Chapter 2: New Life

Three years later:

Valentine: attired in a loose red dress, made her way throughout the living room area. A long white couch placed in the middle of the room and had two leather chairs put to the sides of it. In front of the large sofa, an unlit fireplace made of clay red bricks.

Distinguishing odd noises, she slowly crept through the doorway of the living room, advancing towards the big open window on the right of her. Naturally, as she became adjacent to it, a baby could be heard laughing hysterically. Examining the outside, she seen the radiant yellow sun beaming over mountains in the background, including a sea of autumn-like trees behind the large acres of short, bright green grass.

Suddenly, her lavender eyes broadened, flabbergasted by the scene she was witnessing.

Watching a man who wore a black shirt, brown harem pants and a black pair of slippers, holding a small baby in a blue onesie with golden hair, blowing frantically in the wind while laughing away, seventy-feet in air.

Valentine clinched her hand making a fist, her eyes burning like flames. She was infuriated, "RELLGIS?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH THE BABY?!"

The blue haired man glanced down at the huge ivory house, gazing at Valentine behind the window, waving her arms wildly, her face was red, brimming with anger. Skysin, on the other hand, was still laughing away.

Rellgis showed an anxious expression, poking his lips out staring at the angry mother, "this isn't gonna be good…"

Rellgis had landed onto the ground swiftly, his head lowered. Skysin happily called out to someone reaching out his arms, "mommy."

Instantly, Rellgis had raised his head. Valentine was shown standing before them; her arms crossed with an irritated expression, furrowing her thin eyebrows.

Rellgis grinned anxiously, "h-hey babe, y-you just mis-"

"Rellgis, I'm going to calmly ask you to hand Skysin over… right now," Valentine interrupted, advancing to them quite quickly.

She slowly lifted the little child up from his arms and kissed him on the forehead as the baby chuckled light-heartedly. Then sat him down on the sand-colored blanket that was beside them.

Suddenly, she disappeared in a flash. With Rellgis in fear of what was about to transpire, the man ran away. Yet, it was futile. Valentine appeared behind Rellgis, smacking the back of his head with enough force to send him a couple feet away from the baby and her.

Skysin being entertained by what happened, laughed uncontrollably clapping his hands, as if he was watching a grand circus.

Rellgis sat up and saw Valentine's red dress in front of him, gazing up at her disgruntled face.

"What the hell were you thinking you dunce?" Valentine asked.

Rellgis sat his hand behind his head, still grinning, "um-I... well you see, the kid wanted to fly… sort of," Rellgis chuckled.

However, Valentine simply lifted her hand, revealing a black, phantom-like mass, floating over her palm.

Before Rellgis continued to justify his actions, he rapidly waved his hands in front of himself, attempting to stop Valentine from his own tribulation, "w-when he looked up at the sky, he saw the birds flying. Sin kept saying 'I wanna fly papa'." Rellgis, fearing for his life, motioned everything, "so then I asked him if he wanted to fly? He kept nodding his head and said 'fly', so y'know, I jumped in the air with him for a little bit."

The aura hovering over Valentine's hand dispersed, then revealed a calm smile, "oh, so that's all it was?"

Rellgis moderately extended his arms and slowly lowered them, trying to deescalate the situation, "yeah, that's all it was."

Valentine closed her eyes, placing her hands on her waist, "I see."

She started stomping on the man multiple times, "you idiot!! He's only three! At least wait until he's older to do all that!"

As she resumed stepping on the poor man. Out of nowhere, a woman's voice was heard chuckling, "it's been a good few years, and you two are still the same as ever."

The couple and Skysin seated on the blanket, turned to the house, viewing a woman and little toddler walking on the wide acre of land, advancing towards the three.

The prepossessing woman had long, radiant yellow-orangish hair, like bright flames that flowed over the lower part of her back. Her bangs are combed to the side of her forehead, only allowing two strands to fall over her thin eyebrows. Sleek skin of beige, relaxed cookie-brown eyes, and possessed red pigment on the outer edges of them, similar to make-up.

