Elora devastated and hurt by the loss of her daughter, schemed with the three witches and stole Rhoda's daughter, and replaced her with her lifeless baby.
As the sun dead out, casting a dark and gloomy atmosphere through the dense forest, a lone figure made her way through the ancient trees carrying a crying baby.
Elora found a sheltering tree and laid bare the baby on the ground and with a sword in her hands, she pressed her lips together in a straight line.
Her face wore a deep expression of pain and sorrow. The air was heavy with the oncoming storm, and yet a sense of revenge drove away her doubts and pity upon the innocent baby.
"You don't deserve to die like this, baby not for the sins of your father who took everything away from me and now I will take something from him" she voiced out while the baby continuously cried out.
Faint whispers of rustling leaves and the distant calls of woodland creatures echoed around Elora,
The thunderous growl of the approaching storm rumbled overhead. The tall trees groaned under the weight of the wind, swaying ominously, yet she felt nothing and charged.
The dark clouds loom ominously overhead, unbeknownst to Elora, an electric charge was building in the atmosphere.
As the rain began to pour, she found herself shivering but not hesitant in killing the baby rather she was determined to do what she came to the forest to do.
As the thunder roared and the lightning flashed, a brilliant bolt of electricity cascades down from the sky with a terrifying crack. In that split second, the lightning finds its target, violently striking Elora and sending shockwaves through her body. The deafening noise disoriented her, and a blinding white light engulfed her senses.
She fell and with the sword in her hands, the heavy rain filled the ground with water that could carry a body away.
Her body was watched away by the flowing water and left the crying baby alone as her cries echoed in the forest...
Rhoda woke up with a dead baby by her side and without hesitation, she screamed waking up the midwives.
They were all stunned to see a dead baby, their face turned gloomy and confused, wondering how a crying baby ended up dying.
Rhoda's face instantly turned serious as she rushed towards the baby. Her heart sank as she tried to take off the cloth on the baby to be sure her eyes weren't deceiving her.
She panicked as she took off the cloth and saw the baby not moving. Fear grips Rhoda's heart as she touched the baby and held her to her chest.
She felt her breath quicken as she held the baby in her arms and nothing seemed to be working, no cries, no movement and her body was cold as ice.
Every emotions she felt at that moment came rushing down.
"No, no not my poor baby, please don't leave your mother to this fate, I can't lose you, please!!!" She wailed.
Trying her best to wake the dead baby in her arms. "Please help my child" she sobbed and with the midwife's help they took the dead baby away from her.
Her cries echoed throughout the realm and everyone who heard her cry mourned with her.
Dungeon of Hell
Raul was chained against the wall with his loose hair covering his face. The clashing of the dungeon door woke him up from his sleep.
Another visit of the beast in his dungeon, he carried a message for him but this time, the chains on his, neck, hands, and legs were taken off.
He wondered if something had happened but the beast sneered at him and ordered him to follow it.
The other inmates praised the fallen guardian as he followed behind the beast. He was taken to a room and his body was washed and cleaned with his hair neatly combed and placed behind his shoulders.
His clothes were given to him to wear and he did just that. His eyes which were filled with light were no longer the same, dark cycles around his eyes and suddenly he looked older than he was.
He sighed and inquired about his sudden release. None spoke to him and so he angrily ordered them to speak.
The beast who stood outside suddenly entered;
"Fallen guardian watch your tongue for you have no authority in here" he growled.
Raul may have lost his title but he had his pride and power even without his sword, but rules were rules so he reserved every emotion he was feeling and stayed calm.
"I do prefer to be informed as to why I am being released so soon"
"Shouldn't you be happy about that?" the beast enquired.
"I do not hold such thoughts as I know of my sins and I do not deserve to be pardoned so soon" Raul expressed his thoughts.
"As modest as a guardian, I will tell you because you asked but I warn you, you may not like what you hear" he growled.
"Say it, for there is no greater punishment than being locked up here" Raul started.
The beast laughed softly and responded.
"You have been demoted to an ordinary guardian"
"Is that all?" he asked nonchalantly.
The beast continued;
"Your wife has lost her baby"
"What!" he exclaimed.
"I said your wife has lost her baby"
he scoffed "That is impossible, s-she couldn't bear.."
"So you weren't aware of your wife's pregnancy" The beast laughed at his confused face.
"Your wife got pregnant and lost the baby because of you bastard", he growled.
