15 Celebration

A few minutes later...

"Lilith!"

Shouts echo through the house as Siegfried's party returns. A thunderous roar of footsteps ascends up the stairs, with the bedroom door suddenly opening.

"Lilith!" Siegfried shouts, bursting inside the room, his face white in fear of the worst.

He quickly sits beside Lilith, checking over her condition, color returning to his face.

"How are you feeling?" Siegfried whispers to her.

A smile crosses her lips. Lacking the strength to speak, she points to Lucian.

"Our girl." Lilith whispers with soft happiness.

Siegfried perks up to where she points. His eyes beam with light as he sees the tiny infant in Lucian's arms. Bright white teeth reveal themselves as Siegfried grins from ear to ear.

"Our girl." Siegfried says louder while holding Lilith in an embrace.

"I was so worried, and to I was late for our daughter's first breaths."

Lilith's hand runs through the hair on the back of Siegfried's head, expressing that it doesn't matter now. Siegfried loses himself in the embrace as three heads poke through the doorway.

"I see you've grown up well." One of the heads croaks.

A short old woman limps into the room wearing a black cloak. The cloak is decorated by a small insignia bearing a mortar and pestle over a shield, identifying her as an Alchemist. Her deep-set grey eyes regard Lucian with a look of intellectual observation.

Lucian looks up from his baby sister with a look of confusion at the strange woman.

'Who's she? Wait, I think this is the same old woman that Midwifed for my birth.'

He looks over her for a second before recognizing her as the woman in his memories.

"The baby is fine. You should check my mother." Lucian says matter-of-factly.

"Haha!" The midwife cackles.

"I guess the boy is a midwife now." She snarks, looking at him puzzled.

"My name is Madeline. Learn it before you order me to do things." She retorts with a tinge of anger.

'Ding!'

'Charisma check failed.'

Lucian's eyes turn venomous at her retort.

'Damn system. This hag needs to learn her place.'

Madeline turns away from Lucian moving to examine Lilith's condition.

Two heads continue to poke through the doorway, still watching the scene unfold.

"You can come out now." Lucian beckons.

The heads jump back from the doorway in shock, entering a few seconds later.

Layla and Frida enter the room with sly smiles. Layla is holding onto her mother's dress as Frida leads her in.

"Looks like you're a natural." Frida looks at Lucian's arms cradling the baby, unconsciously rocking back and forth.

Lucian is confused at first until noticing his actions. His expression turns back to happiness as he looks back to Frida.

"I guess so." He says with a smile.

Frida walks closer to Lucian, placing her hand on his and ruffling his hair.

"Don't worry about that hag. You're just a good big brother taking care of your siste- brothe-?" Frida cuts herself short, not knowing what to say.

"Sister. Your first guess was right." Lucian answers with a wink.

Layla leaves her mother's side, now standing next to Lucian. Her gaze is fixed on his sister.'

"Hmmph!"

"Competition." Layla torts. Envious thoughts of how Lucian's sister will take up his time, leaving less for her.

Hearing Layla's statement causes Lucian and Frida to burst out in laughter.

"Haha. Don't worry, Layla. I won't forget about you." Lucian says, answering her jealousy with kindness.

'Jeez. This girl really has no filter. I don't mind her always sticking around me all the time, but I had no idea it meant so much to her.'

Lucian regards Layla's attachment to him, wondering why she's acting like this.

An hour or so passes as the group talks about the baby, taking turns checking over Lilith.

After finally regaining her strength, Lilith sits up and looks at Frida.

"May I see my little girl?" Lilith says, her voice as sweet as honey.

Frida walks to the bedside and carefully hands the infant to her mother.

Lilith's eyes look over her child. The atmosphere changes as a heart full of emotion seeps out from Lilith. A genuine smile spreads from her lips as she caresses the baby's cheeks.

Suddenly, Lilith looks to Siegfried and nods.

The hair stands up on everyone else's arms as they watch the gesture, knowing its meaning.

Lilith looks down at the infant.

"My beautiful little Talia."

Lilith's angelic voice rings through Lucian's ears as the word Talia comes to his mind.

'Talia.'

A feeling of elation warms Lucian's body.

'Why do I feel this way?'

The rest of the day passes with celebration as the midwife leaves after attesting to Lilith being in good health. The family and friends engage in a festive dinner cooked by Frida. The celebration lasts long into the night. All the while, Lucian maintains a troubling silence, his mind deep in thought.

Later that night...

Moonlight shines through the window unto Lucian's face as determination sets into his features.

'It's time.'

'I can't put this off any longer.'

'Main Quest'

'Ding!'

'Main Quest Screen'

"Ascent of a Demon"

Updated Information:

The resurrection of Shadow Lord Atrioch is at hand. As a soul-bound Champion of Shadow tasked with this resurrection, many hardships will be endured. Your quest is one that will forever change this world. The scourge of humanity runs deep, steel yourself. (%? Advance Main Objectives for further information.)

-Main Objectives:

Null%?

Reward: 1 Wish

(Locked: Greater powers are required to complete tasks.)

-Ascension Objectives:

-Harvest Souls: 0/1

(Requirements: Advance Mana Control, Necromancy Proficiency)

-Reward: Evolution

(Completed)

-Your first kill: 1/1

-Reward: 1 Mystery Box

'Harvest Souls? I forgot about the reward I earned earlier. Mystery Box, huh? I wonder what it could contain. I should probably save that for later. If it turns out to be some kind of demonic sword, then there is no way I can justify it.'

'I need to get stronger if I'm gonna be able to continue my mission. Based on my stat increase from the last evolution, this soul quest should be my main priority.'

'I need to start drawing a line with the people of this world. I can't start getting attached. They've been nice to me, but they don't matter in the long run. Going back home and freeing Atrioch are my priorities. When the time comes for me to choose humanity over myself. Nothing will stop me, from making the right choice.'

Conrad's memories of his last night on Earth come to mind as his eyes burn red.