Harold's consciousness slowly came back. He tried opening his eyes but... he became rather confused instead. He wasn't sure if his eyes were open or not. All he can see was darkness.
'What happened? All I remember was being beaten by my parents and siblings. After that, I was thrown inside the basement to starve. Heh... I guess... I'm already dead then. Hahaha... Well, isn't that better? I wouldn't have to suffer anymore. I won't have to worry about being whipped for talking. I won't have to worry about being punched for no reason. I won't have to feel pain.'
He wanted to cry, but he couldn't. He can't even feel anything. Suddenly, he heard a voice.
"What a poor little soul... You've lived a very honest life yet this is what they do to you? The world really is cruel. Don't worry, everything is going to be okay."
Huh? Who's talking? Harold was confused. Where was the voice coming from? He wasn't even sure if the owner of the voice were a male or a female. He then felt his world shift, as if he was being carried by someone. After a few minutes, it stopped. Once again, he heard the voice.
"Accept my gift. I hope you enjoy your next life... Although I doubt you would. Good luck in surviving and I hope we would meet again."
'Wait, what do you mean?! Hey!' Harold did his best to shout but to no avail. Suddenly, everything turned to white.
"#&#&&&&@$@$$@**1_$@&$!"
"56_@+#+&__@@&&#-+#."
He could hear people talking but he couldn't understand them. Slowly his vision returned. What came to sight were a middle-aged man and a woman looking down at him. They were talking but their words were incomprehensible for Harold.
As he stared at the two who were currently conversing, they suddenly kissed. "Wait wait wait, what are you two doing?!" was what he wanted to say but what came out his mouth were just babbling from a baby. Once again he was confused. Did that sound come from me? But why was it like that? AAAARGGGG!! I'm losing my mind!!!
Amidst his confusion, voice suddenly rang out in his mind like a notification. Then, everything stoppped. The man and the woman, whom Harold deemed as a couple, froze.
[ Note. Merging of gift has already completed. Basic content within the gift shall automatically activate.
-Basic World Literacy activating. Note. (100%) activation complete.
-Basic Comprehension activating. Note (100%) activation complete.
-Basic World Understanding activating. Note (100%) activation complete. ]
Huh? What in the world was all of this. Harold was getting more and more confused.
[ Note. Remaining contents of the gift shall be available once the owner has a better understanding of the world. Right now, basic gifts shall integrate within the hosts body. Farewell. ]
The world then continued with it's usual flow. The couple continued talking again. Only this time, Harold was able to understand them!
"Roland, this is a miracle! Our baby came back from the hands of Demius!" the woman said to the man who's name is Roland.
(*PS.. Demius is a character in the story. His role will be the God of Death**)
"Thank you Goddess Seika! Thank you very much!" Roland was very thankful to the Goddess Seika because he thought that she was the one who helped them.
(*PS.. Seika, Goddess of Life. Original character by the way**)
The couple continued hugging each other as they cried tears of joy. After processing everything in his head, about what happened, who these people we're, and why he sounded like a baby, Harold now finally got a gist of what was happening. He... was reborn.
Roland, as who he now understands as his father, picked him up in his hand. "Elise, honey, what should we name him?"
"Hmm... Why don't you come up with something? He's a boy so why don't you think of something?"
The room suddenly went silent. Roland was looking at the child in his hands. He was very focused and was intently staring at Harold.
'Hey, what're you staring at? Stop staring and decide already!' he shouted in his mind.
After a few monents of silence, Roland finally spoke. "Art... What do you think of Art?"
"Art? That sounds nice." Elise smiled.
'Art, that's a nice name.' Harold said in his mind.
"Alright! It's decided then! From now on, you will be called Art."
"Art, our little Art." Elise chimed as she held the baby back in her arms.
At that moment, Harold, no. His name is now Art. At that moment, Art witnessed something that he had never witnessed before. It was the sight of two parents looking at him with love. He suddenly remembered all of his past. How he was abused, how he was always mistreated. 'From now on, I will live my life as Art. I will make sure that I will not let my past repeat itself.'
...
-// ???, ??:?? //-
"It seems like he has already decided his path. Don't worry child. I will support you through your life. This is just the beginning. The fun is yet to come."