Development

"—so honorable knight Artor won the terrible Eighteen-head and sent the vile beast in the depth of the Empty Eye. The happy ending! And who listened, he will get mom's hugs!"

Joan closed the book and hugged Artoris tightly. All the fears, all the disasters, all the darkness, receded, as if the storm had been killed by a glorious hero.

"I am sure that someday you will become as great as your famous godfather."

Rina was sitting next to their and drinking tea. Her pallor became less noticeable, but her eyebrows were frowning. She couldn't shake off the disturbing thoughts.

"How do you like the fairy tale, Artoris?" Joan pointed to the bookshelves, "There are a lot of books in my house about adventures, love and fighting death, literally. Look here!"

Joan picked up the atlas she had left on the veranda table and opened it for Artoris. Interest appeared on the girl's plump face, she began to stretch out her hands to reach the pictures.

"Interesting? I think exactly the same! Medicine is one of the most interesting activities above the earth. This anatomical atlas—"

"Joan, she was just born."

"Yes, but it's worth omitting an hour. Babies learn very quickly. The more complex the speech with which the child is addressed, the more he will master the language. But the main thing is not to overdo it. I'm not overdoing it."

"So, where was I? This anatomical atlas has served me well, you treat it with respect!"

Joan showed Artoris the first ten pages of the atlas, carefully explaining everything that was on them. And Rina was standing and "drinking" tea from an already empty cup.

(-)

"-snakerings are my favorite animals! They have neither beginning nor ending. They can be confused with—" after the anatomical atlas, Joan moved on to the encyclopedia of animals.

"Now, let's go out and admire our house from the outside."

Joan carried Artoris out into the courtyard. On one side were crowded old houses, faded brown. On the other side, a green, fresh forest began.

Joan's three-story house was then bathed in the red rays whose source it was.

Joan scolded her daughter affectionately as she looked up at the sky, squinting.

In the halls of the sky hovered a black sphere, blacker than the darkest pitch, an eye. Four bright balls spread out with light, forming a precious belt in the center of the eye, its horizontal pupil.

An incomprehensible sound, like a scream or a squeal, escaped from her.

"Baby, looking at the luminaries and the Empty Eye is dangerous for the eyes. Rina, bring my dark glass glasses!"

"Eh? What?" Rina woke up and jumped out of her chair on the veranda, "Wait a minute!"

Rina gave Artoris a pair of dark glasses. Joan smiled, "It suits you, my little monster!"

"Now your beautiful eyes are not in danger."

Artoris took a look with her glasses.

"How do you like the Empty Eye and her retinue, Artoris? A black sphere with a gold border and a belt is the Empty Eye, and these luminaries are the Angelic Ring"

"When night falls, we will look at the Moons are the beautiful daughters of the luminaries. The only thing that can compare with their beauty is my little monster!"

Joan kissed Artoris on her baby forehead. Rina shivered involuntarily.

"Do you want me to tell you another story, Artoris? Oh, how could I have made such a terrible mistake!" Joan screamed so hard that Rina screamed.

"Don't squeal, Rina! You are scaring Artoris. Where are your vaunted manners?"

"Am I scaring Artoris?" Rina thought resentfully.

"So I made a mistake, because I forgot to tell you first about the very first fairy tale about the King Artor."

It bothered Rina a little that Joan named her daughter after the Magic King Artor.

"So, the story about how Artor has became First Magic King! Hear, my little monster."

(-) The Artor Legends, Born of Artor. (-)

In the fragrant spring, when the red spring flowers bloomed and the warm rivers greedily drank the sunlight, a boy was born in a family of Shellback shepherds. The boy was named Artor, in honor of the spring month in which he was born.

The young shepherd Absalon Aimzay was immensely happy about the birth of his first child, as was his faithful loving wife, Eleanor. But soon their joy was replaced by surprise when, on the same day, little Artor began not only to speak, but also learned to sing.

Absalon and Eleanor couldn't believe it. A real miracle appeared before them. But it didn't end there.

Artor grew not by years, but by breaths. On the ninth day, he looked just like a nine-year-old child. After eighteen days, he could help with the housework without any problems: herd the Shellbacks like a grown-up young man.

Absalon Aimzay and his wife, Eleanor, did not know what to do, but they accepted the child, because he did not commit any evil.

Many people in the village knew about Artor. Word of him spread quickly. Some considered it a manifestation of a miracle, a blessing bestowed for the happiness of the village. Others tried to avoid the young man and built dirty tricks.

