Chapter 10 - Onward To The Park (1/2)

When I woke up the following day, I felt fantastic after completing my first cycle through my Mana Circuit the next day.

Not only did I feel fully rested, but I felt as if I could run a marathon while juggling bowling balls and doing back handsprings instead of running.

My newfound energy reserves astounded me. While I knew I couldn't fully utilize these energy levels, I couldn't stop myself from attempting to sprint around my room like a lunatic, which ultimately ended with me faceplanting on the ground more times than actually making it to the wall and back to my crib.

By lunchtime, I concluded that not only did I have newfound energy, I also didn't need a nap. One of the most annoying things about my infant body was how much sleep it needed. After awakening my Mana Circuit and Codex, it seemed unnecessary to have a mid-day nap anymore, to which I was ecstatic.

Noticing how active I was, Cinyah made a quick in-the-moment decision while looking over at me as I sat on the couch watching a children's cartoon on the HoloTv.

Bringing up her left arm and revealing the gauntlet-style watch wrapped around he left wrist, she proceeded to press a few buttons on it. Not long after, a holographic image of Rikard appeared hovering above her watch.

”Hello, my beautiful wife; how may I be of assistance to you on this fine day?” as Rikard responded, the sound of several explosions and guttural roars were audible in the background.

”I've decided to go to the park today with Cynrik; how long until you are finished with work?” Her clear melodious voice chimed out, drawing my attention.

I tilted my head subtly to the side, ignored the stupid dancing bear on screen, and picked up on the word ”Park.” lOutside…OUTSIDE, FINALLY, I CAN GO EXPLORING; I've been stuck in this house for nearly a full year. But, eh, who am I kidding. With how much of a helicopter parent Cinyah is, I wouldn't be surprised if she put a leash on me when we go out.l

”LITTLE CYNRIKS FIRST PARK TRIP. GUYS, HURRY IT UP MY BABY IS GOING TO THE PARK FOR THE FIRST TIME; THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I CAN MISS THIS”

Rikard's response was so cringeworthy to me that it drew a physical reaction from me, nearly making me fall off the couch.

”Mhm, hurry up, honey. You've got about an hour. I have to throw together a diaper bag and a snack box, on top of figuring out which outfit to dress him in before we leave, so get to it, YOU HEAR ME REAVERS, HURRY IT UP!” Cinyah went from zero to 100, nearly finishing up her statement in a vicious roar.

”YES, MA'AM!” Several voices on the other end of the call yelled in response to my beautiful (but now ever so slightly terrifying) mother's warning.

”I'll be done here soon, my darling wife” Rikard proceeded to make kissy noises into his watch, to which Cinyah's reply was to end the call swiftly.

lDamn, could it be that Mom is an ice queen in public, all the while being a tender loving parent and spouse at home?l This simple thought sent a bit of a shiver down my tiny spine.

One hour later, a simple blue diaper bag was neatly resting on the kitchen counter alongside a small green lunchbox which sported the large face of the stupid dancing Bear from the cartoon my mother seems to think I love.

I, on the other hand, was miserably strapped into a high-tech hovering baby stroller with a look of defeat plastered on my face.

Cinyah had spent the majority of the last hour playing dress the baby in an attempt to choose the perfect outfit for me. The final result was a pair of dark purple shorts and a bright red T-shirt which, like the Lunchbox, sported the stupid fucking cartoon bear alongside matching light-up sneakers that were tainted, like its shirt and lunchbox counterpart, by my NOW new nemesis, Carlisle, The Bear.

Cinyah refused to leave me alone at this point with her continuous fussing over how my clothes fit, and me being trapped in the hover stroller of death left me no means of escape.

When Rikard walked in the front door, he was greeted with the image of his bombshell of a wife smothering his handsome son with kisses and affection.

Unfortunately for me, Rikard didn't even acknowledge the looks I was shooting him, seeking reprieve from the onslaught of baby talk and kisses from Cinyah. To make matters worse, he even joined in.

As highly anti-social in my previous life, this amount of attention was worse than any horror movie or event imaginable for me. It was borderline suffocating.

It took another 30 minutes before it was finally time for my first steps…well, hover steps into the outside world.