"Very well, it is time," Ravada said, making Yuomo's soul vanish and sending him into this new world.
While this transpired, within the Kingdom of Bardios in Novaraser, the bustle inside the palace echoed like a hurried heartbeat. Maidservants rushed to and fro, entering and exiting through a massive red door carved with intricate golden floral motifs. Their hurried footsteps struck the polished marble floors, creating a nervous rhythm that vibrated through the tension-filled air.
"It is time! She has gone into labor!" announced an elderly woman whose wrinkles marked years of experience. It was evident she was in charge; her firm, authoritative voice cut through the chaos like a sharp knife. The maids moved around her, bringing soft blankets, warm water in ceramic jars, and clean cloths imbued with a faint scent of lavender.
The midwife entered the room where a woman with light lilac hair lay reclined on white silk sheets. Her face, though weary, radiated an ethereal beauty, as if she were a part of the very light streaming through the high windows. The midwife calmly but firmly instructed her to push.
Time seemed to stand still as the midwife watched intently. The newborn's head began to emerge little by little, bathed in the pearly glow of his mother's sweat. But something was wrong. There was no cry. No sound broke the expectant silence that filled the room. With trembling hands, the midwife finished delivering the baby and cut the umbilical cord. She tried to give him a gentle pat on the back, hoping for some sign of life, but nothing happened. The small body remained motionless, fragile, and pale under the dim golden light filtering through the curtains.
Ruth desperately checked for a pulse, but found no response; his skin felt strangely cold to the touch, and his lips lacked the color of life. To the midwife, there was no doubt: the firstborn of the kingdom's only prince had been born without a soul.
The mother, exhausted yet radiant, looked anxiously toward her son. "What is it? Is he alright?" she asked in a weak but sweet voice, still recovering from the titanic effort of the past hours.
The midwife swallowed hard, her mind searching for the right words. She didn't know how to tell her lady that her son... had not survived. Finally, she chose to speak only a part of the truth. "It is a boy, my lady," she said in a barely audible voice, forcing a kind smile that did not reach her worried eyes.
The woman delicately extended her arms, asking to see her son. A chill ran down the midwife's spine. She feared what would happen when her lady realized the truth. Nevertheless, she wrapped the little one in a blanket embroidered with silver threads and handed him over with extreme care.
The mother cradled the baby against her chest, oblivious to the absence of movement or sound. With a voice as warm as a spring breeze, she whispered: "Welcome to life… welcome to Novaraser, my son."
Her expression was one of pure happiness, illuminated by that instinctive love only a mother can feel. The midwife watched with a heavy heart, wondering if perhaps the sedatives administered during labor had dulled the woman's senses. She debated whether to reveal the harsh truth or keep the secret, when suddenly, an imposing figure burst into the room.
The seven maids present knelt in unison, bowing their heads until their foreheads nearly touched the floor. "Your Highness!" they exclaimed together, their voices echoing like a reverent hymn.
"Hello," said the handsome young man who had just entered, wearing a royal suit embroidered in gold and a shimmering crown upon his head. It was Prince Balniac, heir to the throne of Bardios, the principal kingdom of Novaraser. Seeing the woman lying in bed—his wife, Princess Eleonor—he approached quickly, worry and joy reflected in his blue eyes.
"My dear Eleonor, at last our son is born," he said warmly, taking her hand gently. The princess, still exhausted and slightly disoriented, responded with a weak smile: "Yes… come see him, your firstborn. What name will you give him?"
Ruth, the midwife, tried to intervene before the prince could get closer. Her wrinkled face was pale, and her hands shook. But before she could speak, another figure burst into the room with urgency.
"My Lord Balniac! We are under attack!" shouted a tall, robust man clad in silver armor that gleamed under the dim light. It was General Andros, leader of the kingdom's military forces.
The prince turned around, his expression shifting from happiness to dread in an instant. "What is happening, General?" Balniac asked, though his tone revealed he already knew enough to feel fear. Yet, his gaze remained torn between his duty to the kingdom and the longing to see his son for the first time.
"My Lord, we are being attacked by the demon hordes of the Dark King," Andros replied gravely, his voice resounding like a war drum. "I do not know how they managed to infiltrate us, but they have already surrounded the entire kingdom. The knights are holding the line, and your father is leading the front."
Balniac clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He thought of his father, the elderly king, facing the dark forces on the front lines. "My father! You mean the King... That stubborn old man shouldn't be on the front. He'll need my help," Balniac muttered. He cast one last look at the bundle in Eleonor's arms. Though he wanted to stay, he knew his duty was to defend the future of his family and his people. "I will name him later," he finally said, completely unaware of the terrible truth Ruth held in silence.
