The first thing the Duum saw was mushrooms, a man in a white (soiled) robe and a turquoise sky. Somewhere beyond the edge of the cradle, the sounds of a hammer could be heard.
My shoulder ached. The right hand has almost completely lost its sensitivity. [This world is full of dangers. I've seen monsters in my nightmares, so I wasn't too scared of Byumu. But that maroon hand and...] the baby shuddered [a pale woman. Is that what it's like to meet real monsters?]
Noticing the awakening of the Duum, the man in the dressing gown perked up and called an energetic man. [Wait, what's wrong with him? His appearance is very gloomy! He tries to fake a smile, but I still see sadness and, really, regret? So in a previous life, my...]
Henry looked up from fixing the house. Seeing his son alive, the cook sighed:
"Baby, you're alive!"
[I should tell Susannah.] Despite the relief, Henry's heart was torn to pieces. [How I hate myself, O Supreme One.]
Henry patted his son on the head and went into the mushroom thickets.
A woman was sitting by the river. Disheveled, blued hair was wrapped around the back of a chair with "children's" drawings. The drawings themselves were trembling and glowing, ready to explode.
[She is very angry. My Favorite Chair barely suppresses negative emotions.] the cook had a desire to retreat. " [Pick up the guts, soldier Henry Kali.]
"Susannah."
"Stay back! Don't you dare come near me! Don't even talk to me, you despicable Shimare Mountain!"
Henry sighed and continued:
"Romulus..." only the man pronounced the baby's name Susanna trembled "he woke up."
The woman turned around. A tear rolled down the bluish bruise. Then the second, the fifth. And now the happy mother is unrestrainedly shedding the seas.
"Romulus is awake. I was so afraid!"
The man took a few steps, wanting to hug his wife. But Susannah jumped up abruptly.
"And if he had died?"
All emotion disappeared from Henry's face:
"I don't want to talk about it, but otherwise Romulus would definitely have died from the clutches of the monster of dreams. Ranon's bite was the only way to break the reverie."
"I know, Henry! But do you even understand how painful and dangerous the bite of Ranon is?! Do you want me to bite through your hand? Let's see if the former elite soldier can withstand this hellish agony and not stick together!"
"Suzanne, sit down. You are welcome. You're losing control."
Susannah sat down in silence.
"You made me do it."
"I'm sorry, Susannah. But one extra second could ..."
"You made me do it then!"
"There was no other choice."
"You. Forced. Me."
***
Blood was leaking from Romulus' tiny body. Dr. Chu was trying to stop the bleeding. However, how could this help: at any moment, the child could have his head torn off or torn into small pieces.
Susannah stared at her son, afraid to blink.
"Romulus. Romulus. R-rom-m-mulus. Why?!"
"Shimare! None of the herbs helps! Susannah, wake up! We have only one opportunity to save our child. Bite Romulus!"
"What?!! Honey, I can't! The bite of ranon is worse than death! Almost no one survived after him."
"This is our last chance! Romulus could die at any moment."
"No... No! I don't want to become a murderer of my child, Henry!"
"Then," Henry's look became suffocating, " as your master, I command, ranon. Bite my son!
"No! Oh, Supreme, Henry!" Suzanne's pupils flashed red; tears flowed from her split heart," I hate you!!! I wish I'd killed you!! I hate you!!!"
Ranon was writhing in pain. The mouth opened over the sleeping Romulus. The bite of a thousand torments. The bite that the Ascended ones fear. A bite that "gives" Suzanne's son an inhumane "death".
"I hate you!!!"
***
No one could speak. Susannah stared gloomily at the river. Henry tried to breathe evenly and quietly. And so for a few minutes.
"You..."
"Go away!"
"...do you want to see Romulus?"
Susannah's tears dripped onto the gray dress.
"Yes, but not now. Darling, please go away. Let me be in monastic solitude."
"Are you sure?"
Ronan nodded.
"But first, can I ask a question?" Susannah took a deep breath, as if preparing to lift a heavy stone." If I want to break our contract, will you agree, dear?
I will accept any answer, but, please, be sincere!"
Henry rubbed his face. The man's body was trembling.
"Yes, if you really want it, I will cancel the contract and let you change the owner. But as a father, I will never leave Romulus. He will stay with me!"
"I-I was just asking."
The cook smiled bitterly:
"Any real war begins with intelligence. So it seems that one cheerful dead man said during his lifetime, believe him or not, think for yourself."
