'Karl….'
That was all James could think when he heard his father's words. He neither paid attention to his mother's happiness nor how they were hugging and kissing him.
His mind was going full throttle as he tried to remember every piece of the puzzle. And then he remembered, the things he ignored.
The symbol he saw when he looked out of the window on the flags put here and there. The symbol of a dragon silently staring at everything. The same as described in the novel as the symbol of Dukedom of Hearth.
The symbol he saw on the one he thought looked like a preacher. The symbol of three pair of white wings, which in novel was the symbol of followers of Goddess Arhyne.
And when all the pieces of the puzzle fell in their place, it clicked him.
He was Karl.
'Yeah, it clears many things. If I am Karl, then it clears why father looks like Karl yet bulkier. He was Karl therefore it justifies how the looks are similar. But maybe I just saw it wrong. Maybe that happens with eyes. Not an experienced watcher so could have made a mistake. I need more clarification! But how!?'
James thought as he focused again and looked around him. His mother was hugging him laughing. He pushed her with all the force his little hands could muster.
His mother created space and spoke something but James was too focused on the thing he wanted to know to pay her any mind.
He turned his head towards his father and looked down and saw it. A sword. A black sword hanging from his waist that seemed to instill fear in anyone that looked at it.
But his focus was not on the sword. He was focused on the area of the sword that was visible just at the end of the scabbard.
The point where the hilt and the blade met, sculpted with a black looking substance was a dragon. Its eyes made of a red gem that shimmered as if trying to eat him up whole.
James didn't feel fear. There was only one thought going through his head.
'My fucking luck!'
***
5 hours have passed since James understood he was now Karl and now he laid in a crib.
At first when he found out he was Karl, he started cursing his luck in a frenzy but when his mother got worried and hugged him, patting him lovingly, he calmed down.
It didn't take him long to accept his new reality. And when he did he was able to see the bright side.
'Yeah, Karl is supposed to be another stupid villain but with me becoming Karl, being stupid is no more an option! I can easily become the strongest in the world! And this life is really lucky now that I think of it.
Status? I am the eldest son of duke Hearth, the one who will succeed his throne.
Talent? I got loads of it. Karl was so talented that even with him doing dumb shit Isurt still couldn't kill him alone. So I can perfectly live like a king, or a duke to be more specific.'
Just when James was coming to love his new reality and understanding the advantages he got, he was suddenly pushed to a celebration party.
There were lots of white headed men. As for the women, there were few white heads among them but it was more of a palette.
For James it was fun. He was seeing different colors. Everything was colored around him but he preferred things with simple and solid colors and not shiny gems. It was like when one is thirsty, one prefers pure water over cold drinks.
As James was enjoying the view, he saw an old man with black hairs and black eyes coming towards him with a tooth wide smile on his face.
He had wrinkles on his face but still had a very amicable and young vibe. Beside him was a woman with magenta hairs that reached her neck, with a smile that was small yet profuse.
'Even though I have lived seeing black hairs for years these hairs look so beautiful. I bet actors and actresses on earth would kill to get such hairs.' thought as he reminisced the mostly black haired crowds he was used to seeing on earth.
'Wait. These hairs are just like mother's. This is arhaven not earth, having same hair color means they are of the same family. So he must be my grandpa from mother's side and the magenta haired woman must be my grandma. Time for scoring points!
Got to be a cutie in family's eyes as it will be helpful later on. Time to make connections!'
James started giggling and flailing his arms stretching them towards the arriving duo.
The duo laughed heartily at the sight increasing their pace. As they reached him, they both straightened their hands to take Karl in for a hug.
'Fuck!'
It didn't take long for James or now Karl to understand the dilemma he put himself in.
'I will just choose who will be able to help me more. If I go with the fact that grandpa has same colored hairs as mother then he must be the family head and so I should choose grandpa but as grandma and grandpa are competing, they must have a loving relationship, and if grandma is the weak spot of grandpa, I should choose grandma...'
As Karl made his decision he shifted his body and faced his grandpa who broke into a boisterous laughter showing his teeth as he held the child in his hands.
'Ok plan B commence!'
James now in his grandpa's arms held his clothes and looked intently at his grandma who was visibly sulking. His staring made her stop sulking as she smiled and started pulling Karl's cheeks.
'With this I scored more points with grandpa who must have more authority as a family head and I also managed to score points with grandma.'
He was enjoying the moment when suddenly both his grandparents turned towards an old couple that was just entering the hall. Karl's grandpa smiled looking at the man and motioning towards Karl with his chin as if showing off.
As the couple entered, the whole hall was taken by bows. The old man of the duo waved his hands to the crowd, seeing which the crowd returned back to what they were doing.
'They must be my granny and grandpa from dad's side.' Karl thought as he looked at the couple.
The man was old his face filled with wrinkles, having a stern look that could turn any hilarious situation into a serious one. He also had white hairs denoting the blood of Hearth family.
The woman had a gentle smile on her face as she walked looking straight at Karl. She also had white hairs but they were more of a silver tone, shining under the light unlike other white hairs.
'This one is easier.' Karl thought as he started the same cute cap but this time for his granny who gleefully took hold of him. He then started staring at his grandpa who was also looking at him.
'He is looking at me? Is he interested?' Karl thought as he stretched his hands towards his grandpa.
The man after seeing the hand gesture shifted his gaze towards his grandpa who in turn initiated a talk with a laugh.
'Ignoring me huh. Congratulations oldy, you earned the title of grandfather. No love to you.' Karl made a mental note to himself about the strictness of his now grandfather.
The talk continued for a while after which his father loudly spoke some words as everyone silently listened which Karl guessed was a speech as at the end the hall broke into claps and bows. Just to make his assumptions clearer, the speech ended with the word Karl so he could guess it all.
The party continued for a few hours with different people coming to him, some tried talking to him while some pulled his cheeks but Karl just ignored them all as he laid in his father's embrace.
'I don't know who they are. No, don't really care. Just because one is family doesn't mean that person is good. When my parents died it was only granny Clara who took care of me.' was his reasoning.
After the party he was put in a crib in a big room which he guessed was his. There were maids around him awake just standing… guard maybe.
'But their expressions are a bit too excited for a guard. Maybe they are eager to play with me but don't wanna disturb me if I am asleep. Nice lets keep it like that. The cute act is only for family.' were Karl's thoughts as he closed his eyes.
'Well it is not bad. Women dressed like maids will swarm me at a single cry. Living the dream life of many men back on earth kek.'
A few minutes passed in silence when Karl opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
'Ok so now… what? Wait I was born.. today right? So I have to live for 2 years in this body without even speaking. I think I already displayed the cutest side I can to my family. So now I am… free?'
'Being able to see is good but it is not a time pass if I keep staring at the same boring ceiling. I will probably get some toys to play with in a few months by when maybe I would be capable to crawl but till then I just have to lie in the crib lifeless huh.' Karl thought as he slowly closed his eyes trying to fall asleep.