The couple, Marcus and Elena Hale, fugitives, finally arrived at the city of Aurivale, the Human Kingdom of Thaloria, where the midwife, Marella, resided, and navigated towards the downtown shacks, arriving at a mundane-looking house.
Elena banged three times, waited a few seconds, then knocked twice more, as if following a code. The door finally swung open, and a middle-aged woman burst out, eyes bright with excitement. "Elena, how long has it been?" she exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug. Marcus stayed alert, surveying the surroundings for any attackers or trackers. The woman ushered them inside, and Elena was led to the inner room, where she finally lay down, able to let go and feel at peace with the world once more.
"What… happened? Where am I? Didn't that damned dagger pierce my chest just as I was about to condense a sliver of unknown essence? Why are my hands so small and weak? Who is this woman holding me? Who has that potent sword law outside? Huh? Why is this white-haired woman smiling? NGU… NGA… NGU? Huh? Why can't I speak?"
The newborn's torrent of thought questions fell silent as Elena finally cradled him in her arms. "You will be Austin Hale, my third child and second son. I'm finally happy to meet you."
Puzzled by the sudden turn of events, the newly born Austin Hale was utterly shocked and even felt fear. As a Supreme who had never feared even at death's door, this was a foreign sensation. Marcus Hale entered and gently snatched the baby from Elena. "You must be a swordsman. I will make sure of it. Your older brother and sister refused, now you will pay for it," he said teasingly, a wide smile plastered on his face, which was rare. Marcus had lived a hard life for ten years, after he led his family forces on an expedition to hunt high humans, only to instead massacre his forces, save and elope with the high human saintess, eluding the higher powers of all seven human kingdoms.
"No, he will be an alchemist. I can already sense an immense amount of mana within him. He absorbed more than half of my mana, hmp! I will teach him alchemy!!" Elena retorted defiantly."Okay, okay. He can learn both swordsmanship and alchemy, right, Austin?" his father asked with an eager tone.