Within a small house, under a full moon unrivaled by any night, a beautiful baby girl was born. She did not cry but only looked around in curiosity with beaming silver eyes that encapsulated anyone who made eye contact.
Even the midwife, Stella, couldn't help but find herself a little jealous of the child.
"She's such a gorgeous child, truly took after her mother. It's a shame really, that she couldn't make it"
Although she's treated many women who've died during childbirth, it never got any easier having to watch a child squirm for their mother, knowing they will never understand that bond.
While she was wrapping the child in a blanket to be taken back to her father and deliver the terrible news, the doctor covered the corpse with the spare sheets kept in case the original were soiled beyond usage.
Standing in front of the door, Stella steeled her resolve, put on her best calm and composed face and prepared for the reaction the father would have. She was aware it was futile, her face always betrayed the truth before she could even utter a word, but she was determined to try, for Eva.
Stella stepped out into the warm spring night. All of the lights in the village were out, nobody was awake at this point in time, except one.
A tall, broad-shouldered man, stood with a fierce presence about him. He had long gray hair flowing down his back, but not of old age, for he was stark full of youth. He had crimson eyes that matched his all-red robes, with a singular object that remained out of place in the picture; the sword strapped to his waist.
Sar the valiant, commander of our village guard, most talented Coni our village has ever seen, also happened to be the little child's father, and was currently asleep.
"Sar, your baby is here"
Stella decided to whisper, she had rumors of people nearly losing a limb from startling their commander in his sleep, and she believed all of them.
Not but a breath after she finished enunciating the word baby, he jolted awake and immediately reached for his blade before locking eyes with his daughter. In that moment a silence hung in the air for a few moments as she sat there and held the baby, trying to pinpoint the source of the tension.
He looked uncomfortable, antsy and unsure of what to do. He tapped his sword and shifted his weight uncomfortably while not losing eye contact with the child which entailed him staring at her chest with an unreasonably sharp stare.
Desperate to be rid of his gaze, she held the baby out at arm's length.
"Would you like to hold her?"
"Yes"
His response came so swiftly in a voice she's never heard him use, it stunned Stella momentarily.
"Ahem, I mean, yes I would"
Sar slowly approached, careful not to startle the baby as he gingerly cradled her into his arms, seemingly starstruck.
"She's beautiful, we'll name her Artemis"
He caressed her cheek so affectionately it was hard for Stella to utter her next words, but she figured now before the body became cold, would be preferable.
"I think you want to check on your wife, Sar, please hand me the child"
Sar had an extremely puzzled look on his face
"I'll just go see her with the baby so we can admire her together"
Stella remained resolved in her stance on the matter, unwilling to change her mind.
"No sir, please hand me the child and check on your wife"
As a bit of understanding made its way to his face, the gentle and loving look that he adopted with his daughter faded back into its cold image.
He reluctantly relinquished his baby and cautiously stepped into the house. Upon searching for his wife in the bed, he was met with a covered object eerily in the shape of a person, a female.
Still in denial, he scanned the room for his lover only to find the doctor packing his equipment to leave.
Slowly, Sar approached, every step feeling like he had weights on his feet. Removing the blanket revealed his worst fear, Eva seemingly asleep with no life emanating from her body.
"Oh, my love, you finally breathed your last, huh?"
Sar would be lying if he said he didn't expect this, but expecting and it actually happening were two different things. It pained him, but he had to stay strong for their daughter. Without Eva he would have to work twice as hard to give Artemis the life she deserves.
Straightening himself out, he stepped outside where Stella was waiting.
"Are you okay sir?"
She couldn't imagine what he's going through, having been single her entire life. Which was fine, the only person she would choose was snatched before she could have them.
"I'm fine, can I have my daughter so that we may head home"
Sar was eager to lay with his child and let the stress wash away for at least one night before he had to confront the daily hardships of a single father.
"Sir, we still have to take her to get tree's connection evaluated, please wait a little longer"
Everyone at birth had to receive an evaluation to determine the strength of the connection to their tree. Although a small village like ours could at most manage to determine relatively how strong it is, larger towns and even cities can tell your talent level and get you the correct credentials to be registered as a Coni, a user of the abilities granted by trees.
"Sir, I can handle everything while you head back to your house and drop her off when we're finished"
Stella was mildly concerned, he appeared as if he'd aged several years in just a few short minutes; the life of a single father was no easy one, but she was willing to support him, if he'd let her.
"No need for that, I have an odd feeling I need to come with you, call it warrior's intuition"
It wouldn't hurt to just allow him to follow and watch, the process wasn't necessarily long, Stella just wished he would maybe trust her a bit more to handle these things. Well, all in due time.
"Alright, please follow me, it won't take very long"
They both began briskly walking deeper into the village. The hutch used for women in labor was situated towards the outskirts of the village to avoid disturbing the daily life of the residents.
Kelmia was the name, the population counted to be a little less than five hundred and everyone knew each other. The closest big city was a two week journey with monsters capable of tearing a human limb from limb in between.
Fortunately, the monsters that came close enough to the village to be a threat could be delt with by the village guard, led by Sar. He was the strongest Coni this village has ever seen and could easily go make a name for himself in capital, but instead chose to stay here and protect everyone.
Stella had always admired Sar for his choice, however, he wasted a great deal of his talent to remain here instead of leave. A regret that ached at her heart for every waking moment.
They arrived in front of the largest and most decorated building in the village, placed directly in the center, the village chief's house. Here, the chief's wife would determine the strength of her seed.
Stepping in, both Stella and Sar a quick bow before the Chief, Lero, and his wife, Seva.
"Blessed be the trees"
"Blessed be the trees"
Chief Lero only nodded and made no effort to reply. Finished with their greetings, Stella handed Seva the baby and stepped back.
Cradling her gently, Seva placed three fingers on Artemis' stomach and closed her eyes as each finger began to glow.
However, the longer she kept them closed, the more dire her face became. Suddenly she gasped and rushed Artemis to her father, practically shoving her into his arms.
"Take this cursed child and leave!"
Her words were laced with venom as she unleashed a series of curses and demanding we leave.
"What's the problem Chieftess, we came here to have the child's seed evaluated, we will leave as soon as your verdict is given"
Stella had always observed the Seva to be a calm and composed woman, even though her husband has been known to have his bouts of rage.
"Surely you jest"
"Why would I joke about such a disgraceful thing, you idiot"
"The child doesn't have a seed! She has been forsaken by the trees!"