Just as Marcus' eyes had adapted to the darkness, just as his gaze could tell just how truly dirty the area was, as he could see his mother's fearsome facial expression filled with wrath and hatred, as he gained the ability to clearly see the silvery chains holding her down as well as the cracks created by her formidable strength, the darkness was pierced through by a crimson light.
Her eyes, previously darker than even the darkness surrounding her, had suddenly changed color.
"The telltale sign of Demon blood." Kain whispered with great interest. "Some say that the Demon blood itself floods the eyes and colors them crimson. Others say that it's the Human blood devoured by the Demon and its ancestors that rushes to show itself, when the Demon seeks more Human blood." He stared for a moment, before suddenly kicking the iron bars separating them from the prison cell. "Are you seeking more Human blood, Demon?"
Her defined muscles were visible through the cuts of the torn rags that barely covered her body. Thick veins appeared on her neck and on the back of her hands as she contracted her muscles and braced herself.
"Aaargh…!" She clenched her teeth through the pain, determined to bring down her shackles. "Give me back…!" She shouted through her clenched teeth.
Presently, it was true. Her crimson eyes demanded Human blood. Or, more precisely, in the way of getting what she wanted, spiling Human blood seemed an acceptable-
"He's here." Kain sighed as he raised the baby basket held in his left hand. "You're gonna have to calm down if you want this to work."
Her crimson eyes instantly went to the baby, who could feel shivers going down his spine. Her gaze, facial expression, as well as the red glow piercing through the darkness… Yes, Demon was right. Even Marcus had to admit.
He was hungry, and he had been brought to his mother.
Yet, he did not want anything to do with her.
Despite the fact that Kain had held a blade to his chest, Marcus felt it would be safer to remain with him, than with the red-eyed beauty. Beauty, currently, had nothing to do with anything. With such eyes, it wouldn't have surprised him much if she grew horns, wings, and a spade-shaped tail. In a new world, anything is possible after all.
It took a moment for Kain's words and the appearance of her lost baby to truly sink in.
Her eyes slowly lost their reddish glow. The anger in her face quickly faded. For a moment, it seemed like she would cry. Her head swayed to the right as her eyes closed, but she caught herself. She couldn't pass out. Not yet.
"She finally calmed down…" One of the Guards standing behind Kain whispered.
"You mean she's been like this since…?"
"Yes, your Highness."
"Ugh." Kain scratched his head. "You were supposed to have some time to rest."
"I don't… Need rest…"
"Your life is hanging by a thread. You understand that, don't you? Your anger blinds you. If you want to be there for your child, you'll need to think carefully and logically. Acting out will only lead to your life being cut even shorter than it already has." Kain's eyes slowly scanned the area. "What have you been doing?"
"Y-Your Highness?"
"I told you to clean up, didn't I?"
"B-But… It's the Demon… We couldn't leave our backs to it and-"
"It's chained." Kain turned away from the Guards. "I want this place cleaned up by dusk. Not a trace of dirt, blood, or anything else."
"Y-Yes, your Highness!" The Guards shouted in unison.
She was perfectly silent, something that didn't escape Kain.
"Looks like even Demons can think carefully at times." He stopped closer to the cell. "Here."
'W-What?! You're gonna give me to her? Just like that?! What if Demons eat their children, huh? What then?!'
She took an unsteady step closer.
'Oh, no… Alright, time to pull off my best baby impression and look as cute as possible. You wouldn't eat such a cute…'
The closer she got, the softer her expression got.
The less Marcus could see the Demon in her.
"Fi…Nally…"
She slowly, almost shyly, wrapped her arms around the baby basket. Her arms twitched, unsure of how much strength to use. Her muscles contracted, she didn't want to drop it. Her muscles relaxed, she had to be careful. Using just enough strength.
Kain let go of the baby basket's handle, and she took an unsteady step backward.
"I'll be back in a couple of hours for him." Kain said.
Her eyes were transfixed on the basket's content. Refusing wasn't an option. She clenched her teeth and nodded without looking up.
"We'll give you some privacy." He started walking away.
"...?" The Guards remained unmoving and exchanged a look.
"Did you not hear me?"
"But, your Highness-"
The Guard's words were cut short as Kain's blue eyes shone coldly.
"Move it."
"Y-Yes, your Highness!"
Seconds later, the underground dungeon was plunged into complete stillness and silence.
She took another step back while holding the basket to her chest with both arms. And another.
She stepped back until her back touched the wall.
A whimper exited her mouth, but she managed to keep her tears from flowing.
Her back slowly slid down the wall until her bottom reached the ground.
"I'm so…" She started, a couple of seconds later. "I'm so glad… You're okay. So glad You're here…"
The basket was placed on her thighs. Her hands timidly moved towards the baby. As soon as the tips of her fingers came into contact with him, her hands twitched and instinctively pulled back. She felt that nothing less than the utmost care was acceptable when it came to handling what she thought of as a fragile, fragile, treasure.
She took the baby into her hands and slowly raised him up.
"Hello." She whispered with a wide smile. "Nice to meet you."
'...'
"My name is Naira, little angel."
***
"You're so so cuuuute!"
The initial awkwardness had completely dissipated.
Presently, Naira was holding her baby in her arms, squeezing it tightly, sticking her cheek to his, and covering him with kisses.
'I'm the one feeling awkward now!'
Naira deposited another kiss on the baby's forehead, and the latter decided that enough was enough.
