I was born crying. My body pulled air into my lungs on its own. It hurt. I could not control my arms or legs. My vision was unclear, and everything looked too large.
People spoke around me. Their voices were fast and tense. Then they calmed down.
I understood what had happened. I had died in my previous life and been reborn in this world.
My memories were intact. I remembered my old life clearly. I remembered the moment it ended. There was no confusion in my thoughts. Only the problem of being trapped in a newborn body.
Someone lifted me. Warm hands held me close. A soft cloth wrapped around me. A woman cried quietly while holding me. Her heartbeat was fast. She said a name several times. That name was mine now.
I stopped crying after a moment. Crying too long would bring more people close. I did not know who was safe yet. As my body calmed, I noticed something important. There was power inside me.
It felt stable and heavy. It did not hurt. It felt natural, as if it belonged there. When I focused on it, something in the air responded. I could not see it, but I could feel it moving toward me.
I stopped immediately. I did not know this world's rules. I did not know how people reacted to abnormal children. Using power without understanding the consequences would be dangerous.
So I pushed it down. I did not seal it completely. I only kept it inactive. I needed to confirm whether this power was normal or not.
The woman holding me continued to cry. Others spoke to her in calm voices. No one panicked. That told me this was a normal birth, not a dangerous one. That information mattered.
I relaxed my body and acted like a normal newborn. I made small sounds. I moved weakly. I avoided doing anything that would draw attention. I chose this behavior because standing out too early would limit my options later.
As I lay there, I made decisions. I would not pretend to be weak, because forced weakness creates suspicion later.
I would not show everything, because power once revealed can be measured and countered. I would grow at a pace that looked believable. I would observe before acting. For now, survival came first.
I closed my eyes because newborns sleep often. No one would question it. Listening while appearing asleep would help me learn this world's language faster. The power inside me remained quiet. It was already strong. And given time, it would grow stronger.