Chapter 4521: Make it Better (Part 1)
Chapter 4521: Make it Better (Part 1)
Raaz opened the door and stepped inside just to stop abruptly as if someone had slapped him in the face. The room was decorated with modest wooden furniture, and the woman sleeping in the bed at the center of the room was simply lovely.
Althika’s light green skin didn’t diminish the beauty of her features one bit. Quite the contrary, it brought out the red of her flaming hair. She looked peaceful, like a maiden from a fairy tale waiting for her mage charming to wake her up from a cursed slumber, not like a monster carrying another monster in her womb.
"Well, at least she’s pretty." Rena tried to find something positive in that situation, but her words sounded hollow even to her.
"Don’t worry, dear." Elina touched Raaz’s shoulder just to see him flinch. "Think of her as Ryssa. They are both Dryads and come here as friends."
"Thanks." Raaz nodded, his face pale and clammy.
He took one painful step after the other until he was at Althika’s bedside, his family right behind you. Only once he was close enough to the object of his fears to see her chest slowly heave when she breathed did the Guardians appear.
Salaark and Leegaain took position at the right and left of the bed respectively, spreading a soothing aura that seemed to lift a heavy burden from everyone’s shoulders.
"Thank you, Featherlings." The Overlord said. "I know how hard this must be for you."
"Despite his origins, the baby is still of our blood." Leegaain said. "We’ll do everything we can to make this as easy as possible for you."
"Great, now everybody, step back." The Mother said. "I don’t want Althika to wake up and find herself surrounded by strangers."
She shapeshifted back into her Crone form as she gently roused the Dryad from her sleep.
"Wake up, child. I need to know how you feel."
"I’m dead tired, and my body hurts in places I didn’t think they could, but aside from that, I feel great." Lith’s Dread Flames had purified Althika’s life force, leaving shallow yet extensive burn wounds that only time could heal. "After days of pain and hunger, I feel r-"
The words died in her mouth when she noticed Lith and the rest of the Verhens standing just a few meters away. The Dryad yelped in fear, wrapping herself in the blanket and squeezing Baba Yaga’s hand.
’She’s scared of us as much as I’m scared of her.’ Raaz couldn’t help but inwardly smile at the absurdity of the situation.
"Don’t worry, child. These people are our friends." The Crone smiled at Althika while caressing her hand to reassure her. "Allow me to introduce the Verhens to you. They are Erkin’s family, and one day they might become your family as well."
The introductions were awkward and tense, as if both parties were undergoing a job interview they desperately needed to pass. Even with the Guardians present, the tension in the room was palpable.
Althika avoided mentioning Orpal and the circumstances of Erkin’s conception, just like the Verhens avoided any topic that might lead to talk about the Dryad’s past.
"Can I please take a look at Erkin?" Elina decided to break the ice the only way she knew. "I’m Awakened as well, but I’m not good with healing magic. I can’t check on your baby without Invigoration."
"Sure." Althika swallowed hard, letting go of the blanket with the reluctance of a soldier dropping her shield during a battle.
Elina placed her hand on the Dryad’s womb, and both women shuddered at the physical contact. Althika had nothing against the Verhens, but she felt their reproach for her actions and spite for the father of her child.
’I can’t blame the Verhens for being so cold.’ She thought as Elina’s mana flowed through her. ’If I could turn back time, I would knock some sense into myself with an Adamant mace.’
"Gods." Elina gasped, making everyone flinch. "He’s perfect."
Contrary to her expectations, the baby didn’t have his father’s deranged eyes or cruel smile. Erkin was a perfectly normal baby, and recoiled in fear at the touch of Elina’s mana.
After everything he and his mother had endured that day, the unborn child feared that any external influence would bring more pain.
"I’m sorry." Elina jolted back, warm tears streaking down her eyes. "I didn’t mean to scare you."
"What are you talking about?" Althika asked in confusion.
"What happened, Mom?" Tista rushed to her side. "Are you alright?"
"I am, sweetie, but Erkin is not." Elina sniffled. "He was still a Divine Beast during the procedure, and I’m afraid that the first memory he has of this world is of suffering. He has yet to be born, yet he’s terrified of everything. He thinks we want to hurt him."
Those words hit everyone like a punch to the gut, especially Lith. They hated Orpal, but the thought that a small baby might consider them cruel monsters was too much to take.
’I did what I did to help him, but Erkin is too young to understand that.’ Lith clenched his hands so hard that his knuckles popped. ’To him I must be no better than Meln.’
Not to scare the baby further, the rest of the Verhens asked Elina to share her scan via a mind link. The images were vivid enough to give Raaz goosebumps and make him feel terrible when he witnessed Erkin quiver in the womb at the slightest touch of Elina’s breathing technique.
’He’s like me.’ Raaz thought. ’We both had to endure a world of pain because of Meln, cursed be his name. This poor boy almost killed his own mother due to the Vurdalak accursed bloodline.
’If Erkin remembers any of that, his life will be a nightmare for many years to come, even if the rest of Mogar treats him like a prince.’
"I’m sorry, my child. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault." Althika sniffled after Elina shared her memories with the Dryad. "I caused everyone so much pain. You can’t even meet your family because of me."
"You went through a lot today." The Crone patted the Dryad’s back and offered her a handkerchief. "We’ll continue this tomorrow, after you and Erkin have a bit more rest."
"Continue?" Althika echoed in confusion.
"Yes, child." Baba Yaga nodded. "The only way Erkin can learn the world is not just a cruel place is by experience. He needs to feel the touch of people who aren’t his mother and realize not everyone is out to hurt him.
"I suggest letting one person use their breathing technique on you every day until things get better. It will help your child and his family to get closer over time."
Althika and the Verhens didn’t like the idea, but realized the problem wouldn’t get any better just by pretending it didn’t exist. In a few months, the baby would be born, and then Erkin would see their tense grimaces.
Baba Yaga moved Bloodhaven to the Desert, and the Verhens sighed in relief, but only until they racked their brains to break the news of Erkin’s existence to Aran and Leria without scaring them.
"We have a cousin? Is Auntie Tista expecting a baby?" Aran asked.