Carwyn's soul drifted in a state of weightlessness.His soul was in the medallion, which was now like a liquid enclosing that protected him and prevented his soul from dissipating.
The liquid medallion was made of two colours.One strand red while the other blue.The two circled each other in spirals which meet at the center of Carwyn soul, creating a magical lustre of dark purple marble.
The purple marble was non other than Carwyn's soul which was in a state of Euphoria.
There was no sense of time, no body to feel pain or weight, just pure consciousness floating in a void. It was peaceful in a way, though unnerving. After what felt like an eternity, Carwyn began to feel something—a pull, a magnetic force drawing him towards an unknown destination.
Suddenly, his awareness sharpened. He was no longer formless. He could feel... a body? It felt small, constricted, and fragile. His first instinct was to move, but his limbs felt foreign, like a prisoner in his own flesh. Confusion flooded his mind as he strained to open his eyes.
Blurred images filtered through his barely functioning senses. He could make out movement, vague silhouettes moving around him. Voices, muffled at first, began to clear as his hearing adjusted.
"He's beautiful, isn't he?" came a soft, tender voice, brimming with warmth.
"Yes, our little miracle," replied a deeper voice, thick with emotion.
Carwyn's mind raced. His soul, with all its aged wisdom and bitterness, now occupied the body of a newborn. He tried to cry out, to say something, but all that escaped his lips was a soft, helpless wail.
The woman's laughter rang out, pure and sweet. "Look, he's already trying to talk."
Carwyn's frustration boiled within him. He had been a seasoned Totem Lord, a master of battle, deceit, and survival. Now, he was reduced to the vulnerability of an infant. His thoughts screamed in protest, but his body responded only with more weak sounds.
This was out of expectations.Although there was always a possibility of failure, he did not fail,but was put in a newborn's body.This was very detrimental to his plans.
In his plans, he was supposed to transmigrate into the body of a strong adult who had a weak soul or was in death's door. He would then dorminate and devour it and make the body his and cultivate to the maximum.
But fate was a cruel thing.
At that moment, the sensation of being held came next. Gentle, protective arms cradled him, and he was drawn close to the warmth of the woman's chest. The rhythmic beating of her heart was oddly soothing, though it did little to ease the turmoil in Carwyn's soul.
"Let's name him Cain, after your father," the woman said softly.
The man, Carwyn presumed to be his new father, chuckled lightly. "A fitting name for such a strong boy."
"He will surely grow up to become a strong totem warrior."
Cain? That was his new name? Carwyn seethed internally. He wasn't some innocent child. He was Carwyn, a demonic cultivator, a survivor of battles and schemes. Yet, here he was, powerless to correct them, stuck in the body of an infant named Cain.
' wait..you said totem right..?, you ! you! Look at me when am talking !! I shall not allow such disrespect! If only you knew that your son is a grown ass man..ha ha ha .. would you call yourself a dad then..?'
Cain said all that in the loudest voice he could let out , but all his parents could hear was the ranting of a baby " gah! gah! gah! gah! gu! gu! gu! gu!, da! da!"
"Did you hear? Did you hear? He said da! da! " The man said with an excited and proud voice.
Realizing what he had done, Cain/ Carwyn decided to shut up as protest to the man.
***
The days passed in a haze. Carwyn—no, Cain—had no choice but to endure the humiliation of his new reality. His senses slowly sharpened. He recognized the voices of his new parents, Brigid and Toran, who lived in a simple village above the fog-covered mountains.
They spoke often of the harsh world outside, of the dangers that lurked beyond the safety of their small home. Cain, despite his infant form, paid close attention. He would need every scrap of knowledge to survive and escape this cursed cycle and to make every use of opportunity that comes his way.
His parents were not as useless as he had made them to be. Brigid, his mother was very connected and had many information channels in this small village.Many a time she was visited by many important people all in the name of seeing the newborn. At these interactions, she was informed of almost all the happenings of the village.All done without even taking a step outside.
The main beneficiary was of course non other than Cain. He had learned a a lot of things about the village .To his surprise , this village had a strong hierarchy system with strong political chess pieces ( political factions) .
