19683 The 2nd Spring
Iainos, Kayel, and Librea watch over the world of Aelion as their little playground descends into chaos once more. More than five centuries have passed since the Crimson Comet last crested the skies over Aelion and its very presence causes nature to rebel violently and the mana to surge in every corner of the world yet again.
Plants devour anything in their path to fuel their arcane-driven growth, life mana empowering them like a vile drug, and the fauna isn’t spared either, an abundance of energy giving birth to more and stronger beasts while making the existing ones go rabid. The catastrophe washes over the civilized lands causing waves of refugees to travel towards large cities with walls in search of safety animals fleeing the inferno.
“Finally an end to this boring stagnancy.” Booms a deep male voice filled with glee, the God of Chaos and Change Kayel. “Look at them panic and throw their childish values aside, we shaped them with instincts to use, not to repress.”
“The disgusting sight of your meddling brings joy to you and you only. Preaching about creation when its opposite is the only thing you find entertaining.” Snorts his brother Iainos the God of Order and Destiny.
“It was inevitable.” Librea, Goddess of Balance, sighs in a soft voice, anticipating great entertainment. “The stage is set and pieces are on the move, only the outcome remains to be seen.”
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The ominous anomaly shining down on the entire world brought headless confusion as people could only guess whether it was a sign from angered Gods or a rare magical phenomenon. Whether the world is coming to an end or what they’re seeing is nothing more than a weird but passing spectacle.
The terrified couple watching it from their home on the other hand knows exactly what the arrival of the foreshadows. The eerie Crimson glow shines down on the land, on the poor mortals, making its presence known, like a lighthouse illuminating the shores.
“Luna, tell me my eyes are failing me, is that what I think it is? Your elders told the tales-” Lucious, an elf with their natural charm, emerald green eyes and dirty blond hair mumbles in disbelief.
“What the hell do you mean ‘is that what I think it is?’ Are you fucking blind or what?” The woman snaps. “Yes that’s the Comet and we need to start packing, right fucking now so quit gawking if you want us to live!” Demands Luna.
For a woman, she’s considered tall with deep blue eyes and chestnut hair, for the moment at least. Her body is a testament to the physically demanding life she lived with the most eye-catching feature being her huge belly. A child is expected any day now.
She packs with haste, taking only the bare minimum and most necessary to their journey to the closest large city nearby, Megaris. It will take them half a day by horse if everything goes smoothly, however, another matter gnawing at their heart besides the dangers ahead of them.
If we spread the news panic will break out, then we won't have a chance to get the horses, any horse for that matter. There must be others who have realized the meaning of what we see, there have to be. We must hurry, if we don't make it to safety fast enough, we will be vulnerable when my little bubble decides to come out.
Swallowing the guilt deep down by the force of maternal and survival instincts to save themselves is the final conclusion. If signing the death warrant of thousands of lives is the cost of having her child in safety then so be it.
Luna turns to her husband. “Go and secure us horses at double the price if you must, I’ll meet you there!” She gives a quick peck to her man and continues the furious packing. “It's only a matter of hours before the mana levels start to rise and waves the size of a mountain wash these shores away. I’d rather try my luck against a horde of beasts than Aelion herself.”
Her husband stays motionless with a war of emotions on his face. “What if we just told a few? Or told them right before we departed? It’s their doom and…” He chokes on his words, unable to determine what is right.
“You think I don't know?” Luna chuckles with dark eyes. “We’re talking about our neighbors, colleagues, hell might even call them friends, but then they’ll spread it to their own loved ones and so on. It would spread like a disease of panic. Panic that would only hinder us. Besides, they might not even believe us if we told them the whole truth.” She cups her husband's face with her hands and looks at him desperately. “Please…”
The man swallows heavily and nods. He pulls on his boots and takes the pack Luna prepared heading towards the southern gate in a rush. Both Luna and he need a rock to lean on now more than ever, as the world is about to collapse around them. They need to stay strong for each other.
