A woman’s struggle. An approaching storm

<p>"Ahh…Haa…Haa, Aghhh!"<br/> <br/>A lady pushed and heaved in a room fitted with furniture from the royalties of the olden days. Damp air trailed after every breath she exhaled.<br/> <br/>Outside, the clouds were a tinge of grey as they poised on the cold air, almost as if they were guarding the lady from her arch-nemesis.<br/> <br/>Surrendering her in company were three maids: one middle-aged, the other two young. But they were not the only ones in the room.<br/> <br/>A distance away from the bed of the woman in labour was a charming man with white hair. He stood there, rooted to his feet, with a creased brow.<br/> <br/><br/>"Aghh, darling...DARLING!" The woman in agony called out to the man.<br/><br/>The man rushed to her side with wide steps and said, "Yes, honey, what is wrong?"<br/> <br/>Then it dawned on him that he had asked the wrong question after it escaped the arrow's shelf.<br/> <br/>"What's... wrong, y- you ask?" The woman bellowed sharply as she almost spat at him, which nearly caused the man to fall.<br/><br/>"I-haa, I need blood." She requested it with a weak voice.<br/> <br/> <br/>The man wasted no time as his nail grew sharp and sliced his wrist. "Here, Melaina, drink."<br/><br/>Melaina grabbed his wrist and sucked the blood spilling from it with fervour one would only see in animals. Gradually, colour returned to her pale complexion.<br/><br/>"Lady Melaina, I can see the head. You're almost there!" The middle-aged midwife encouraged her as she prepared to pull the baby.<br/> <br/>"Haa, Haaa, Ahhh...AGHHH!" Heaving and screaming, Melaina kept everyone present on their toes, especially her husband, Athan.<br/> <br/>Athan thought as his foot rapped on the wooden floor, 'This never happened before when she gave birth to Luna. I have no idea why she's in such intense pain right now,'. <br/><br/>There was no sign of a cut on his wrist, which bled moments ago.<br/> <br/>"My lady, the baby is almost out." the middle-aged woman said as she carefully yet confidently pulled the newborn baby.<br/> <br/>Melania gave her last push when she heard the midwife's anticipatory voice.<br/> <br/>The baby was finally born.<br/> <br/> <br/>The midwife held the baby while the other two maids rushed to her side, carrying a white towel and a blanket.<br/> <br/>She took the white towel, smoothed the blood and fluids from the newborn's body, and wrapped it in the latter.<br/> <br/>"Congratulations, my lady. It's a boy," the midwife said, her mouth ear to ear. She then handed the infant to his mother.<br/> <br/>Melaina gently drew the boy to her bosom. She pressed his small forehead against hers for a minute, feeling the warmth of the newborn.<br/> <br/>Athan briefly felt his eyes tremble at this ethereal scene that seemed to walk out of a painting.<br/> <br/> <br/>Melaina beckoned as her eyes affectionately lingered on the boy. "Come closer, honey. Hold him."<br/> <br/>Now it was Athan's turn to hold him. He gently took the boy from Melaina's arms and placed him in his. <br/> <br/><br/>'I'm now a father of two. A beautiful daughter and handsome son. How blessed am I?' thought Athan. <br/><br/>As he looked at his son with warm eyes. His mind forgot about everything and only focused on the baby.<br/> <br/><br/>"Athan, Athan!" Melania said, pulling Athan out of his trance.<br/> <br/>"Bestow him a name. I had the chance to name our daughter, so you should be doing it this time." She said.<br/><br/>Athan was stumped for a second, but he quickly tugged himself. He pondered deeply and looked at the window that was close to him, then at his wife, and lastly at his son.<br/><br/>"Our son's name will be Coy," he said. His wife looked at him, her face eager to know why he named him so.<br/> <br/> <br/>He explained, "Don't you find it unusual that he hasn't let out any sound yet?"<br/><br/> Looking at his wife's face, which was about to break into a frown, Athan assured her and said, "Nothing is wrong with him. It's just that he is very quiet. And looking at the cloudy yet calm weather he was born into made me think of this name: Coy, one who is quiet and collected. " He spoke slowly yet clearly.<br/> <br/><br/>Melaina was stunned by her husband's sudden profound words before she broke into a weary laugh. <br/><br/>***<br/> <br/>*Pat pat*<br/> <br/>*Rumble*<br/> <br/>In an uneven terrain filled with gigantic mountains, each one higher and deadlier than the other, a cave was situated on the highest mountain's top. Heavy rain poured as lightning struck down now and then.<br/> <br/>Light from outside did not reach the cave's interior except for the occasional brilliant glow the lightning brought. However, the true source of luminescence inside was the crystals etched into walls that illuminated everywhere.<br/> <br/>Venturing deep, an uncharted territory lay where a single door stood on the opposite corner of a dead end. It was obsidian and had archaic silver texts written on it. The door had dust here and there, as if it had not been attended to for decades.<br/> <br/>A rhythmic sound reverberated from within.<br/> <br/>Seemingly sleeping behind the door was an entity so huge that the mountains outside felt like ants in comparison. One could only wonder how this phenomenon was possible.<br/> <br/>It was an argentine dragon.