[XASTOL CITY, IVAN MURONG RESIDENCE — ELEVEN YEARS AGO]

In the middle of a messy living room, a young woman with hazel curls kicked and screamed for air. The couches had been pushed against the shelves and cracked the interior plants near the walls to give her enough space to breathe. By her side knelt a short, middle-aged man with rich brown hair who tightly clutched her hand and assisted her contractions. Every inhale felt like dirty needles stabbing her stomach and spreading its dark bacteria through her uterus. She could only focus with the help of the rhythmic flickers of a dim hammer lantern that hung from the ceiling above her head. Her husband had designed the lamp to ease her.

Luckily, their home was quite a ways removed from others in the neighborhood, so even though her screams were painful, not many could hear them. That being said, it wasn’t as if anyone would care either way. This woman was a human living in Xastol City. The first and only to ever be afforded that luxury. She and her husband were scorned by others for their mockery of traditional values. Needless to say: no one would care to help.

“I-Ivan…” she wheezed, bracing for another contraction. For the man by her side, each second was like an eternity of fear. He could do nothing but pray she could handle it.

Suddenly, a bright golden glow of energy shone from her belly. It had happened several times already and seemed to grow stronger with every push. She squeezed Ivan’s hand, whispering, “The baby… You must promise me…”

“Shh, shh!” He urged through tears. “You’ll be fine, Gwentyn! Please, just breathe!”

She nodded as sweat caked her brow and tightened her grip around his hands as she pushed. He’d prepared special clothing that would help her through labor today. It’d been something they both joked that he had overprepared for, but now… Something was definitely wrong. Nearly twenty hours have passed, Ivan fretted, Why is she still—

“Ahng–” Gwentyn panted, letting out one final shout. Ivan’s attention snapped back towards her legs. The pressure in her stomach slowly subsided as they were greeted with a surprise: A young, wailing voice afraid of the cold air he’d been exposed to.

“… H-He’s here..” Ivan stammered. He rushed to grab the infant and wrapped its body gently with a small blanket. “Gwentyn, he’s here!” he said again, almost as if he didn’t believe it.

Though her breathing remained ragged, Gwentyn released a sigh of relief and slowly accepted the sobbing baby from his father’s hands. "Hush… shh… there there, little one. It’s alright — Mommy’s got you.”

“H-He's perfect," she smiled, kissing the baby’s forehead. "Gwentyn, don't talk! Conserve your energy! Please!" Ivan begged.

"It-It's okay, I want to... talk to him... while I still have the strength."

Ivan’s lip trembled but he understood. He slowly nodded and turned his attention back to the child. He had calmed down in his mother’s hand and was beginning to fall asleep.

"Look at him, Ivan. He’s so, so beautiful." She wept. "Our son — Our blood. Human… and dwarf! He’s here because of us! Despite what the others told you!"

Ivan ran his hand through her hair and sniffled softly. “He’ll never be accepted, though, will he?” he asked shakily. “They’ll shun him.”

Gwentyn weakly lifted the baby off of her chest and closer to the candlelight to better see his pudgy features. "He's finally here, Ivan," she said, looking into his caramel eyes. “It doesn’t matter what the others think of him. He’s alive. He… will get to live a life. He’ll get to choose what he wants because he is free to choose it. No one can ever take that away from him.”

She brought him back down gingerly and put his forehead against hers. "Isn’t that right? My little Hidemi."

-------🅰🆂🅷🅵🅸🅴🅻🅳-------

[THE ABANDONED FOREST, JACENDER AND ALEXIMUS'S SHACK — PRESENT DAY]

Hidemi's face was a mixture of both surprise and fright. The temple the boys had “refurbished” into a homey shack, was reminiscent to that of a homeless shelter. Scattered wooden spoons and knives were littered around the floor with two pots and panes which were stained with wet spots due to a leak in the ceiling caused by the rain showers a few days prior. In the far corner of the shack, splashes of what Hidemi hoped were mud, stained the crook and seeped low into the floorboards. Its odor was pungent.

