Barony of Luce
Fire. Blood. Screaming.
Those are the three things I remember from my last moments. I don't even know how I died.
What happened? I'm standing in a long line of white orbs, all heading to a marble altar. When one orb reaches the altar, it steps up and is burned by a golden flame. A being seemingly made of pure light seems to be counting each orb as they step up. In a flash, it's my turn next. I hear a voice, both male and female, both high and low pitched, both sinister and calming.
"Interests: fantasy warfare, magic, reading. Expertise: fantasy warfare, magic…"
The figure pauses and looks up at me.
"I know just the place for you."
Golden flames cover my vision as I feel my very soul start to warp and change. I feel myself forgetting my very being. Who am I? What am I?
In the Barony of Luce, a small territory within the Kingdom of Kelta, a commotion is occurring. The madam, Baroness Karina Luce, is giving birth to her third child! Bed maids and several midwives surrounded her, keeping her lucid during the process. The master, Baron Heath Luce, sat by her side, holding her hand throughout the whole process.
"You've got this honey! Push! Push!"
With a groan of pain, the madam gives one last big push. One of the midwives takes a pair of clippers and cuts the umbilical cord, and wraps the baby in a towel. She looks at the madam with a jovial expression and says,
"Congratulations madam! You've given birth to a baby boy!"
The mother and father do not share this happy look. Normally when a baby is born they're crying. Not crying is generally seen as a bad sign. The madam looks at the midwife and says,
"I-is my baby alright?"
Instead of answering, the midwife gives a gentle smile and hands her her baby. When she does, the madam sees a wrinkled face with two beady green eyes looking at her and her husband curiously. His splotchy lime green hair sticks to his head, causing him to look as though he went swimming in a bog and brought some moss back with him.
The master bursts into laughter, causing the baby to jump and stare at him as though he was a lunatic.
"HAHAHA! Of course my son wouldn't cry! He takes after his old man in that regard!" he bellows.
"Wipe the tears from your cheeks before acting tough at least, dear." the madam retorts.
The master's haggard appearance betrays his act. His messy green hair, sprouting five o'clock shadow, and tired green eyes give off the impression of someone who had been crying quite a lot. Though, this messy appearance gave his already handsome face an air of wildness, similar to a wild beast.
The madam's appearance did not look any better, in fact she looked worse. Her sweat-soaked body glistened as the sun came through the marble windows. Her disheveled red hair stuck to her skin as if they were holding on for dear life. Her reddened blue eyes gave off the impression of someone who either lost a lot, or gained a lot. Her beautiful face had a slightly pale tone to it, as though she was sick.
After a light chuckle fills the room, one of the older midwives asks the couple,
"So, Ser, Madam, have you decided on a name for the boy?"
The madam looks at her husband with a light chuckle and says,
"It's alright darling, you can name him after one of the characters in your fantasy books."
She gives him a smile warm enough to melt a frost dragon's hearts.
As she says this, the green haired man turns pink, coughing as he turns his head to the side. With an embarrassed look, her turns to face his wife and states,
"If you say so. I would like to name him Atlas. After the titan that holds the world on his shoulders. From the book 'Ancient Greece.'"
The madam gives a surprised expression.
"Funnily enough, I actually don't hate this choice! I thought you would name him Cerberus or something! Who knew my dear husband could actually name a person instead of a dog!"
The husband blushed and lowered his head, slowly shrinking in on himself. Laughter filled the room as the husband had indeed tried to name one of his daughters after the wolf Fenrir once.
Suddenly, while she was laughing, the madam wretched violently, nearly vomiting.
One of the older men who was standing at the side came over to the madam after this incident. He was dressed in a white robe with golden trim on it, with a hood that covered his hair. His face was shaved clean as well, with not a single hair coming out. As if his facial hair just never grew. He grabbed the madam's hand as a pale yellow light emanated from his hand, slowly growing to cover the madam's entire body.
Her pale tone was slowly but surely replaced with a healthy pink. Her eyes went back to normal as well.
The master speaks up, "Thank you, ser healer."
The hooded man bows and steps back as an older woman steps forward and speaks up,
"Madam Luce, do you mind if I appraise your baby's health as well as magic potential?"
The woman wore a plain black robe with the same kind of hood as the older gentleman. Her most striking feature was her distinctly glowing white irises. Not as though she was blind, but as if glowing with a certain power. Every time her gaze landed on you, it felt as if she was judging you and peering into your very soul.
The madam, uncomfortable with this woman's gaze, shakily says, "please, lady peerer."
The madam lowers her head and holds out Atlas to face the hooded woman. The hooded woman gives the baby an uncharacteristically warm smile before grabbing it from the madam's hands. Her hand reaches out with a soft white glow. He notices this, and reaches out with his own hand. He grabs the woman's hand with his weak, sausage-like fingers. The woman reveals a shocked expression and pulls away her hand. As she does, everyone else in the room gasps in shock.
Atlas' hand is also glowing white.
The woman snaps out of her shock and hands Atlas back to his mother. She blinks a few times before stating,
"Ahem. It would appear that your baby boy is quite skilled with magic," she reveals a warm smile, "he'll lead your barony to prosperity in the future."
She turns around to step back to her position, but stops in her tracks as she forgot something.
"He is also very healthy. Congratulations ser and madam Luce."
With that, she, along with all of the older crowd, stepped out of the room. As soon as they left, two smaller figures came running in.
"MOMMYYYYYYYY!"
A crying little girl, no older than five, runs in and tries to hop on her mother, her father however catches her and spins around with her in his arms.
"It's okay little Amy, mommy is fine. Say hello to your baby brother!"
The master puts her down next to the bed as she looks at the green haired baby in her mothers hands.
"Why does he have grass on his head?! Gross!"
The baby gives her an offended expression.
The mother and father, as well as the midwives chuckle.
"Baby, look at your own hair!"
The madam states in her chuckle.
The adorable little girl takes some of her hair in her hand, staring at it with her bright blue eyes.
Little Amy looks at her hair for a second before looking back up with an expression of realization. It was almost as if a lightbulb appeared over her head.
"HE HAS MY HAIR!!!"
She jumps on the bed and starts playing with baby Atlas' hair.
The quiet older sister stands next to her father. Her mature look is quite comical coming from her nine year old face. Her shoulder length red hair flows a little as a small breeze comes in through the window. Her most striking feature was her eyes. Her left eye was as green as a meadow, and her right eye was as blue as the sky. She looks towards her father and asks,
"Daddy, what did you name the baby?"
"I've named him Atlas, Alvina."
The father states.
"Ah, after the titan?"
Alvina turns her head to the side inquisitively.
"Indeed."
He puts his arm around her and holds her close.
"Your mother and I must be the luckiest couple on Erus. We've given birth to two children of incredible talent."
Alvina pinches his side and says, "three."
He blushes once again, "ahem, yes, three children of incredible talent."
Giggling once again erupts in the room. A warm breeze flows in through the window, gently pushing Atlas' lime green hair as though summer itself kissed his forehead.