The midnight sky loomed quietly over Eldoria, a canopy of stars casting a dim glow over the small, warm chamber within Elder Cedric's home. Inside, anticipation ran high. Elara lay on a bed, her breathing unsteady as she struggled through the waves of pain gripping her. Sweat dampened her brow, and her hands clutched at the sheets, knuckles white. Cedric knelt at her side, concern etched deep in his face as he whispered words of comfort and held her hand tightly, as though his strength alone might steady her.
Beside them, the midwife moved with practiced ease, her hands steady and her voice soft. "You're doing well, my lady," she murmured. "Just breathe and push when you're ready."
Elara's breaths came in shudders, her eyes closing against the intensity of each wave of pain. But she nodded, gathering her resolve, pushing forward with each contraction. Cedric smoothed her hair back gently, his presence a calming anchor amidst the chaos.
Another contraction, sharp and unrelenting, sent her arching back, her voice breaking into a cry. Cedric's heart clenched as he watched her struggle, helpless yet determined to stay by her side. The midwife leaned closer, her words encouraging. "You're nearly there, My lady. Just a little more."
The labor continued, and hours seemed to pass like an eternity as Elara poured every ounce of strength into bringing forth their child. At last, the room filled with the sound of a newborn's cry, piercing and pure. Relief washed over Cedric, his shoulders slumping as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He looked to Elara, who gazed at him with tears of exhaustion and joy mingling on her cheeks.
The midwife, smiling warmly, wrapped the child in a soft cloth, handling him with care. She gently placed him in Elara's arms. "A beautiful son," she said softly. "Strong, healthy."
Elara cradled her child, her eyes shining as she took in his delicate features. "Mueli," she whispered, the name spoken with a kind of reverence, as though she were pronouncing a blessing. Cedric reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he touched his son's tiny fingers. Mueli's hand closed instinctively around his father's thumb, a surprising grip for such a small being.
Cedric felt an overwhelming surge of pride and love as he looked down at his son. Yet, even amidst the joy of this moment, a shadow seemed to linger in his heart—a sense of foreboding that tempered his happiness. He could feel the weight of something larger, something beyond his control, as though fate itself had laid its gaze upon this child.
Elara noticed the flicker of worry in his expression and placed a comforting hand on his. "He will be strong, Cedric," she said softly. "He has your spirit."
Cedric looked at her, the love in her gaze grounding him. With a deep breath, he nodded, silently vowing to protect his family no matter what lay ahead.
Miles away, within the silent halls of Eldoria's palace, King Alaric paced restlessly in his study, memories of a foreboding prophecy weighing heavily on his mind. A seer had visited him months prior, slipping into the castle under the cover of darkness to deliver words that still haunted him."Your Majesty," the seer had intoned, his voice echoing like a distant thunder. "A child shall be born, destined to wield the sword hidden within your palace temple. Only he can wield it, and only he can protect Eldoria from a darkness that is gathering beyond the veil."The seer's eyes had seemed to pierce the very fabric of time, and Alaric had felt the weight of the prophecy settle like an iron band around his chest. "The identity of the child is shrouded from all eyes, even those who seek him. But hear this well, my king—when the time of darkness descends, he will reveal himself, and the fate of Eldoria will hang by a thread."As Alaric brooded over the seer's words, a sudden chill filled the room, and the shadows seemed to deepen. From the darkness, a tall, cloaked figure materialized, his very presence seething with malice. Alaric's heart pounded, his hand instinctively moving toward his sword, yet the figure's presence seemed to press against him, a crushing force of pure dread."Your Majesty," the figure's voice was like the hiss of a snake, low and filled with venom. "You prepare for a child to save your kingdom, yet know this—your efforts are futile. Eldoria will be swallowed by shadows, and no blade, no child, can alter what has already been set into motion."Alaric forced himself to hold the figure's gaze, refusing to let fear betray him. "Who are you to trespass in my kingdom and speak of doom? Be gone, or I will have you hunted down before dawn."The figure's laugh was dark and hollow, reverberating through the walls. "I am but a herald of what's to come, a whisper from the darkness that waits to consume all that you hold dear. You think your child of prophecy will be your salvation? Foolish king. The very prophecy you cling to will be your undoing."Alaric's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white. "If this child exists, he is Eldoria's hope, not its ruin."The figure's eyes glinted beneath the hood, two pinpoints of crimson light. "Hope?" he sneered. "Hope is a fragile flame, easily snuffed out. Even now, the forces I command draw near. They hunger for power, for destruction, and for the souls of those who stand in our way. The child will fall before he even has the chance to rise."With a final, chilling gaze, the figure took a step back, fading into the shadows, his voice lingering like a curse. "Prepare as you wish, King Alaric. When the time comes, even your strongest guard, your hidden blade, and your so-called destined child will be nothing but pawns in a game far beyond your understanding."As the figure vanished, Alaric remained standing, his grip on his sword tense. He knew then that this was no idle threat; it was a promise from the very heart of darkness itself. Somewhere within his kingdom, forces gathered strength, and the child of prophecy—wherever he was—would face enemies far greater than any Alaric had imagined.Turning his gaze to the palace temple where the legendary sword lay hidden, Alaric steeled himself. He would do everything in his power to find this child and protect him, to see that he was prepared for the battles yet to come. But a chill ran through him as he realized that the dark forces were already watching, waiting to strike the moment this child took his first step toward destiny