"Isn't it a bit strange?" Lyra murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking to the air itself. "The baby hasn't cried at all since we found him."
Myra, standing beside her, furrowed her brow in confusion. "Do human babies not cry? How are we supposed to know if he's hungry or if he's... you know, ruined his diapers?"
The baby, Theo, lay cradled in Eldoria Greenleaf's arms. The ancient elf rocked him gently, a faint smile playing on her lips as she gazed down at the tiny bundle. She seemed amused, though the others were clearly perplexed.
"Now that you mention it," Sera chimed in, her tone thoughtful, "it is strange. A baby's cry is said to bring good fortune. Could it be that Theo has been traumatized by being abandoned? Perhaps that's why he's so quiet."
Lyra's eyes widened with concern. "Ah, I don't want Theo to grow up quiet and reserved. I want him to be lively, mischievous even!"
"Yeah," Myra agreed, nodding vigorously. "We could use a little playmate of our own. It's been so boring with just the two of us."
Eldoria listened to the three elves, her expression shifting from amusement to a flicker of worry. She stopped rocking Theo and lifted him up, holding him at eye level to get a better look. The baby, adorable as he was, stared blankly ahead, his expression unchanging. He didn't blink, didn't move, didn't make a sound.
It was unsettling.
Eldoria's instincts prickled. She used her magical abilities to examine Theo once more, searching for any signs of illness or distress. But just like before, she found nothing out of the ordinary.
What she didn't realize was that Theo wasn't simply staring into nothingness. His gaze was fixed on something only he could see—a system interface, visible solely to him.
"The gods are so generous," Theo thought, his mind buzzing with excitement. "Not only did they give me a system, but they also granted me an SSS-Class skill. This is definitely a sign... I'm meant to be a healer in this new world and help people."
But something else caught his attention. "Why is my mana increasing so rapidly? And at this rate... it's unbelievable."
It was true. For a human baby, Theo's mana capacity was already enormous. On top of that, his mana was increasing at a rate of 0.1 per second, meaning he gained 1 mana every 10 seconds. It was an astonishing rate, even for someone with his SSS class.
While Theo was engrossed in his system, the four elves around him were growing increasingly concerned.
"For a baby to be so silent... it's heartbreaking," Myra sighed, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Your Highness, you must raise him with love and care, like a mother would. Only then can he forget the pain of being abandoned and grow into a healthy, happy child. Please, Your Highness..."
Sera practically begged, her voice trembling with emotion.
Lyra, meanwhile, was already crying. "Weep... weep..."
Eldoria looked at the three junior elves, moved by their heartfelt pleas. She began rocking Theo again, this time more gently. But as the ruler of the domain, she couldn't help but wonder: did she truly have the time to raise a child? She had spent most of her long life studying, teaching, ruling, and adventuring. She had never borne a child of her own, nor had she ever considered it.
"Leave this matter to me," Eldoria declared, her voice firm yet gentle. "I will ensure that Theo grows up healthy and happy. And of course, I will need your help, Sera."
Sera bowed deeply. "I would be honored to assist, Your Highness."
"Can we help too?" Lyra and Myra chimed in, their eyes wide with hope.
"Of course," Eldoria replied with a soft smile. Then, turning to Sera, she added, "By the way, is there anyone in the domain who is lactating? Since Theo has no biological mother, he will need a wet nurse."
Sera crossed her arms, deep in thought. "A wet nurse... hmm. I don't believe there is anyone in our domain who fits that description."
"I've never even seen a baby here before Theo," Myra added.
"Can't he just eat plums?" Lyra suggested, her tone innocent but utterly clueless.
Eldoria sighed. "In that case, I will have to use magical means to feed him. Take care of Theo for a moment. I will return shortly." She handed the baby to Sera and left the room, heading straight for her study.
The study was a vast, expansive room filled with ancient tomes and vials, all neatly arranged on towering shelves. Eldoria scanned the shelves, her eyes searching for a specific book.
"Let's see... a recipe for baby milk..."
After a few moments, she found what she was looking for. She pulled the book from the shelf, dusted it off, and quickly flipped through the pages. Finding the recipe, she immediately set to work.
Mixing various herbs and potions—all of which were readily available in her study—she ground, stirred, and cast spells with precision. After about fifteen minutes, a thick, purple liquid formed in the cauldron. Eldoria poured it into a cup and drank it all in one go.
The effect was immediate. Her body began producing milk, and her bust swelled slightly in size.
"Oh my," Eldoria murmured, surprised. "To think it would work on the first try."
She hurried back to the room where the others waited. "Sera, may I have some privacy?"
"Of course, Your Highness," Sera replied, bowing. She ushered Lyra and Myra out of the room, though the two younger elves pouted as they left.
"Gee... I wanted to see the baby drink," Lyra whined.
"And I wanted to see Her Highness nurse," Myra added, her cheeks tinged with pink.
Once the room was empty, Eldoria settled into a chair and pulled down her gown. "Now then," she said softly, cradling Theo close. "It's meal time for you."
Theo, still engrossed in his system, suddenly felt a sweet, nourishing liquid fill his mouth. "What is this? Nectar from the gods?" he thought, amazed by the taste. He drank eagerly, unaware that elf milk was already ten times more potent than human milk—and that Eldoria's magically induced lactation made it a hundred times more potent than natural milk.
Within minutes, Theo felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. His mana reached its maximum capacity, and his experience points skyrocketed.
[Level up to Level 1]
[Level up to Level 2]
Notifications kept going off in his head but Theo couldn't care less. For he was lost in a heavenly bliss.
Name: Theo
Race: Human (89%)
Level: 5 (7/10)
Class: Healer (SSS)
Mana: 2737/10000
Strength: 1
Health: 100%
Intelligence: 4
Stamina: 0.5
Charm: 50
Luck: 20
After just one nursing session his level has reached level 5. In beginning his level was increasing very fast but when he reached level 4 it slowed down a bit. Meaning it takes more XP to to level as one reaches higher levels.
"Gods are so great... Being able to experience such a blissful sensation right after rebirth. It's surely a sign" He wailed.