Before they could continue, an explosion shook the palace violently. One of the outer walls shattered into a thousand pieces, hurling stone fragments and dust across the room. The sound was deafening, a bestial roar that filled the air with chaos. A horde of demons surged through the breach, their dark, deformed bodies moving with supernatural speed. Their red eyes glowed like burning embers, and their sharp claws flashed. The prince and the general drew their swords in unison.
"Protect the Princess and my son!" Balniac ordered as he parried the first attack.
General Andros barked at the paralyzed maids: "Get the Princess to safety! Now!"
The maids reacted instantly, covering Eleonor and helping her to her feet. The princess was dizzy and could barely walk, but she clung tightly to the small bundle in her arms. Deep in her heart, a cold, inexplicable sensation began to grow, whispering that something was wrong with her child.
Meanwhile, the Prince and the General fought valiantly. Balniac's sword was already notched from the constant clashing against demonic claws, and sweat clouded his vision as his arms faltered from exhaustion. Andros, his armor dented and covered in the black blood of his enemies, barely managed to hold the front. Every strike, every defense, was a desperate attempt to protect not just the kingdom, but the future represented by that tiny being wrapped in blankets.
Ruth watched from a corner, holding the secret that could change everything. She wanted to scream that there was no heir. But there was no time for words. Only time to survive.
"Lady Ravada," a voice came from behind the goddess. Ravada remained motionless before her ethereal window.
"Ah, it is you," she replied without turning. "Speak, Kao. I have no time for detours."
"The Kingdom of Bardios is being attacked by an immense horde of demons, my Lady. This... this was not foreseen in our oracles," Kao stammered.
Ravada frowned for the first time in centuries. She turned slowly, her eyes glowing like distant stars. "How is this possible?" she whispered. "What do you suggest we do? You know well we cannot intervene directly."
"If we do nothing, the flagship kingdom will fall. And if that happens, everything we have built could collapse with it."
Ravada looked at him for a moment before sketching a small, reassuring smile. "I see. But fear not, Kao. I already have someone who will take care of this," she declared with absolute confidence.
Simultaneously, in the Kingdom of Bardios, chaos reigned. The king, a proud elder with silver hair and golden armor, personally led his troops. But even he knew the situation was unsustainable.
Inside the palace, Prince Balniac and his few remaining men had taken refuge in a nearby room, barricading the door. The air was thick with tension and the acrid smell of sweat and dust.
"That child of yours seems to have no fear," Andros commented, noticing the baby hadn't made a single sound despite the chaos. Balniac smiled weakly. "Yes... he will be a good king one day."
Eleonor, weak and dizzy, looked up at her husband. "If this is to be our last moment... you must give him a name," she whispered.
Ruth, seeing the demons about to break through the final door, made a desperate choice. She had to tell the prince the truth before they all faced their end. "My Lord... your son..." she began, her voice trembling and eyes full of tears.
But before she could finish, a piercing cry resonated through the room.
The sound was unexpected, nearly impossible. Ruth froze. She was certain the child had no heartbeat. Yet, there he was. Deep within that lifeless body, Yuomo's consciousness emerged from the darkness, driven by a protective instinct he didn't recognize as his own. He felt the fear of the woman holding him and, claiming his place in this new world, he broke the silence with a battle cry. A sharp, powerful wail that seemed to vibrate in every corner of the room.
The demons finally burst through, shattering the barricade. One demon lunged toward the infant. But before it could touch the baby, he cried out again.
This time, something extraordinary happened. A golden glow emanated from the tiny body, expanding like a silent but devastating explosion. It wasn't just light; it was pure energy charged with the will of someone who refused to die a second time. The intensity was so great that it illuminated the entire room, turning the nearest demons to ash instantly. It was as if the sun itself had descended to Earth, purifying everything in its path.
The surviving demons fled in terror, their inhuman screams filling the air. The aura continued to grow, spreading beyond the palace until it covered all of Bardios. Every dark creature touched by that light was reduced to cinders.
In the heart of the now-quieted chaos, everyone looked at the child in awe. Is this child a miracle sent by our Goddess? Ruth wondered, her mind struggling for a logical explanation that simply did not exist.
Prince Balniac approached his wife. The baby, now quiet, radiated a serene calm. Princess Eleonor looked at her husband with eyes bright with hope. "You must name our son," she said softly.
Balniac gazed at the child, his heart filling with pride. "Welcome, my dear Arios," he finally pronounced, choosing a name that resonated with strength and greatness.
The Princess smiled radiantly. "Welcome to Novaraser, my son."
In another plane of existence, Ravada and Kao watched.
"So that is what you meant, my Lady," Kao said, trying to hide his astonishment.
Ravada took a calm sip of her tea. But inside, her thoughts revolved around a single idea:
I hope you can handle this, Yuomo... No, Arios.