I waited in my bed, pretending to be asleep, as my parents prepared to leave for the night. They had decided to search for the final ingredients needed for the tonic Luna had requested. As always, they entrusted Luna to watch over me in their absence.

  “Be good, little one,” my mother said softly, brushing a hand through my hair before leaving. My father gave a quiet nod of approval as they disappeared into the forest.

  Luna sat in a chair nearby, staring off into space. Though her posture seemed relaxed, there was a tension about her, as if she were waiting for something.

  Taking a deep mental breath, I decided now was the time to speak. With [Soul Speak], I reached out to her, forming the words carefully.

  “Hello, Luna. I know this is surprising, but this is Juren, and we need to talk.”

  Luna turned toward me, a sly smirk spreading across her face. The expression sent a chill down my spine. Something was off.

  “Finally!” she exclaimed, standing and walking over to me with an almost exaggerated air of exasperation.

  “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to reach out?” she asked. “It’s not nice to keep a lady waiting!”

  Her reaction caught me off guard. How did she know about me? The confusion must have been clear on my face because she laughed softly and continued.

  “My daughter has been telling me all about you,” Luna said, placing a hand on her stomach.

  I froze.

  “She told me you wouldn’t break the curse without talking to me afterward. She also said you’d probably feel bad about not asking permission first.” Luna’s teasing tone carried an undeniable undercurrent of truth.

  Embarrassed, I looked away, avoiding her gaze. “I sowwy,” I replied, using my best attempt at a pitiful baby tone. It wasn’t entirely an act—I genuinely felt bad about how things had unfolded.

  Luna’s expression softened, and a sweet smile crossed her face. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t expect a baby to know better anyway.”

  I flinched at her words and shot back, “I’m not just a baby! I was born old—with memories from a past life!”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Her smile didn’t falter. “Oh, child, thirty-six is still an infant in my eyes,” she said in a playfully belittling tone.

  Her words stung more than I wanted to admit. Still, the nagging question at the back of my mind remained: Who was her daughter, and how did she know so much about me?

  “The prophecy speaks of the Chosen One and his creation of the Green Elves,” Luna murmured, almost to herself.

  Her words made my stomach drop. She knew.

  “You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?” I asked, though the question was rhetorical.

  Luna’s eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and wonder. “To think that I would be the mother of the Green Elves!” she exclaimed, her voice taking on an almost fanatical reverence.

  She leaned over my crib, her face alight with excitement. Before I could react, she began tickling my belly mercilessly. My tiny nerves, hypersensitive to touch, lit up like fireworks.

  “Stop!” I mentally yelled, giggling uncontrollably as my body thrashed in protest.

  “No,” Luna replied with a playful grin, her fingers relentless.

  “Why?!” I asked, desperate for reprieve.

  “Payback,” she said simply, her grin widening.

  It wasn’t until I begged that she finally stopped the onslaught. Panting from the ordeal, I glared at her with all the defiance my tiny body could muster.

  She ignored my attempt at a stern expression and settled back into her chair. I tried pressing her for information about her daughter’s identity, but Luna either didn’t know or refused to tell me. I suspected it might be my childhood sweetheart from my past life, but I couldn’t be certain. I resolved to keep my guess to myself—for now.

  We spent the rest of the evening discussing how to convince my parents to accept Luna’s child. When my mother and father returned, Luna claimed that a divine being had spoken to her, revealing that her child would be the first of the Green Elves.

  To strengthen her story, I used [Soul Speak] to connect Zotherg with my parents. The ancient elemental’s deep, wise voice added credibility to the claim, and his authority left no room for doubt.

  My mother was ecstatic, immediately proposing a baby shower. The women of the village gathered to celebrate the news, leaving me in no doubt that this event would dominate the community for weeks to come.

  Amid the celebrations, I noticed Luna plotting something. Her expression carried a mischievous glint I had come to recognize as a harbinger of trouble.

  Turning to my mother, she said with feigned casualness, “You know, my daughter will be the only girl born in this village for the next century.”

  My mother paused, considering the statement. Then, as if struck by divine inspiration, her face lit up with realization.

  “Oh, that’s perfect!” she exclaimed.

  Wait… no.

  The two women exchanged knowing smiles, and my heart sank.

  “We should start planning for their future!” my mother said.

  “Yes,” Luna agreed, her voice dripping with mock innocence. “It’s only natural they’ll grow up to be the perfect pair.”

  I wanted to vomit blood. Or fire. Or both.

  “You’re mean!” I sent to Luna via [Soul Speak], my frustration boiling over.

  She turned to me with the victorious grin of someone who had just won the game without breaking a sweat. It was the grin all women wore when they knew they had bested you.