Side Story: Mother (1)

[Azariah POV]

How did this happen? The ground was completely stained in red and the reek of blood spread out.

"Take the women and the children alive, and kill the men!" A soldier shouted.

Dead bodies could be seen everywhere. There were those who had been killed trying to protect their loved ones and those who ended their own life, refusing to be captured. But all of them were my friends, my family.

Completely powerless, I'm staring blankly at the corpse in my arms. It was a young male elf. His beautiful green hair had been stained by the red color of his own blood and his eyes were lifeless. I placed my hands on his throat were a clean deep cut could be seen.

'Rakiel…'

He died instantly, before bleeding out, having his neck severed. At least, he didn't suffer… The screams of women losing their husband and the cries of children snatched from their parents could be heard. I know I should be running away, but as I watch the lifeless body in my arms, I can't seem to find any strength. Everything just looks so unreal. Until yesterday, we were still laughing together.

"Take this one." The dry order of a human soldier forced me to come to my senses and realize the slaughter. This is reality. As another human soldier pulled my arm, forcing me to get up, his superior inspected me with his lustful eyes.

"Good. This one will be worth a lot."

Darkness suddenly erupted as the world collapsed. Everything was now completely and utterly silent.

◊◊◊◊◊

"Miss?" A low voice called out.

A dream…

I abruptly opened my eyes and saw the face of an old man. That's right, he's one of the attendants of the family.

"Sorry to wake you up, but it's time. The young master is waiting for you", he said.

"Thank you…" I answered.

It's been a little more than six months since I arrived in Eskor, the capital city of Agraal. Currently, I'm staying in the main residence of the Whiteheart family, together with my two children. But it's not the first time I'm here, I used to live here too a couple years ago.

I hate this place. The only person who used to appease a little all the negative feelings that this place gives me already disappeared a long time ago. Now, only unhappy memories remain. Still, I'm living here. This is a price I have to pay to protect my family.

Guided by the attendant, I'm heading to a small room of the mansion, where my son Aoban is waiting for me. We're actually not blood related, but I've raised him for as long as I can remember. Upon entering the room, I notice the small boy rushing towards me with a huge smile on his face.

"Mother! How do I look?" He asked as he span around, showing off his beautiful silken garments.

"Good." I answered him with a gentle smile. "You look like your father."

I could tell his embarrassment by the look on his face and by his cheeks that flushed pink.

"I-Is that so?" He said as he tried to suppress a proud smile. "Where is Lyni?"

"The young Lady should be coming soon", the attendant answered. "I've already sent a maid to look after her."

Today, we're celebrating Aoban's seventh birthday. Before the festivities, I planned to go on a walk with my two children. We're not allowed to go out, so we will only be in the garden, but it will be the first outing in a while I had with my family.

The door opened as I noticed a small child entering, accompanied by a maid.

"She's ready." The maid said.

She's Lyni, my daughter.

And this child is special…

◊◊◊◊◊

It all began a few years ago with the raid of my village by human slavers.

It was a secluded village, situated deep within the mountains, far from any kind of civilization. It should have been hidden well enough, yet the humans found us. Everything that happened next came so fast. It was a surprise attack, before we could do anything to retaliate, it was already over. Those who had not been killed had been captured and we were soon separated to be sold in different kingdoms.

As a child, I've been warned well enough to know what to expect. The life of elves slaves in a human territory is far from being easy. I've heard enough stories from my people to know that. I know I should have been taking my own life to avoid this, but I was a coward, I couldn't bring myself to. In the end, I ended up in Agraal, sold to one of the most powerful families.

"Please, take care of this child."

That was the first order and only order I received from my master.

I soon understood the situation. My new master, the Marquis Lloyd Whiteheart, was a widower. He had recently lost his wife after she died giving birth to his son, Aoban. Now left without a mother and too busy to raise him by himself, he asked me to take care of the child instead.

I didn't understand. It didn't make any sense. He could've asked anyone else. A nursemaid, a servant… Anyone human. Why would he ask me, an elf, to take care of a human child? Because of their rarity, elves slaves are expensive. There was just no way that the Lord had purchased me just in order for me to play the nanny. He must have had something else in mind and I did not trust him. But it didn't matter. He was my master and it was his order. Besides, no matter how sly humans may be, the child was innocent. He had yet to be corrupted by his people.

Eventually, I met a young cat-boy. Just like me, he was a slave of the family. Because we were both in the same situation, I thought we could get along. But no matter how hard I tried, the boy would never open himself to me. I soon understood that, unlike me, he was born a slave. Conditioned to his position from the start, he was loyal to his masters, no matter how bad they treated him. So he saw me, who was craving for freedom, as a threat.

As time passed, I learnt that the Master wasn't a bad person. He was very different from what I've been told about humans. He was actually a decent man. My life as a slave wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't for his relatives. No… If it wasn't for everyone else. Besides him, everyone was treating me as the lowly slave I was. He was my only ally. Maybe because we both lost someone dear to us, but I eventually opened my heart to him. He even gave me back my freedom. I could've chosen to leave but I didn't. My place was at his side. He and his son had already become my new family.

But things change. One night, there was an assassination attempt. With most of the member of the family absents, the targets were clear: the Lord Lloyd and his son Aoban. Most of the guards weren't here that day, we were easily overwhelmed. Following the Marquis' wish, I fled the house together with his son, to put him in security. But I never came back. The word that the Lord went missing after the incident quickly spread. Without my only protector, there was nothing else for me in that mansion, so I fled.

To protect the child Lord Lloyd had entrusted me with and the growing life within me, I ran away as far as possible from that family. Still, it wasn't enough. They found us again and this time, there was no escape.