People, connections and benefits. These three would play a huge role in his growth.As the saying goes 'where people meet, connections grow, and through those bonds, benefits flow .'
Cain knew very well of the working of the heart and the thoughts of people .And as such paid a lot of attention to the people who came to meet his mother.
His father , Toran, was a captain of a totem warrior squad. He was very dependable and heroic to many people. The people coming to meet Cain's mother would always mention him.
Apparently he was very strong.
Days went by and turned into weeks, which then turned into months. Cain's life was smooth.He would always stay near his mother ( not like he could go anyware ..he!.. he! ..he..!) and listen to the happening of the village while at the same time always sucking those large mounds on his mother's chest. It was surely a lush life.
One evening, a strange occurrence broke the monotony of his infant life. The winds outside their stone cottage howled with an eerie ferocity, and the ground trembled slightly beneath them. Brigid held Cain close, her face etched with concern as she looked to Toran.
"It's happening again," she whispered. "The ground shakes more often these days."
Toran nodded, his expression grim. "The Elders say the that the mountain vein is growing unstable. Something stirs beneath us. We may need to leave the village soon."
Cain's infant eyes widened as much as they could manage. "Instability? The ground?" he thought, piecing together fragments of his own knowledge. Could it be connected to the cosmic stream? The shifting forces of the Elder World that he had heard of before his death? His mind raced with possibilities.
Cosmic stream. In his two cultivation journey, he had first cultivated qi energy then totem energy.Both of these two had one thing in common..; The Dao.
And the Dao was most concentrated at the cosmic stream, which has limitless Dao marks of all kinds and phenomina.
Fundamentally, the Dao could be understood as the flow of energy that permeates all things-like a cosmic force that connects the universe. It's the natural order guiding the balance of elements, energy, and life. Those who understand the Dao can tap into this energy, aligning themselves with the flow of nature to enhance their body, mind and soul, maintain harmony, and achieve great power.
Why would Cain risk everything to come to Elder world?
It is simple; ' the cosmic stream.'
The Cosmic Stream, the eternal river of existence itself! It is the source of all creation, the boundless flow of life, spirit, and power, carrying within it unlimited Dao —the very imprints of the universe's wisdom and harmony. To touch the Cosmic Stream is to touch the heartbeat of the cosmos, a current that transcends time, space, and all mortal understanding. It holds the infinite potential of all things, shaping destinies, guiding the stars, and whispering the secrets of the Dao to those wise enough to listen.
In its depths, one finds the purest essence of life, an endless ocean of possibility, where the Dao dances like eternal flames of truth. Every mark within the stream contains a spark of the universe's will, a fragment of perfection that, when embraced, brings enlightenment, power, and growth.
The Cosmic Stream flows through all, yet remains untouchable to those who do not seek it with reverence. It is the lifeblood of the cosmos, the ultimate source, and the greatest treasure.
And in Elder world, the cosmic stream takes form, from being ethereal in all the world's of the cosmos to being real in Elder world.
Truly the perfect place for Cain's huge ambitions of revenge.
'It is real! It is real!' The baby could not help but feel excited.
While shrouded by his thoughts of excitement, another tremor rocked the house, this time stronger. Toran quickly rose and moved to the window, peering out into the gathering darkness.
"I need to go help out and reduce the casualties," he muttered, his voice laced with tension. "Stay here with the baby. I'll return soon."
As Toran left, Brigid clutched Cain tighter. Her fear was palpable, but Carwyn—trapped in this child's body—felt a thrill. The instability in this world was no mere coincidence. Something larger was at play, and if there was one thing Carwyn knew, it was how to exploit chaos.
He lay silently in his mother's arms, plotting, calculating. He had to survive this childhood, grow stronger, and reclaim his former power. The village, the Elders, the strange tremors - whether they were the cosmic stream or not, everything would be a piece in his grand design.
But for now, he could do nothing but wait and watch, his infant cries masking the dangerous mind of a demonic cultivator, hidden behind the innocent gaze of a newborn named 'Cain'