[My Romulus is alive. Why?! Why am I sad? Why is hatred eating away at you from the inside?]
Suzanne cried without hesitation.
[And, really, I really told my husband... I need to catch up with Henry and apologize. I think I'm ready to see Romulus.]
Ranon's heart skipped a beat. Susannah went out to the ruins of her and Henry's house. [I hate it. A ferocious animal. The beast that almost tore his own child to pieces.] The man sluggishly repaired the walls without success.
"D-dear."
"Romulus is there in the cradle, waiting for his mother."
"Um... you can stand next to me."
The cook raised an eyebrow. "OK."
Dr. Chu waved to his parents:
"The child's condition has stabilized."
[However, the bite of ranon is not easy to survive. Oh Supreme One! It definitely didn't happen without a guardian demon.]
Romulus' eyes ran over the mushroom caps. The baby looked tired, but life was still burning in him.
"My Romulus."
The child started and turned at the sound of a woman's voice. Romulus turned white. Fear – that was the word that appeared on his face.
[Romulus, are you afraid of me?]
Romulus' small lips twitched.
"That pain... Romulus... I'm sorry" Susanna turned around and left.
"Susanna, wait!"
"Don't you dare come near me, Henry!"
Having tamed the three animals, the brave Kela continued his search. Thanks to the strong and hardy indrikotheries, the young man was able to overcome huge distances. However, the day was not successful again.
On the tenth day, Kela found Sola on the shore of the boundless ocean.
"Hello, brother. I'm sorry, but I'm not coming home."
"Our father is worried! And you have no right to disobey his will. Come back, Sola!"
The young fugitive sighed.
"Brother, sit next to me. Do you see the ocean?"
"I see it."
"Do you see the sky?"
"Brother, I think your thoughts are mysterious."
"Vast sky and endless seas. Don't you feel free?"
"Freedom? Eh, brother. Freedom is deceptive and obstinate. Because of her, you have saddened our father. Okay, I'll let you go. Just let me show you a beautiful place! There is no more beautiful one in the whole world! I found it while I was looking for you."
"Really? Yes, let's go there. I love nature."
Sola and Kela climbed the indricotheries. Ten days later, the brothers found themselves on a green plain.
"This place is really beautiful, Brother Kela!"
"Yes, but the appearance is only part of the beauty. Let me show you something."
Kela grabbed his brother by the scruff and forced him to the ground.
The plain lit up, fighting against Sola's will. The grass was drying up, the earth was collapsing.
"This is the Plain of Power, brother. Please, don't resist!
"No, I will die, but I will remain free, you pathetic traitor!"
"Be reasonable, brother. Your behavior upsets your father. Understand, I also like to travel and enjoy the world!" tears began to flow from the young man's eyes. "But I will not upset my father! Never!
Kela was stuffing delicious viands into Sola's mouth. The fugitive was spitting. He was grinning. Growled. His entire skin was blistered. Meanwhile, Kela's eyelids turned red, her heart was covered with cracks. And the firm determination faded.
Sola's feelings, desires and will came flooding to Kela. The fugitive suffered, but only resisted more strongly.
[Power over people is terrible!]
"My brother! No, I can't do that! If I continue, I will kill Sola!"
"A-a-a-a!" Kela loosened his grip.
Sola broke free and ran away.
"I'm sorry, brother."
"From now on, I have no brothers, no father. My family couldn't try to take away my freedom! Therefore, I refuse you!!!"
"Brother Sola, wait!"
But the fugitive had already disappeared. No matter how hard Kela tried, the young man could not find any traces of his brother.
The saddened young man withdrew into himself. The tamed animals got hungry and left the owner in search of food.
"The power over animals is heavy, over man is terrible! Unlike animals, people have dreams and a great desire for freedom. I made a terrible mistake."
Kela's heart split into Guilt and Mistake – two inseparable paes.
***
Henry finished his story, Romulus was asleep.
"I hope the decoction of Dark Sleep will be able to protect my son."
"Monsters can only invade dreams. A dreamless sleep should be safe, Sir Henry."
The man exhaled the damp air.
"Is it safe to leave Susannah alone, Sir Henry?"
[Don't worry, friend. Suzanne needs to sit in My Favorite Chair and cool off. For the first time in so many years, she tasted human blood. However, I'm sure my wife can handle it.]
"At the moment, my presence will only make her angry."
"By the way, the three of us also need to take a decoction of Dark Sleep. Just in case.
Chu remembered the bloody Romulus and swallowed:
"A wise decision."