"Ah," he gulped, taking a step back. He began to wonder if he was in over his head falling in with these strange boys. Perhaps his chances would have been better back at the wall.

"What's the matter Hidemi?" Jace asked. He noticed the boys’ eyes on the black "mud" and smirked deviously. To Hidemi’s horror, the boy dipped his hand into the dark substance and approached him with a sinister grin. “Gehehe!”

A crazed howl escaped Hidemi’s lips as he bolted away. Jace gave chase, laughing gleefully with the substance plastered all over his fingers. “Get over here!”

Hidemi ducked behind trees, tossed small rocks and branches he found along the way behind him, and squealed for Aleximus to do something with hand signs. Aleximus watched on unimpressed but grew increasingly annoyed at their buffoonery. "Oi, you two..." he said as they ran past him.

BONK!

He dive-kicked into Jacender’s chest and sent his brother sprawling into a nearby tree. "Cut it out!"

Hidemi, who wasn’t privy to the boys’ relationship, flinched, under the fear that Aleximus had killed his brother. Naturally, fearing he'd be next, he turned and prepared himself to run. But when he saw Jacender bounce back up, his mouth fell open in disbelief.

“Ow, what was that for…” the white-haired boy groaned.

Aleximus scoffed, shouting, “Stop playing around!” and crossed his arms. “Did you forget what we’re here for? We’re not his friends, remember? You’re wasting time!"

A look of dejection flashed across Hidemi’s face but he masked it with a smile. "Fine." Jacender relented. He muttered something under his breath about Aleximus being a “fun” killer, but Hidemi pretended not to see it to save him the torment of his brother’s wrath.

Jace walked into the temple-shack and picked up a wet rag near the pots. "But we don't even know if he can teach us," he complained as he wiped the muck from his fingers.

"Only one way to find out." Aleximus shrugged. “Hidemi… Since we saved you, you owe us a favor, got it?”

Hidemi’s eyes lowered. Of course, he thought. They didn’t know him and had no reason to help him without anything in return. Who was he to expect differently?

His expression tightened with a nod.

Though Aleximus observed the change, he didn’t care to console him.

“We need you to teach us about Sanctum Energy.”

-------🅰🆂🅷🅵🅸🅴🅻🅳-------

[XASTOL CITY, IVAN MURONG RESIDENCE, MASTER BEDROOM — TWELVE YEARS AGO]

"He has your eyes." Gwentyn smiled. She was standing now, if only barely, with her eyes on her child. She handed the baby to Ivan, her expression softening with every look at his peaceful face. They had retreated to the bedroom so she could rest.

Ivan placed the baby in a small crib, fastening him carefully so as to not wake him up, and pressed on a tiny switch at the top. Soft music faded in as the crib started to gently rock back and forth, keeping the baby fast asleep.

"Guess that means he'll be quite the charmer when he grows up, no?" he responded, grabbing a steaming teapot from a nearby desk. Underneath it was a black, scalding rock with a marking that read “Дөл”.

"Charmer?" Gwentyn snickered, "Well, that remains to be seen."

Ivan chuckled and grabbed a cup, pouring her some of the medicinal tea. “Here, drink this.”

She took a quick sip before hacking violently into her hand. "Gwentyn!" Ivan cried, grabbing onto her. A clot of blood had formed in her throat and been expelled into her palm. He helped her sit on the floor and used his sleeve to wipe it off.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Damn it all, where is Davaa?!" he shook, keeping his eyes peeled onto the door. “She was supposed to be here before you gave birth! You need treatment!”

Hidemi, startled by the commotion, awoke with a frightened scream.

"N-No! Hidemi, don’t cry…” Gwentyn pleaded weakly. “It’ll be okay!”

She turned to Ivan with fear in her eyes. "Is Davaa not coming...?"

“She… She should have been here over an hour ago…” he began. “She said she would be summoned by the council today to—”

A realization struck him like hot iron. She's not coming!