Artor was nicknamed "Temko" because many considered him "born of another world".

The beauty of Artor caused graceful trees to fall foliage, majestic waterfalls to dry up, playful fire to fade. No one could help but feel embarrassed or envious when they met Artor in person. He was like the seal of God and nature.

Artor passed Shellbacks the best of all. Any animal was his faithful friend. No animal had ever attacked his herd without even thinking of encroaching on the property of the mighty Artor, who could crush an anvil like a lump of dirt.

His herd multiplied and multiplied, becoming the largest in those lands.

But one day, when Artor Aimzay was resting on a tall pine tree and watching the Shellbacks with one narrowed eye, the earth shook. Six demons crawled out of the ground through the fire gate, smoking fire and smoke.

They bowed to Artor and began to talk.

"Oh, hello great Artor," said one demon.

"You have a destiny carved into the heart of the world," another added.

"Defeating the Eighteen-headed Monster will glorify you as the king of this world!" the third continued.

"Oh, mighty Artor, nicknamed Temko! Become our master and help us guide this whole world! You will become a king over all nations, over all leaders," all six demons exclaimed.

"Thank you for your mercy, but I am not a leader. The shepherd's blood is basking in my heart. Another person would be better for you," Artor replied politely.

The demons continued to persuade Temko, but this only irritated him. And soon Artor took off his hat and shouted angrily:

"That's enough, get back to your underworld, spawn of endless darkness!" And he threw the hat with a flourish.

The earth trembled, a fierce storm arose. The demons hid underground in fright, like rats.

The Artor's mother and father dead because of an unknown illness after several days. His pain has no deep. His drop gave life to two biggest rivers, called Absalon and Eleanor.

He swore to find to return his parents. The young man sold his farm and left the home.

(-)

It was the sixth day since Artoris' birthday. Joan was breastfeeding the baby. After breastfeeding, Joan asked, "Did you like the milk? I ate a lot of delicious and healthy vegetables and tender Shellback meat yesterday to give you the most delicious milk above the earth."

Rina was sitting in the next room and she didn't quite like what she heard. Over the past six days, Rina noticed that her friend was too cheerful. Or too crackpot.

"Mom did a good job!"

"I wonder when Artoris will start calling Joan Mom?"a random thought flew into Rina's head.

"Mom... mom..." the little girl uttered her first word, causing Rina to hiccup.

And while the thin woman was remembering all the prayers, Joan was hugging the baby.

"I can't believe it! Artoris, you spoke so quickly""

"Children gifted with magic learn to speak in the span of three to five weeks… I actually started talking a month later, Joan."

"And I started two weeks later", Joan said, having no malicious intent. But Rina felt insulted.

Joan continued:

"We are not as talented as Artoris. This baby must grow from a small monster into a big, very big one. I can't believe that fate gave me such a child!"

"…"

"Why did you make so sullen face?"

(-)

"Come on, Artoris. Walk carefully." Rina watched as Artoris took the first couple of steps. "Two weeks have passed and she is already trying to walk! I wish she wouldn't get hurt."

"You will succeed!" Joan encouraged, insuring the baby.

"Oh the Empty Eye, she's coming!" Rina exclaimed.

"Is it just me, or is she walking better than you? Hahahaha! Eh?"

Artoris leaned forward, as if she was losing her balance. Joan's heart gave a start, and she tried to catch Artoris, but she squeezed only air in her arms, because Artoris ran. Faster than the two women realized what was happening, Artoris hit the wall with a run.

Rina and Joan picked up the bruised Artoris. Both women were swearing uncontrollably, listing all the Magic Kings in vain.

"Artoris! Are you alive?! Oh, my baby, your beautiful little nose, it's broken! And your forehead!" Joan poured mana into Artoris's nose and took healing ointments out of her pockets.

"What kind of animal does one have to be to learn to walk so quickly? I hope she doesn't intend to learn to fly: it's much more dangerous than damn running!"

Rina examined Artoris, looking for any wounds that Joan might have missed. Pale assistant Joan looked into Artoris's eyes, full of laughter and abnormal joy, as if hitting the wall brought her pleasure.

"Ha," Rina tried to laugh, but her laugh sounded like a cry for help.

Joan checked Artoris a second time, just in case.

"Artoris, don't scare me like that anymore. Maybe you just treat your injuries, but they scare me. You don't like to see my fright, do you?"