As day brew, the sun emerged from its slumber, casting its warm embrace upon the world. The ever-increasing heat permeated the air, causing the day to bloom with a vibrant intensity. The weather, resembling a playful enchantress, underwent a swift transformation, discarding the remnants of its previous temperament. Summer was here to stay.
Within the confines of a humble abode, the gentle hum of a woman's lullaby resonated, carrying a subtle touch of melancholy in her voice. Holding her newborn son close, she cradled him tenderly in her embrace. Despite the weight of her burdens, she endeavored to summon a smile as she gazed down upon the precious life nestled in her arms, pouring her love into every moment shared.
Agir's body lay still and immobile, cocooned within the warmth of a snugly wrapped blanket, cradled securely in his mother's embrace. A surreal sensation permeated his being, as if he still dwelled within the realm of dreams., The passing of four days seemed to blur into a fleeting moment. The boundless void that once surrounded him had dissipated, replaced by the gentle pulse of life that coursed through his veins.
However, a peculiar sensation gnawed at him, stirring a sense of unease. This was not the familiar process of his return. Agir's mind pondered the enigma, seeking answers within the depths of his consciousness.
- Have I taken residence within the vessel of an innocent child? Why do my powers not surge forth as they typically do? What force impedes the restoration of my true form? - As he grappled with these enigmas, a childlike cry reverberated, mingling with the searing pain that accompanied his attempts to recollect. The anguish intensified, casting a shadow over his memory, frustrating his pursuit of answers.
"Oh, oh, Is my little boy sleepy?" Bella tenderly responded to Agir's cry, her voice filled with motherly warmth.
-Seems like this will require a brief interlude, a period of further maturation- Agir mused to himself, acknowledging the process that lay ahead.
Peering beyond the edge of the blanket, Agir's gaze settled upon a modestly constructed abode. Its walls, fashioned from the same material as the ceiling, exuded an air of simplicity. However, the humble surroundings failed to dampen his spirits, for he found solace and contentment in the present moment, grateful to have escaped the bleakness of his past.
- Anything was preferable to that place -. Agir affirmed silently, a profound sense of gratitude welling within him as he embraced his current circumstances.
Every now and then, she would lift him up and talk to him, and Agir would silently observe his mother. Her words, though resembling a common language, seemed broken and coarse, as if they had devolved into a more primitive form. Agir couldn't help but wonder if she hailed from a distant and less refined land, one with a cultural heritage that appeared brutish and vulgar to him. While some of her words eluded his full comprehension, he attempted to discern their meaning through Gazing at his mother with intrigue, Agir observed her with an almost detached demeanor, taking in the details as if stating facts. He noted that she possessed the appearance of a peasant, devoid of any adornments or extravagant garments. There were no maids bustling about, and the absence of luxury suggested a modest lifestyle. She wore a long, slightly soiled brown dress, accompanied by a white shirt beneath.
Curious thoughts swirled in Agir's mind as he contemplated his mother's role within the household. -Is she a maid, perhaps a clandestine lover of a noble?- he speculated inwardly, trying to decipher the dynamics of their situation.
Considering the presence of another woman in the house, who now joined his mother in the living room, Agir's attention shifted. This lady stood beside Bella, fixated on the baby, her gaze filled with a sense of observation and contemplation.
Staring back, Agir couldn't help but notice the distinct features of the woman before him. - Her eyes, an intense pitch black, and her short hair raised questions in his mind. Could she be a member of the Blackmane lineage? No, something was amiss, perhaps a mix of vampire blood running through her veins. The scars etched upon her skin, some deep and visible, puzzled Agir. How could someone so young bear so many marks? Was she an outcast from nobility, shunned by society?- The unanswered questions swirled within him, leaving him longing for understanding.
With nothing but time on his hands, Agir immersed himself in the task of learning their broken language. He hoped that through their conversations, he might glean some insights into the circumstances surrounding his previous demise.
"I'm leaving for the training grounds. If anything happens, hold the stone, and I will come," Valentina's words carried an air of authority, leaving little room for uncertainty.
"Yes, Master Valentina. Will you be back for dinner, or should I save some for your later return?" Bella's meek inquiry reflected her deference to Valentina's presence.
"I will return before dinner, and please refrain from leaving the house until I have met with the head priest of Valgus. We cannot allow these lunatics to roam freely," Valentina stated before departing.
Bella nodded, her gaze fixated on the floor.
Agir's inner thoughts couldn't help but elicit a chuckle. -Believers of Valgus,- he mused silently. He was well aware of their presence, as they had persistently knocked on their doors like an insistent pest in recent days.
-What transpired during my absence? - Agir thought.
"It's just you and me now, my dear. We have to tidy up the house and perhaps give you a bath later," Bella said cheerfully, her voice filled with warmth and affection.