A glow of gold came off his shoulders and shook the ground beneath him. "You damn bastards..." he whispered, grinding his teeth. "Does your humiliation know no bounds?! To risk my family’s health..?!"

Gwentyn threw her arms around him and yelled, “Ivan!”, to calm him down.

“Please stop it! There’s no use in getting angry! What’s done is done…”

“But, Gwentyn!” he started. Gwentyn shook her head and rested against his back. “It’s not worth it anymore… Think about Hidemi… Please…”

Ivan struggled to compose himself. She was correct, but he had no idea how much longer he could carry this humiliation. He slowly withdrew his Sanctum Energy and turned to her. “I–I’m sorry… You’re unwell. You shouldn’t be having to calm me down.”

He leaned down and helped her to her feet, propping her against the bed with a clear view of Hidemi's crib.

Ivan pressed the button on the crib again so it would rock him back to sleep and pulled a large sheet from his bed to wrap it around Gwentyn’s body.

"No more,” he muttered to himself. “I swear it, no more."

His eyes were red and tired from the crying, but they hadn’t yet dried. Gwentyn could tell with a glance how much he was suffering. She gingerly placed her hand on his thigh.

"After today, we leave.” he sniffled. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to reassure her or himself, but his mind was set. “The church’s detention be damned! My child will not live amongst these animals. Neither of you deserves to suffer any longer."

A silence settled between them for a few moments before Gwentyn pointed weakly at the sleeping baby. "Do you know what I love about him? Aside from his cute face?"

Ivan didn’t answer.

"His eyes,” She continued softly. “They're... pure. Just like yours."

Ivan tried to interrupt but his voice faltered. "G-Gwentyn, I can’t. Please don’t—"

"—Your eyes were always what I liked about you.” his wife continued. She closed her eyes and smiled. “Do you remember the first time you confessed to me?”

Ivan couldn’t look at her. “During the festival — when Matsuda’s brother was elected, remember?” She thought back fondly to that time when they were young. Five years had passed since that day, but she remembered it clearly. “I was reading in the lobby, sad that no one had invited me to celebrate. And somehow,” she giggled, “You found out where I was staying. I was shocked, to say the least. You mostly kept to yourself and your helpers, so when you appeared out of the blue, drunk like you were… Well, I honestly started to think you were weirder than I thought.”

Ivan couldn’t help but snort at his embarrassment. Gwentyn rested her head on his shoulder and locked her fingers with his. “You almost left for some odd reason, but when you saw a guy try to ask me out, it changed how I saw you. Do you remember what you said then?”

He shook his head. “Can you say it for me one more time?” she asked with bated breath. A teardrop rolled down his cheek. “Gwentyn Sora,” he began letting his voice crack. “I, Ivan Murong, have always been madly in love with you since the day we first met!” he blushed. He wiped his nose on his free shoulder and continued. “...I have always loved you. Your smile, your hair, the gasps of air you take in when you laugh…”

He let it all flow out, leaving nothing unsaid. “I love your style, the matching birthmarks on your collarbone and lower waist, your excitement for new things, your trust in others, your devotion to your studies and friends… Everything about you is perfect, Gwentyn. A fool like me doesn’t deserve your affection, but… I’d be the luckiest dwarf ever should you have me!”

Gwentyn beamed, her eyes shining with happy tears. “Right. I remember that day vividly. Your words, your energy, but even more: your eyes. They looked as if they would pop right out of your sockets from embarrassment, didn’t they?” she joked. “They told me all I needed to know about you. The real you. Your compassion, your fierceness, your loyalty, your love… It was born from a care for those different than yourself."

He let out a small laugh.

"It was that moment where I fell in love with the real you, Ivan Murong. All your quirky perks, your big heart, and yes, even your handsome face. So I want you to remember that. Your goodness should never be corrupted by the thoughts of others. Your family doesn't define you. You do. And I can tell with just one look that that child right there — that ball of love that we helped make — He can change them. For the better."

