Birth

"Are you excited to meet your sibling?" the woman asked, smiling while staring at her daughter, who was caressing her stomach.

She is pregnant with her second child.

A man approached her with a smile on his face and then gently stroked her stomach.

"What would you name your sibling?" he inquired as he glanced at the beaming little girl who was looking so excited.

The woman in her late twenties looks at them with delight and comfort. Seeing her partner and daughter soothing and supporting her pregnancy. 

"Do you want it a boy or a girl?" she asked, making her husband look at her.

"I don't care if our child is a boy or a girl; all I know is that we will shower that child with love, right?" He reached for his wife's face and kissed her on the forehead, making his wife feel contented.

You will see the excitement on both faces.

When the husband prepares a nice and comfy bed for his wife to sleep in. His wife began to shriek as she experienced persistent contractions.

"Alaric! I..." she says, struggling to form words owing to her suffering.

"Is it about time?" Alaric asked uneasily. His wife simply nodded in response. Still in discomfort.

Alaric hurriedly yet carefully carries his wife to the bed he was making, while the tiny child, who had already fallen asleep, awakens due to the sound her mother is making.

"Mama, Aya?" questioned the terrified child.

Looking at her mother in discomfort and pain makes the small child afraid and concerned for her mother.

"Are you giving birth right now?" Alaric said, worried. Given that today is May 25, his child would be in danger if the people of Casimir learned about the birth of their child.

"I can't..."

"I can't hold it anymore," Aya murmured in pain.

"Get me those clothes". She motions to her husband about the cloth on the table. Alaric rushes to get the garments that his wife demands.

Their residence was small. A typical dwelling for the commoner.

When Alaric handed Aya the piece of cloth, she began to place it over her mouth. For the sake of her child's protection, she did not want anyone to hear her give birth. Alaric helps his wife give birth, while their daughter stands by her mother's side, comforting her as her father explains to her that her mother is giving birth to her soon-to-be sibling, which causes the young child to stop sobbing.

As soon as Aya ceased uttering in anguish, their child was born, making Alaric's eyes shine and smile with happiness.

She gave birth to a beautiful baby with glistening white hair.

"Aya, our daughter has white hair," Alaric exclaimed, astounded by what he saw. He grabs his newly-born daughter and hands it to his wife, Aya. However, he was taken aback when he noticed his wife was not breathing.

"Aya!" he exclaimed, teary-eyed, seeing his wife barely breathing.

"What happened, papa, and why is Mama sleeping?" inquired Adira, his older daughter.

Alaric burst into sobs when he realized he had lost his wife during childbirth.

He knows that bearing a child and giving birth is tough, but he hadn't anticipated that he would lose her wife.

He didn't move for some time, still stunned by what had happened while his newborn kid was in his arms, cradling her. 

"Papa," Adira replied in a weak voice. Seeing her father cry makes her tear up.

Alaric notices his daughter's concern, leading him to wipe the tears from his eyes and take a lengthy exhalation before facing her. Trying to be strong in front of her daughter.

"We don't have time to grieve; we need to leave before Casimir's party arrives and takes your sister away," Alaric said, placing his daughter beside his deceased wife.

"Watch over your sister while I pack," he said while he packed quickly. Worry that Casimir people might barge in and take her newly-born daughter away, 

Following the death of King Keres, Casimir and his men began hunting for an infant or child born on May 25. People across town are aware of this, which is why many women attempt to avoid giving birth on that day as Aya did, but unfortunately, she gave birth on May 25.

When he finished packing, he cleaned his newborn daughter and covered her with a clean cloth. He then approaches his confused daughter, Adira, and holds her hands.

He kissed his wife one last time, choking back tears.

There is an indication on his face that he does not want to leave his wife, and he is still unable to realize that someone he loves has died. 

However, as a father, he has no other option but to leave their home and go somewhere more secluded and peaceful for her daughter's safety. 

It was midnight when they walked outside and were greeted by a cold, brisk breeze.

"What about Mama?" Adira inquired, noting that her mother had been left alone.

"Mama is asleep; I'll come get her when she wakes up. " He lied.

"Where are we going, papa? It is so cold," remarked the freezing Adira.

"Do you want Papa to carry you?" he said softly while he already had an infant on his arm. 

"Yes!" Adira exclaimed happily.

Alaric smiled at his daughter and cradled her in his arms while Adira embraced her sister.

As they proceeded, he noticed two individuals dressed in black and knew they were Casimir people.

Seeing Casimir's people still roaming around town at this hour makes him feel uneasy throughout the time he can feel himself gasping even if he hasn't overdone himself. 

He fled to the bushes, nervously avoiding them.

The same evening, the queen of Basilia began giving birth. The palace is in a frenzy of joy since the queen is carrying the king's first child. The king summoned the best mage, Alaunos, to assist the queen in safely delivering their firstborn. While the Royal Physician helps the queen give birth.

The royal physician's face lights up with joy as the queen successfully delivers her child.

"It's a princess, Your Majesty," the physician explained as she handed the princess to Her Majesty.

The queen was delighted to see her newly born child. She embraced it in her arms and was impressed with the princess' smell and tiny hands.

The young princess had the same blonde hair as His Highness and while she was staring at her daughter, the queen noticed a visible aura of gold; someone with this aura is enveloped in a heavenly direction and possesses wisdom, inner calm, intuition, and spiritual thinking and when the newborn opened her eyes, the Queen saw that she had pure hazel eyes, just like her.

She is pleased that her daughter inherited the family's finest features. 

King Themis was called upon to go see his princess after the queen safely delivered their first child. When the king entered the chamber, Queen Dera welcomed his highness with a sweet smile while holding the princess in her arms.

As the king comes toward Her Majesty and the princess, you can sense the joy and relief on his majesty's face; seeing his world become two makes his eyes tear up. The physicians and Alaunos exited the room to provide the king and queen with some privacy.

"When will my baby be born?" Alaunos mutters, hoping to see his soon-to-be child.

"AHHH!"

He came to a halt when he heard a loud voice expressing great fear as he walked around the palace. 

The people living in the palace began to panic. Alaunos was left wondering as he saw Dillon, the palace's Knight, who was hurrying to the room where the royal family was.

He noticed the knight's apprehension, and it was his first time seeing a skilled knight get so anxious.

Alaunos, the mage, looks outside the palace with curiosity, and what he sees shocks him.

He noticed that one man dressed in black had taken down the royal guard.

He has no idea who he is, but he knows the royal family is in danger, so he rushes there to help them.

"Your Highness, The palace is under attack" Dillon spoke while chasing his breath. You can see the knight's despair on his face.

"The man, Casimir, has arrived intending to murder the princess. Your Highness, I need to keep you all safe," he said, startling and alarming the king and queen.

"I'm here to aid the knight and ensure that the royal family escapes safely", Alaunos' sudden appearance.

The royal family's joyful moments turn into worry. Hearing the name Casimir immediately reminds the king of the tragedy he experienced back then.

The king hurriedly helped the queen get to her feet while she was cradling the princess in her arms.

The Royal Family leaves the chamber, in fear and wary of their beloved princess' life.