1 A Viper is Born

It was a brisk night on the twelfth day of the second lunar cycle of Kiwalia . The cries of a newborn rang throughout the small village of Tarius. The noises were quickly silenced by a comforting mother, who held the baby in her bosom. The father kisses the mother on her forehead, smiling as he looks at the doctors and a small boy who assisted them, or rather, did most of the work while the doctors gave the woman healing medicines to calm her. The father walks toward the boy and pats him on the shoulder.

"As far as I'm concerned, you're already part of this village." The father states, replying back to a previous conversation they had when he asked if he could say in the village for a while.

The boy smiles, taking off the cloth that is drenched in blood. "Thank you, sir."

The baby coos at the father as he approaches again.

"What should we name her, Nicholas?"

Nicholas looks down at his wife with a loving smile. "What about your mother's name?" He asks.

"I thought you disliked her because she shooed you away after dinner?" She smiles.

"I do, but she does have a pretty name." Nicholas chuckles. "Edin… Edin Kanterra."

The small boy comes up to the family, looking at the newborn. "I like that name."

Nicholas looks at his wife, as they have a silent conversation. She nods. Nicholas kneels down and hands Edin to the boy. He holds her carefully, like a glass flower. A smile forms on his face as he hands her back.

A few days later, they walk around, Nicholas showing Edin to all of his friends, and his wife talks about nothing else except her daughter. They also invite the boy over every day, making him dinner as he entertains Edin, laughing at nearly everything he does. Though, the boy's happiness never stayed long. He always sulked around the village, offering help but never finding joy in anything. The only thing he smiled at was Edin, who gave him an unnatural joy and satisfaction with each laugh. Soon though, the boy suddenly disappeared from the village, leaving no trace and no memories. The only person who seemed to be affected by his disappearance was the Kanterra family. Edin only smiled when her parents had mentioned him, and they themselves were worried for his well-being.

"He's only five, he couldn't have gone far." The wife says.

"Well, we can't go out looking for him, Pherra. We'd spend days and wouldn't get nowhere. Don't get me wrong, I'm concerned too, but he came in alone and left alone. No one noticed his disappearance except us. It'll be impossible to look for him at this point."

Pherra nods slowly, looking as if she wanted to contest more, but realizes that Nicholas made a good point.

"I just miss little Thaddeus." She says in a sigh.

Edin perks up at the name, but quickly goes back to her uninspired life of playing with her toys.