In the Darkness of a Peaceful Night
In the darkness of a peaceful night, the soft light of the moon bathed a room with warm and enveloping hues. A light scent of incense floated in the air, while the flickering flames of a candle danced to the rhythm of their breaths. Linfer lay on a large bed, his head resting against the pillow. Beside him, Zitish rested, her head on his chest, listening to the calm and steady beat of his heart, which was no longer inert for some unknown reason. But all Linfer knew was that it had something to do with Zitish.
Linfer closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of Zitish's warm body against his. It was in these moments that he felt the most grounded, like a normal human. Far from violence and torment, guilt and flames, he allowed himself to taste a kind of peace he never thought possible and didn't deserve.
In the intimacy of their embrace, Zitish sensed the opportune moment to reveal the news that weighed on her heart. She moved slightly away, seeking his gaze with a new intensity. "Linfer, there's something I need to tell you," she began, her voice trembling with emotion.
Linfer, sensing the seriousness in Zitish's tone, slightly furrowed his eyebrows, a glimmer of worry crossing his eyes. "What is it, Zitish?" he asked softly.
Taking a deep breath, Zitish finally let out the truth. "I'm pregnant."
Shock crossed Linfer's face, his eyes widening in surprise. But almost instantly, this surprise turned into a radiant joy.
He leaped off the bed with a beaming smile lighting up his face as he exclaimed, "That's wonderful!" Without hesitation, he lifted Zitish into his arms, spinning her with enthusiasm.
However, Zitish, in a dry voice, interrupted this moment of happiness. "What are you doing? Put me down."
Linfer, confused by her reaction, gently placed her back on the ground. "Why aren't you happy?" he asked, seeking to understand her distress.
Zitish lowered her eyes, struggling to find the right words. "A liaison between an Inferno and an Elysian, why not... But a child born from this union puts us in danger."
Linfer, realizing the gravity of the situation, thought for a moment. The implications of this forbidden pregnancy began to take shape in his mind, especially with the ancient hatred between their races.
"We should talk to Uriel," he proposed, determined to find a solution.
"What!? But... You're right..." she finally agreed. She wanted to say something but gave up.
The next morning, Linfer woke up, mentally preparing for his meeting with Uriel.
Linfer entered the room, his face grave but determined. Uriel, standing near the large window that overlooked an infinite landscape of purple plains, said, "In less than seven years, we've managed to eliminate undead creatures over an area of 700,000 square kilometers." He spoke with a smile.
Linfer approached and, without hesitation, spoke the truth: "Zitish is pregnant."
A chilling silence followed this declaration. Uriel remained still, as if the words struggled to penetrate his consciousness. He slowly turned his head, his piercing eyes finally meeting Linfer's. Their gazes crossed.
Without warning, Uriel closed the distance between them and grabbed Linfer by the collar of his tunic. His eyes, usually filled with justice, were now crossed with a rage he couldn't contain.
"What the hell have you done?!" he hissed, his jaw clenched. "You know she risks execution!"
Linfer, despite the strength of the gesture, did not defend himself. He let Uriel express his anger, his own face marked with guilt and resignation. The former arrogant Blood Devil, narcissistic, cruel, and especially disrespectful, was completely gone.
"Yeah, she told me," he replied in a calm voice, his eyes cast downward. He knew Uriel's anger was justified.
Uriel, after a few moments, released his grip. He sighed deeply, trying to regain control of his emotions. The situation was catastrophic, but he knew a solution had to be found. "The most logical solution would be to kill the child before it's even born," he said, his voice hoarse, as if the words themselves were a burden to bear.
"But I know neither you nor she will accept that," he continued after a brief silence. "So, I propose something else. Zitish must leave the front lines. She will go and give birth to this child in safety. Once the child is born, we will hide it with a mortal family, under our supervision. No one must ever know."
Linfer slowly nodded, absorbing his ally's words. It was the only solution that offered a chance for this child to live, even if it meant neither he nor Zitish could see it grow up. "You're right," he said softly. "This is what we must do." Before leaving the room, Linfer turned to add one last thing: "Don't forget to send Zitish here afterward..."
Linfer nodded and then disappeared into a bloody mist.
...
A few hours later, Zitish presented herself before Uriel, her heart pounding. She was tense, knowing her uncle's temperament. He stood straight, his hands on his hips, still facing the grand view that dominated the land ready for conquest. When Zitish entered the room, he didn't even turn towards her.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't execute you on the spot, according to Article 739, Clause E of the Charter," Uriel declared in a cold and cutting voice.
Zitish felt a chill run down her spine. She knew this article was used in the most extreme cases, when an Elysian dared to break the sacred laws by mingling with Infernos.
She remained silent for a moment, searching for her words, while her uncle's relentless voice continued to recite the law. "No Elysian from the South shall maintain a relationship with these infamous and impious beings known as Infernos. In such a case, he and his family shall be banished from the Elysian Fields. Clause F: in the worst-case scenario where offspring is born from this union, the Elysian shall be publicly executed, along with the impious child and the infamous being."
Zitish bit her lip. The tension in the room was palpable, and she knew a misstep could condemn her. Finally, she took a deep breath and declared in a trembling voice, "Linfer told me that upon his death, the Wendigos would become uncontrollable."
Uriel finally turned his gaze away from the horizon, his eyes slightly narrowing at this new information. "Are you sure about that?" he asked in a more composed voice, yet still filled with suspicion.