A NAME

Lyssana rushed back, carrying the large heavy jar with surprising agility. Without even closing the door behind her, she rushed to the kitchen, 

"The baby is quiet... Maybe Furla is there.." She thought as she added a small bit of milk onto a cup, heating it slightly. She then took careful steps towards the room, fearing to wake up the baby.

"Furla, I'm here.." She whispered as she opened the door slowly.

"Thank gods the baby slept." Furla said.

For a second, Lyssana stood at the door, transfixed to the ground as she stared at the baby, now asleep on Furla's black silky fur. She felt as if her heart was melting as it overflowed with sweet emotions. She smiled as she carefully walked towards them, engraving that picture in her brain. As she approached them, the baby woke up, its blue eyes emitting an ethereal blue glow, like a blue sapphire stone in the moonlight, deeply contrasting with with the dark fur of Furla. He stretched up its arms towards Lyssana, as he let out soft innocent giggles.

As Lyssana sat down and started giving the baby milk slowly, her mood changed into hatred. Hatred for those who wanted to kill such an innocent baby, just because of his low amount of power. She knew that the king must have been the one to give the command, given that the queen was nicknamed "The mother of all" for the compassion she has for everyone. 

"How did she feel as the baby she just had, got taken away from her? What amount of pain is she still feeling up to now, thinking that her son is dead?"

Memories that she had better forgotten started flashing in her mind, reminding her of painful times when she felt helpless, when her heart felt desolate, when she had given up on life. That was what she thought the queen felt; empty and desolate inside.

"Furla, I am going to take care of this baby as my own." She whispered.

"She's quite serious. I have not seen her eyes looking that way for a long time. She has even conjured a spell above the cup, so that the baby can suck the milk as they should." Furla thought.

"I have missed those serious eyes of yours, Lyssa. Of course, we will do so. I will help you in any way that I possibly can. If you are ready to go through all the trouble, then we shall do so." Furla said. The two got a brief memory on how they both met for the first time, reestablishing their bonds even more. After the baby seemed to be full, she cradled him in her arms. Her euphonious voice filled the air with a lullaby. Her eyes, a deep cerulean, gazed upon the sleeping infant cradled in her arms, their tiny blue eyes mirroring the brilliance of the night sky. As she sang, her voice wove a tapestry of soothing melodies, enveloping the baby in a cocoon of comfort and tranquility. With an innocent smile, the baby closed its eyes, falling asleep in her arms. She carefully placed him on the bed, making a barrier all around it. The two stayed there, adoring the sleeping baby, who was too young to understand whatever happened, and how he had escaped death by a whisker.

"I will sleep beside him." She said.

"I will just stay here too, but first, have you thought of the name you are going to give the baby?" Furla asked.

"I am thinking of it now as we speak." She said as the two got out of the room after Lyssana covered the baby under warm sheets. She closed the door and went back to the kitchen, serving food for herself and some meat for Furla. They ate silently as the rain outside intensified,

"Is the barrier okay?" She asked.

"Yes, I double checked when you went, There is no issue and the instant space gate is working well, no one will even think there is anything here." Furla said as he closed the main door that Lyssana had left ajar.

*****

Mardan was still staring at the coins on her hand in shock. She had gone back into the shop store, where merchants were offloading the bought goods, preparing them for sale when morning comes. She hid the coins in her pocket, walking past them, up to her house, located near the shop.

"Mom! You're back!" A child said as she opened the door.

"Yes dear. I'm going to the room for a bit. Where is your father?"

"He said he is going to the guild for an early escort mission. He just left right now."

"I see." She said as she entered her room, hiding the coins inside her drawer.

"That Lyssa... She's hiding something now, isn't she?" Mardan asked herself with a chuckle.

"I guess I need to pay her a visit.. But I can't until she comes to the shop today noon.."

As she thought about it, she heard a knock on the door.

"Mom! Someone is knocking!" She heard.

"Coming.."

Upon opening the door, she saw a royal messenger. After a quick bow, the messenger gave her a letter, before vanishing into smoke. She opened the letter as she went back in, closing the door behind her. As she read it, she gasped.

"The newly born prince has died?!!" She wondered.

"What does the letter say?" Her daughter asked.

"The... The prince who was born toady has died, they have said that the young prince suddenly fell ill and before they noticed, the baby had died.. We have all been summoned into the royal gardens for the burial today. All expeditions and all businesses are to be immediately halted... Run to the guild and tell your father, we need to sleep right now so that when the sun rises we can all proceed to the burial."

*******

The Royal Gardens

Amidst the verdant tapestry of the royal gardens, the kingdom was cloaked in a somber shroud of mourning. The once-vibrant expanse was now a tableau of desolation, every countenance etched with grief as the kingdom bid farewell to its prince. The cloudy raining sky mirrored the profound sorrow, as rain fell slowly in small amounts. The royal family, draped in the obsidian hues of mourning, stood as silent sentinels beside the catafalque. Their faces, composed in a mosaic of sadness, the unbearable weight of the death of her son affecting the queen more than the rest. The casket, adorned with intricate carvings that spoke of an illustrious life cut short, descended slowly into the gaping abyss of the grave. As the final shovelfuls of earth were cast upon the prince's eternal resting place, the clouds no longer held back, releasing a torrent of tears that mingled with the mourners' own. The raindrops, heavy with the burden of sorrow, traced ephemeral patterns on the mourners' cloaks, each droplet a testament to the magnitude of their loss. The queen's eyes looked dead, as if she had already given up on life. The King's face was calm and composed as he looked at the empty coffin get covered up.

 Amidst the somber throng of mourners gathered at the royal garden, stood Lyssana, as a lone figure cloaked in shadows. Her hood obscured her features, but her piercing cerulean eyes burned with an intensity that belied her concealed presence as she stared at the King. As the royal family paid their final respects, laying floral tributes upon the freshly sealed coffin, she watched with a cold, detached gaze. Beneath her cloak, her heart pounded with a fierce determination, her resolve solidified with each passing moment. Then, with a newfound purpose etched upon her face, she slipped away from the gathering, her footsteps determined as she vanished into the labyrinthine streets of the capital. As she walked past several shops, Furla appeared beside her and the two walked quietly into the outer areas of the kingdom and into the forest. A dark green aura covered the two of them as they passed through the forest. Monsters seemed to hide, staying away from their path, giving them way to pass.

"You saw it, didn't you? The Queen's face..." She mumbled.

"Yes... A face devoid of life, empty eyes that seemed to seek death..." Furla said.

"And you saw the king's face, didn't you?"

"His eyes were serious as he stared at the empty casket being lowered into the ground.."

The two suddenly stopped as they replaced their auras with a white one and Furla vanished. After that, Julius appeared in front of Lyssana.

"I see I'm not the only one who quit the 'burial'" He said.

"I am not interested in watching them bury an empty casket." She replied, her tone unwavering.

"I see.. Well, I'm here to just tell you that you have my full support, I will put the baby under your name in the records, Might I know your name, miss?" He asked.

"Lyssana Farbridge." She replied as she proceeded to walk away.

"What about the baby, what is the child's name?"

"Cian, Cian Farbridge is going to be his name." She replied as she continued walking. Julius watched her as she went with a smile.

"Cian Farbridge... What a nice name." He thought as he walked back towards the Kingdom.