Luna stays back and grabs a few batches of clothes, two waterskins, plenty of rations, and all their small valuables stuffing them into a big bag. One last glance at their cozy yet stylish apartment, where their love blossomed, before following her man. She lets worry wash away those memories just like the house was soon to be swallowed by the sea.
She hurries through the city, or at least tries to as much as her large belly allows, and despite putting points generously into Might it feels like carrying an entire horse after sprinting all day. Navigating the streets during the midday rush has always been challenging yet life seems to have stopped right now as everyone stares at the unusual sight with an entire rainbow of emotions visible on many faces.
A young lady steps in front of Luna with a desperate look while chewing her nails. “E-excuse me, do you know what that red thing is? Is it something bad, a curse? Please? I-I-I’m sorry to bother you, uhm… ah, you seem to be in a hurry so I thought you might have an idea what’s happening.”
Luna puts a strained smile on her face as lying is not her strong suit. “I have never seen something like that. It sure looks pretty, even so, I think it's best to be cautious so I'm hurrying to my husband.” Half-truths are the best lies. “Stay safe!” She shouts back to the woman with razor-sharp intuition before rounding the corner.
Just minutes before reaching the stables people begin to wake from their stunned stupor, the streets now resembling a stirred ants nest. The first thoughts of ordinary people are to secure their families and to look for guidance before they storm the guards, the church and even the governor himself, looking for answers.
Arriving at the stables a few minutes later she finds her man standing there with two horses. A long line is snaking beside him, people pushing each other on their way to secure their mode of transport. Travelers hurrying home, insiders like them fleeing while they can or simply people on any other business, not that it matters anymore.
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[Horse lvl 82]
[Horse lvl 76]
“Thank the Gods you got them, they might last the whole journey.” Luna says before taking two potions out of her bag. “Ready?”
Receiving a nod they both feed the potions of haste to their steeds. The horses' nostrils flare and their eyes widen, neighing in surprise they can feel their bodies tremble as the magic heats the muscles and doubles their heart rate. Wasting no time they hop on and gallop southwest.
***
The first stretch of the journey was largely uneventful, as expected. They dashed past some traveling merchants or other wanderers, people almost guaranteed to perish out here, before faced with the first beast. With both their levels well into the 200s the smaller critters stumbling onto the paved road posed no threat and were simply ran over by the horses.
Riding for four hours straight exhausted their mounts as it did the bodies of their riders. The liquid they'd poured down the horses’ throats had long worn off and as a side effect, their bodies were showing clear signs of dawning exhaustion. Nothing another round wouldn’t solve, paired with stamina potions filled with life mana to keep them going. As daylight burned things got more heated with the number of beasts bursting out of the wood increasing and as if driven by something they threw themselves at anything alive with reckless abandon, lacking any regard for their own life.
As a result of the dozen gold coins worth of potions, they'd used over the length of the flight, they'd cut their journey down to eight hours, although the horses collapsed not far from Megaris. Hopefully, the poor creatures die from exhaustion before anything can tear them apart while they're still breathing.
The outlines of the city are now peeking over the horizon with its tall, sturdy stone walls meant to resist sieges by men and nature alike. Towers hulking even taller, standing defiant under the combined light of the moon and the Comet signal that the city is still standing. There’s no guarantee it’ll be able to hold back the gathering monster tide but their chances are far greater here than back in their hometown of Modicia.
“Give me your baggage!” Lucious reaches out for his wife's burden. “We’re close, a last sprint and we’re at the gates. We can do this.” He encourages with his heart racing in his ears.
They can hear it. The sounds of mayhem. It might only be a short stretch but without a doubt the most difficult one.
Luna’s been breathing heavily for the last two hours, the journey clearly straining her burdened body.
She gives a tired nod “Don't you underestimate me, I can still beat your ass. Just a short ten-minute jog.” She says, acting strong while looking the opposite.
Ten minutes while feeling like I'm bursting apart. Just be patient a little longer my baby, we’re almost there. She glances at her belly with a loving smile then throws her bag to her husband and starts running.
