The shrieks of people echoed through the air—some crying out for their lives, others lamenting the loss of their loved ones.

Anguish and misery filled the atmosphere. It was a day to remember—the day of the massacre of the Truthans race.

Only a few escaped. Among them were Madam Delvin and her eight-year-old son, Lucius.

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**THREE MONTHS LATER**

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Young Lucius perched on a rock, observing his mother washing their clothes in the stream. He noticed how gaunt she had become and felt a pang of sympathy. The once vibrant woman now seemed a shadow of her former self.

"Lucius!" His mother called, breaking his reverie.

"Yes, mother," he replied quickly, her voice pulling him back to reality.

"What's troubling you, lad?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

"Nothing, Ma," he lied, his eyes avoiding hers.

"Really?" She narrowed her eyes, unconvinced.

"Yes, mother." He forced a smile, trying to mask his worry.

But his mother knew better. She could see the unease in his eyes.

"Come over here and tell mother what you were pondering about," she said, sitting on a rock next to him and playfully smacking his head.

"Hmm," he sighed. "It's just..."

He didn't finish before his mother interrupted. "Come on, lad! Sit on mother's lap."

"Mother, I am not a baby anymore," he protested, frowning childishly.

"Huh? You're not?" She gave him a teasing look. "Just a few months ago, you were happy to sit on my lap. You've suddenly matured, huh?"

"Yes, mother, I have," he said, folding his arms defiantly.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her heart and hugged herself to hide it from Lucius. But Lucius wasn't that naive; he was too perceptive for his age.

"Mother, what's wrong?" he asked quickly, rushing to her side.

"Nothing, my child," she replied with a reassuring smile.

"No, mother, tell me. I know something is wrong," he pleaded.

"Hmm," she sighed. "It's just hunger sending a signal to me," she laughed.

"Really…?" He sighed. "Since you refuse to tell me, it's okay, but I will eventually know. I'm the only one you have in this world," he said, his smile turning somber.

"I know," she said, bowing in defeat.

"Mother, tell me. I have to know, unless you want me to keep worrying about you."

"Hmmmmm," she sighed deeply.

"I won't compel you," he said, giving a retreating impression.

"When the right time comes, my son, when the right time comes," she smiled, tugging his golden hair.

"Mother…?" he shouted suddenly, making her stand upright.

"Yes… what is it? What did you see?" she asked, panic in her voice and fear in her eyes.

"Nothing, mother," he laughed. "I just wanted to tell you that I am not a baby anymore, so you should stop treating me like one."

"Huh?" She was momentarily perplexed before saying, "I thought you saw something, child? Don't you ever do that again, you hear me?" She was caught between anger and relief.

"But... I... I did nothing," he stammered.

"You call that nothing? You almost gave me a heart attack!" She drew him close. "Don't you ever do that again, you hear me?" She looked into his eyes so deeply it felt like she was peering into his soul.

"But I did nothing, mother," he protested, pulling away from her and running off.

"Where do you think you're going, young Devlin Lucius?" she called, hands on her hips.

"To the camp," he replied, still running.

"And who is going to help me carry the laundry?"

"Mother…" he groaned.

"Once you get there, you'll come back," she said more to herself than to him.

She sat back down on the rock and started arranging the laundry. Suddenly, she noticed the water moving, as if something was approaching. "A fish!" she exclaimed, jumping up excitedly. She grabbed a branch from a nearby tree and ran towards the spot, but there was nothing there.

"No… I think I lost it."

"Lost what?" she heard a voice say from behind her.

"A fish," she replied, still staring at the spot.

"Really?" The voice came closer.

"Yes, it was right here," she pointed.

"Are you sure it was a fish or something else?"

"It was a fish, I'm sure of it," she insisted. "Something else like what?" she wondered aloud, finally turning around. What she saw was beyond her imagination.

A figure stood before her, with scales covering its skin, eyes like the sea, and a form that was neither fully clothed nor fully naked.

She had heard stories about such creatures, but they always had tails like fish. This one had two legs like a human.

"What are you?" she asked boldly.

"What am I?" The creature smiled. "I guess you mean to ask, who am I?"

"What are you and who are you? Both," she demanded.

"Well, mortal, I am Narmada, the river goddess."