The world folded.
Blue streams.
Aarav opened his eyes and panicked, because scenes were changing before his eyes rapidly.
"System ?!"
No response.
The streams accelerated.
" System ?!!!!!! What is happening ?"
[That was a teleportation crystal. You are being transported to the Vetrax world.]
" Then why are you not interfering ?"
[Even if I interfere with it now, you won't be back to your home. You'll probably be teleported to another continent and I will shut down for another 2 years on the top of 3 years]
"Thats still better than being teleported to Vetrax world. Interrupt it now."
Then—
The entire space cracked.
[Command accepted.]
[Emergency Override Initiated.]
The blue streams shattered like glass.
The destination warped violently.
Something resisted.
A distant roar echoed through the void.
The pressure intensified.
Aarav's consciousness flickered.The roar vanished abruptly.
And then—
Darkness.
_______________________
In a field painted with snow, a child appeared quietly.
"It's so cold. Where am I ?"
Beep.
[Basic Function Unlocked]
[System entering dormancy…]
[Shutdown Duration: 5 Years]
[Final Directive: Survive.]
"System ?" Aarav asked.
But the only reply he got was silence.
'It really shut down. But it's so cold here, will I die after being reincarnated for few hours. Why is my life so tragic ?' Aarav lamented to himself.
'If I stay here few more hours I will surely die. Should I cry loudly, what if someone hears it and comes to save me' Aarav thought to himself and started crying loudly.
But unfortunately no one heard him.
After crying for some time Aarav was losing consciousness. Just before he lost consciousness he heard a faint footstep from distance.
The footsteps grew clearer.
Crunch… crunch… crunch…
Slow. Unhurried. Approaching through the snow.
Aarav's vision was fading.
'Is someone… coming?' Aarav thought to himself.
A shadow appeared.
Tall.
Then another.
"…Did you hear that?" a woman's voice whispered.
"Hmm." A man replied, calm, measured. "A child."
The figures came closer. Their outlines sharpened. A man wrapped in a dark coat, his eyes sharp like a blade hidden in silk. Beside him, a woman draped in white fur, her lips curved in a faint, unreadable smile.
"There." She pointed.
They stopped in front of him.
Aarav lay half-buried in snow, his small body trembling weakly.
The woman crouched down.
Her fingers brushed his cheek which was Ice cold.
"Oh my…" she murmured softly. "Such a pretty child…"
Aarav gradually lost his consciousness.
The man didn't kneel.
He simply observed.
"No footprints," he said after a moment.
"No carriage. No guardians."
His gaze narrowed slightly.
"…It's like he appeared out of nowhere."
The woman's smile deepened.
"Then there is no risk. Just when I was in need of some quick cash and he is pretty too. He will surely be good material."
The man finally stepped closer.
"…It's still alive."
"Of course it is," the woman replied gently. "let's go before it dies."
She slid her arms beneath Aarav and lifted him carefully.
She carefully thought for a moment and turned to him, "Can you look around and find if someone is looking for it ?"
The man turned, already walking away.
"We should leave first. This place is too exposed."
Snow continued to fall.
Erasing all traces.
Far away…
And in the endless white field—
Only silence remained.
__________
Warmth wrapped around him as Aarav slowly gained his consciousness.
'I'm alive…' Aarav thought to himself.
He felt a finger poking his cheek. He tried to open his eyes slowly. His vision was blurry at first, but gradually became clear. But what greeted him was a pair of big and clear eyes, looking at him with curiousity.
A little girl, about 20 months old was poking at his cheek with her chubby little fingers.
'Cute' Aarav thought to himself as he looked at her. 'Is she their child ?' Aarav remembered the couple he saw before losing his consciousness. He was thankful to them because they saved him.
He tried looking around the room turning his head left and right. A faint orange glow from a fireplace flickered in the corner, spreading heat across the room. Everything was neat and clean. There was small table across the bed in which he was placed. Soft blanket was wrapped around him. Even this small task was tiring for his newborn body.
Before Aarav could think further, the door opened.
The woman entered the room and walked towards him with light steps, her eyes directly fixed on him. The man followed behind her and stood near the door, quietly observing everything.
"He's awake," the woman said calmly.
The woman came closer and placed her hand on his forehead, checking his condition carefully.
"Healthier than I expected," she murmured.
The man glanced at Aarav once and then at the girl near the bed. "Don't let it die," he said in a flat tone.
The woman gave a faint smile and reached for a small cup placed on the table. She lifted Aarav slightly and held him in her arms. She held him carefully, but there was no warmth in her touch.
"Drink," she said softly as she brought the cup to his lips.
Aarav hesitated for a moment but then started drinking. After drinking a little his eyes widened.
'Is this animal milk ?!! Giving animal milk to a new born child, are they trying to kill me ?' He tried to struggle but the woman spanked him and forced milk into his mouth.
Aarav felt like crying but there is nothing he could do because milk was forced down his throat. But what he expected didn't happen.
[Energy +0.1]
[Energy +0.1]
[Energy +0.1]...
'What is happening ? Is this the basic function system unlocked ? Had it made my digestive system stronger ? Woah! The system has foresight' he kowtowed to system 99 times in his mind.
The warm milk spread through his body, easing the cold that still lingered deep inside him.
The little girl watched everything with curious eyes. She slowly crawled closer and reached out her hand again, trying to touch Aarav. But she couldn't reach him and fell down instead.
" Waaahhhh..."
The woman frowned slightly.
"Shut up, bit**," she said loudly.
"Waaahhhh..."
The girl didn't understand. She let out another loud cry.
The next moment—
A sharp sound echoed in the room.
The woman's hand struck the girl across her cheek.
"I said shut up"
Aarav's eyes widened. Shock. Pure shock.
'She… slapped her…? Are they really her parents ?'
" Why is this thing so annoying ? When will they come to take them ?" The woman turned towards the man.
" They said the material should be atleast be 3 years old or they won't accept it." The man replied.
" What ? You are saying that we have to keep them for another 2 years, are you kidding me now ?" She exclaimed at the man.
"Just feed them for now if they survive then it's good, if they died then just throw them down the hill," He said calmly.
"It's a hassle" the woman sighed.
They both left the room after saying that. Only sniffles of the little girl was heard in the room.