Only in the depths of darkness, are those who value light the highest. - Unknown Drifter
...
In the Arvestia Sanctuary, Warding Statue Citadel.
Large 10-meter-tall marble statues stood at the entrance of the Arvestia Sanctuary. These statues glowed with turquoise light, a mix of soft blue and green hues. The aura from the statues pressed outward into the surrounding darkness of the outside. A dangerous black fog, known as the Fog of Distortion, rolled and pushed against the turquoise light, like ocean waves beating against rocky cliffsides. Yet despite the fog's attempts, the light repelled it from the sanctuary behind it. These statues served as a defense against the Fog of Distortion, providing a rare safe haven for humans to live.
At the center of the Sanctuary, a large central citadel stood tall and grand. It was decorated with rare gemstones, golden and silver metals, and beautiful artistry. It carried an aura of ancient age, of a time of glory that happened centuries ago. Yet despite the grand appearance of the citadel, the halls were mostly empty of people as it once had been.
Statues lined the halls of the citadel holding glass bowls, which glowed brightly from the turquoise blue and green liquid gel inside them. The light illuminating them provided warmth and a peaceful aura to any person who would be walking through the halls.
*Clack Clack Clack Clack*
Footsteps echoed off the walls of the empty hallway as a robed man moved purposefully into a central chamber. His robes were grey with embroidered golden triangle patterns at the base. He held a specially made lantern in his right hand, containing the same glowing turquoise liquid that statues held. It sloshed around inside it as he moved briskly.
*AHH AHHH*
The sounds of a woman screaming were made all the more apparent as the robed man passed through the central chamber. He made his way to the sound directly, even increasing his speed after hearing the screams. He walked until he arrived at the closed door where the screams were at.
Women wearing religious gowns were moving around frantically in the area, while the religious monks prayed silently, grasping their triangular medals.
*WAHH* *WAAAHHH*
The sounds of newborns cried out from behind the door, and the robed man pushed his way inside.
"Their twins! You have two healthy baby boys." The nursemaid announced happily, wiping off the birth residue from the newborns and cutting their umbilical cords.
The mother, who had just given birth, panted tiredly and rolled her eyelids slowly, forcing herself to look at her babies. Her labor was hard and she was left extremely pale. She ignored the robed man, who had frozen in place upon entering the room and focused entirely on her newborns. She smiled victoriously from her battle, she had won the fight. Sadly, she knew her end was approaching and felt a pang of sorrow fill her as she watched her two boys.
"Let me see." She said, with all her strength.
The nurse wrapped the two newborn boys in clean blankets and handed them to her. Then she stepped back, watching the mother snuggle her two children in her arms. However, it was at this moment that the robed man spoke.
"Leave us for a moment." The man commanded with his smooth voice.
Those in the room bowed and left the robed man and the new mother to have the room to themselves.
The robed man approached the side of the mother slowly. He reached his hand out and caressed her pale face, letting her black hair slide through his fingers.
"You stubborn woman." The man stated, with slight pain in his voice.
The mother only smiled in reply, leaning into the man's touch. She enjoyed his touch very much and breathed in his scent.
"I missed you." She said, her voice weak.
She gazed tenderly into the robe's hood and met his eyes. The man clenched his fist in a moment of anger, he pulled away his hand and glanced at the children in her arms.
"Why? You could have told me before I traveled." The man said, anger clear in his voice.
The mother reached out and grabbed the man's hand before he could fully pull away from her completely. She guided his hand gently down to the two infants, placing it on one of them. She didn't reply to the man's question, seemingly at peace with her decision.
"A drifter's wife can be allowed this one small offense, I hope. " The mother replied.
The man remained in silence for a while, before he finally caressed the infant boy's cheek with his large hand. The baby squirmed, blinking his green eyes at the man dumbly.
"We must give them strong names. They are a drifter's sons and fate will not make their lives easy." The man spoke.
"Beul and Sol." The mother said softly, looking at the boys distinctly.
"Sol is a good name. But Beul is not good enough." The man stated bluntly.
"Morn and Sol." The man stated.
The mother smiled, pleased with those names.
"Together, they are my Morning Sun." The mother smiled, watching them.
The man nodded his cloaked head in reply. Then, the mother started to change. The edges of her skin began to glow a soft green, the sign of a Thul manifestation. Her soul's light was manifesting, which also meant that her life was coming to an end. The light continued to glow brighter and brighter until it was so strong and bright, there was a commotion from the religious order members outside the door.
The robed man said nothing as he watched the situation, he already knew this would happen. The mother kept a smile on her face, stroking the heads of her newborn babies gently.
"Be Strong, My 'Morning Sons'." The mother whispered as the green light grew so blinding that it engulfed the room.
The light was so bright, it agitated the Fog of Distortion outside the sanctuary, like a shark-smelling blood. It rammed crazily into the barrier made by the statues, but it didn't change its situation. The light swirled around the sky above into two great vortexes, pulling and condensing all of the mother's soul light into the two infant children next to her. The two infants fell asleep, caressed by the warmth of the green energy that enshrouded them.
Soon, as fast as the situation came to be, the light disappeared. The nurses from outside the room entered inside just as the lights flickered inside the two boys, and the mother breathed her last breath.
"What happened? Why did Miss's light manifest?" The nursemaid asked, confused.
But the question was left unanswered, as the robbed man just stood quietly next to the mother, while the two infants had woken up and cried loudly. It was as if they sensed the death of their mother.