She left the room to go get something. Now that I was alone, I immediately tried taking off the bangle. Unfortunately, baby me had nowhere near the coordination needed to accomplish it. I will use my <Magic>. They aren’t taking the one good thing I have from me. I fidgeted around, trying to remove the blasted thing. Out of frustration I tried shaking my arm. The bangle refused to fall off. Unn returned and saw me trying to remove the bangle.

“No. You must leave it on.” Unn lectured.

“No.” I replied. It came out more like naa. Blasted baby vocal cords.

“You must be hungry. Here.” Unn said.

She lifted me and proceeded to feed me some of the most horrific sludge I ever tasted. The texture was akin to water downed toothpaste. It tasted like a horrific blend of oatmeal and olives. What is this sludge? I immediately began trying to spit it out.

“I know, the taste isn’t the best, but it’s high in nutrients. It will help your body grow strong. It also helps your <Mana Reserve>.” Unn told me. I conceded, choking down the offensive sludge.

“What an odd baby. It’s like you can understand what I’m saying.” Unn muttered to herself.

“I can.” I replied. The only part that sounded correct was the I.

“I wonder how old you are. I should’ve asked. You can’t be more than a week old looking at you.” Unn said, clearly talking to herself.

I resumed my efforts to remove the bangle. Unn stopped me immediately and waved her finger at me. She handed me a rattle. I immediately tossed it aside and tried to pull the bangle off. I want my <Magic>. Unn took away the rattle and handed me a really fluffy stuffed ball. That is not my bangle being off Unn. I dropped the ball and renewed my efforts.

“What is your obsession with this bangle? Is it that uncomfortable?” Unn asked.

“Yes.” I answered. I want the pressure back, not this odd stuffy feeling. I need to work on my blasted baby vocals. I continued to try and take it off.

“Stop Ash.” Unn snapped at me.

Every time I started trying to remove the bangle, Unn would stop me. She was sitting nearby, and the instant she heard motion, she would come and stop me. After twenty minutes of struggling with me, she swaddled the blanket around me so tightly I couldn’t get my arms free. I glared at her in response. Unn was looking right back.

“As stubborn as your father apparently.” Unn sighed, clearly exasperated.

I struggled against my cloth prison. I will get my <Magic> back. Unn had tucked it incredibly tight. I felt this odd sensation in my body as I fought against my infernal confines. What is this feeling? The more I moved, the more the feeling spread.

“Stubborn baby.” Unn told herself as she worked on whatever she was doing.

I had no idea what she was doing during this time. It’s not outside my body. What is this? I focused on my arms. How can I wiggle these sausages to break free and take off the bangle? The sensation shifted to my arms. I renewed my efforts, finally making some progress on my prison. Did I get stronger? This is a lot easier all of a sudden. With my newfound power, I freed my arms from the blasted blanket. Mwahahaha.

Now that I was free, I resumed my efforts to remove the bangle. Controlling my baby limbs was a herculean task. Unn came to investigate the noise I was making. She looked perplexed my arms were free.

“How did you free your arms?” Unn asked herself.

“Easily.” I tried. I suck at forming consonants.

“I must be tired. Was not expecting to be up one baby tonight.” Unn said to herself.

She reimprisoned me in the blanket. I will not be so easily defeated. I moved around a bit, to get the sensation building up. I focused on my arms again, and the strength returned. I have no idea what this is, but it is effective. After a couple of minutes, my arms were free again. Now if only I could figure out how to get coordinated enough to take this bangle off. Unn materialized next to the crib and looked at me. She’s too vigilant.

“How far out of it am I? How can I not properly swaddle a baby?” Unn asked herself. She left and returned with someone a few minutes later. I could barely hear the second person move.

“This baby is Ash. He is a new arrival. I cannot seem to swaddle him properly today.” Unn told the newcomer.

“Okay.” A man replied. His voice was deep and husky. Some very strong hands wrapped the blanket much tighter around me.

“Thank you Aut.” Unn said.

“Want me to stay around just in case?” Aut asked.

“It should be fine. Thank you.” Unn replied. The two of them walked away. I couldn’t hear if Aut left.

I started wiggling again. I got the motion down and put the odd sensation back in my arms. With the strength restored yet again, I was able to break free from the blanket yet again. It was definitely starting to wear me out. What is this? I wish I knew. But with my arms free, I could attempt to remove the bangle again.

“What a talented little baby.” Aut said, materializing above me.

“What the fuck?!” I yelped. It came out more as a waaa da faa.

“What do you mean?” Unn asked.

“He’s using <Mana Reinforcement>. That’s how he’s getting free.” Aut explained.

“He’s a baby! How could he be using <Mana Reinforcement>?” Unn demanded.

“Wait, why isn’t he crying?” Aut probed.

“What do you mean?” Unn asked.

“I just materialized in front of this baby, clearly startled him, and he just is staring at me.” Aut explained.

“Make sure he isn’t trying to take his bangle off again. I’m not sure you startled him.” Unn sighed.

“It almost sounded like he said what the forl.” Aut joked.

“Do not swear in front of a baby!” Unn snapped. Keeping that word noted for later.

“I’m sorry, we have apparently got another orphan to look after that has talent for <Mana Reinforcement>. There’s something off about him.” Aut retorted.

