Interstellar Beastworld: Raising A Cub With My Mummy System!-Chapter 48: LEARNING THE CALENDAR SYSTEM

Auriel woke up twenty minutes later, but he did not cry. His gold eyes opened slowly, blinked a few times, and then his tiny face broke into something that was almost a smile, though the nurses had said newborns could not really smile yet. It looked like one anyway. His hands waved in the air, and a soft eh escaped him, curious rather than demanding.

Lin Yue leaned over the bassinet. "You are awake. And you are not screaming. This is new."

Auriel cooed, eh-eh-eh, and kicked his legs.

She lifted him carefully, cradling him against her chest. He did not root for food. He did not fuss. He simply looked around the room, his eyes wide, his little head turning toward the window where the light was brightest.

"You want to play?" she asked. "Is that it?"

Auriel patted her collarbone with one clumsy hand.

Lin Yue was exhausted. Her body still ached from the birth, and the night had been long. The thought of sitting in the rocking chair and staring at the same four walls was not appealing, but the thought of walking the entire estate was even less so.

"Maybe we can find something interesting in your nursery," she said. "It is close. We do not have to go far."

She grabbed a soft blanket, wrapped it around him, and padded out of the bedroom in her bare feet. The corridor was quiet, the morning light filtering through the windows. A maid passed by and smiled but did not stop to talk. Lin Yue was grateful for that.

The nursery was at the end of the hall, the door already open. She stepped inside and settled into the rocking chair near the window. Auriel’s mobile spun slowly in the breeze, casting small shadows across the walls. The shelves were lined with stuffed animals and picture books, gifts from the staff and from Uriel’s men.

Auriel looked at the mobile, his eyes tracking the spinning shapes. His hand reached up, batting at the air.

"You like that," Lin Yue murmured. "Maybe we can get one for our room too."

She rocked slowly, her eyes half closing. The chair was comfortable, and the room was warm. Auriel made small sounds every few seconds, happy little ah and eh noises, completely content.

She looked at the books on the shelf. Picture books in Kyrnan script, some with illustrations of animals she did not recognize.

A small wooden rattle sat on the floor where someone had left it. A stuffed wolf, white with gold eyes, was propped against the corner of the crib.

Lin Yue reached out and picked up the stuffed wolf, holding it in front of Auriel. "Look. It looks just like your father."

Auriel’s hand batted at the toy. His fingers caught the fur, and he held on, his grip surprisingly strong.

"Your father is very fluffy too," she said. "But he does not like when people pull his fur."

Auriel cooed, completely unbothered.

She set the toy aside and continued rocking.

She set the toy aside and continued rocking. The chair creaked softly, a gentle rhythm that matched the morning quiet. Auriel’s breathing had evened out, his tiny body relaxed against her chest. She was about to close her eyes when a familiar voice spoke in her head.

"You have time now. We should use it."

Lin Yue blinked. "For what?"

"To study. You have been here over a week and you still cannot read the signs in the corridor. You do not know the months or the seasons. You do not understand how time works here. When someone asks what day Auriel was born, you say ’Quarta, the sixth day of Warming Tide,’ but you do not know what that means beyond the words."

She frowned. "I know it is a month. And a season."

"You know the names. You do not understand the calendar. There are fourteen months, six seasons, each with a purpose. The Warming Tide is a season of growth, which is why the nurse said it was a good time for a birth. But do you know when the Harvest Festival is? Do you know when the castle closes for the Stasis Protocol? Do you know what day of the week it is right now without looking at your phone?"

Lin Yue was quiet.

"That is what I thought. You need to learn Kyrnan. The language, the writing system, the numbers. You cannot rely on me to translate everything forever. What if something happens and I am not available?"

"What do you mean, not available?"

"I mean you should be self-sufficient. It is a practical goal. I will help you. Consider me your virtual assistant for these lessons."

She looked down at Auriel. He was asleep, his small fist pressed against her collarbone. "How long will this take?"

"That depends on you. An hour a day would be a good start. You are intelligent. You will learn quickly."

She sighed. "What will you teach me first?"

"The calendar. It is the simplest place to start. Primus has fourteen months and six seasons. The year begins with Prima and Secunda in Spring Equinox, then Tertia, Quarta, and Quinta in Warming Tide, then Sexta, Septa, and Octa in Solar Peak, then Nova and Deca in Harvest Moon, then Undeca and Duodeca in Autumn Frost, then Tredeca and Quadeca in Winter Solstice. Auriel was born in Quarta, the sixth day of Warming Tide. That is the third month of the year, the first month of the growth season."

Lin Yue tried to commit it to memory. "Quarta. Third month. Warming Tide. Growth season."

"Good. The days of the week are Luna, Martis, Mercuris, Jovis, Veneris, Saturnis, Solis. Today is Jovis. The day after tomorrow is Veneris. That is when you will sign the marriage documents at the registry."

She repeated the names under her breath. "Luna, Martis, Mercuris, Jovis, Veneris, Saturnis, Solis."

"Now the language. Kyrnan language is written left to right, top to bottom. The alphabet has twenty-four characters. Look at your phone. I have loaded a practice module."

She glanced at her phone. The screen displayed a series of symbols, each with a phonetic pronunciation underneath. She studied them, tracing the shapes with her finger.

"You are not going to learn it all in one morning," MS said. "But you can start. An hour a day. By the time Auriel is old enough to talk, you will be able to read him stories in Kyrnan."

She smiled at that. "That is a nice thought."

"It is a practical goal."