<br/> <br/>Its coating was made of tough yet refulgent scales. Its broad, majestic wings could conceal the sky if it desired to and close tremendous distances with but a single flap of them. A long tail that had the might to crush castles, turning them into rubble. It possessed four lizard-like legs, seven horns on its head that resembled a crown, and a noble face that could inspire dread and awe in people.<br/><br/>"Master, I sensed my brother's presence." A voice spoke.<br/> <br/>A frown would have been visible on its countenance if it bore physical features.<br/> <br/>The dragon's eyes opened in response to the voice. They resembled the starry night, with the slits being void of any radiance.<br/> <br/>"Are you certain?" He gruffed with a might that could burst eardrums.<br/> <br/>"Yes master. I sensed him not long ago, but he went off the radar as abruptly as he appeared," replied the voice, feeling a little lost. It continued, "As such, I couldn't locate him. But one thing is certain: He really is back."<br/> <br/>Suddenly, the crystals in the cave swayed on the verge of destruction. A ridiculously loud laugh echoed. "Hahaha!"<br/> <br/>"The era of peace has ended now that he is here, and all the elemental origin artefacts are present. How will the privileged react to this? Especially that stubborn elf woman," the dragon concluded. His eyes foggy when he mentioned the elf.<br/> <br/>"Master, things have become entertaining only for you. You know that chaos will soon descend upon this plane, right?" The voice said in protest, bewildered by its master's carefree attitude.<br/><br/>The dragon raised his head and spoke in a humourless tone. "Weren't you the one who always preached that with chaos comes order? Stop panicking and just watch the show; it's not like anything will happen to us."<br/> <br/>His physical-less companion was truly a worrywart. <br/> <br/><br/>"Haa… You don't understand my brother that well, master. The actions he takes are terrific and volatile," replied the voice.<br/><br/>"Heh, if he wasn't at least that much of an insane being, the title, one of the elemental origin artefacts, would be wasted on him," the dragon stated, his voice low and threatening. "Nonetheless, changes will occur, and nothing can interfere with them. I only hope that his vessel is as crazy as your brother."<br/> <br/><br/>"I'm going back to sleep now; don't disturb me. I was having a good dream when you interrupted it." The dragon grumbled as he lowered his head and closed his eyes.<br/> <br/><br/>Seeing how laid-back his master was, the voice sighed and thought, 'I'm wasted on this lazy master.'<br/> <br/>***<br/><br/>The Silva Empire was known for its beauty and mystical scenery. Home to beings unmatched when it came to their aesthetic prowess and enchanting skills: the elves.<br/> <br/>In the capital city of the empire. There stood a towering and humongous tree. Houses and castles were built on its leaves and branches.<br/> <br/>The tree was the abode where the nobles and important individuals resided.<br/><br/>A majestic palace of white and green rested upon the widest and sturdiest branch of the tree.<br/> <br/>It belonged to the elf queen, who presided over the elves and fairies.<br/> <br/>Outside one of the courtyards in the palace, a conversation took place between a voice with no physical features and an elf who possessed indescribable beauty.<br/> <br/>The elf walked on the ground barefoot, but there was no sign of dirt on her feet. She wore a lovely white gown and possessed gorgeous features.<br/> <br/>Symmetrical jawline, inviting pink lips, a small round nose, vibrant green eyes full of vitality, thin eyebrows, and a small forehead with silky smooth green hair. Her face was flawless and would be deemed supreme even among the elves and higher species.<br/> <br/><br/>"Rue! I really felt his presence!" said the voice with no physical appearance. <br/> <br/>"How is that possible, Lux? He has been gone for many years. Why would he be back now?" Rue replied back as she sat on a bench made from a tree's stump.<br/><br/>"I don't know why, but we have to prepare ourselves. Things will get messy. I can't predict what my other siblings are thinking, but it surely won't be anything good," Lux expressed, her voice wavering at the end.<br/><br/>Noticing her friend's anxious tone, Rue said slowly, "Lux, calm down. I believe you; it's just that his appearance is too sudden, don't you think so?"<br/><br/>"Nothing is too sudden when it comes to him. Just listen to me for a moment and take my words at face value," Lux said with a sharp and firm voice.<br/> <br/>"He is the most unpredictable and dangerous existence when we exclude his twin. Even more dangerous than that guy with the demon king." Her tone had traces of disgust when she mentioned the individual with the demon king.<br/><br/>Rue was shocked when she heard that. "Even more dangerous than Tenebris?" She exclaimed, receiving a solemn 'yes' from Lux.<br/> <br/> <br/>"Fuu… Alright, alright, I will prepare ourselves for the troubles that may descend soon," Rue exhaled heavily and agreed. <br/><br/><br/>She glanced at a distance, faraway, with an empty stare. A fleeting thought surfaced in her mind. ''I wonder what your stance will be in this chaos? I just hope that we don't confront each other.'<br/> <br/>***<br/><br/>On that day, many powerhouses around the globe felt a storm approaching.<br/><br/>They could only hope that the ark they boarded was the one to sail through this storm. Viciously and victoriously!<br/> <br/>***<br/> <br/>777/07/25, 10th aeon...<br/> <br/> <br/></p>