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It was quiet night in Kurain Village, or it seemed that way to a now young adult Pearl Fey, who is currently rocking her newborn daughter to sleep after feeding her.
“Have you figured out what to name her?” Pearl’s mother, Morgan, asked.
“Maya, after Mystic Maya,” Pearl said simply, holding her baby close to her chest protectively.
“Her? We won our victory over that woman, and yet you want to name your child after her?” Morgan ased incredulously.
“‘That woman’ was the Kurain Master before me,” Pearl said, a warning tone in her voice, ‘and I’d rather you refer to her as such.”
“I’ll refer to ‘Mystic’ Maya however I wish,” Morgan said.
“In that case, I’d like you to leave,” Pearl said. “I don’t want your negativity around my daughter.”
“Fine,” Morgan said simply as she got up to leave, as an elder walked in to give the newborn her magatama.
“Forgive me for saying this, Mystic Pearl, but your daughter seems very familiar,” the elder said as she put the magatama around Maya’s neck. The newborn immediately put the stone in her mouth in exploration.
“How?” Pearl asked simply. “Maya was just born tonight; this is actually the first time you’ve seen her.”
“That is true; however, your child wouldn’t be the first one to be reborn in this village,” the elder said.
“Did you just say reborn?” Pearl asked, shocked.
“Oh, yes,” the elder said. “There are plenty of people in Kurain Village who have been reincarnated,” the elder said. “Your daughter just happens to be amongst them.” Pearl used her spiritual powers to sense her daughter. The elder was right. There was something familiar to her daughter…something very familiar.
“Mystic Maya…” Pearl whispered quietly.
“Excuse me?” The elder said.
“My baby has the spirit of Mystic Maya,” Pearl said, her voice slightly louder, but still quiet in amazement. “My daughter is the reincarnation of Mystic Maya!”
“And what are you going to do with that knowledge?” The elder asked.
“Keep it a secret, even from Maya, herself,” Pearl said. “To protect her.”
“But if what you say is true, then your daughter is bound to learn the truth sooner or later,” the elder said.
“Still, if my mother finds out who Maya really is, I don’t know what she’d do,” Pearl said simply. “Maya must never know who she once was in her previous life, for her own safety.”
“If that’s what you believe to be best,” the elder said as she left. “You must do what is best for your daughter, after all.” Pearl stared at Maya, who had released her magatama from her mouth and started fidgeting with Pearl’s.
“I promise, I will protect you,” Pearl promised Maya, kissing Maya’s black hair and looking into those oh-so-familiar brown eyes. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, I promise.” Maya cooed and looked at her mother, reaching up to her face. “I’m your mother in your current life; let me worry about you,” Pearl said, holding Maya close to her chest. Pearl then started rocking Maya to sleep while humming a lullaby, wondering what the future will bring.