She wore a short off-white dress that came off her shoulders, having long loose sleeves end at her wrists with gold bracelets. Tightly fitted on her torso, complementing her slim and shapely figure. The flounce of her white skirt fell over the center of her round thighs. On her feet; black slippers.

The toddler has short crimson-hair that grazed his forehead, having skin of ivory. Big grey eyes, also wielding the same red pigment on the outer edges, just like his mother. Wearing an olive-green shirt with black shorts, sporting a pair of brown sandals.

Valentine casually ambled over Rellgis who was still on the ground and headed to Skysin. Who was currently occupied waving his hands in the air, trying to catch green butterflies fluttering around him.

The two walked over to Rellgis, who had finally stood wiping grass of his clothing. Valentine had picked Skysin up into her arms, "Savitra, Crim, how have you two been holding up?"

Savitra and Crim both gazed at Skysin when the two had got to them. Valentine handed the child over to Savitra as she responded, "we've been doing fine...I could say the same for you three as well," she chuckled tickling his little neck.

Valentine shot Rellgis a hard, cold glare, and he slowly shifted his body towards the right, avoiding the angry mother. She picked Crim's little body up into her arms giving him a hug, "it's been peaceful, I can't complain at all…except for when my idiot of a husband manages to do something stupid."

Savitra studied Skysin's facial features, "I have to say though, your daughter is soo cyute. She looks just like you." The fiery haired woman stated, rubbing her face on Skysin's chubby cheeks.

Valentine pressed her fingers together, "uhh-well you see, she's…actually a boy."

Savitra lifted Skysin higher, letting his small legs dangle in air, staring blankly at the baby while he sat his pudgy hands on her face, squeezing her cheeks. Savitra put her attention back on Valentine with a dazed look, raising a brow, "how can a boy be this beautiful?? Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with three wives…hell, maybe even five with this face."

Valentine placed her hands down in front of her waist, clasping them together, smiling innocently, "actually, Rellgis and I had agreed that the limit is only three max, haha."

While Crim hung on Rellgis' arm like he was a monkey bar, Rellgis jested, "just wait till he's older, I'm gonna teach him the ways to make all woman fall for him."

"Shut up Rellgis..."

"Sorry ma'am."

The group sauntered back to the house, Valentine turned around facing Savitra, "why don't we go into Tayon city for a little bit. Skysin hasn't there yet." -She looked at Rellgis- "That means you're changing into a more presentable outfit, sir."

Rellgis lazily rresponded, slightly slouching, "why can't we just stay hom-"

"Honey..." Valentine interrupted him, staring into the depth of his soul.

Rellgis hastily increased his pace, stiffly walking faster, "right away."

***

Time had passed, and the five were exiting a white carriage. Rellgis stepped out first, a tall man attired in a black collar jacket, which went perfectly with his slim-athletic build. He had three platinum-star emblems on the left side of his chest. Sleeves that came down to his wrists with a singular yellow line on the inner part. In the center of his jacket, golden buttons with a yellow wide belt that enfolded his waist. Wearing a pair of slim black trousers ending right above his ankles, including a pair of leather dress shoes.

Rellgis extended his hand, assisting Valentine off the fancy white carriage. Sporting an emerald-green long dress that wrapped around her small shoulders, complimenting her ample, hour-glass figure. Her hair tied into a single high ponytail, draping to the center of her back. Also wearing leather slip on shoes. Holding Skysin in her arms; a white shirt and loose pants being the same color as his black sandals.

As Crim leapt out, Rellgis then assisted Savitra as well. Thus, the group of five proceeded towards the city gates. Large, blue-colored walls, having soldiers on top of it standing guard. Getting closer to the entrance, a lengthy line of civilians came into view, waiting to enter Tayon City.

One of the guards in full-body blue armor approached them, "what's your reason for being here?"

"We're just here to look around and maybe grab something to eat too," Rellgis answered.

The guard tilted his head, a bit irritated, "you must pay a total of three hundred ruphes to enter sir." He claimed, until his eyes came into contact with the three platinum star emblems on Rellgis' chest. "OH MY - GENERAL RELLGIS, SIR!" He expressed loudly, surprised by Rellgis, he stiffened his stance and saluted.