He slapped her in the face.
"What is it, cutie?" Naira asked with a baby voice, smiling widely.
Unfortunately, his physical strength was so low that it basically just felt like he had laid his hand on her cheek.
'Ugh! Let go of me! I'm not used to this much physical contact! Especially not with a stranger! Or a woman! Or a female stranger… Or a strange female!'
"Hahahaha!" She laughed radiantly at her baby's facial expressions. "Whaaaat? You're already all grown up? Already wanna move away from your mother? I might just cry, you know?"
'Yes, that's exactly right!' The baby let his head sway to the side. 'In the first place, how can I think of a random person as my mother? Kain could have literally taken me to anyone…'
"I'm really sorry, sweet angel." Naira whispered as she rotated her baby's body so that its back would rest against her stomach. "To bring you into such a dark and filthy place… You don't deserve this. You deserve better…" She was holding him with her arms while staring dead ahead as she talked. "Much better…"
The baby slowly raised his gaze so as to look at her face, which caused the back of his head to push against Naira's breasts.
'Ugh… Sorry about that.'
Just as he attempted to move away, Naira pulled her baby closer.
"It's my fault. If I hadn't been captured, I wouldn't be here. Stuck in this place… Although it's been years already…"
For a moment, Naira seemed somber.
A second later though, her face lit up and she showed her baby the brightest smile.
"But then you wouldn't be here either! So it's actually a good thing I was captured! Don't you think? Hahahaha!"
'Is it…?'
Naira chuckled at the baby's raised eyebrow. All of a sudden, she became aware of how tired she was. A long yawn followed.
"I can't sleep… Not when I have so much to tell you…"
'Is telling things to a baby really important? It's not like I'm supposed to understand anything.'
***
He was seated at the center of a large and empty room. The stones that made up the walls, ceiling, and ground were covered by strange engravings from which emanated a faint light.
The blonde man was seated on the ground with his legs crossed.
While keeping his eyes closed, he took a deep breath in. A second later, a golden aura started oozing out of his body. Brilliant and dazzling, it lit up the whole room. A blinding light was emanating from his body.
Seconds passed, and the light only grew stronger. The quantity of aura increased and increased, until half of the room was filled by it.
With his eyes still closed, he slowly and gracefully stood up. The aura surrounding him oscillated and swayed as he moved.
His hand moved towards the sheathed sword at his side. He lay an open palm on the hilt, before taking a breathing out.
The man's eyes opened suddenly. His fingers tightened around the hilt and pulled the sword out in an instant. As his blue eyes glowed fiercely like full moons, the sword was swung vertically, cutting the sea of golden aura in two.
He held the sword up above, and took another deep breath.
A second later, the sea of aura started moving, and the sword started glowing.
It didn't take long before the previous silvery sword became golden.
All of the aura that filled the space around him was absorbed by the mighty sword.
The swordsman took a long breath out.
Once there was no more air to exhale, everything froze.
Silence and stillness.
***
Thousands and thousands of kilometers away from the Capital.
On the outskirts of the Kingdom.
"So this is it, huh?"
"Your post is right here. My shift ends in a couple of minutes. You're new, right?"
"Yeah…" The new recruit nodded, impressed by the view. "I didn't know the forest on this side of the Kingdom was so vast."
From the top of the watchtower, kilometers upon kilometers of land could be seen.
"The forest isn't even the most impressive part." The Guard pointed behind him with his thumb.
"Huh… I didn't know there were any projects that involved leveling part of the forest."
"Only one project does." The Guard smiled knowingly. "You can see that right there, can't you?"
"That's… Are those magical engravings?"
"They are. That pillar is the reason for the huge hole in the forest."
"..." The recruit scratched his chin. "So our job here is to watch that pillar, right?"
"No." The veteran Guard shook his head. "Our job is not to make sure no one gets close to the pillar… Or the whole area surrounding it."
"That's-"
"Any second now." The Guard interrupted while pointing at the pillar. "Blink and you'll miss it."
The recruit frowned silently and stared at the stone pillar.
His frown deepened as the magical engravings that covered the pillar's stones started shining more brightly than earlier.
The next second, he felt like his heart had suddenly stopped beating.
Out of nowhere, a crescent wave of golden light appeared. The curved wave of energy slammed into the ground, cleaving the earth beneath it. The ground split open and a deep fissure was carved forward as the golden aura moved away from the stone pillar. It cut through the air with a deafening roar, and tore the trees standing in its way, turning them into dust.
The light vanished into the distance, disappearing just as suddenly as it had appeared.
"W-Was that…?"
"Yes." The Guard nodded with his arms crossed. "Our King seems to be training."
"Light Magic… The Magic Type that only the Royals can use! That's what it was, wasn't it?!"
***
"Hmph…" The King sheathed his sword. "A bit sloppy."
"Your Majestyyyyy!"
The King turned around with a silent sigh.
"Loooord Kain is here, at your service!"
"How can you be at my service when you're the one who came to me? When I didn't ask for you?"
"No need to be so cold, your Majesty!"
The King studied his brother for a moment.
"You're not hiding it behind your back, are you?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"The Demon child your cursed mind talked me into making."
"..." Kain scratched his chin. "I think what you meant to say is 'Where is my boy? Can I see my boy?', isn't it?"
"It's not. If it were up to me, I would-"
"No need to go there, your Majesty! Depictions of child murder are forbidden!"
"Demon child extermination is recommended."
"Well, about that…"