoring the guards' tense grips on their swords, and gently placed Ruka in her mother's arms before stepping back with a bow.
Ruka gazed up at Queen Chi, her tiny hand reaching for her mother's face. Should I tell her? she wondered. Then, projecting her voice, she said, "I've gained memories of my past life."
Queen Chi gasped, her fair skin paling. She wasn't naive; she understood the implications of such a claim, though it was rare in their kingdom. "How am I supposed to pamper my baby now?" she wailed, tears spilling down her cheeks. "You could be older than me!"
"Ehh, Mama, I'm not older than you!" Ruka said quickly, her mental voice tinged with panic as she tugged gently at her mother's hair. "I died when I was only fifteen."
"You died so young!" Queen Chi sobbed louder, clutching Ruka tightly. The guards shifted awkwardly, and even Arus's stoic expression flickered with discomfort.