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The cold and monotonous environment from before had disappeared, replaced by a luxurious, well-lit, and heated room. Everything around was overflowing with wealth: refined furniture, silver and gold details combined with an unknown material, but it seemed like every element was carefully planned to convey sophistication.
A small smile appeared on Luna's lips.
This is it, man!
She really had been born into a rich and stable family, so her life could be exactly what she had always wanted — a peaceful existence, without financial worries or exhausting work.
At that moment, while mentally fantasizing about how she would spend every coin of her parents' money, without caring if she was called a compulsive spender, she noticed a mirror fixed on the wall, a few meters away from the incubator she was in.
As she turned her face toward the direction of the mirror, Luna's face froze momentarily. The reflection showed a fragile-looking baby with a few strands of light golden hair and deep blue eyes, almost as if the very color of the sea was being reflected with the help of the sun.
The platinum hue among her blonde hair was somewhat peculiar, but considering everything she had already seen in this world, it didn't seem so out of place — should it, really? In a world where such advanced technology existed, and magic seemed to be aligned with it, nothing was impossible, not even changes like these that would technically be impossible on Earth.
While still processing the situation, looking at every part of her face, not understanding how she was so small and fragile, Luna could hear a soft sound echoing through the room.
The door to her left opened at that moment.
It slid silently to both sides, splitting into two asymmetrical parts before disappearing — as if it were the doors of an ultra-modern elevator, retracting smoothly into the walls, with no noise or visible mechanism.
Behind the door, there was the figure of a woman.
She wore an immaculate white uniform and was accompanied by a small floating robot. Her face was almost unreal in its perfection — harmonious features, flawless skin, well-aligned brown hair, and piercing green eyes.
She looked like a model straight out of a luxury catalog.
— What are you doing? Come here, we need to analyze her vital signs. Now that she's awake, we can finally understand what happened yesterday.
The woman, looking so flawless that she seemed like a living doll, spoke in a low and calm tone to the droid at her side. Her white uniform was perfectly arranged, without any imperfections.
The small droid, without hesitation, responded mechanically:
— Yes, my lady.
It had an oval shape, small antennas above its head, and two robotic arms, floating smoothly through the room. Its appearance was identical to the other droid from the previous night. However, it seemed to show some degree of intelligence, as it responded quickly, with a reaction time similar to that of a human.
The woman smiled upon hearing the response and slowly approached Luna, while the droid followed closely behind.
— How are you, my child?
As soon as her eyes met Luna's, they stared at each other for a moment, as if both were enchanted by one another.
On one hand, Luna had never seen such a beautiful woman up close — although she still found her mother incomparable, with her stunning hair and flawless features.
On the other hand, the stranger couldn't take her eyes off the baby before her.
The deep blue eyes were captivating, and Luna's fragile and delicate appearance was almost unbelievable for someone less than a day old.
Her tiny hands and subtle features made it hard to believe she was only a day old.
— Buah?
The sound involuntarily came out of Luna's mouth, almost like a failed attempt to ask "who are you?"
The woman, interpreting that babble as an attempt at communication, decided to introduce herself at that moment, lowering her voice so as not to scare the little one.
— It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Inara.
She smiled warmly and then pointed to the droid beside her.
— Don't worry, this one is Letro-CB. We won't hurt her.
— My lady, it's inappropriate to converse with a form of life without consciousness or intelligence.
The droid intervened, its green signals flashing in sequence on the metallic surface as it hovered nearby.
Inara sighed softly, understanding the droid's point of view, but she couldn't simply ignore the adorable baby.
— I know, Letro-CB, but still, it doesn't hurt to introduce myself. Even if she doesn't remember this later, it wouldn't be right to scare her upon waking up with strangers. — She smiled briefly before looking at her a little more closely. — Her eyes are so lively... It's impressive.
— You humans display strange behavior patterns sometimes — the droid commented, analyzing the physiological and behavioral data of Inara, who was mesmerized and didn't take her eyes off the baby.
Luna smiled back.
Although she didn't understand anything that was happening, she felt Inara's fixed gaze on her, so she decided to smile in response.
Sometimes, a smile was the best answer, especially when she couldn't comprehend anything going on around her.
— The data indicates that the blood levels and heart rate are within normal parameters. However, nutrient intake is recommended to maintain homeostasis.
As it spoke, the droid opened a compartment in its lower body, revealing a small bottle filled with milk.
— You're right. I got so distracted I forgot. The senator's daughter really looks like her when she was a child. I'd like to spend more time here, but we need to be quick.
Inara took the bottle from the droid and turned towards the incubator.
— Letro-CB, open the incubator. Make sure all protocol measures are being followed.
— As you wish.
The translucent structure of the incubator opened smoothly, allowing Inara to gently lift Luna and settle her in her arms.
As soon as she was taken out of the protected environment, Luna felt the cold air of the room touch her skin, causing a slight shiver. The air felt different, drier and sharper, making her nose sting slightly.
Soon after, the nipple of the bottle touched her lips, and the milk flowed gently down her throat.
Inara held her carefully, keeping her slightly tilted upward, ensuring the liquid was ingested without difficulty.
The sensation was strange but not uncomfortable.
Luna wasn't particularly fond of milk, and to be honest, she didn't like it. However, if it was to stay alive, it seemed like a minimal sacrifice.
As she drank the milk, Luna heard something that piqued her curiosity amid the boredom of having to behave appropriately to her body.
— Would you like to hear a story? — Inara asked, her voice soft, almost like a whisper.
The offer seemed a bit strange.
A story? For her? Who would tell a story to a baby who hadn't even been alive for a full day yet?
Since she couldn't respond properly, Luna just blinked several times, feeling a slight sense of expectation.
— When I was little, my mom used to tell me stories before bed — Inara continued, looking at Luna with a nostalgic smile. — Maybe you don't understand now.
The droid, standing by, blinked with flashing lights and interrupted with a pragmatic tone:
— The likelihood of this occurring is low, my mistress. She is still in the early stages of development and doesn't have consolidated memory.
— Letro-CB, sometimes things don't need to make sense. Some stories exist just to be told, even if she doesn't remember them. — Turning her face to the side, she said casually, though she didn't seem too pleased about being interrupted.
She coughed lightly and then added to herself:
Well, I suppose I was going to tell it anyway. That was my plan even before coming here.
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