The sun was already high in the sky when I finally allowed myself to sit at the dining table. My eyes drifted to the window, noting how the warm rays cast long shadows across the room. I sighed, trying to shake off the exhaustion from the previous night. My gaze shifted to Aerorae's crib, where my baby girl was still sleeping soundly. It was unusual for her to sleep so long, and the memory of having to wake her with a wet cloth just to feed her surfaced in my mind.

My thoughts returned to the chaotic events of the night before. After ensuring Aerorae was in no immediate danger, I rushed into the living room where Mìcheil was yelling, expelling large amounts of mana. His shouts were loud and incomprehensible, yet there was something oddly humorous about the situation. "Is he yelling his favourite cake recipe in his native Ianali?" I thought, almost chuckling despite the seriousness of the situation.

I quickly grabbed his face in my hands. "Love! We have to sell this," I said, waving my hands around to indicate the absurdity of the situation. "You will have to slap me."

I saw the sadness in his eyes. Mìcheil had never once raised his voice at me, let alone his hands. But, as always, he trusted me and listened. "Bite down hard," he said. I nodded, looking into his eyes, and did as he instructed. My world erupted in burning white pain as his hand connected with my cheek, and I fell to the floor with a yell. My ears rang, but I could see him still yelling and pointing at me.

Suddenly, Mìcheil looked up as if there had been a knock at the door. He walked briskly to the door and ripped it open. "What's going on here, Mìcheil?" I heard the guard captain, Tearlach, ask, flanked by one of the night watchmen.

"House affairs, Tearlach. You best keep moving or I'll show you how she got on the floor," Mìcheil said, his voice a mix of authority and menace. I quickly hid my face behind my hands, pretending to cry, but in reality, I was fighting back laughter at the absurdity of it all as both men took a step back.

"Are you okay, Yelena?" the guard captain asked.

"Yes," I mumbled through my fingers.

"If you're sure, then. We got reports of a mana spike close to your house."

Mìcheil took a step closer to the watchmen and guard captain. "I said it's house affairs. Now leave," he said, shutting the door in their faces before they could say anything else.

Once we heard the two men leave, Mìcheil rushed to my side, his face filled with concern. I whispered a minor incantation and a soft glow emanated from my fingers, healing my cheek.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"It was nothing," I replied, brushing off the pain. We nearly didn't sleep that night, our minds racing with the implications of what had happened. Now, sitting at the dining table, the weight of our situation pressed heavily on my shoulders.

"Do you think she is Erneboran?" Mìcheil asked, breaking the silence.

"I don't know," I answered, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "No one can find out, and we can't stay here. There are too many in the city who could detect her. We have to move while her core is weak and less likely to be detected."

He stood up and nodded. "I'll prepare immediately," he said, bending down to kiss me on my now-healed cheek. "Do you have a place in mind?"

"Yes," I replied. "A place with a lot of mana for her to develop properly and not many people around."

He nodded again and walked out, determination in his stride. I spared a moment to think about how much I loved this man. I had known him my whole life, since we were children, and his entire existence had revolved around me and the dream of being a blacksmith in a big city. A dream he had immediately given up for our daughter's safety. My heart swelled with love and gratitude as I began packing the essentials, preparing to leave that very day.

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As I packed, my thoughts wandered back to the moment I first met Mìcheil. We were just children then, playing by the riverbanks of our village. He had always been the strong one, the protector, and I had admired his unwavering determination. That determination had only grown stronger as we fell in love and built a life together.

Leaving the city was not a decision we made lightly. Mìcheil's workshop, his pride and joy, was the result of years of hard work and dedication. But he had never hesitated when it came to protecting our family. I carefully packed Aerorae's clothes, blankets, and the few toys she had, my hands moving methodically as my mind raced with plans.

We needed a place far from prying eyes, somewhere with enough natural mana to mask Aerorae's presence. The city was too dangerous, too full of people who could sense her newfound abilities. As I finished packing Aerorae's things, I moved on to our supplies, gathering food, water, and other essentials for the journey ahead.

Mìcheil returned with a determined look on his face and a small bag of gold in his hand. "I sold the house," he said. "It should be enough to keep us going for a while."

He didn't come back empty-handed. Along with the bag of gold, he had also managed to procure a small covered carriage. It was old but sturdy, and it would serve us well on our journey.

"I've packed the tools and some of my more portable equipment," he said. "We'll need to travel light and fast."

"I've packed everything we need for Aerorae," I replied. "We should be ready to leave within the hour."

He nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at me. "I love you, Yelena," he said, pulling me into a tight embrace. "We'll get through this together."

"I love you too," I whispered, holding him close. "We'll find a way to keep her safe."

With everything packed, we carefully lifted Aerorae from her crib. She stirred slightly but remained asleep, her tiny face peaceful and serene. I wrapped her in a warm blanket and held her close as we made our way to the door.

The streets were quiet as we slipped out of the house, the early afternoon sun casting long shadows on the cobblestones. We moved quickly and quietly, avoiding the main roads and sticking to the alleys. Mìcheil led the way, his familiarity with the city's layout guiding us through the maze of streets and buildings.

As we reached the city gates, I glanced back at the life we were leaving behind. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing we were giving up so much for the sake of our daughter. But her safety was our priority, and I would do whatever it took to protect her.

The journey was long and arduous, but we pressed on, driven by the need to find a safe haven for Aerorae. The landscape gradually changed from the bustling city to the serene countryside. Fields of wildflowers and dense forests replaced the stone and brick of the city, and the air was filled with the scent of nature.

We finally arrived at our destination—a secluded small village at the edge of civilization deep in the Sea of Forests, basically in the monster lands. Glimpses of towering mountains could be seen when there was a break in the ever-present trees. It was a place of incredible natural beauty, with a crystal-clear river running through it and an abundance of wildlife. But most importantly, it was a place teeming with mana, a perfect environment for Aerorae to develop her abilities.

We set up a temporary camp outside the village as Mìcheil went in to talk to the village chief. Mìcheil's skills as a blacksmith proved invaluable, and the fact that I was a healer sweetened the deal as the village chief almost dragged us to a sturdy cabin on the outskirts of the village with a promise that the rest of the village would help Mìcheil build a workshop. I heard the village chief almost yell as he walked away.

"Forget the merchants, we now have a blacksmith!"

I smiled as I looked at our new home. It would be hard work, but it would also be a labour of love, a testament to our commitment to our family.

That evening, as we sat by the fire in the empty house, Mìcheil turned to me with a thoughtful expression. "Do you think she'll be happy here?" he asked.

"I believe she will," I replied, looking down at our sleeping daughter.

He smiled, his eyes filled with pride. "She's a special girl, Yelena. I'm so grateful to have you both in my life."

"And we are grateful for you," I said, leaning in to kiss him. "We'll face whatever challenges come our way together."

As the fire crackled and the stars twinkled above us, I felt a sense of peace and contentment. We had found our sanctuary, a place where our family could grow and thrive. No matter what the future holds, I knew we would face it together, bound by our love and determination.

And so, in that quiet, secluded valley, we began a new chapter of our lives. A chapter filled with hope, love, and the promise of a brighter future for our daughter, Aerorae.