I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom - Chapter 3
Chapter 3 – Transmigration, Not a Dream
With Aisha’s arrival, Sayah could finally relax and delegate her responsibilities.
The Fairy Cubs were dressed in beautiful clothes, each one looking like a delicate porcelain doll. They spread their wings and soared into the air, resembling glowing fireflies.
Sayah pointed to a Little Fairy, its face smeared with Flower Nectar, and said to Aisha, “This little one received the King’s blessing and was named Sperien.”
“The King’s blessing? He’s so fortunate!” Aisha fluttered closer to observe.
The Fairy Cub had hair as pure gold as the Elven King’s, eyes as fresh green as new grass, and a delicate, petite face. His nose was still slightly red from crying, and tears lingered in his eyes. Crowned with a tiny floral wreath, he looked both adorable and pitiful.
“Hello, Little Sperien,” Aisha said, alighting gracefully before Shu Li. “I’m Aisha, your instructor and caretaker.”
Shu Li blinked his clear eyes at the suddenly landed adult Fairy.
Great!
Finally, I don’t have to face giants anymore!
Though the silver-haired Fairy was much taller than him, her proportions were normal. Compared to her, he was like an infant beside an adult.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying,” Shu Li replied politely. “Thank you for the clothes. They’re very comfortable, but there’s one small issue… Do you have any underwear?”
Though he knew she couldn’t understand him, he tried his best to gesture the shape of boxer briefs with his hands.
Shu Li’s cheeks flushed slightly.
Sayah leaned over the vine table, winking at Aisha. “Isn’t he fascinating? He’s already trying to communicate with us right after being born!”
Unfortunately, the little one couldn’t speak yet, chirping like an insect in soft, babyish tones that melted hearts.
“He is quite interesting,” Aisha agreed, nodding. She stared at the cub’s chubby little hands. “What’s he gesturing?”
Sayah hesitated. “A… square?”
“A square?” Aisha guessed. “Does he want a toy?”
Sayah glanced at the other clueless Fairy Cubs, then back at Sperien, who was still trying to communicate with them. A bright smile spread across her face. “He was so dazed earlier, I thought he wasn’t fully developed. But now he’s being so proactive, even asking for toys! He’s so clever. No wonder he received the King’s blessing!”
Aisha’s chest contained only clothes, no toys. Seeing the cub’s expectant gaze, she removed a golden bracelet from her wrist. “Here, take this to play with.”
Sayah exclaimed in surprise, “Aisha, that’s your Ring of Phanis!”
The Ring of Phanis was a weapon that created illusions. The stronger the user, the more powerful the illusions. Giving it to a newborn Fairy Cub was a complete waste.
Aisha smiled. “It’s alright, I have a new weapon now.”
Sayah glanced at the necklace Aisha wore around her neck and shrugged. “Alright then!”
Shu Li stared at the offered gold bracelet, his face full of confusion.
For him?
Why?
He only wanted underwear, not a gold bracelet!
Gold bracelets were round, while underwear was square—there was no resemblance between the two. Why had she misunderstood?
Although the bracelet was exquisitely crafted with a dazzling sapphire, making it beautiful and refined, he was a boy. Wearing a bracelet would look strange.
“No need, thank you,” Shu Li said, tilting his head back and waving his hands in refusal. “I just want underwear.”
Aisha’s expression softened. “Take it. It’s a welcome gift.”
When the cub remained motionless, she gently took his right hand and slipped the bracelet onto his wrist. The bracelet automatically contracted to fit perfectly.
Shu Li stared blankly at the gold bracelet on his wrist, a photo album flashing through his mind.
The photo album contained pictures from his childhood, including a set of hundred-day portraits. In them, the chubby, fair-skinned baby was adorned with gold and silver, his lotus-root-like wrists encircled by four or five gold bracelets. He wore a small red bib, looking exactly like the auspicious baby from traditional Chinese New Year paintings.
Now, his wrists were still fair and soft, with a hint of that lotus-root-like plumpness.
Could it be that even in this dream, I’m destined to be the auspicious baby?
“This… I really don’t need it…” He tugged at the bracelet, but it wouldn’t budge, chafing his pale skin red.
Aisha, thinking he was playing with the bracelet and hurting himself, quickly intervened. “The Ring of Phanis isn’t used like that. You need to recite an incantation. I’ll teach you how to use it properly once you’ve learned magic.”
Shu Li sighed.
This language barrier is a nightmare. I can’t understand a word they’re saying.
Oh well, it’s just a dream anyway. Everything’s fake. I’ll forget it all when I wake up.
With his new bracelet, Shu Li temporarily abandoned his quest for underwear. He unfurled his wings, eager to explore like the other Fairy Cubs.
A gentle flap of his wings lifted him into the air. A few more beats sent him soaring skyward.
Shu Li instinctively glanced down.
Whoa—
That’s high!
He was at least three meters above the vine-covered table.
