The world stirred into focus as the baby opened his eyes for the first time. Dark, curious eyes, the color of polished onyx, blinked slowly as Zephyron Eternis surveyed his new surroundings. For a moment, everything felt distant—his consciousness, fragmented and foreign, not quite his own.
The soul fragment of Lucian Rathmor had fully integrated with the infant's innocent soul, leaving a strange blend of sharp intellect, knowledge from another reality, and the tender emotions of a newborn.
The warmth of the crib beneath him was unfamiliar but oddly comforting. His small body squirmed instinctively, and he was immediately struck by the discomfort of wetness between his legs.
It was strange, this feeling. The mind of Lucian registered it as unpleasant, but the primal instinct of the baby pushed through, a longing for comfort, for warmth, for... his mother.
Suddenly, an emotion surged—longing. The soul of the infant, before Lucian's fragment entered, still retained its connection to his mother, the one who carried him, nurtured him. He didn't know her name, but the love was there, woven into the very essence of who he was.
Unable to suppress the overwhelming need, Zephyron cried. The sound was loud and piercing, filling the small but lavishly decorated room.
Moments later, the door creaked open, and in stepped a woman. She was dark-skinned with sharp red eyes that glowed like rubies, her black hair pulled into a neat bun. There was a cold quality to her—like a seasoned warrior—but her movements were gentle as she approached the cradle. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant maid's uniform, her posture upright and disciplined.
"Shh, little Zeph," she cooed softly, her gentle voice contradicting her fierce appearance.
The maid, Elara Werize, had served the Eternis family for years, loyal beyond measure to her mistress. Her hands, hardened from years of combat, handled the baby with care, lifting him from the cradle.
Zephyron's cries softened at her touch, but the confusion remained. Who was she?
Lucian's memories provided no answers, only distant echoes of a life long past. But the baby's soul, freshly integrated with Lucian's, felt her warmth and trust. She was familiar, like a guardian.
With practiced hands, Elara changed the baby's wet clothes, humming a soothing lullaby under her breath. Her sharp eyes softened as she tended to the infant, her presence radiating protection.
Zephyron, now clean and dry, calmed further.
As Zephyron lay in her arms, his small black eyes stared up at Elara, an odd mix of awareness and confusion in his gaze. He tried to make sense of the situation, of the life that had been thrust upon him.
This body, so weak, so fragile, was a far cry from the heights of intelligence and power he had once known as Lucian. And yet, emotions surged stronger than any memory.
The baby's heart still longed for the one who had held him long before he entered this world—the one who truly mattered.
A soft knock came from the doorway, followed by the creak of the door opening wider. Selena Eternis entered, moving with the grace of royalty. She was a vision of elegance, her black eyes filled with a deep well of emotions, and her long, black hair cascading like a midnight waterfall down her back.
Though only twenty-five, Selena carried herself with the confidence of a queen, her beauty striking enough to silence a room. She was dressed in an emerald green gown that shimmered in the low light, the silk hugging her figure like a second skin.
The moment Zephyron saw her, something clicked. Lucian's fragment might not recognize her, but the baby's soul did.
Mother
His tiny fists reached out instinctively.
"Oh, my precious Zephyron," Selena whispered as she moved to the cradle, her voice tender and full of affection. She took the child from Elara's arms, lulling him gently against her chest.
The sensation of her heartbeat against his small body soothed the last of Zephyron's fears, and his cries faded into quiet whimpers. He recognized her—the woman whose presence was like a balm to his every need. There was comfort here. There was safety.
Selena pressed a soft kiss to her son's forehead. "You've been so strong, little one," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "But the world out there... it's cruel. Too cruel for someone so innocent."
Elara stood by her side, watching the scene unfold. Her posture remained straight, her hands folded in front of her, but there was a softness in her expression that was reserved only for moments like this.
"You worry too much, my lady," Elara said softly. "The boy is strong. He will survive whatever comes his way."
Selena shook her head. "It's not just about surviving, Elara. There are dangers that even we cannot foresee. Being the third in line to the throne doesn't make him safe. If anything, it makes him a target."
"I understand, my lady," Elara replied, her tone firm and resolute. "But I will protect him. With my life, if need be."
Selena smiled weakly at her loyal maid. "I know you will. And for that, I am grateful."
Zephyron felt the weight of their words but could not yet comprehend the full extent of their meaning. He was simply a baby—tiny, vulnerable, and utterly reliant on the people around him.
Yet, deep within him, the fragment of Lucian's soul stirred, absorbing every bit of information, every emotion, and storing it away for future use. There was a future here—a future he would have to navigate carefully, for the path ahead was dangerous and filled with shadows.
As Selena fed him, Zephyron's eyelids grew heavy. The room's warmth, the scent of his mother's skin, and the gentle hum of Elara's lullabys lulled him into a state of peace.
The world outside could wait. Now what he needed was a sleep.
Slowly, the baby drifted off to sleep, his tiny body finally at rest. And as his eyes closed, the weight of both souls—his own and Lucian's—settled into a fragile balance, preparing for the long journey that lay ahead.