As I entered the maternity tent, a wave of discomfort washed over me, and I braced myself for the pain of my impending childbirth. But to my surprise, the agony had subsided, and I felt a momentary sense of relief. The village healer was with me, assessing my situation with his wisdom. He spoke in a calming tone, reassuring me that both the baby and I were doing well.
"You experienced labor pains, but there's no need to worry. You and your baby are in good health. Though I cannot say for certain, it's likely that you will give birth within the next week. In the meantime, take as much rest as possible. Your husband is waiting for you outside," he said with a warm smile.
Grateful for the healer's expertise, I let out a deep sigh of relief and thanked him before exiting the tent. My husband Seinch was anxiously waiting for me outside, his face etched with concern.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, taking my hand in his.
"I'm feeling much better. The healer said I'll probably give birth next week," I replied, a sense of calm washing over me.
But before we could discuss the baby any further, Seinch suddenly pulled me out of the way just in time as a huge boulder came crashing down, almost crushing me. I looked around to see that the death lineage had launched yet another attack. Our warriors were battling fiercely, and innocent people were running for their lives.
Seinch spoke with a sense of urgency, "It's not safe for you here. You have to go back home. I have to go and help people."
But I was not willing to leave Seinch's side, "Don't ask me to run away, I want to help you!" I protested.
"Pelena, I won't be able to help anyone if I am worried about your safety. You must go back home, please," he replied sternly.
I reluctantly agreed, grabbing his arm as he was about to leave and looking into his eyes, "Please be careful. I need you," I said with concern.
"I promise I'll be back. Trust me," he reassured me before rushing off to help.
Feeling helpless, I made my way back home, but the cries of a little girl echoed in my ears, and I knew I couldn't ignore her pleas for help. Despite the danger, I ventured out towards the sound of her screams, eventually coming upon a young girl lying unconscious on the ground. I knew I had to act quickly, as no one was around to assist her.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I approached the girl lying unconscious on the ground. Fear coursed through me as I realized the danger of the situation. But as I looked at her, I knew I couldn't just leave her there, vulnerable and alone. Despite the fact that I, too, was unprotected, I felt an unshakable determination to help her.
I hurried over to her and tried to rouse her from her slumber, but she remained unresponsive. I gently lifted her into my lap, my mind racing with the thought of how to help her. My stomach ached with pain, and I was acutely aware of the life growing inside of me, but I couldn't let that stop me from doing what I knew was right.
Suddenly, I heard a sound behind me, and I whirled around to face the source of the noise. My heart leaped into my throat as I saw a figure slowly approaching me. It was a descendant of Death, and I knew I was in trouble. I tried to stand, but I was too weak from the exertion of helping the girl, and I stumbled back down onto the ground.
Panic took hold of me as the descendant of Death drew closer and closer. I was powerless, unable to summon the strength to fight or even to use my magic. I closed my eyes, bracing for the worst, but then I heard a commotion, and the sound of someone being knocked down.
With trembling hands, I opened my eyes to see the descendant of Death lying unconscious at my feet. And there, standing beside him, was a man in a black cape. He was huge and muscular, with a sword strapped to his back. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and gratitude wash over me.
"You saved my life. I really appreciate it," I said to him, my voice shaking.
The man lifted the hood of his cape and turned to face me. "It's alright," he said. "But isn't it dangerous for you to be out here alone?"
I struggled to my feet, still holding the girl in my arms. "I was running towards my house when I heard you scream," I explained. "I came as fast as I could."
The man nodded, his eyes fixed on the unconscious girl in my arms. "Stay here until help arrives. I'll distract the enemy."
As I scooped the unconscious girl into my arms, I couldn't help but feel relieved that she didn't have any visible wounds. I knew that in a few hours, she would likely wake up, safe and sound. But my attention quickly shifted to the man who had rushed to my aid, and I wondered if he was okay. Despite my exhaustion, my curiosity got the best of me, and I pulled back one of the curtains to peek outside.
What I saw was a sight to behold. The man was surrounded by a group of Deaths, but he didn't seem scared in the slightest. As they charged towards him, he remained calm and poised, not once budging from his position. But as they reached him, he sprang into action.
He delivered a powerful punch to the first Death, followed by a swift kick to the next. The next two enemies were caught off guard as their heads collided with a loud thud, and he then kicked the final Death, sending him flying backwards. I had never seen such speed and strength in one person before.
Suddenly, most of the Deaths in our village turned their attention to him. But he remained unfazed as he appeared behind each one, taking them down effortlessly, one by one. I couldn't track his movements as he seemed to move too quickly for my eyes to follow. But before I knew it, he had defeated them all. The villagers erupted into cheers and applause, hailing him as their hero.
While the public celebrated his victory, I quickly took the little girl to the infirmary and made sure she was well taken care of. After she was stabilized, I left the infirmary and was greeted by my husband.
"What are you doing here? Why aren't you in the home?" he asked.
"A girl's life was in danger, I had to help her. But don't worry, that guy saved our lives," I replied.
As we approached the man, I noticed that he had an older companion with him. They seemed to have a familial bond. My husband silenced the crowd and thanked the man for saving our lives.
"I can't thank you enough for saving my wife, my child, and our people," my husband said gratefully.
"You don't have to thank me, I just did what needed to be done," the man replied humbly.
"To show our appreciation, the chef will be hosting a feast in your honor tonight. Please be our guest and enjoy the festivities," my husband offered.
The older man chimed in, "Well, actually, it would be nice if we had a snack or two."
With a sigh, the man agreed, "I guess we can stop for some food."
"And may I know your name?" my husband asked.
"My name is Jiro Okami, but people usually call me Alpha Prime," the man introduced himself.