1 Home

The roars of demons and man echoed all over the city. As dark clouds covered the sky, the heaven poured out heavy water upon them all, thunderous lightning shocked the kingdom. The sound of the raindrop on the metal armors cling for every drop making an endless metallic sound. Flames covered the land and streams of blood flow everywhere as countless lives were being perished.

"Die, Humans..."

"Be gone you demons..."

Scream of men and demon as they hunt down each other like prey and predator. Whilst the battle between the two creatures continued.

Far away from all the bloodshed, a woman was hiding away from it. She looked all worn out as she carries the weight in her stomach, she was lost and all alone in the empty city as she tries to find help.

"Help somebody..." she cried aloud but could hardly say a word for she was in too much pain already. The more she ventured deep in the city, a group of elders notice her and calm running out of their house to assist her back to theirs.

"Lady, what are you doing all alone in the open?"

"Please, He- Help..." she screamed in pain.

The elderly realize what's about to happen, the elder lady quickly brought her to one of the empty rooms as her husband and the rest of remains in the city assisted with the delivery.

"Dear, you must push harder..."

"Granny, she looking quite pale already, she losing too much blood."

"Ah- "the girl scream.

The elder lady continued to encourage the girl as she sees a small part of the baby head sticking out already, "Dear just a little more..."

"I- I can't..." she cried

"Come on, just one more. Take a deep breath and push..." she said.

The girl tears were all running down her face, mix with the sweat running down her head. She was totally worn out and exhausted from all the walking she did. As she realizes how important this child is to her, she gathered all her remaining strength as she took a deep breath and did a final push.

The sound of a young baby boy cries echoed through the whole building, even the elder man and the rest patiently waiting outside rejoice as they heard the cry of the baby.

For the elders, it's been years since they heard the cry of a baby since it has filled the city with screams and cries of people either dying or being tortured. It was a miracle indeed.

"Dear, it a healthy baby boy." The elder lady said as she moved the baby to lie on the woman chest.

It surprised the woman to see the healthy normal baby boy, "My baby, Mother is here, hush now..."

"Sis congratulation..." the girl who assisted said

She gave him a grateful smile, "Thank you, both of you and to everyone else."

Soon everyone who was waiting outside the door came in to see the new baby. The elder man was delighted to see the young boy.

"Such a handsome boy, what shall he be called." He asked

The girl has not thought about it, she never expected she needed to name him at once. She ponders for a moment until she looked at all of them as she kissed the boy on the head, "He shall be called Claude, my previous Claude just like the cloud in the sky."

"May I?" The elder man asked as he carried the baby in his arm, "Claude we are all delighted to meet you."

Everyone gathers around as they welcome the newborn baby. At that moment, the girl was in peace as one of her problems was finally solved. She has found a perfect home for him.

A few years have passed by yet war between the demons and human still continued, however, the demons have abandoned one of the close by city near the human capital city. In the city, a little boy was playing by the park, climbing bars and running in great speed when a woman voice called for him.

"Claude it's getting late."

The little boy quickly grabs his staff as he runs towards the woman, "Granny…"

The two happy walked back to their home, as the two of them step inside the house they were welcome by the elder man who looked upset for some reason but continued to smile when he saw the young boy.

"Claude, did you have fun with Granny at the park?" the elder man asked

"Grandpa I did, I successfully completed the monkey bar on my own." He replied

"That's good, go upstairs and get cleaned up."

The young boy quickly vanished from there sight and the old man expression change drastically when the elder woman saw this her heart ached. "Is it time?"

"Yes, I received the call today…" he said

The elderly lady's tears fell on her face, "Why must he go? Why can't he continue and stay with us."

He comforted her, "We both know this day would come, since the day his mother passed away. Don't worry we can always visit him since they promise us we can always visit him."

"I shall go upstairs and help him pack then," she said

As she headed upstairs, she saw the pictures hanging by the staircase wall, she grabs one of them as she headed to the boy's room. There the boy was already dressed ready for bed, "Claude we need to change into something else for tonight. Come Granny will help you."

The little boy notices the elder woman eyes were red, "Granny what happened, why are you crying?"

The elder woman could not hold her tears anymore, "Claude, my baby…" She embraces him tightly, "Always remember Granny loves you so much, be strong out there and don't forget you have us."

"Granny what wrong?" He cried feeling something bad about to happen.

"Claude Granny wish for you to be with her forever but that's just impossible."

"Granny, don't you love me anymore?"

The elder sat the boy on the bed as she kneed in front of him, she wiped off her tears then the young boy, then an elder man voice spoke behind them, "Claude me and your Granny loves you so much, you are our special child always remember that."

"But why do I need to go somewhere far then?" he cried

The elder coaxed the young boy. "Claude, the world is full of evil demons, I and Granny are old and won't is unable to protect you. But the place you're going to can and they'll always help you become stronger and wiser. Me and Granny can always visit you anytime."

"But I don't want to go," he explained

While they two continued to coax the young boy, the doorbell sudden rung. The elderly man went downstairs to see who it was. Moments later he came back to the room with a man with long white hair tied into a ponytail all dress in a black suit.

When Claude so who it was he ran away as he escaped all of them out of the house.

"Claude…"

The man stops both the elder from chasing after him, he then went off to follow the young boy instead.

Behind one of the tree in the nearby park, the young boy sat by the tree as he buried his face in his arm.

"This must be your favorite place?" a man voice said

Claude looked up and saw it was the man from earlier, "What do you want? I don't want to go with you…"

"I know you don't but you see I promise a good friend of mine that I'll raise and protect you." he calmly said

"I don't care, tell your friend I want to stay with Granny and Grandpa." he cried

"Well- I can't since that friend is already gone, but she is in a good place now," he said

Claude became curious, "What do you mean?"

"She passed away but gave life to you…" he said

"Your friend, is mother?" he asked

The man nodded his head, "You even have the same eye as her, beauty like the clear blue sky. I'll take you to a place where your mother studied and tell you stories about her." he said, then he reached out his arms towards him, "Let's Go Home"

The boy did not hesitate and followed the man home.

When they got home, he gave his final embrace to the two elders as they have packed his things already. "Granny, Grandpa, I promise I'll come home one day."