Rellgis chuckled motioning his hands to quiet down, "keep it down. Don't wanna get a lot of attention at the moment."

The guard bowed anxiously at a ninety-degree angle, "o-of course, I-I understand sir. I'll let you all in right away, follow me please."

But unfortunately, it was too late. Civilians turned around, facing the group with bright smiles and cheered, "We love you general!"

"Please continue to protect our beloved country sir!"

"God bless you and your family general Rellgis. May Jagan and Goddess Malerenz be on your side at all times!"

While the five passed the large crowd, Rellgis put on a strained smile, waving at the huge line of people. They all had quickly surrounded Rellgis and the group, al praising and greeting him.

After nearly 20 minutes later, the group was strolling in the huge, bustling city, filled with masses of people. Multitudes of shops and venders, shouting and displaying weapons, ingredients, clothing, toys, snacks, books and more. Including great amounts of restaurants and bars, along with inns. As the five sauntered through large numbers of crowds, they were catching eyes of many people, either common folk or nobles.

Skysin was astounded by the entire scene, never being in the city before. His violet eyes were glistening in awe like shining stars. However, with Valentine being much shorter in height compared to Rellgis, struggled to hold Skysin up.

As the baby kept twisting and turning, he cried out, "mommy, get taller."

Valentine felt as if a sharp arrow had pierced her heart, "that's only a fantasy now…" She whimpered gloomily, slouching her shoulders.

Rellgis and Savitra chortled, Rellgis volunteered turning around, walking backwards, "I'll get him, shorty."

Valentine simply sighed, rolling her lavender eyes from Rellgis' joke, handing Skysin over to him. When he sat Skysin on his shoulders, clasping his small legs to keep him stable, Skysin brightly smiled, gazing before the profound city.

Later in the afternoon, as the beautiful orange sun could be seen on the horizon, Crim and Skysin were playing together on the playground. Whilst the adults were on a wooden bench, conversing amongst each other.

Rellgis took a long, good look at Crim with a sort of guilt, "it's scary to me that he looks like him..."

Savitra turned looking at her son, "I know what you mean, but you can't keep beating yourself about it Rellgis. It was a bad situation. It happens all the time..."

Rellgis gazed at the radiant sun clinching his fists, "still though, I know there was something more I could've done. It's still hard for me to accept the fact he's gone, even though I watched him pass right in front of me."

Valentine had gently clasped Rellgis' hand, tightly, "look at it this way, Crim is still alive and well, you did the best you could. At least Crim is here, I'm sure Sedreen is more than happy about that."

Savitra chuckled, "I'm positive. You both seen how happy he was seeing how similar Crim looked like him."

The three all began reminiscing, laughing together. The nostalgic memories of their old adventures flooding their minds.

Skysin and Crim were in the sandpit, until Skysin sneezed from the sand particles entering his nose. When he did that, beautiful crystal ice had covered the remaining half of the rectangular sand box, along with a black and purplish mass with white particles, slowly revolving inside of it, like a small galaxy.

Crim tried to stand.... but slipped and fell flat on his face. Skysin laughed at him as Crim groaned in pain holding his nose.

The three parents stared blankly, dumbfounded by what happened. Rellgis stood and walked over to Skysin, picking him up with a wide grin, "we finally know what his kinetics are!" He started spinning around with the baby, his laughter filled with joy.

As Rellgis continued to gyrate with Skysin in his grasp, Valentine swayed her arms in a sideways motion, warning him, "uhmm-honey, you might wanna stop, he just ate..."

Skysin vomited on Rellgis' jacket.

Rellgis barely even paid any mind to it, remaining with a beaming grin. Turning to Valentine and Savitra who were staring at him with deadpan expressions.

"It won't be long until I teach Sin how to use his vital and the sword!" Rellgis excitedly claimed.

Valentine sighed with a tender smile as the man kept laughing, holding Skysin in the air like a small cub.

*****

At that time, Malerenz' shapely lips were shown, having an intrigued smile. Watching Rellgis make snowmen for Skysin and Crim from a large crystal ball, "it looks like things will get interesting soon..."