"So what do I call you miss lioness?"
"Railina. Call me Railina."
The girl looked at this full grown woman in front of her with a huge belly that looks like it's about to burst at any moment.
"So...I how long do I have to wait until the baby comes out? I don't know if you know bu-"
Railina cuts in.
"You're Princess Kristina Ari of the Southern Continent. The most talented youth in the south. Currently nineteen years of age. It is said that her long cyan hair and her desert sand skin resembles the pinnacle of beauty."
Kristina immediately held out a blade against Railina's neck and she released a terrifying amount of killing intent.
"How do you know me?"
Railina looked calm and she replied.
"Every demon beast knows who you are because stories have spread from all the demon beasts you've rescued. You're already known as our savior and benefactor. Us demon beasts were told of your appearance so that we could offer our thanks should we cross paths with you."
Kristina paused and looked at her. She sheathed her blade and began walking away.
"Whatever you do is your business no-"
*SPLAT*
Kristina turned back to see that Railina had cut her own stomach open and had pulled out a baby boy out of her womb.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!"
Railina began to sound weak.
"I know this is selfish of me but I beg you. Please take care of my baby boy or atleast send him to the demon capital city."
As she said that, she began pouring all her remaining vitality into the baby boy that was crying loudly. His yellow-like skin shining as vitality was being poured into him.
"His name is Jirael, which means 'last hope' in my language. I will leave my son in your hands..."
With that, her head dropped down, her son still in her arms. As if sensing his mother had died, Jirael cried even louder. Kristina picked him up.
"She didn't even give me a chance to say no."
Jirael grabbed her collar and looked at her. Kristina smiled.
"Maybe this won't be so bad. I'll take care of him myself then and maybe with this...I can finally stop father."
3 months later
Kristina had bought back Jirael to the capital of the Southern Continent. The capital city Yehuda, was bustling with carts carrying goods on the well paved streets and the armoured guards called the Lions were patrolling. Yehuda was known as one of the safest cities since one of the four Heavenly Kings resided here. Isaka Ari, the Emperor of the Southern Continent ruled with an iron fist. He stamped out any kind of corruption happening in his domain and was harsh with the punishments. For 800 years he has been ruling and the Southern Continent experienced a golden era under his rule since he was at the pinnacle of the 9th Gate like the rest of the Heavenly Kings. As Kristina walked to the imperial palace, the guards greeted her with respect since she was a princess. She got various looks as she held Jirael in her arms, who was busy playing with her hair.
"Let's go inside Rai Rai. If dad sees me with you, he'll drop all ideas about marriage since you almost look like me."
At this point, Michael's soul has now incorporated fully into its new body. Even though Jirael didn't have his past knowledge and memories, his personality still remained somewhat. Also, unlike normal babies who start becoming aware after three years, he was becoming self aware after three months. He started learning of all the things around him. As Kristina entered the palace, she was greeted by her father, Isaka Ari. The pressure exerted by him made Jirael return the favour.
"Hmph"
The power of his soul was enough to make Isaka step back. It was a defensive mechanism. Jirael just did that unconsciously. Isaka laughed.
"Haha this brat of yours seems pretty strong. He better not disappoint or I will kill him."
With that he vanished. Kristina breathed a sigh of relief.
"Damnit I almo-"
She saw Jirael sleeping peacefully while clutching her shoulders.
"Looks like this took a lot out of him."
6 months later
Jirael is now nine months old. He can already crawl. Jirael would periodically explore the palace from time to time, only to have the maids carry him back to Kristina's room. At this point, it was widely accepted that Jirael was Kristina's child thus she got no more marriage proposals and was free to do her training. She only came back during the evening from the training grounds and took good care of Jirael. During the day, if he wasn't with the maids, then he was minding his own business on the balcony facing the training grounds. He watched Kristina everyday for the past six months.Whenever he saw Kristina walk back from the training grounds, he always crawled as fast as he could from the balcony to meet her at the door. He would then immediately clasp on to her leg and ask to be picked up. After being picked up, he would hold her shoulders tightly and fall asleep on her chest. She smiled.
"Still as annoying as ever aren't you ya brat."
She kissed him on the forehead and regardless of what Kristina did after, Jirael never let go, whether she tried showering or eating at the dinner table. It was simply instinct since he now considers her the closest thing to a mother. He never fell asleep in front of the maids, regardless of how tired he was since he didn't trust them. At first he only ate when it was Kristina who fed him but as of late, he could allow the maids to feed him. The ones he had true emnity with were his older siblings. Isaka had two wives and each wife had a child. The first wife's daughter, Marin was six, the second wife's son, Tevis was four. Kristina's mother had already died. Her mother was originally the first wife. Tevis and Marin once tried bullying Jirael at their mother's discretion but he suddenly released immense killing intent whenever they tried to get close to him. Jirael could sense their malice since his senses surpassed normal humans. Although he was a demon beast, his mother had placed a seal that prevented him from turning into a lion for whatever reason since the humans would kill him. As they were having dinner at the big table, Jirael was still clinging to Kristina and happily sleeping. Isaka spoke.
"Can't you leave him in your room to sleep?"
She answered nonchalantly.
"He'll always follow me and ask to be picked up."
Isaka dropped his fork and looked at her.
"You're telling me he'll follow you anywhere???"
Kristina smiled.
"Yes father. Even if his knees get bruised, he doesn't stop. Once I return in the evenings he latches on."
"Then what about in the morning? Doesn't he latch on then?"
"He's usually still asleep. I just carefully sneak out. From what I heard from the maids, he'll crawl around the palace looking for me. Doesn't this show how much he loves me?
Isaka began thinking
"This child is very unique. He sticks to Kristi like glue and has an incredible amount of soul power. He also seems to advance much faster than normal children. Keke...This is good for my plans."
At that moment, Jirael woke up with his eyes wide open. He looked at Isaka straight in the eye. After sensing the incredible malice from him, his eyes teared up. When Isaka tried to get up in order to hold and comfort him, Jirael panicked and cried loudly. He dug his fingers into Kristina's shoulders and wouldn't stop crying. She stood up, clearly angry.
"Dad. What did you do?"
Isaka stood up.
"Girl. You dare take that tone with me?"
The pressure from him almost made Kristina fall to her knees until Jirael shouted.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
It was a soul attack. It was enough to suppress Isaka's pressure exertion. He laughed.
"HAHAHA. You struck it rich my dear Kristi. He curls into a ball and cries when he's in harm but when it's you, he fights back. He continues to impress me."
Kristina didn't even bother retorting. She simply stood up and went back to her room.
"Calm down my little Rai Rai. I'm always here for you. With that, she hugged him as they slept.
3 months later
During this time, Kristina never left Jirael alone again. She was always with him since she couldn't trust her father anymore. She temporarily stopped her physical training and focused on cultivation. Jirael could see the chi particles entering her. He tried copying her breathing but it felt painful whenever he tried to absorb it. Kristina felt a tear land on her as she soon as she saw Jirael forcefully try to copy her, she panicked.
"NO NO STOP!"
She grabbed him and shook him out of his daze. She quickly scanned his pulse.
"Nothing is wrong. Good."
She then went to the side of her bed and removed a loose tile from the floor. There she took out a book. She waved it in front of Jirael
"This is for you to cultivate. Your mother gave this to me so that you could use it. You can't copy me again okay? Our anatomy is different."
It had no name written on it. Just a simple cover and the methods of cultivation.
"Right. Since it seems like you're already so eager to cultivate, I'll teach you this method then."