Chapter 4: Antharia

Miracle Hospital, Crimson Leaf City

Inside an unusually large delivery room, a woman was lying on a bed, sweating buckets. The doctor, who was sitting with his head between her open legs, said, "I can see the head. Just hold on."

The nurses were also encouraging the woman to push and hold on. The woman, although extremely exhausted, held on. Then she felt excruciating pain and screamed.

The doctor said, "You're doing great. Just push a little bit more."

The woman screamed, "IF YOU SAY PUSH ONE MORE TIME, I WILL END YOU!!"

The doctor said, "Sure. You can end me but only after I safely deliver your child."

He gently pulled the baby out of her body, and the baby started crying. He said, "Congratulations, it's a boy. Zara, heal the mother. Sean, clamp."

Both nurses nodded. Zara, who was standing beside the mother, opened her palm, and a leather-bound book with bronze runes appeared and opened above her hand. It was her Grimoire. A pure white cat with three tails emerged from the book. She mewed cutely at Zara. Zara pointed at the mother and said, "Bonbon, use 'Heal' on her."

Bonbon mewed again, and her tails started glowing. The mother's body also started glowing and began healing. Meanwhile, Sean and another nurse had cut the umbilical cord and were very gently wiping the baby. They then wrapped him in a light blue blanket.

The doctor stared at the baby, and his eyes glowed for a second. He said, "Preliminary examination is complete. The baby is very healthy."

The mother, who had somewhat recovered, said, "Give him to me."

The doctor smiled and gently handed her the baby. She held the baby and looked at him with loving eyes. The doctor said, "So, will you end me now, Sienna?"

Sienna rolled her eyes and said, "Shut up, dumbass. I'm tired."

The doctor wiped fake tears from his eyes as he said, "So this is what I get in return for helping a friend out, huh?"

Sienna said, "Alright, alright. I'll treat you to something good later. Now please get me out of here and let me sleep. And really, thanks, Will."

Will's eyes became gentle as he said, "Don't worry. Your room is ready. We'll just keep you and the baby overnight, just to cover all ends, and then you can go home. I know you must be tired. Zara will take you to your room. I'll go and inform Mrs. Z and Hannah about the good news. They must be worried sick waiting outside right now."

Sienna nodded. Zara helped her onto a wheelchair and rolled her out of the room. Outside, two women, one older with a striking resemblance to Sienna and a younger woman, were waiting anxiously. When they saw Sienna in the wheelchair with the baby in her arms, they sighed in relief. Then, they saw Will and rushed to him. He said, "Ladies, please calm down. Both mother and baby are completely safe and healthy. And before I forget, good luck. It's a boy."

Both women hugged him in joy. They broke the hug, and the older woman said, "Thanks, Little Will."

He said, "Mrs. Z, I'm not a kid anymore. Please stop calling me Little Will." Then he whispered, "At least when we're at the hospital."

She laughed and said, "Kid, I remember how you used to come running to me whenever Sienna was bullying you. You practically grew up at our house. So, I will call you Little Will. Even at the hospital."

The nurses behind him had a hard time controlling their laughter. Will sighed. He had gotten used to this. The women of the Zenith family were too fierce. He thought, 'Maybe I wished good luck to the wrong person. Kid, you're in for one hell of a ride.'

Hannah had gone to Sienna's room. He thought, 'Silent as always.'

The next morning, Sienna and her family returned to their home. It was a modest duplex, neither too big nor too small. At their house, Sienna looked at the life in her arms and smiled. Her mother was also very excited. She kept mumbling, "I'm a grandmother."

After they settled in, Mrs. Z looked at Sienna and asked, "Have you decided on a name?"

Sienna said, "I have. Lucas. He will be Lucas Zenith."

Four Years Later

Lucas Zenith had spent the first four years of his life very happily. His mother and grandmother loved him dearly. Although sometimes, they could be a little difficult. Like now.

"Lucas Alexander Zenith, how many times have I told you not to go into the library? What if a book falls on you?" said Sienna as she looked at her son. He had blue hair just like her and amber eyes. He may have looked like her, but he was nothing like her when she was a kid.

She was always looking for a new adventure while he was always buried in a book. Sienna didn't mind that, but the library was a dangerous place for a kid without adult supervision.

Lucas said, "But Mooom, I have already read my school books. They were too easy to understand."

Just then, Mrs. Z arrived at the scene. She looked at the aggrieved Lucas and picked him up. She said, "What happened, Lucas? Why do you look so sad?"

He said, "Mom's angry with me because I went inside the library."

She said, "So what if you went inside the library? She should be happy that her son is a genius."

Sienna was about to interrupt her mother but stopped when she saw her mother giving her signals through her eyes.

She continued, "But you know, the library can be a dangerous place to be in for kids. What if the ladder falls on you? What if you fall from the ladder? That will make everybody sad, right?"

Lucas nodded his little head. She said, "I will be especially sad. Do you want to make Grandma sad, Lucas?"

Lucas said, "No. I love Grandma."

She said, "And Grandma loves you too. So that's why, do not go to the library alone."

Lucas said, "B-but…"

Tears had started appearing in his eyes. Seeing this, Mrs. Z said, "Tell you what. Although you cannot go into the library, I can give you all the books that you want. I will give you a list and you can choose from them."

Lucas's tears disappeared in an instant, and his eyes brightened. He said, "Really?"

She said, "Really. But only if you study well in school and exercise with me. Will you do that?"

Lucas said, "I will."

She rubbed his head and said, "Good boy."