As if an invisible force were relentlessly draining his energy, the weight of sleep descended upon him.
-I hate this, weakness! -
he groaned, his exasperation evident as he begrudgingly succumbed to the embrace of sleep.
-------------------------------------------------
"We know you're inside " echoed the harsh demand.
Like thunder, the sound of fists relentlessly hammering against the door reverberated throughout their home.
Roused from his slumber, he was greeted by their return, an unwelcome nuisance persisting once more. He observed his new mother seated in the corner of the living room, engaged in silent prayer to whichever deity she held faith in. Her voice remained too faint to discern, leaving behind nothing but faint whispers and subtle murmurs.
Tears cascaded down, landing upon Agir as he stared at his mother's vulnerable form. An uncontrollable fury swelled within him, directed at those who sought to harm both him and his mother. In this unjust world, the weak suffered most, especially when they possessed something desired by others.
Blurred memories surfaced from the day of the battle, faces and voices weren't clear, screams of people fearing for their lives.
The pounding at the door ceased, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Then, a resounding thud, followed by another, until the door swung open forcefully. Bella clutched the stone with a grip so tight her hand turned white.
"Save me, master!" she cried out, her voice filled with desperation. The stone briefly emitted a glimmering light before returning to darkness. In a swift motion, several men stormed into the room, drawn to Bella's scream. They knew time was of the essence before Master Valentina arrived. "There you are, witch! Hand over your son, and we'll make it painless," a man sneered with palpable malice in his voice.
"No, please, just lea.." Bella pleaded, her sentence cut short by a vicious kick. A pained groan escaped her lips.
"Give us the child, you demon!" the man demanded, his voice dripping with contempt.
Agir desperately attempted to summon any hint of mana, but his body vehemently rebelled, flooded with searing pain.
"You fucking demon spawner!" The room filled with a barrage of insults and brutal kicks.
Lying down, Bella clung to her son with a grip so tight that it threatened to suffocate him.
Like a key in a door, Agir took a chance, hoping that his mana would align and find its place. With unwavering determination, he focused his energy through his mother.
-Forgive me, but this will be painful- he thought, bracing himself and her for what was to come
Like a ruptured valve, a thick, tar-like smoke burst forth, enveloping Bella and her son. Within the billowing haze, limbs stretched and contorted, emerging from the smog. A silvery eye materialized, scanning the room with an intense search.
From the depths of the smoke, ghastly sounds emanated, filling the air with an unsettling aura. The temperature plummeted, shrouding the room in an icy chill that pierced to the bone.
"God have mercy on our souls"
One of the men muttered in fear, took out a knife trying to finish the job as he stabbed against them, however, the smog was protecting the child and mother. The smog tried to stretch for the man, but a howl could be heard. Bella was screaming from pain; it was too much for her. She kept an iron grip on her son, while she passed out. The smog closed it eye, and couldn't withhold its existence any longer, as it vanished in the air, leaving no trace behind.
"You all saw it! We have to kill it!" one of the men shouted, his voice filled with panic. "It's only a few days old, and it can spawn creatures from hell."
Driven by a frenzy to eliminate the perceived threat, the man lunged forward, intent on striking down both the mother and child simultaneously. But as he extended his arm to deliver the fatal blow, a sudden confusion overcame him. He glanced down, only to realize that his right arm was no longer in his possession.
"Where's my right arm?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief. His eyes returned to the scene before him, and there it lay on the floor next to the mother and child, blood pooling around it. Valentina surveyed the room, her teeth gnashing audibly. "A rotten brain never learns," she hissed.
A bright light could be seen embracing Bella and her son.
Amidst the chaos, a series of thuds resonated through the air, followed by agonized screams. A woman rushed into the room, desperately seeking answers, while another individual remained near the entrance, deep in prayer. The horrifying sight that greeted the woman was a room drenched in blood, where friends and family members were missing limbs
"Nooooooooooo!!" the woman screamed in anguish, her voice filled with despair. Outside the door, commotion erupted as men rushed inside, one after another. Valentina recognized Zac and Justin, but the horror and grief etched in Zac's eyes tore at her heart as he ran towards his wife, emitting a gut-wrenching scream.
-Not again- Valentina thought, a wave of sadness washing over her. "I warned you all she seethed, her voice dripping with unbridled hatred, "and yet you chose to dismiss my caution, taking it for granted.".
The men on the floor continued their desperate pleas, their words bouncing off Valentina like an impenetrable wall. She had no patience for fools like these. Zac's piercing scream echoed through the air, cutting through Valentina like a sharp arrow. She felt the weight of his anguish and grief, the raw intensity of his pain seeping into her own being. It was a reminder of the haunting memories she had sought to escape by coming to this remote village.
As Valentina stared at Zac and Bella, her grip on the hilt of her sword tightened, the dark essence of her skin seeming to intensify..