“What’s off? What basis do you have for that?” Unn probed.

“I don’t know. The way he’s looking at me. There’s comprehension in those eyes of his.” Aut answered.

“You’re nuts.” Unn retorted.

“Really?” Aut challenged. He reached down, picked me up, and began lightly tossing me up and down.

“You’re going to make him start crying!” Unn snarled.

I was then surrounded by an odd feeling and began flying around the room. I realized, Aut wasn’t even touching me. Unn was glaring at Aut. I finally got a good look at Aut. He was a mountain of a man; his muscles had muscles he was so ripped. Aut towered over Unn, being possibly as tall as the doorways. His skin was an incredibly dark color, which matched his near black eyes. I thought I was hallucinating because he had horns. Wait, there’s <Magic>. There’s probably races other than humans. I wonder what he is. It was really fun being flown around the room. Aut then stopped and gently caught me.

“Again! Again!” I declared happily. I guess being here isn’t all bad.

“You might have a point.” Unn conceded.

“How many babies can you use <Magic> on to fly around and have it seem to know not to fidget and have fun?” Aut asked.

“You made your point. It’s still dangerous to do that with a newborn.” Unn retorted.

“A little faith Unn. Do you dislike your bangle?” Aut asked me.

“Yes.” I answered. Again, it sounded incomprehensible.

“You should leave it on him Aut.” Unn warned.

“The bangle is clearly designed to suppress him from exerting his <Mana> around him, not reinforcing his body. Doing that little bit of <Mana Reinforcement> probably wore him out a bit. We should see what type of <Magic> he possesses.” Aut replied.

“Do it at your own risk.” Unn retorted.

Aut took off the bangle. The odd pressure returned. I immediately tried something. I had no idea what I was doing. If that odd feeling was me reinforcing my body with <Magic>, what if I try to move it out of my body?  It was worth testing. I honestly felt like I was failing, but Aut immediately put my bangle back on me.

“Okay, the bangle stays on.” Aut declared. Did I succeed?

“So that’s his <Magic>. That bangle definitely needs to stay on.” Unn said.

What does that mean? I thought to myself.

“What are you doing with this precious little baby?” Aut asked.

“Clarify what you’re asking.” Unn snapped.

“You can’t put him near another child on the off chance he takes that bangle off. He’s going to need constant supervision until he’s older. We’re already understaffed, do we have the resources to care for a kid like this?” Aut clarified.

 “We have received some new funding. I’ll watch Ash given the new information.” Unn answered.

“Where did we get new funding?” Aut asked.

“It’s been a long and busy day. It will be plenty to cover our cost.” Unn replied. My parents have enough money to at least partially fund this place, but they still abandoned me at an orphanage?

“If you say so.” Aut said.

“How do we restrain Ash? He will wiggle free using <Mana Reinforcement> if we only use a blanket.” Unn probed.

“I have an idea.” Aut replied.

Aut walked over, looking at me. This bangle will not stop me. I will be free; I will have my <Magic>. Aut reached down and swaddled me back into the cloth prison. We both know I’ll be free in a matter of minutes; this is a waste of your time. Aut looked at me with a smirk.

“There is some determination in those eyes of his.” Aut joked.

“I am wondering what innovation you are going to surprise me with.” Unn mocked.

“Hey little Ash, if you stay in the blanket till morning, I’ll show you how to properly move your <Mana> through your body.” Aut told me. Hmmmm.

“Ash is a baby. There’s no way he understands what you’re saying.” Unn taunted.

“I have a feeling you might be surprised.” Aut shot back.

Aut moved from my sight, and I couldn’t tell who was still in the room with me. I don’t even know what this room is. It was an incredibly tempting deal. It would probably be smart to know how to do it properly. I live in a world of <Magic> now. Maybe dying wasn’t so bad after all. I want to know how to properly use my <Mana>.

I settled into my cloth prison. I have to use the bathroom. Oh no. I shifted my legs, and I was at least wearing a diaper. No. No. No. No. I began making noises. Aut appeared, looking down at me.

“Bathroom.” I tried saying.

“What’s wrong little Ash?” Aut asked.

I made more noises trying to convey the impending problem. There was another disadvantage to my baby body, it did not possess the capacity to hold it in. Aut lifted me up, set me on a table nearby, and changed my diaper. This is humiliating.

“Alerts you when he’s about to need a diaper change. What a polite baby.” Aut said.

“You’re nuts if you think he understands.” Unn replied.

“We’ll see.” Aut retorted.

I was reimprisoned and set back in the crib. Being a baby sucks. I have to eat that nasty olive oatmeal sludge and get my diapers changed. I can’t even move around much. Focus on the <Magic>. Focus on the upside. The blanket was decent at least. Soft. Little fluffy. I laid there, staring at the ceiling. What are those hanging things called again? Would be a slight improvement over staring at the ceiling.

It did sting my birth parents abandoned me at an orphanage. Father in my last life. Both in this life. We are really improving things. Maybe being here wouldn’t be so bad. At least I have <Magic>. I continued to stare at the ceiling. This is boring. I mulled over the events I could remember. I wanted to be free, this is the ultimate freedom from that life, I guess. I just continued thinking things over as I drifted off to sleep.