"Well, it's time," Ravada said, making Yuomo's soul vanish and sending him to this new world.
As this happened in the Bardios realm of Novaraser, a flurry of commotion echoed through the palace like hurried whispers. Maids darted back and forth, slipping in and out of an enormous red door carved with intricate golden floral motifs. Their hurried footsteps tapped against the polished marble floor, creating a nervous rhythm that seemed to vibrate through the tension-filled air.
"It's time! She's gone into labor!" announced an older woman, her wrinkles etched with years of experience. It was clear she was in charge; her firm, authoritative voice cut through the chaos like a sharp blade. The maids moved around her, bringing soft blankets, warm water in ceramic pitchers, and clean cloths imbued with a faint lavender scent.
The midwife entered the room, where a woman with light lilac hair lay reclined on white silk sheets. Her face, though weary, radiated an ethereal beauty, as if she were part of the very light streaming through the tall windows. The midwife calmly but firmly instructed her to push.
Time seemed to stand still as the midwife watched intently. The newborn's head began to emerge slowly, bathed in the pearlescent sheen of the mother's sweat. But something wasn't right. There was no cry. No sound broke the expectant silence filling the room. With trembling hands, the midwife finished delivering the baby and cut the umbilical cord. She gently patted the baby's back, hoping for some sign of life—but nothing happened. The tiny body remained motionless, fragile and pale under the soft golden light filtering through the curtains.
The mother, exhausted yet radiant, looked anxiously toward her child. Her eyes shimmered with a mix of love and maternal curiosity.
"What is it? Is everything all right?" she asked in a weak but sweet voice, still recovering from the titanic effort she had endured for hours.
The midwife swallowed hard, her mind searching for the right words. She didn't know how to tell her lady that her son… hadn't survived. Finally, she chose to reveal only part of the truth.
"It's a boy, my lady," she said in a barely audible voice, forcing a gentle smile that didn't reach her worried eyes.
The woman extended her arms delicately, asking to see her child. A shiver ran down the midwife's spine. She feared what might happen when her lady realized the truth. Still, she wrapped the little one in a blanket embroidered with silver threads and handed him over with utmost care.
The mother cradled the baby against her chest, oblivious to the lack of movement or sound. With a voice as warm as a spring breeze, she whispered:
"Welcome to life… welcome to Novaraser, my son."
Her expression was pure happiness, illuminated by that instinctive love only a mother could feel. The midwife watched with a heavy heart, wondering if perhaps the sedatives administered during childbirth had dulled the woman's senses. She wrestled with whether to reveal the harsh truth or keep the secret when suddenly, an imposing figure burst into the room.
The seven maids present knelt in unison, bowing their heads until their foreheads nearly touched the floor.
"Your Majesty!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices resonating like a reverent hymn.
"Hello," said the handsome young man who had just entered, dressed in a regal gold-embroidered suit and wearing a gleaming crown atop his head. He was Prince Balniac, heir to the throne of Bardios, the principal kingdom of the world Novaraser. Upon seeing the woman lying on the bed—his wife, Princess Eleonor—he quickly approached with a mix of concern and joy reflected in his blue eyes.
"My dear Eleonor, our son has finally been born," he said warmly, taking her hand gently. The princess, still exhausted and slightly disoriented from the effects of the sedatives, responded with a faint smile.
"Yes… Come see him, your firstborn. What name will you give him?"
The midwife, Ruth, tried to intervene before the prince could approach the baby. Her wrinkled face was pale, and her hands trembled as she held the tiny body wrapped in embroidered blankets. But before she could say anything, another figure burst into the room, interrupting the moment with urgency.
"My lord Balniac! We're under attack!" shouted a tall, robust man clad in silver armor that shimmered under the dim light. It was General Andros, leader of the kingdom's military forces.
The prince turned abruptly, his expression shifting from happiness to concern in an instant.
"What is happening, my general?" Balniac asked, though his tone revealed he already knew enough to feel fear. Still, his gaze remained torn between his duty to his kingdom and his longing to see his son for the first time.
"My lord, we are being attacked by the demon hordes of the Dark King," Andros replied gravely, his voice resonating like a war drum. "I do not know how they managed to infiltrate, but they have already surrounded the entire kingdom. The knights of the realm are holding their ground, and your father leads the front line."
Balniac clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He thought of his father, the elderly king, facing the dark forces on the front lines, risking everything to protect the kingdom.
