New Life

In the Kingdom in Zeldier, there is a duchy controlled by Gandu Silverhorn, a truly chiseled man with strong features who had gray hair and red eyes. A True Spirit Realm magical cultivator who married to Myria Silverhorn who was a Sky Spirit Realm magical cultivator which is one level lower than the True Spirit Realm in the Immortal Stage. She was said to be the number one beauty in the kingdom, with her moon white hair and blue eyes along with an hourglass alluring body. They had been happily married for 30 years and in a relationship for more than 50.

Both Gandu and Myria Silverhorn had gone through many hardships, life and death battles, and tribulations together and had finally achieved reaching the highest point one could get in the Kingdom of Zeldier, becoming a Duke and Duchess. With land and power and years of strife behind them, they decided to have a child.

Both of them were overly excited about having a boy specifically. Gandu so he could raise another one of him and Myria so that she could see him rise and become more powerful than her husband while inheriting their legacy.

After 9 months of caring and effort to help the children latent talent be cultivated in the mystical arts of spirit magic the child was born. They could do such a thing with treasures found in the wild or through alchemical means, whether it be through potions or drinks made of the most expensive herbs.

However, two unexpected things happen. One, the baby was a girl which crushed their hearts. They were selfish people and became disappointed immiditely realizing fate did not give the child they so desired. Second, unknown to when but Myria was infected with a disease while bearing her child that affected her health. After giving birth she began to feel hazy but Gandu assumed it was just giving birth to a child.

"Wahhhh....waahhhh...." A child cried out after being born. Myria coughed multiple times with a little blood seeping through the corner of her lips.

"Hang in there honey, everything is gonna be ok." Gandu whispered into Myria's ears as the light slowly disappeared in her blue eyes.

"Boy...or...girl..." Myria croaked out to know the result with hopes of it being a boy. She could feel her magic spirit core slowly slipping away as spirit essence slowly slithered away.

"Gi-...girl.." Gandu responded with a hanging head in shame.

"...oh.." was the only response Myria gave, her eyes slowly diminishing. However even though she begged for a boy to be born to whatever gods there were it didn't negate her happiness either way. Yes, she had prayed along with her husband to be granted a boy to those above, but she did not despair. The disappointment barely lasted as she realized she had given birth to life which made her happy.

"Ga..gan-gandu.." Myria stifled out while her eyes continued to lose their radiance.

"Yes Myria?" Gandu looked back up only to see that his wife's eyes with no life contained within.

"Myr...Myria...?" Tears began to slowly stream out of Gandu's eyes. He didn't want to believe it, his shining star, his light in the darkness throughout half of his life was unresponsive.

"MYRIA!?" Shaking her body for any signs of life Gandu cried out. Nonetheless, nothing he did worked. Injecting his own spirit essence into her body didn't work as there was no core left to collect said energy.

His tears began to foam more and more, why? He asked himself this over and over completely oblivious to what was going on around him. From the midwife to the maids all standing by no one said anything. Heads hanging low, occasional sniffles of sadness washed through the room as everyone there could no longer feel Myria's spirit essence.

The midwife, still carrying the child, gathered up the courage to step forward, "My Lord, what shall we do with the baby?"

"KILL IT! Its her fault! If it weren't for the child Myria would still be alive!" Gandu's eyes burned with rage as he stared at the helpless baby. Everyone there opened their eyes in shock! The midwife quickly pulled the defenseless baby to her bosom to protect it.

"What are you doing!? Get that THING out of my sight! Feed it to the beasts!" Roaring throughout the mansion, every subordinate of the Duke heard what he said. Preparations for a party on going were immediately stopped.

The midwife slightly bowed and left the main castle to go to her quarters on the castle grounds. Leaving the room in fear of what would happen she began to run. Anyone who saw this could easily deduce that something terrible had happened.

The midwife arrived at her quarters and brought her into her room where another women, a maid to the duke household, was lying down with another baby girl.

"Helena what happened!?" Helena, the midwife looked at her friend and told her.

"Duchess Myria died giving birth, and not only did she not give birth to a boy but a girl and now Duke Silverhorn has gone mad! Bella, he told me to kill the poor girl!" Helena wept, feeling utterly terrible about the circumstances.

"Wha..." Bella was dumbfounded, her mouth hanging agape. "She's just a baby! Its not her fault!"

"I-I kn..know..." Helena weeped. The reaction of the duke to the baby threw Helena for a loop.

"Lets just wait and see what happens once the Duke gets to think and grieve." Bella consoled the still teary eyed Helena. Bella who knew her best friend for years as they worked in the castle of Duke Gandu knew Helena had a soft spot for children. Having lost her own child years ago left a maternal instinct on over drive, whenever she was near a child Helena would overly dote on them as if they were her own.

Cries of agony swept through the castle all night long and into the next day. Gandu did not once come out of his bedroom while staying at the now lifeless Myria's side.

Both the midwife and maid stayed within their quarters tending to both baby girls. Helena personally took care of the new baby girl as best as she could. Getting her the milk she needs, changing her diapers and singing her to sleep while falling asleep right next to her.

The next day was dreary to say the least. Along with the death of Myria Silverhorn, there was a torrential downpour of rain and thunder and lightning. Helena woke up and immediately started tending to the baby girl.

"Helena...?" Bella, who came from outside, put her wet umbrella down along with her coat and walked up to the midwife who was feeding the new baby.

"...yes?" Tenderly looking at the baby girl who was not even a day old, Helena responded to Bella without looking up.

"Did they ever give the baby a name?" Bella inquired, "No one I asked in the castle that was present in the room answered my questions about the girl. Gandu along with his butler Miro, know you haven't killed her so everyone is keeping quiet."

"Eh? N..no, the duke was to grief stricken to even notice her." A slight mist of wetness began to form at the edge of Helena's eyes as she recalled last night. Helena has been apart of the Silverhorn Dukedom for multiple years that she could considered calling it home. She remembers the happy couple and how it radiated throughout the household. Even in times of strife within the kingdom they were still happy however, now that such a tragedy struck she was afraid of what would happen to the duke household from here on out.

"I see..." Bella just nodded and went to the other baby which was sleeping in a crib. "Maybe we should name her, we don't know what will happen today...we will have to bring the child to the duke at least."

"I...sniff...know..." Helena was even more terrified of what would happen to the defenseless baby. She was doubly terrified, if she named the baby her attachment would grow. Even in the short time span the girl had been a wonderful baby. Barely any crying happened even after coming from Myria's womb.

Bella came and sat down on the couch with Helena as they both carried a baby each. "Even if you are worried for what's to come, I think it would be sad if she had no name, even Aurora agrees hehe." The baby in Bella's arms, Aurora, who was a little more then half a year older than the just born girl was reaching her hands over to the girl.

"Selene..." Helena whispered.

"Mn, wonderful name, that was Duchess Myria's mothers name correct?" Bella asked as she lovingly looked at both Selene and Aurora.

"En." The only response Helena could give as her motherly instincts went to over drive. She held Selene close to her body as she spoke to herself, "I will take care of Selene as if I was her own mother. No matter what happens I will defend her."

Bella could only let a slight smile appear on her lips. The storm raged on for a half a day as both Helena and Bella sat in silence as they cared for Selene and Aurora.