-Killing them will only pass the suffering on- telling herself
She could hear them swearing at her, yet she did not care, their life meant nothing to her, until she heard them beg.
"Now that the tables have turned, you beg for mercy, you mongrels," she sneered, her voice dripping with malice.
Valentina pushed her haunting memories aside, focusing on the present. She saw Justin unleashing his fury upon their attackers and knew she had to intervene.
With great care she grabbed onto Justin's arm softly, Valentina knew, his arm could easily be shattered if she pressed too hard.
""Stop, they'll die if you continue. These fools have already paid their price. " Valentina said
Justin's voice seethed with hatred as he retorted, his words echoing the desire for retribution. "You think losing an arm or a leg is worth her life! They took hers, now we take theirs!"
Her cold response echoed in the room,
"They might be monsters, but they have children and wives waiting for them at home, who need them," she stated, her tone devoid of sympathy." Killing them will only perpetuate the cycle of punishment onto their innocent families. Do you wish to create more orphans and widows?"
Valentina dropped Justin's arm, leaving him there and went to check on Bella.
Zac held Bella in his arms, she looked small and helpless, not moving a muscle, still holding on to her child.
Valentina released her grip on Justin's arm and calmly made her way to Bella's side. Zac held his wife in his arms, swaying slowly back and forth repeating "forgive me" his face etched with worry as she lay motionless, clutching their child.
Examining Bella closely, Valentina sensed something amiss. Her complexion was pallid, and Valentina couldn't fathom why she would be experiencing mana deprivation. Bella had never shown any magical abilities before.
she cast another healing spell on Bella, ensuring that no underlying issues remained undetected.
"Your wife is alive" Valentina said calmly, her voice carrying a sense of relief.
Like a broken spell, Zac's swaying came to an abrupt halt, his bloodshot eyes fixated on Valentina. Tears streaked down his face, evidence of the emotional turmoil he had endured.
"What did you say?" he uttered in disbelief, his voice trembling with a mixture of shock and hope.
Valentina met Zac's gaze, her expression reflecting her confusion. "Bella is alive and breathing. The blood you see isn't hers. She appears to be suffering from mana fatigue," she explained, her voice steady despite the perplexity in her eyes.
Zac's voice trembled with a mixture of confusion and anticipation. The room fell into a hushed silence, as he held his hand above Bella's face, feeling a faint breath against his palm.
-She was right!- Zac's thoughts raced with overwhelming relief. "She's alive!".
"Have your wife ever casted a spell or anything magic related before?" Valentina asked, though she already knew the answer.
Oblivious to Valentina's question, Zac's body trembled with overwhelming happiness, tears flowing freely down his face. "Thank you, master, thank you," he repeated, his gratitude pouring out in fervent repetition. In that moment, it dawned on him how foolish he had been to doubt his love for Bella and their child. Regardless of any external judgments or origins, he loved them unconditionally. Even if the world saw their child as the spawn of the devil, Zac vowed to protect them fiercely and unwaveringly.
Justin walked over to his friend and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Brother, you need to loosen your grip. You'll suffocate her. We wouldn't want to lose her now, after all this," he said, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
Zac carefully cradled his wife in his arms, a mixture of love and rage surging within him. The primal instinct to seek vengeance against those who had subjected his family to such torment coursed through his veins. With determination in his eyes, he carried Bella to the bedroom and gently laid her and their son on the bed.
"You filthy animals outside, come and get your husbands before I beat them to death," Justin voice echoed with righteous anger.
The other women rushed into the room, a mix of fear, shock, and sorrow on their faces. Some stood motionless, overwhelmed by the sight before them, while others hurried to their husbands, eager to escape the house as quickly as possible.
"Before you all depart" Valentina interjected, her voice commanding attention. But before she could continue, one of the women let out a piercing scream, cutting through the air.
"What more do you want from us? They'll bleed to death if we don't do anything quick!" one of the women cried out in desperation.
""You sow, do not forget the stature of the one you address. Cease your prattling and guard your tongue, lest it be severed, Valentina retorted, her voice dripping with venom.
With a subtle gesture from Valentina, a surge of fiery energy enveloped the wounded limbs. The wounds began to heal, but what remained were mere stumps where arms and legs once were.
"If you dare to tread upon the path of ending a life, remember that your own existence hangs in the balance. But mark my words, should you ever return to this place, mercy shall find no place in my heart, Valentina declared with a firm resolve.
The floor creaked as a group of people left the room together, their departure leaving behind an unsettling atmosphere.
A voice pierced through the silence, filled with dread and foreboding. "She and that child will be the harbingers of the world, I witnessed it with my own two eyes! The void gazed upon us!"
Zac gazed at the departing figures, recognizing familiar faces from their shared past in a village they once called home. They had been neighbours and even friends before they gathered to establish this new settlement.