"My father! You mean the king… That stubborn old man shouldn't be on the front lines. He'll need my help," Balniac muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. Then, he cast one last glance at the bundle in Eleonor's arms. Though he wanted to stay and meet the child, he knew his duty was to defend the future of his family and his people.
"I'll name him later," he said finally, completely unaware of the terrible truth Ruth silently concealed.
Before they could continue, an explosion violently shook the palace. One of the outer walls shattered into a thousand pieces, sending fragments of stone and dust flying across the room. The sound was deafening, like a bestial roar that filled the air with chaos and despair.
A horde of demons surged through the breach, their dark, deformed bodies moving with supernatural speed. Their glowing red eyes burned like embers, and their sharp claws glinted under the dim light. The prince and the general unsheathed their swords almost simultaneously, ready to face the threat.
"Protect the princess and my son!" Balniac ordered as he blocked the first attack from a demon with a swift and precise motion. The creatures advanced ferociously, their inhuman screams echoing through every corner of the room.
General Andros pointed to the maids, who remained paralyzed with fear.
"Take the princess to safety! Now!" he commanded authoritatively.
The maids sprang into action, wrapping Eleonor in a thick blanket and helping her to her feet. The princess was dizzy and could barely walk on her own, but she clutched the small bundle in her arms tightly, as if fearing something terrible might happen to it. Deep in her heart, a cold, inexplicable sensation began to grow, whispering to her that something was wrong with her child.
Meanwhile, the prince and the general fought bravely alongside a few guards who had stayed behind. Swords clashed against the demons' claws, creating sparks that briefly illuminated the chaotic scene. Each strike, each defense, was a desperate attempt to protect not only the kingdom but also the future represented by the tiny being wrapped in blankets.
Ruth, the midwife, watched everything from a corner, holding the secret that could change everything. She wanted to scream, to tell the prince there was no heir, that the child had been born lifeless. But there was no time for words. There was only time to act, to survive.
"Lady Ravada," a voice sounded behind the goddess. Ravada's serene figure remained still before her ethereal window.
"Ah, it's you!" she responded without turning, instantly recognizing the familiar presence. Her voice was calm but carried divine authority.
"Yes, it's me, your faithful servant Kao," he said, bowing slightly, though she did not see him. Kao was tense, his hands clenched at his sides, his face etched with worry. Ravada clearly sensed his anxiety without needing to look at him.
"Speak, Kao. I have no time for circumlocutions," Ravada commanded firmly but not unkindly.
"The kingdom of Bardios is under attack by an immense horde of demons, my lady. This… this was not foreseen in our oracles," Kao stammered, unable to hide his bewilderment.
Ravada frowned for the first time in centuries. She slowly turned to him, her eyes gleaming like distant stars as she processed the information.
"How is this possible?" she murmured, more to herself than to Kao. After a few moments of silent reflection, she asked, "What do you suggest we do? You know well that we cannot intervene directly."
Kao swallowed hard, aware of the limitations imposed by cosmic laws.
"If we do nothing, my lady, the flagship kingdom will fall. And if that happens, everything we have built could collapse along with it."
Ravada stared at him intently for a moment before offering a small, reassuring smile.
"I see. But fear not, Kao. I already have someone who will handle this," she declared with absolute confidence, deliberately leaving room for ambiguity.
Kao opened his mouth to ask more but decided to remain silent. Ravada's response only deepened his doubts, but he knew better than anyone that questioning the goddess rarely led to clear answers.
Simultaneously, in the kingdom of Bardios, chaos reigned. The streets were filled with blood-curdling screams and the deafening roar of infernal creatures. An endless horde of demons ravaged the city, led by gigantic monsters whose mere presence inspired absolute terror. Their scaly bodies glistened under the flames consuming the buildings, and their claws tore through everything in their path.
The king, a proud elderly man with silver hair and golden armor, personally led his troops into battle. Though exhausted, he wielded his sword with a ferocity that echoed the glory of bygone eras. Yet even he knew the situation was untenable. Soldiers fell one after another, and the castle's defenses began to crumble.
In the streets, citizens ran in terror, seeking refuge wherever they could find it. Some managed to hide in dark basements or abandoned warehouses, while others were not so lucky. Terrified, many were snatched by flying demons that swooped down from the sky, their black wings spread like deadly shadows.
Inside the palace, Prince Balniac and his few remaining men had taken refuge in a nearby room after barricading the entrance with heavy furniture and wooden planks. The air inside was thick with tension, mingled with the acrid smell of sweat and dust. The maids trembled in a corner, trying to comfort Princess Eleonor, who still held the small bundle wrapped in blankets close to her chest.
