True God In Another World (Tensura x Tbate)

chapter 3 - Awakening {Rewritten}

Alice Leywin POV

Life has a funny way of giving you exactly what you need, even when you didn't know you needed it. Take my twins, for instance - I never planned on having two babies, but now I can't imagine life any other way.

Speaking purely objectively (because I am NOT one of those overly doting mothers), my boys are rather remarkable. Rimuru, with his striking blue-silver hair and those golden eyes that seem to hold ancient wisdom - and no, that's not maternal exaggeration. Even the midwife was stunned when she first saw him. We chalked it up to some distant ancestor's genes, though Reynolds keeps joking about fairy blood in our family line.

Then there's Arthur, my little brown-haired scholar. I say scholar because really, what other word describes a baby who sits in the study pretending to read books? Just yesterday, I found him perched on a cushion, holding a history tome upside down with the most serious expression on his face. I might have secretly sketched that moment - for purely documentary purposes, of course.

Their father... well, Reynolds is essentially a third child. Just last week, I caught him trying to teach them "proper sword stance" while they were barely managing to stand. "They need to start early!" he declared, demonstrating with a wooden spoon. The twins just watched him with matching expressions that I swear looked like fond exasperation.

The way they interact with their surroundings is fascinating (from a strictly observational standpoint, mind you). Rimuru approaches everything like a tiny scientist, methodically touching and examining objects. He once spent an entire afternoon investigating how water drops roll off leaves in the garden. Arthur, meanwhile, observes everything with this oddly knowing look, as if he's comparing notes with memories he couldn't possibly have.

Now, about their meditation sessions - because that's exactly what it looks like. Most babies their age are busy trying to stuff everything into their mouths, but mine? They'll just sit there, eyes closed, perfectly still. The first time I saw it, I panicked and checked if they were breathing. Reynolds thought it was hilarious until I made him sleep on the couch.

Their first words were quite the event. I maintain that Arthur saying "mama" first was purely because of my superior parenting skills, not because I spent weeks pointing to myself saying "mama" whenever he looked my way. Reynolds' pout when he couldn't get Art to say "dada" was priceless - until Rimuru sided with him, that is. Then they switched, almost like they'd planned it. Sometimes I catch them exchanging these little looks, like they're sharing some private joke.

They're surprisingly self-sufficient for babies. They never fuss about food, sleep through the night (I know, I'm blessed), and seem to communicate with each other through some secret twin language. The other day, Arthur was reaching for a book on a high shelf, and before I could move, Rimuru had already pushed over their wooden blocks to make steps.

I've started taking them to the market more often, purely because fresh ingredients are important for growing children. The fact that they light up like little suns when we go out has nothing to do with it. And if I happen to buy them little treats every time, well, that's just... nutritional variety.

ahem

But honestly? The most magical moments are the quiet ones. When they're both curled up asleep, Arthur always somehow finding his way to Rimuru's side. Or when they sit in their father's lap while he tells them ridiculously embellished stories about his adventures (most of which I'm certain never happened). Or those precious moments when they think no one's watching, and they share those secret smiles that make them look older than their years.

Not that I spend hours watching them or anything. That would be excessive. I'm simply... maintaining appropriate maternal supervision.

...Oh, who am I kidding? I'm completely, utterly, hopelessly in love with my mysterious, wonderful little boys.