“But they’ll hate him,” Ivan whispered.

"People — they hate what they don't understand,” she said, squeezing his hand.

“But you know deep, deep down that it's not entirely their fault. You have to teach Hidemi to understand that, okay? That no matter what happens, he's got to grow up loved and capable of loving others. That he will be good because you are good. That, my love, is how you'll prove them wrong."

"How... How can you tell?" Ivan stammered. "How can you be so sure that even if he's lucky, that when he’s surrounded by them, that all that awaits him won't be a life of hardship and soot?"

Gwentyn laughed despite the pain. Her vision was beginning to fade.

"Well, he's my son, isn't he? It's a mother's job to let him know he'll be great no matter what. And, it’s his father's job to reaffirm it. I know you'll do great because you can love others. Besides,” she grunted wearily. “I don't mind the smell of soot that much..."

She blinked hard, hoping to get another look at her child. One last good look. "It's comforting," she murmured under her breath. Her pupils began to dilate.

Oh, Hidemi, she thought to herself. You have to grow up and be good, okay? She held back tears in an attempt to be strong, but she couldn’t help but allow one to roll down her face. Luckily, her hair hid it so Ivan couldn’t see. Don’t let others determine your path. You are loved no matter what anyone else may think. Because you… are… free…

Ivan felt Gwentyn’s grip loosen. Her hands went slack. "Honey...?" he whimpered quietly. “No… No…”

She had stopped breathing. All that remained on her pale face was a blissful smile of serenity and a single, dried tear.

Ivan shut his eyes, unable to look at her. He worried this would happen. She had kept him talking so he wouldn’t think about it, but he still felt his heart break into pieces.

Despite that, she had left him a message with her final words — a promise. And despite his feelings about it, he silently swore to himself to honor her wishes; To stay and raise their son here in Xastol as best he could.

"I'll do it," he bawled, hugging her tightly. "I'll take care of him! Our Hidemi, I’ll take care of him Gwentyn! Just like you want!"

Gwentyn’s body simply rested against his, smiling and at peace with her son's innocent snores. She knew he wouldn’t let her down.

Ivan silenced his wails to keep Hidemi asleep. He looked at his son as his wife had done just moments before and bit his lip. He was the last piece of her that he had left. He couldn’t lose him too.

-------🅰🆂🅷🅵🅸🅴🅻🅳-------

[THE ABANDONED FOREST, JACENDER AND ALEXIMUS'S SHACK — PRESENT DAY]

"What do you mean you can’t?!" Aleximus snarled. He angrily approached Hidemi and grabbed him by the collar. "Are you saying you won't help us? Huh? Then what was the point in us helping you in the first place then?!"

Jacender grabbed onto his brother's sweater and gently pulled him back. "Hey! He hasn't even given us a reason yet you uptight bastard. Don't jump to conclusions!"

Jace turned to Hidemi and patted his shoulder in a “You’re safe” kind of way. Hidemi took a step back, untrusting. Jace raised his hands in surrender. “It’s alright Hidemi. Just explain what you meant.”

The half-dwarf sighed and weaved quick hand signs. “Ahn! Ahn!” he grunted. “Sorry,” Jace said, scratching his head. “I don’t understand.”

Hidemi scanned the area around them until he saw a large stick. He ran towards it and picked it up with a smile. “Ahn! Ahn!” he noised, running it through the soft dirt. "What are you—" Aleximus’s eyes widened. He’s writing..?

Hidemi quickly etched letters into the dirt until they’d become words. "I..." Jace read slowly. "CAN'T... TEACH..." Hidemi kept going until he had run out of space. Aleximus slowly read it aloud.

I CAN'T TEACH. DON'T KNOW HOW.

Disappointment set upon Aleximus’s face. “I see.” He turned away from Hidemi and looked at his brother. “Guess it's a dead end.”