He was lost to the sudden revelation but what came next made him anxious.
"What? b-because of me?"
"Yes, You said the greatest punishment was being locked up? You should think again, for I am sure the supreme and the gods took your child away as punishment" he growled at his expression.
The beast and the maidens left him to handle his sorrow as he felt his legs go numb. He never thought he would ever face this kind of punishment.
He fell on his knee and hid his face in his palm and sob not for himself but for his dear wife who was left alone to bear this fate.
He stayed like that for a while and was called for departure and he had no choice but to leave for his realm.
He avoided everyone as he entered the spirit realm, he wasn't ready to face anyone yet, all he thought of was his dear wife.
He reache his chambers and in front of the door was a woven basket covered with white clothing. He was quite startled upon seeing it and carefully removed the cloth only to see a tiny baby boy in the basket.
He immediately sense its aura , he was a mortal yet still, he carried the divine powers of a guardian. He wondered how such a child could enter the spirit realm, for he was a mortal.
It was forbidden for demi-gods (children born from a mortal and a guardian were called demi-gods).
They are called demi-gods, they had the potential to turn evil since they were half mortals, and they had the tendency to be influenced by evil spirits and demons around the three realms.
In the beginning when mortals were first created by the supreme and darkness and Chaos were caged away. Rumors about gods and guardians bedding with mortal women and fathering sons and daughters spread across the realm.
And these children succumbed to the evil forces of the mortal realm and caused damage to the three realms.
Finally, it came to the attention of the supreme who ordered for their soul to be sealed forever in the Apex( lost souls) where darkness and chaos were caged way.
Their existence was wiped away from the book of history, therefore there were no records of them anyway and only a few gods and guardians present then knew of their existence and he was one of them.
And right at this moment he was seeing demi-god at his door steps, he decided to dispose of the baby but there was a brown note left in the basket, indicating that a mortal had entered the realm and left the baby.
He was baffled by the bravery of the said mortal and wondered who it might be. He slowly opened the note and his eyes widened as he continuously read the note.
"Elora birth my child? But how and when?
I can't let anyone know of his existence" he whispered to himself but unbeknownst to him his wife and a few guardians and gods were behind him.
"What are you hiding you murderer of my child" Rhoda questioned him leaving him speechless.
"I am not hiding anything, I just got released and hear.." his statement was interrupted when Rhoda pushed her way to grab the basket and saw the baby boy.
"Who is this?, if I am not mistaken, he is a demi-god" she revealed.
He tensed after she revealed his secret and everyone stared on and murmured among each other.
Suddenly she laughed awkwardly
"Our child died because of your sins and here you are protecting your child with a mortal" she raised her voice.
"You cruel bastard , why should my child die because of yours and this thing lived, why?!!!" She screamed.
Raul was left speechless as he tried to grab Rhoda but she pushed his hands away. She was tempted to throw the child away but did not give in to her thoughts and left the baby with Raul.
"I hope you never find happiness Raul," she said and left.
(Gods and guardians murmuring)
The three royal guardians watched on but said nothing as Raul held his son in his arms.
Kirrinoth and Paxive left leaving Kali behind who drew closer to Raul and said to him.
"You broke your promise and this time I will never let her go, you lost Raul remember that"
Left with a grin on his face. Raul stood alone and carried his son before him and said
"I will call you Raul after me, and that you will correct the mistakes of your father and never fall for a mortal and succumb to any evil force, that I promise you, my son"...
Meanwhile, the crying baby was heard by two farmers who had lost their way due to the heavy rains. The woman caught sight of the baby and run towards it but her strange appearance alarmed her husband.
"White hair"? her husband said.
"No dear it's silver hair" she pointed out.
"Is that even possible? Can a human have silver hair? She must be cursed or something" the husband said.
The woman scoffed and said "Silly there is nothing like that, I am sure ..wait she is a girl aww, she is special and we are taking her with us"
"What?, why? have you thought about what the people in the kingdom will say huh, they will call us strange and weird for having a child like this" her husband strongly objected.
"Tsk, I don't care what they say, this child found us alright, she kept crying for the help of and course we have to help"
"Hon but"
"No buts, i am going to call her Adeline after the brave princess warrior of our kingdom"
"You have made up your mind huh Tsk alright let's take her in as our daughter Adeline"
They both smiled at each in the rain with no worries or whatsoever…