Generally this close to a large settlement the monster population is kept quite low. Right now the creatures small and large alike swarm around the towering stone walls, drawn to the feast and large concentration of mana taking refuge inside. The gates are tightly shut and the guards rain down destruction on the tide below. The average level of the beasts is quite high at nearly 150 which means even the dwellers of the deeper forests must’ve crawled forth. The attackers don’t just target the humans, oh no, they fight each other as well, making the last stretch before them hell upon Aelion. The ground shines red under the moonlight, claws meeting skin, teeth sinking into flesh.
“Don’t stop Luna, I’ll clear the way,” Luscious says, bolting forward with determination burning in his eyes and he starts mowing through the battlefield.
Luna’s bordering on passing out, still she gathers every last ounce of her strength and sprints after her husband. The monsters lash out for them but they don't need to kill any, as the goal is just to make it through, not slaughter. Lucious slashes, kicks and even headbutts their attacks to keep them away from his wife. Luna also flings a few ice spears and shards at them to help out as magic burdens the mind and not the body.
They are about to reach the wall when Luna collapses, her breathing labored and eyes glazy. A Direwolf sees the opportunity, a weak and defenseless lump of meat. It jumps at the easy prey.
The elf fighting off multiple attackers reacts almost too late, punching towards the wolf's head but the beast notices it, deciding to bite the arm instead.
“Lucious!” Luna cries out as the man screams in pain.
Fueled by emotions and desperation her eyes turn purple and a blast of ice coats their surroundings in a large radius. Icicles over the wolf’s fur and feet yet the beast refuses to let go. Lucious kicks and slashes and still it remains adamant even at death's door.
Other monsters are about to converge on them, the husband’s face turns determined and with a heart-wrenching warcry, he cuts off his arm at the elbow to free himself. He quickly helps his wife up, while the adrenalin still enables him to do what he must and they manage to reach the foot of the wall.
“M-my dear,” Sobs Luna. “I'm so sorry, your arm-” Luna consoles through her tears, seeing him in great pain. He's not a greenhorn and had his fair share of wounds but losing an arm is losing a godsdamned arm.
“Not now, get us up there, QUICK!” He hisses through clenched teeth.
The air freezes around Luna and she feels her veins turn icy as a large amount of mana pours out of her. A pillar of ice lifts them in the air and keeps rising towards the top of the wall. The soldiers who tried to provide cover fire blink in surprise at the ingenious escape, before they help them over as they reach the top. Their solution to getting over is a bit unusual but it ain’t stupid if it works. They quickly call for a healer and guide the exhausted couple to the other refugees. The other tens of thousands of people seeking shelter here, the ones lucky enough to make it.
***
As the day continued the sounds of the carnage outside of the city’s perimeters never stopped, sometimes even the earth quaked as beasts too big tried to force their way through.
Luna remained bedridden for the rest of the day, the high-intensity escapade taking a toll on her body. The local healer was capable enough to restore Lucious’s arm for the hefty price of two gold coins as the wound wasn't too old.
At around noon the next day, Lucious hears his wife howl in pain, a sound that makes the blood freeze in his veins.
“Luna, what happened?” He rushes over in panic and sees the woman heaving on the bed, the blankets underneath her soaking wet.
“The baby,” huff. “the baby’s coming. Bring,” URGH, “water and get someone to help, NOW!” She manages to whisper before screaming again.
Hardly is there a less fortunate time to come to the world, nature however doesn't wait even if the mother is exhausted and the world seems like it’s ending around them.
Six long hours later the screams finally fade, and another equally as loud but higher-pitched one takes its place. The little girl cries as loud as a banshee in the loving embrace of her mother, bloody and confused.
Luna looks at the newborn with beautiful motherly love on her tired face. “A child of an elf and a celestial.“ She chuckles. “She's the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, even if she resembles a purple little goblin. Have you thought of a name already?” She asks the proud new father.
His usual elven coldness and high nose are melted by tears. A wide goofy smile and snot covering his entire face.
“Elyssia,” The man says, choking on his words. “Our little Elyssia.”