I was planning on using him to find information about that Ivan guy and hopefully teach us Sanctum Energy without much hassle from those dwarves at the wall… Tsk…

“Wait, Aleximus,” Jace gasped, calling his attention back to Hidemi. “Look!” Aleximus turned to see Hidemi craft a new sentence; One written over his previous one.

MAYBE THE LORD CAN HELP YOU! WANT TO MEET? :)

" “The Lord?” Jace mumbled. He squinted as if it would help him better understand what was being said. “What's that?"

"Not what," Aleximus corrected him. “But who." He could barely contain his excitement. “Remember what that jerk Hisagi said to him? That ‘Not even the Lord Of The Weeping Forest will be able to save you.’?”

He looked at Hidemi to see if he remembered. The boy nodded and tapped the “Want to meet?” part of the sentence again.

"It has to be a person who can teach us how to use Sanctum Energy then, right?” Jace asked. “Do you know him?"

Hidemi shook his head. “ Do you at least know where he is? Can we meet him?” Jace asked.

Hidemi thought about it for a moment and then pointed behind them, past the wrecks of abandoned temples. He pointed into the grim shadows leading deeper into the inner forest. “In… the forest?” Jace gulped. Thoughts of the Forbidden Area were surging through his mind. “B-But it's dark in there!”

Aleximus’s expression became serious. “We’ve only ever hunted near the outskirts of the forest. Whatever is waiting in the middle of the forest back there… It was too dark and dangerous to check out.”

He paused for a moment and then entered their shack.

“What are you doing?” Jacender asked. He watched Aleximus pick up Hatagi’s dagger and his backpack, slinging the latter over his shoulder while tossing Jace’s sword to him. “Don’t you remember the Forbidden Area?”

Jace caught the sword, the hairs on his neck rising. “Yeah, why?”

“There was a darkness kind of like this in the path leading to it. Uncle Matsuda told me that it would be impossible for us to see through the dark veil there as long as we didn’t have Sanctum Energy. It would make sense that he put it there because he wanted to keep us out. His energy blocked our sight.”

Aleximus closed the shack’s door and walked towards him. “I don’t get the point.” Jacender shrugged. His brother groaned and flicked his forehead. “Idiot, think about it. We can’t see into this darkness either!”

A realization dawned on Jace. “So you mean–”

“–Yeah. Whoever this Lord is, his Sanctum Energy is strong enough to almost cover an entire forest. It would also explain why those Xastol city guys don’t come further than the wall.”

The boys looked to Hidemi for confirmation. He stuck two thumbs up.

“Wait, Aleximus,” Jace said. “Think about it! Whoever this guy is, he might be stronger than Uncle Matsuda! What if he doesn’t like us? We could die!”

Aleximus’s eyes fell on Hidemi once more. “It’s our only lead in over a month. Uncle Matsuda said people from the outside world can’t be trusted. What other chance will we have to find someone who’ll teach us Sanctum Energy without ulterior motives? We have to take it.”

He marched away toward the inner regions of the forest. “Besides, if it looks bad, we’ll run and leave him behind.”

“Aleximus!” Jace chided, feeling bad for Hidemi. “Shut up,” his brother responded monotonously. “I don't know him, and I don't want to. As long as I can take care of us, that’s all that matters. Helping him out was just us being in the wrong place at the right time. We were only gonna help him if he could give us information. We’re not going to fight his battles for him. The more detached we are, the better."

Jacender understood his reasoning and to an extent, sympathized with it. But he wouldn’t go as far as to agree. “I know you don’t want to suffer again, but closing off others without a second thought isn’t you ‘Lex.” he shot back. Aleximus ignored him and walked off in the direction Hidemi pointed. “It never has and never will be!” Jace continued. “And I won’t let you lose yourself trying to be that person!”

He rushed into the shack and grabbed his own bag. “Let's go, Hidemi!” he ordered, sprinting out and towards Aleximus. Startled, the boy followed suit and chased after the brothers.

As long as you have me, Jacender declared to himself, his eyes flaring with passion, …You won’t change! You’ll be safe, I promise!

[Hidemi Murong]