The other hatchling kobolds picked up their native tongue quickly. But this one, smaller than the others, struggled with the language. They had no ancestral memories of previous lives. The humans in the village that were close, dear, friends to this warren, and the kobolds elder, realized this precious life was truly new to this world, in more than one sense. -- Lessons
Some species of Alfarell are born with their language. Well, most of their language. Hellkin know how to talk in Voulspeak, once someone else speaks it in their presence. The same holds true for Hallobloods and Santivoc. Dragons and Dragonkindred are born -or reborn- speaking Drakoniish.
Until today.
The Kobold, known to the rest of the burrow as Kaep, had taken days to walk, when all their nestmates had already stood, picked up a tool, and set to work. They could not speak Yprak, and babbled at best. They didn't know what to do, where to go, or how to act. Which lead to the burrow's Racht[1] examining the tardy Kobold youngling.
The caretakers gently nudged Kaep towards Hocht, the Racht of Labyrinth Burrow. Kaep toddled nervously towards the elder until they literally stumbled to a halt. Kaep knew enough to safely guess that this meant they were in trouble, and whimpered as Hocht approached.
Hocht looked deep into Kaep's eyes. Waved different gems over their head. Finally consulting an orb to show Kaep's past lives.
It showed only images swirling smoke.
"The forming void," cooed Hocht. "You are not flawed, little one. You are entirely new. That's something that has not happened since the arrival of Elves."
Kaep didn't understand. They barely understood the simplest forms of Yprak.
"We need help with teaching you," said Hocht, who took Kaep's hand and lead them carefully to the burrow mouth. Where their neighbour humans farmed things in the sunshine.
Humans were born knowing nothing but how to make noise. If anyone knew how to teach a new soul, it was a Human. They had received a lot of help from Labyrinth Burrow, and were eager to help in return. Up to and including inventing early childhood education for a species who had never needed it before.
[1] The best translation from Yprak is something akin to "mine supervisor" or "overseer" or "king".
[Photo by David Clode on Unsplash]
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