His vision swam as his acrophobia surged, paralyzing him with fear. He forgot to flap his wings, instantly losing buoyancy and plummeting straight down.
“Ah, watch out!”
Sayah swiftly caught him.
Shu Li landed in her fleshy palm, stars dancing before his eyes.
Sayah sighed, gazing helplessly at the Little Fairy in her hand.
“What happened to him?”
Why had he fallen mid-flight?
Aisha said incredulously, “Flying is a Fairy’s instinct. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Sayah murmured worriedly, “Could it be incomplete development after all?”
Otherwise, how could a Little Fairy not know how to fly?
Fortunately, Shu Li couldn’t understand their words, or he would have been hopping mad.
I’m just a regular human! Why do I need to learn to fly?
Shaking his head, he belatedly realized he was sprawled in the Elf’s palm. Embarrassed, Shu Li scrambled up, smoothed his rumpled robe, and knelt properly. He thanked Sayah, “Thank you, Miss!”
He had nearly lost his life, but thankfully the Elf lady had caught him.
Amused by his obedient demeanor, Sayah couldn’t resist stroking his small head with her fingertip. She said softly, “It’s alright if you can’t fly. Aisha will teach you.”
Shu Li blinked his luminous green eyes.
The Elf lady smiled so gently—was she telling him not to thank her?
“I have to thank you! You saved my life!” Shu Li said earnestly.
He shuddered to think what would have happened if she hadn’t caught him. Would he have splattered into a bloody mess?
Even in a dream, he didn’t want to die so horribly.
Puffing out his chubby cheeks, he chirped seriously, “Ji ji ji!”
Sayah’s heart nearly burst with excitement.
Aaaah! So cute! I want to squish him!
Fairy cubs are just too adorable!
That’s why she had volunteered as a caretaker three times in a row, personally nurturing these precious Little Fairies. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming.
Sadly, she couldn’t cuddle the Little Fairy. With a sigh of regret, she gently placed him in a nearby Flower Bed. “Time for bed.”
Newborn Fairy Cubs have limited energy. After a period of activity and feeding, they need to rest in their Flower Beds.
Sitting in the soft, comfortable Flower Bed, Shu Li felt a bit dazed.
Is this… for me to sleep?
If I take a nap, will the dream end and I’ll escape this place where no one speaks my language?
Shu Li tilted his head back and watched the palm-sized, silver-haired fairy wave her fairy wand, scattering a cascade of shimmering golden stardust. Moments later, each little fairy was encircled by the stardust and gently guided into its flower bed.
Though Shu Li hadn’t intended to sleep, the delicate floral fragrance involuntarily relaxed his body. His eyelids grew heavy, and he soon drifted off to sleep, nestled against the soft flower pistil.
Zzzzz~
With all twenty-five fairy cubs slumbering peacefully, Aisha patrolled the nursery one last time. With a flick of her fairy wand, the flower petals of each flower bed automatically closed, creating cozy little chambers.
Sayah completed her handover with Aisha and departed the nursery, soaring on the wind back to the Elven Kingdom.
The Elven Kingdom lay to the west of the Faerie Forest, a vast realm encompassing the serene Lake Saint-Zan, the dense Forest of Daya, the rolling Loi Hills, and the magnificent Crystal Castle.
As Sayah stepped into the resplendent golden hall, she immediately drew the attention of the assembled elves.
The elves, renowned for their unparalleled beauty, gathered in their opulent robes and glittering tiaras, their radiant presence a feast for the eyes.
A group of smiling Elves surrounded Sayah, asking about the Faerie Forest.
“Praise the Light God, twenty-five Fairy Cubs were born this year,” Sayah replied, sharing every detail of the Nursery, including the unprecedented blessing bestowed upon a Little Fairy by the Elven King.
The other Elves exchanged astonished glances.
The King blessed a newborn Fairy Cub?
How extraordinary!
In tens of thousands of years, across the entire Elven Kingdom, including the Faerie Forest, only a handful of beings had ever received the Elven King’s blessing.
“Was that Little Fairy named Sperien by the King?” a black-haired, blue-eyed male Elf asked, a slight smile playing on his lips.
In Elven, Sperien meant “Son of Light,” a name of profound reverence.
That Little Fairy is fortunate to have gained the Elven King’s protection.
“Yes,” Sayah nodded. “Sperien is remarkably intelligent. He could communicate with us almost immediately after birth.”
Though initially a bit clumsy, the King’s blessing had imbued him with extraordinary spiritual energy. He was destined to become a truly remarkable Fairy.
“Ilio, if you have time, you should visit the Faerie Forest and see the newborn cubs,” Sayah suggested to the black-haired Elf.
“I will,” replied the black-haired elf called Ilio.
Shu Li, fast asleep in his flower bed, remained blissfully unaware that he had become the subject of fervent discussion among the elves.
As the setting sun streamed through the transparent skylight into the nursery, the fairy cubs gradually awoke from their naps.
