Tak! Tak!

The sound of a frantic step echoed. The thunder rumbled signifying that a storm was coming.

A hooded figure continued running, the approaching storm the least of her worries. She felt that 'it' could still see her, the canopies of trees not offering the slightest cover against 'its' predatory gaze.

"Haa, haa," she panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her vision was hazy. Every breath hurt.

She was tired and injured. Her entire right arm was burnt beyond recognition.

Her cloak was covered in dry blood. Her joints and muscles hurt at every of her movement. But she knew… she shouldn't stop.

She must endure.

Not for herself, but for the child on her arms. He must survive.

She looked down at the baby she carried with her left hand. The baby was unconscious yet alive. She had to….

Again, she felt its gaze. 'It' was closing in.

Time was running out.

She looked down at the baby in her left arm, unconscious but alive. She had to protect him. Again, she felt its gaze. Time was running out. With a pained yet determined expression, she pulled out her necklace. She didn't want to leave him while he was so young, but she had to. Her fate was sealed, but she wished him well.

Her expression became determined yet… pained. And she stopped running. This would very likely be her final stand.

She spread both of her hands. Her right arm was barely hanging on to her shoulder. To handle the pain, she bit her lips until blood was spilled.

She performed a complicated hand sign. Green wisp of energy congregated around her.

"Gallum kaes al ha fi kum.."

A portal appeared. The portal was less than one meter in width.

But it was enough.

_Cough!

The lady wiped out the blood that trickled down from her mouth. Her face was pale - it was evident she had run out of mana.

With trembling hands, she carefully tied the necklace around the baby's neck. The necklace that was in the shape of a seed. Like liquid it melded into the baby's body.

A tear fell. There was no guarantee he would survive.

No, it was likely he would die, before reaching adulthood. Even with all the precautions they took, the chances of survival was slim.

She could only hope she had done enough. "Survive and live a good, peaceful, and happy life." She hoped for the impossible.

She looked up.

The dense leaves blotted out the sky. Likewise, the future looked bleak. Looking at the child, his path would be perilous.

… Just then, an unnerving chill ran down her spine.

''It' is here.'

With a gentle push, the child disappeared through the portal.

Tak, tak, tak!

The storm was here.

The sound of water droplets falling reverberated in the forest. But its noise started fading. Not All sound faded.

Silence… Utter silence, followed by a ridiculous amount of oppressive aura that blanketed the entire forest

It was like time had stopped. But the silence lasted for only a moment. As she looked up….

_BOOM!!!

***

[Oasis Orphanage]

It was a cold night.

Outside an old house, a man who seemed to be in his forties sat under the clear moonlight, enjoying a drink.

A green light shimmered.

"Huh?"

He blinked, and it was gone. He looked at the bottle in his hands.

'Is it too strong?' Getting drunk from just a few sips… it was laughable.

Better to retire for now. As he stood up from his seat, he noticed something being illuminated by the moonlight. He blinked, and it was still there.

"Hmm"

Curious, he walked towards it to know what was there. And to his surprise…

"A child?"

It was a baby wrapped in a thick blanket. The unnerving thing was the baby was still, showing no sign of life.

The man almost panicked thinking of the worst.

But when the man leaned closer, he noticed the baby was breathing… barely, but still breathing. There were signs of blood on the blanket, but none seemed to be the baby's.

He looked around, but saw no one. He bent and cradled the baby in his arms and started rushing towards the local healer.

***

Years later.

A ten year old boy stood on the branches of a mulberry tree, stretching his hands to pluck the juicy, ripe berries. Determined, he moved to climb another branch when he heard a voice calling.

"Greenie! Are you there?! Greenie!"

He poked out his face from the dense leaves to look at the girl looking at him. Lyra was a nine year old girl. Her blonde hair was tied neatly behind her back in a ponytail. She had beautiful grey eyes. She was a quiet kid – at least when she was not with a very close friend of hers.

Quite a few kids had tried to bully her because of her quiet demeanor but found out she had quiet the talent in beating people up.

"I'm here, Lyra. Can you stop calling me that ridiculous name? I have a name, you know?" Ren was exasperated.

"Oh, you do? Can I hear it?" She feigned surprise.

"Haa, My name is Ren. Okay?" Ren sighed in frustration.

"Did I hear Greenie?"

"Re-"

"Gre-?"

"Ugh! Fine you win." Ren was exasperated.

"Of course I win. I always win." She flexed her biceps, earning a chuckle from Ren.

"Why are you looking for me?"

"You missed lunch… again."

"Huh?"

Ren looked up at the sun, now well past its peak. It was around three or four in the afternoon.

"What the-? I totally lost track of time."

Ren hastily climbed down and started running towards the building a bit in the distance.

"Give me some!" Lyra called out after him.

"No."

"Please!" Lyra was persistent.

Ren turned back and smiled.

"Catch, Twig!" he threw a fruit towards Lyra. She caught it, before his words even registered.

'Wait… Did he just call me 'Twig'?'

She tightened her tiny fist.

"HEY!!"

Ren was already bolting away.

***

The man stood with hands behind his back, kitchen utensils surrounding him.

"Don't just stand there. Come in." Stephan called out without turning as the boy made no attempt to enter. Probably hesitant as he knew damn well he was late. And this was not the first time.

Ren stepped inside with his head hung low, drawing incomprehensible drawings with his toe.

Stephan turned to face him.

"What have I told you before?" Stephan began the speech he had repeated countless times before that he now knows it by heart. "You should learn to be punctual. It is a good trait to have. If you keep this up, other kids might finish eating your food before you return from gods-knows-where"

Ren continued to bow his head.

"Greenie, you should know better."

At that word, Ren suddenly flipped his head.

"Mr. Brown, I told you. I don't like that name. Soon other kids will start calling me that."

"What's wrong with it? It's a cool name."

"No, it's not." Ren argued back. Their banter continued.

"Sounds cool to me."

"Yeah, your naming sense is just that bad."

"Nope. Even Lyra agrees with me." Stephan couldn't back down.

"Why didn't you give her one?"

"A nickname?"

"Yes."

Stephan rubbed his beard thoughtfully, an established habit of his.

"Well, I haven't thought about it."

"Then… why don't I tell you another nickname that will be perfect for her."

"Do tell."

"What about… hmm twig? It is a really good one." Ren nodded with a faux serious expression. Stephan rubbed his beard in thought.

"… Yeah, it even rhymes with her name. Lyra – Twig."

Ren was confused for a moment there.

Do they rhyme?

'Bah, it doesn't matter.'

What do you think? I bet she would be reeaally happy."

"… It is perfect." Stephan nodded.

After Ren collected his food and walked out, Stephan continued what he was doing. Reminiscing on the day he found the cute little baby.

"Don't forget to collect those books from Charles, and take Liam with you. That kid is the most unserious kid I've ever met. So just drag him if you have to. Have fun!"

'That green light… I'm sure I saw it, right. It was a good omen' – at least he believed it to be so.

'To have brought me such a wonderful kid.' Stephan smiled softly.

He nodded, further reaffirming the uniqueness and awesomeness of the name.

'Ren aka greenie!'

Exquisite.

He just couldn't understand why Ren disliked the name.

"Well, he is just a kid. He will grow up to like it."

That was the honest thoughts of Stephan Brown.