The warm, golden sunlight streamed into Arzoth's chambers, flowing through the windows, and each corner of the room soon got filled with light. The comforting rays of light fell on Arzoth's sleeping form, he stirred before he set upright in his soft bed. He stretched his body. The familiar blue screen appeared in front of him.
[System Notice]
[Daily Quest Completed]
[Mana restored]
[+5 EXP gained]
[+10 Strength gained]
"Typical"
Arzoth was getting used to seeing the system notice the first thing he woke up with the same number of points gained. It wasn't much, but it was still progress. But today, he barely glanced at the blue screen. He looked beside his bed and took in the sight of Arisa's crib, placed right next to his bed. He reached out to peek inside, only to see Arisa asleep.
Something was different. Her form was larger than he remembered. The cloth, which was previously wrapped around her loosely, now seemed too small to embrace her. The baby hair on her scalp before had now grown out, snowy white like her father's, and way too long for a newborn. She looked more like a toddler than an infant.
Arzoth's brow furrowed,
"She looks different? No, she looks much older now than she did yesterday. What is happening?"
The prince shook his head slightly, blinked a few times to clear his vision, "Maybe I am just imagining things." He reassured himself.
He got out of his bed and slipped into his slippers, which he made a habit of. He took small steps away from the crib when Arisa opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Arzoth's face. she smiled brightly; her yellow eyes sparkled. With a soft, underdeveloped voice, she muttered, "Sole?"
Arzoth's eyes widened as his name escaped Arisa's throat, and he turned around sharply to look at the crib.
"Can it be that?"
"No, no….it can't be that she spoke, right? But then again, no one is around except Arisa."
Arzoth moved closer to the crib to get a clear view of his daughter. Her eyes were still sparkling, and she had a bright smile on her face. The prince sighed in relief,
"I knew I was imagining it."
"You are not imagining it, Sole," Arisa said.
Arzoth tensed up; this time, he was certain she spoke. she said those words. On top of all, she knew his name.
"She can…. speak!? I shouldn't be surprised even if the damned chair started talking too, but the fact that she knows my real name…"
The prince sat on the bed as he kept his gaze fixed inside the crib. Arsia's eyes followed his every move intently.
"So, you can speak." It was more of a statement than a question. "But how can you do that? You are too small for that." His eyes narrowed. "And most importantly, how do you know my name?"
Arisa sat up in her crib and looked at Arzoth, "Demons grow up faster. You should know that." She continued, "And since I awakened my system in the crystal cave, I gained instant growth with which I am growing faster."
"You…. awakened your system?! At this age?"
She offered a faint smile. "Of course," she said dryly. "I have my mother to thank for that, unlike you." Her voice came out sarcastic.
Arzoth failed to register the sarcasm; he instead narrowed his eyes further as a thought crossed his mind. He looked sharply at Arisa and asked, "How do you know I recently awakened my system?!"
"Even if she is growing rapidly, there is no way she would have known about my system because at that time she definitely couldn't talk or understand people around her, and it's not that my system getting awakened was such a big deal that even the demon realms would know about it, so how does Arisa know about it?"
Arzoth continued, "And you still didn't answer my question, how do you know my name?"
Her smile only widened. "I know everything." She paused for a brief moment, "As for how I know your real name is….because,"
Arzoth waited for Arisa's next words, but before she could continue, there was a soft knock on the door. Arzoth glanced at the door and then at his daughter. She was quick to rest back in her crib.
Arzoth looked over at the child,
"Smart girl!"
He composed his posture and expression before the wooden door to his chambers opened, a maid took a step inside, her head lowered and hands clasped in front of her, "Your Highness, the empress awaits your presence in the dining area for breakfast." After conveying her message, the maid bowed once again. The door got closed, and he moved his focus to Arisa as she sat up in her crib again, looking at Arzoth. She said with a thoughtful look, "Don't go there."
Arzoth frowned, "Why so? I can't keep the empress waiting,"
"Because I know that she will convince you to disown me,"
"What do you mean? Why would I do that?"
She looked at the closed door before moving her gaze back to Arzoth, as if checking if anyone was peaking in. "She unlocked the skill of manipulation level 98! She will convince you to disown me! And I will get in real trouble!"
Arzoth looked at Arisa with wide, surprised eyes, "How do you know about her unlocked skill? Especially if it's done recently?! And why are you so sure she will try to…" Arisa cut him off as she said, "As I said, it's because I know everything!"
Arzoth furrowed his brows, his expression filled with confusion, seeing which Arisa said, "I know your name. I know about your system. I know about the Empress's newly unlocked skill. I know that you are not really Arzoth, and many more things, or almost everything." She paused for a brief moment before she said, "I am Arisa from the future."
She gulped hard, "I got reincarnated."
Arzoth's eyes widened, his face turned pale, and his palms became clammy with sweat.
"What?!"