"That child of yours doesn't seem afraid," Andros remarked, momentarily breaking the silence. His voice carried a tone of surprise, almost admiration, as he noticed the baby hadn't uttered a single cry despite the chaos surrounding them.
Balniac offered a weak smile, though his eyes remained fixed on the makeshift barricade barely holding the demons at bay.
"Yes, it seems so… He'll make a fine king when he ascends the throne, I believe," he replied with pride.
Andros exchanged a meaningful glance with the prince.
"You haven't named him yet, have you?" the general asked, his voice low but laden with intent.
Balniac shook his head, avoiding looking at his wife.
"I haven't had time… with these demons threatening the kingdom," he admitted finally, his voice barely audible.
Eleonor, still weak and dizzy, lifted her gaze toward her husband. Despite her mental confusion, something within her grasped the gravity of the moment.
"If this is to be our final moment… You must give him a name," she whispered tenderly, though every word seemed to cost her a superhuman effort.
Balniac looked at her, his heart squeezed by a mixture of love and guilt. He wanted to tell her not to strain herself, to rest, but he knew no words could ease the weight of the inevitable.
Ruth, seeing there was no escape and that the demons were about to break through the door, made a desperate decision. She knew it was better to tell the prince the truth before they all perished, before they faced their final fate without knowing the reality.
"My lord… Your son…" she began, her voice trembling, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, her wrinkled face reflecting years of accumulated experience and pain. But before she could finish the sentence, a loud cry rang out in the room.
The sound was unexpected, almost impossible. Ruth froze, her mind struggling to comprehend what was happening. She had been certain the child had no heartbeat, no signs of life. And yet, there it was—a sharp, powerful cry that seemed to vibrate in every corner of the room.
The demons finally burst in, smashing the makeshift barricade with brutal force. The remaining soldiers fell quickly under their sharp claws, leaving only Prince Balniac and General Andros surrounded by an endless horde of infernal creatures. One of the demons leapt toward the maids, gravely injuring them as it tried to reach the tiny infant wrapped in blankets.
But before it could touch the baby, he cried out again.
This time, something extraordinary happened. A golden glow emanated from the tiny body, expanding like a silent yet devastating explosion. The light was so intense that it illuminated the entire room, making every particle of dust visible in the air. Walls and ceiling crumbled under the pressure of that powerful aura, and the nearest demons were instantly consumed by the searing heat. It was as if the sun itself had descended to Earth, purifying everything in its path.
The surviving demons fled in terror, abandoning the kingdom amidst inhuman screams and frantic wingbeats. The aura continued to grow, spreading beyond the palace boundaries until it covered all of Bardios. Every dark creature touched by that light was reduced to ashes within seconds. Finally, when the last demon vanished, the glow began to fade slowly, leaving behind an absolute silence.
At the heart of the now-pacified chaos, everyone gazed at the child in awe. Ruth, still incredulous, thought to herself: Could this child be a miracle sent by our goddess? Her mind struggled to find a logical explanation, but none seemed to fit what she had just witnessed.
Prince Balniac slowly approached his wife, who still held the baby close to her chest. The infant, now calm, radiated a serene peace that contrasted with the magnitude of the power he had just unleashed. Princess Eleonor looked at her husband with eyes shining with emotion and renewed hope.
"You must give our son a name," she said softly but firmly.
Balniac gazed at the child for a moment, feeling his heart swell with pride and admiration. This tiny being, born under such strange circumstances and surrounded by mystery, had already proven to be far more than anyone could have imagined.
"Welcome, my dear Arios," he finally pronounced, choosing a name that resonated with strength and greatness.
The princess liked the name and looked at her son with a radiant smile.
"Welcome to Novaraser, my son," she whispered, her voice filled with love and devotion.
Those words, spoken with reverence, sealed the child's arrival into this new world, marking the beginning of a journey that promised to be both unknown and transformative.
On another plane of existence, Ravada and Kao observed the events from their ethereal window. Kao, still amazed by what had just occurred, looked at Ravada with curiosity.
"That's what you meant, my lady," he said, trying to hide his astonishment behind a mask of formality.
Ravada, calmly taking a sip of tea, made a slight affirmative sound, as if confirming something obvious. But inside, her thoughts revolved around one idea:
I hope you can handle this, Yuomo… No, Arios.