-How in the world did they turn into such beasts? If someone gave the order to spill blood, would they truly butcher their own kin? - His thoughts dripped with a mixture of hatred and bitter disappointment, as he struggled to comprehend the depths to which they had descended.
Justin ushered the last person out and took it upon himself to search for the missing door. Outside, he found it lying on the ground, a gaping hole in the center and the hinges torn out, requiring extensive repairs once again. Fortunately, it was a task he knew he could handle with ease.
– We'll need to reinforce it much better this time, along with the windows- Justin pondered, already formulating plans to fortify their vulnerable entry points.
As the chaos subsided and the others departed, the remnants of bloodstains painted the living room and trailed all the way to the entrance. Amidst the disarray, Zac and Valentina stood, a stark contrast to the surrounding mess.
"Master..." Zac began, his voice filled with deep concern and gratitude.
Valentina paused for a brief moment, sensing Zac's worry
"Zac, how well do you know your wife?" Her tone was gruff yet commanding.
"We've been raised in the same village from a young age. I know her father, grandfather, and all her kin," Zac replied, racking his brain for any significant details.
Valentina continued
"Does Bella's family have any mages in their lineage?"
"Not that I know of. None of her living family members were mages or nobles" Zac answered with a touch of confusion.
"hmmm. And what about you"
"Zac hesitated, unsure of the direction of her questioning. "Mine? We're all lumberjacks, from my great, great grandfather to now."
-Mmm, perhaps she awakened? It's a rarity, but not unheard of. Did they drain her mana? No, slitting her throat would be quicker. - Valentina pondered.
As she stood there pondering, Zac wondered why she was asking these questions. But he would do anything for Valentina.
" I've seen a few mages in my time, but I wasn't born with no mana or anythin' like that," Zac replied.
Valentina fixed her gaze on Zac contemplated informing him about mana, she despised ignorance above all else
Valentina assumed a calm and lecturing demeanor, deviating from her usual teaching approach, as she explained,
"Every soul possesses mana, albeit in varying degrees. Picture two hills separated by a chasm, and crossing requires a bridge. Few possess this bridge naturally, while many must forge one or find aid, though I've yet to witness such assistance. Your wife, however, has acquired a functional bridge, expending her scarce mana in the process. It poses no immediate peril, yet she is not a mage, for being a mage demands more than a mere connection. It entails mastery of spells, nurturing the bond, and other facets. Fear not, for your wife is unharmed, though the restoration of her mana shall demand time and patience. "
Zac wishing every everything was over, to a hint of fear.
"they did something to her, maybe they put some kind of a spell on her"
Valentina dismissed his worries with a hint of disdain, "None of those imbeciles possess the knowledge to cast spells, especially curses or enduring enchantments. Such feats require formidable mastery. If they possessed such power, they would have obliterated your entire abode, along with your wife and everything within."
"If you say so, master," Zac replied, placing complete trust in Valentina, who had previously saved them countless times from menacing creatures lurking in the woods.
Valentina changed the subject, her tone shifting to a more practical one. "Do you possess the ability to read, write, and calculate?"
Zac nodded, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Yes, I know how to read and write, and I can count up to a hundred. My grandfather taught me. But I never attended school."
"Perfect. Fetch a pen and something to write on," Valentina commanded.
He hurried back to the storage room, filled with dried food hanging from the ceiling and various items scattered on the ground. Amidst the clutter, he located his charcoal pen and a small wooden board, no larger than his fist.
"Here you go, master," Zac said, handing the items to Valentina.
Valentina's penmanship was exquisite, reflecting the elegance of a noble. As she wrote, she instructed Zac, "Retrieve these books and ingredients from my estate. I require them for a potion."
Curiosity sparked within Zac as he inquired, "A potion for what?"
"For your wife. Without replenishing her mana, she will be bedridden for days. Luckily, I possess some knowledge of alchemy," Valentina replied.
*A short time later*
After returning from Valentina's estate, Zac's cheeks bore dried tears, a testament to the emotions that had overwhelmed him. He felt an immense sense of gratitude for having such a remarkable person in his life. Without her intervention, he knew they would not be standing here, engaged in conversation. His entire family might have fallen victim to the deranged fanatics.
Standing by his wife's bedside, Zac's gaze remained fixated on her. Valentina's words interrupted his thoughts.
"Go clean yourself, you look awful. I'll stay here tonight and look after her," Valentina offered, understanding the toll the events had taken on Zac.
Still sweaty from the exertion, his hands and torso stained with blood, Zac hadn't noticed his disheveled appearance until now. His head throbbed with a dull ache, a result of clenching his teeth in anxiety.
"Thank you, but I'll stand here and watch her sleep for a little longer," Zac replied, his unwavering dedication evident.
"Suit yourself," Valentina acquiesced, acknowledging the depth of his commitment.