Chapter 6: Children's birth

On the other end of the teleportation circle, four figures appeared. It was a secluded place within a dense forest. The brilliant sunlight hanging high barely made it to the earth. The tall and wide expanse of uniformly standing trees filled their sight. It extended out without end in sight all around. A mystic beauty of nature hidden within its density. 

The magic around them dissipated quickly and the illusionary bubble that was protecting them seemed to burst and vanish in the air. No trace of the teleportation spell was left.

They stared back only to acknowledge that they had left for good. For the future and the lives of the infants within the women, the children they could call theirs. They made a sacrifice any parent wouldn't find hard to make.

"We are far from home. A place we can never return to…" Bianca mumbled. 

Her voice was unlike other events. It was dry and slightly cold. It was heavy with resentment and hate. Her ocean-blue eyes were no different. 

"A new home awaits us! We just have to find it." Merlin spoke resolutely. 

He spoke more words than usual because he had to comfort his wife, his friends, and himself!

"Maybe. I just hope we can change the fate of the future…"Mitchell's voice echoed what all heats hoped for.

"We will! No matter what!" Anette resounded that claim with certainty. Her eyes blazed with conviction. "Let's go."

They confirmed the place they were at. They had landed at the Eastern border of the Kredorah Kingdom, near the southwestern border of the Prilum Empire. A dense forest separated the two lands. Not many dared go into this woods due to the danger of monsters and illusions. The Maledicta woods.

However, it was no obstacle for mages and swordsmen. 

Over time, after finding their way out of the forest with difficulty, they came to know of Grinas village through tales and stories seemly like a myth. One that existed but was cut off from the real world. It was unclear if it existed at all. It was the perfect place to remain hidden until their children and themselves could grow enough.

…

Three weeks had passed since the two couples arrived at Grinas village. The day when the children would be born had arrived. Among the two houses assigned to them by Duncan, the one on the left was completely repaired. There was a stark difference between the two houses. 

The lights were on and it was only evening!

A strange phenomenon was happening. The skies were dyed scarlet as a blood crescent moon hung in the sky. The sky was strangely gray as if the glaring sun had no impact at all but just to illuminate the darkness. The sun had lost its golden brilliance. The whole mix of gray and scarlet had dominated the atmosphere. 

It had been there for the past three days. It was formerly a full moon but now it was waning and almost disappearing. The sun was setting on the horizon. This created a contrasting gray twilight and scarlet sky. Something not often seen maybe had never been witnessed in history before. Something both sinister and beautiful!

Within the house were two beds with women lying on them. Their husbands were busy making preparations in the room. They arranged water bowls and many towels. A few new changes of clothes and cleaning tools. There was a healthy blend of watery food covered in a pot boiling slowly ready to serve. 

It was quiet and the two women showed no signs of labor. Underneath each bed was a rune circle drawn. Within the circles were more shapes formed of lines, symbols, and pattern engravings. They were drawn with blood-like liquid that had a sinister look to it. The liquid was made of magical liquids and essence extracts, powders, and plants. Mixed in was the respective parent's blood.

Between the two rune circles was an intersection. This was a merging of fate, the two children would share the same fate. Shared fate was their chance of fighting against the destiny clearly against them. Although this seemed too mystic for logic-abiding magicians, they didn't have much to give but their best. Even believing in what went against their beliefs. They even used their blood extract for more precise feedback. This was unorthodox magic and a form of dark arts, in other words, sorcery.

"I-is this supposed to hurt?" Bianca looked at Anette. 

She was scared. Formerly, the female family elders were supposed to oversee this process. Now they did it on their own and had no reference of an experienced person.

Merlin looked at her but didn't say anything. He had no idea. It was not knowledge he needed to learn but wished he paid more notice to it in the past.

"Isn't that normal for birth? The ritual happens before we give birth, it doesn't affect what must come afterward. Don't stress over it. Merlin should have a spell for pain inhibitors," said Anette.

She was looking forward to getting this ritual done. Her child was soon being brought to the world and she wanted to see the life she strived so hard to protect. 

Mitchell, seated on the side with nothing left to prepare glanced at Anette. Others didn't notice but he sensed the nervousness in her voice. It wasn't as cold as before and was easier to grasp her real emotions. 

He smiled, "I will get the most experienced midwife there is in Grinas!" 

"The sun has set, I shall start the spell," said Merlin.

His emerald eyes shone as he manipulated his mana. The runes on the floor glowed crimson like hot lava. 

Following that was a dim luminous glow within the mothers' bellies. With their bloodline calling within the room, the light spread to their respective parentage. Anette's belly was interconnected with Mitchell and herself. They could feel the life within their bellies pulse in joy and longing. Bianca and Merlin felt a subtle familiarity with the child as a comforting emotion washed over them.

Merlin ignored all these emotions and continued his chant. A long series of unbroken sounds left his mouth and guided the magic and made the will of the caster to reality.

After he was done the glow carried colored auras and mana from the parents into the belly. Small pulses could be felt by Bianca and Anette. They glanced at each other and confirmed it wasn't an illusion. 

Following that the fragments of magic material on the floor rose and formed a cycle between the two bellies flowing back and forth in a never-ending chain. An infinity cycle. The fate of the children was successfully linked. 

The heartbeats evened to be in sync with each other. A few struggles of the children could be felt from the mothers' bellies. They wanted to reach out and find the other half of their destiny.

Only after a while did it settle down. The magic residue and infinity symbol had disappeared with the feeling. Bianca's and Anette's eyes flickered in deep understanding. 

The magic had succeeded. 

What followed was a heart-wrenching pain as their labor pains started too suddenly. Even Anette who had more endurance as a sword master was helpless to this. She groaned and suppressed the scream in her throat by biting her lip.

Her face contorted with pain and glared at Mitchell. His scalp became numb, he was scared at this moment that he dared not move but knew it would be worse if he didn't move. He looked at his wife with a comforting glance and left the room.

Bianca was reduced to tears. She clenched her hands and tried regulating her breathing which was made easier with Merlin's guidance. He held her hand preventing her from hurting herself. 

Mitchell quickly ran and found a midwife. She was previously introduced by the village chief in the case of any urgent need for one.

This was an elderly midwife quite experienced and she brought along her apprentice who was her daughter.

After what seemed like an eternity to Bianca and Anette, a soft endearing cry rang out followed by another shortly after. It was like a tender embrace to them when they heard it. Relief, joy, and love overflowed from their hearts. All the agony seemed to disappear at this moment.

Wah! Waahh! Waaaahhhh!