The flower petals of their beds unfurled one by one, revealing adorable little fairies who poked their heads out, blinked their bright, crystalline eyes, and peered around curiously. Some caught each other’s gazes, fluttered their wings, and flitted over to visit their neighbors.
Aisha sat on a green vine, quietly observing the cubs without interfering in their activities.
For newborn fairy cubs, understanding their new world began with exploration and interaction.
A red-haired fairy cub peeked cautiously over the edge of Shu Li’s flower bed. Noticing that Shu Li was still sprawled asleep on the flower’s pistil, he tiptoed into the bed, fluttered his cicada-like wings, and landed lightly.
Lost in deep slumber, Shu Li remained oblivious, rolling over into a starfish pose, his small mouth slightly pursed as he blew bubbles.
Seeing that Shu Li was still asleep, the red-haired fairy cub approached confidently. He reached into his robe and rummaged around until he pulled out a red seed, which he placed beside Shu Li.
The seed had a hard, smooth shell, resembling a gleaming ruby.
The Red-Haired Fairy had found it nestled among the flowers.
After placing the seed, he chirped softly in Shu Li’s ear.
The sleeping Shu Li, of course, gave no response.
The Red-Haired Fairy tilted his head and carefully poked Shu Li’s soft cheek with his chubby finger.
In his sleep, Shu Li instinctively swatted his hand away.
Slap!
The Red-Haired Fairy stared at his stinging finger, stunned. His mouth crumpled, and he burst into tears with a wail.
The piercing cry jolted Shu Li awake. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
He sat up anxiously, bleary-eyed, and turned to see a Red-Haired Fairy Cub kneeling before him, sobbing loudly. The cub clutched its finger, its tear-filled red eyes brimming with accusation.
Shu Li was utterly bewildered.
Why was he facing a crying Fairy Cub the moment he woke up?
More importantly, wasn’t he dreaming? Had he fallen asleep only to remain trapped in this dream?
“Hey, hey, hey… don’t cry…” he stammered, frantically trying to soothe the weeping cub.
He had a vivid memory of this Red-Haired Fairy Cub.
It was the same one who had stolen his Flower Nectar, causing him to cry in humiliation.
Now, the cub had run into his Flower Bed and was crying for no apparent reason. Why?
Shu Li was at his wit’s end, scratching the back of his head in anxiety.
He had never comforted a child before. As the youngest in his family, he was always the one being comforted.
Aisha, who had been watching them closely, knew exactly why the Red-Haired Fairy Cub was crying. Instead of intervening directly, she took out a small bell and shook it.
The bell emitted a crisp, ringing sound. The Fairy Cubs’ ears twitched, and they all flew toward the vine table.
The bell’s white magic-infused chime conveyed a clear message to the cubs:
Time to eat!
The Red-Haired Fairy stopped crying, pointed a chubby finger at Shu Li’s feet, puffed out his cheeks, and flapped his wings out of the Flower Bed.
Food was more important than tears. Time to fill his belly first.
Shu Li looked down in confusion and saw a small, red crystal at his feet.
He bent down to pick it up, turning it over in his hands, but couldn’t figure out what it was.
Could it be… the Red-Haired Fairy had given him a gift as a gesture of goodwill? But something must have gone wrong, causing him to cry.
Shu Li clutched the crystal, feeling a pang of guilt.
Ding-a-ling—
The bell’s chime still echoed in the air as Shu Li looked up and noticed the other Little Fairies flying in the same direction. After a moment’s hesitation, he unfurled his gossamer wings.
Despite his fear of heights, he couldn’t miss the group activity; otherwise, he’d be ostracized.
Gritting his teeth, he flapped his wings and lifted off the Flower Bed.
Forcing himself not to look down, he focused on flapping his wings, quickly leaving the Flower Bed behind.
After flying a short distance, he felt he was mastering the art of flight, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
Ah, dreams truly are wondrous.
The Fairy Cubs landed on the vine table, standing obediently before their silver bowls, craning their necks in anticipation. Shu Li understood immediately:
It was mealtime again.
Arriving last, the only empty silver bowl was in the corner. He adjusted his course, preparing for a sharp turn.
But his wings refused to obey. No matter how hard he flapped, he couldn’t turn; instead, he crashed straight into the tree trunk.
Thud—
Thud!
By the time Aisha reacted, it was too late.
The golden-haired Fairy Cub crashed headfirst into the hard tree trunk, then tumbled onto the table, knocking over a silver bowl. The bowl flipped over and landed on his head.
“Waaah~ It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!”
Shu Li lay sprawled on the table, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
Am I really dreaming?
Does falling in a dream hurt this much?
His entire body felt like it was falling apart, the pain unbearable.
Could it be that this isn’t a dream at all, but… that I’ve actually been chosen by the Transmigration God to transmigrate into another world?
The Fairy Cub lay sprawled on the vine table, a silver bowl perched on his head, tears clinging to his cheeks, his gaze blank.
Storyteller Aletta's Words
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