The ground, in a constant state of movement, was a stark reminder of the evolving Elan curse. Merin, however, had grown accustomed to these tremors, which appeared sporadically over the next month. For most of Habrin, this was a clear sign of the curse's evolution. A threat that now loomed due to Febris being cured in many citizens.

Merin didn't care about any of that. If the Elan curse could hurt Habrin in a new way she would be the target, not the ground. The ground wasn't going around healing people.

So Merin put those superstitions aside and kept healing those broken and sick from Febris. That didn't eat up much of her time because the ointment she passed out to treat people didn't need her at the helm. Merin wanted to maintain her anonymity while aiding people, and so far, so good.

Her favorite time of the week was her meetings with the other ladies. They'd moved locations to a nicer building that Merin put Zoltan to work sprucing up.

That was how the latest set of tremors found Merin. She was relaxing through a hand massage by Garnet. Like Merin, everyone was used to these little outbursts from Mother Nature, and no one stopped what they were doing.

Merin looked at the splendid decorations and the ladies that she'd come to know. There were fresh faces, too, like some of the older men she'd healed personally with the ointment.

Adem and Altan were charming older men who captured the favor of most of the ladies in the group. They also helped serve as lookouts, which came in handy when the meetings were discovered.

Adem was crippled from Febris, and he lost the use of his arms. He was left without eyes, as in all severe cases of Febris. Adem lost the use of one of his legs and could only hobble about. After Merin healed him, his tiny, broken form allowed him to stand tall. He'd proudly maintained his black hair in a braid even at his worst. His restored eyes brought back orange pupils, unlike anything she'd ever seen.

Altan was one of them. He was once the worst case of Febris she had ever seen. He had no eyes, muscles, or sores that hosted the ugliest, strangest bugs she'd ever seen. Merin had to use her magic to push them out of his body so it could be cleansed and cured. Altan was a tall man, and with his body restored, he'd manage to regain muscles and usage of his body. His dark eyes matched his short black hair.

The two men were the grandfathers Merin had never had the chance to have. They helped escort her around the backstreets because they knew the capital. They also knew the best food stalls and ways to create banana butter. Banana butter was still Merin's go-to food accessory. Still, the longer her pregnancy dragged on, the more she avoided food.

Before Merin could finish her hand massage, she was dragged away by Letha.

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Merin watched as Letha packed up all of their stuff and started to usher her out the door. Their trip came to an end when the small tremors started ripping cracks into the ground.

Pandemonium erupted as panic and fear overrode the logic of everyone present.

Merin could feel her stomach cramp, and she winced. It wasn't the first time she'd felt pain during the last slump of her pregnancy. She'd grown used to ignoring them.

Opening her eyes, she spotted a familiar man wearing a strange purple outfit.

"Mordecai!" She shouted his name, and he winked at her before sprinting away.

Before Merin could stop her feet, she dashed down the alleyway to chase after him. She lost Letha in the chaos of it all.

He didn't go very far. Merin bet he planned on her chasing him. The cocky man rolled a gold coin across his knuckles as he laughed at her. His back was to the end of the alleyway, but his posture showed he was in control.

"Looks like you're about ready to pop." He said.

Merin recalled Red's suspicions. Red said he regretted not having time during the labyrinthine trials to confront Mordecai.

Merin had the time now, "Why does it matter to you that I have children?" She said. "Who is Caelestis to you?"

Mordecai's expression remained neutral as he casually flipped the coin in the air. He caught it on its way down and glanced at it. When he was done with that, the coin disappeared. In its place was a leather bag of nuts.

He started munching on them, and when he opened his mouth to speak, flecks of food fell out. "Caelestis' line must continue. That is all you need to know." He said.

"There has to be more to it than that," Merin said.

"There is, but you've forgotten, and I don't have to tell you jackshit," Mordecai said.

"Are we related?" Merin said. Red's theory of Mordecai being a relative was a strong one. She set aside the fact that Mordecai said she had forgotten. There were a lot of years that were a blur, but maybe more happened during that time.

Mordecai's burning eyes glowed hot at her words, and his lips pulled back into a smug sneer. "Out of all the worlds and creatures I've met, I hate Caelestis more than any other. She died before she could pay me back, and you don't get to end her line because of your sanctimonious crap. As I have, she must suffer. Your kin will take that place of suffering for her."

Merin could feel her throat dry up as another contraction timed poorly, with a ground tremor shook her body.

When she finally had her bearings, she wet her lips and said, "What did Caelestis do to you?"

"I'll be back after your third kid is born, Merindah. I'll be taking something from you when I do. It won't be Acuzio. That little shit has chosen to stay here because he never gave up on bringing Caelestis and me back together." Mordecai said with disdain, oozing off his voice. "He should have realized she left him too."

Mordecai tossed a nut at her face. Merin didn't have time to block it because another contraction hit. She endured, and when she opened her eyes, Mordecai was gone.

"I think the tremors are my fault," Merin said as her face turned red with shame. Letha tracked her down and helped her return to their temporary home.

A midwife Reu trusted to aid her was trying to get her to relax. It was impossible to relax because each wave rocking her body tore at the ground.

Mordecai said she would have three kids? How was that possible? Could she go through this three more times?

A strange juice was forced down her throat, and Merin spent the rest of her labor peacefully numb to the fact that she was giving birth. The gender of her kid, Mordecai, the possible baby thief, and Red not being around were erased.