In the foggy night with birds chirping and the wind blowing, Ethneil and Leona walks through the neighborhood.
"Radge is really funny. It wouldn't have been fun if he wasn't around." Leona told Ethneil chuckling.
„Well Radge sure knows how to find trouble. We wouldn't have been in trouble if he wasn't around"
Leona couldn't help but laugh at Ethneil's unexpected response.
***
In arrival of the two at Leona's house, they have both parted ways, while the trio Radge, Amarha and Ligaya, seemed to have been able to go back home after a nonstop bickering. Apparently Ligaya knew the way but it took them a long time to figure it out since they couldn't even her in the heat of the argument and Ligaya doesn't know how she will be able to get both of their attentions.
Meanwhile, Ladrius and Darron had a nice conversation during their walk together. The two actually shared a lot of interests but for some reason they never talked about those sort of things.
Heading home, Ladrius heard a loud bang coming from somewhere near his house. He had a bad feeling that something may have happened at home and so he rushed getting there. Reaching his simple house which is spacious enough for a small family to live in, he is both confused and alarmed by his arrival, as the door is slightly open and the inexplicable silence inside his house is making it all the more strange.
As he opens the door he sees nothing out of the ordinary. Looking to the left, his father's book shelf is there. Everything seemed to be neat and properly organised as always. But something still puzzles Ladrius. The eerie silence and the door being left open just makes it even stranger for him. Looking to the right, the dinner table is already ready for them to have dinner, but for some reason no one is there to welcome him. Not even in the kitchen are his parents to be found. So he checked the bedroom and what revealed before him shocked him.
***
Radge has finally returned home and was met with his father and oldest brother Ram smithing. While his second-oldest brother Alduin is practising how to create big walls in the backyard and his younger sibling is there playing. His mother was already finished preparing dinner.
"Where have you been?" his mother asks him.
"I was just hanging out with my frie-"
"You know it's late right? Why would you stay out late? What, you want to live outside? Go ahead!" His mom fiercely scolds him.
"Sorry mom, I got lost on the way."
"Sigh... Dinner's ready call them over."
At the dinner table they began eating, when his father and his 2 older brothers discussed what careers they'll be taking. One is a promising Blacksmith and the other is a builder prodigy.
Those types of careers are where their clan mostly goes to, since their special ability has something to do with either rock or metal. Hence the name "Batongbakal" clan. Although what they create are sometimes humongous, they themselves are quite the small folks but with the strength of an average human being.
So in the conversation, his father gazed at him and asked,
"What about you Radge my dear, what would you like to be when you grow up?"
Radge knowing those are the only career paths his clan takes and although he knew that he isn't interested in taking either one of those, he still answered with a forced smile.
"I want to be a builder father."
His father was overjoyed with this and told Alduin that he wants him to teach his brother the basics of building. His brother is annoyed that he now has to waste his time teaching a 6 year-old brat instead of focusing on his training. But because it is his father's wishes, he has no choice but to oblige.
***
When Darius got home their pet doug named Ricky greeted him. A doug used to be a dog but to the exposure of mana and the calamitous events it forced the species to evolved. Some have gone extinct, while some went through evolution and are now classified as mana beasts.
The rounded and fluffy fur of Ricky and the small wiggly ears made Darius melt from the cuteness it possesses.
"Son, you're here. Why are you out so late?" His father Indruid asks him.
"Sorry Father, I went to a short trip with my friends and the way was farther than I thought."
"It's alright son. Have you eaten yet?"
"Not really, I'm starving."
"Well let's eat now. I'm sure my precious little boy had a long day." His mother Drea comes up to him and gives him as kiss on the cheek and his older sister Milea waves at him with a smile on her face.
He and his family are known as giants. They are soft-hearted people despite their intimidating looks and reputation. As tall as Mountains and as durable as rocks. These warriors are not one to be trifled with and that is why their clan is called "Apo" and it's one of the most renown clans in the world.
***
Amarha has just arrived home, the same time as Radge. Greeted by her parents, they went to the table and had dinner.
Her father Korius is a one of the generals that has his own headquarter and her mother is a librarian. Her sister Rischa is about to be assigned in her father's division and the other is currently at school.
At the table her mother began talking to her husband about her day and when she saw that Amarha didn't take a lot of food. So she gave her some more knowing she usually likes to eat a lot.
When Amarha noticed it she tried to stop her.
"Mom, that's enough. I'm on a diet."
Her sisters that are noticeably skinnier than her looked at each other and giggled. This gave a throbbing feeling that made her self-conscious.
"Ahem." Korius clears his throat while warning them to stop.
"Sweetheart, nothings wrong with you and you're perfect to me no matter what others say." Her mother tells her with the father agreeing and smiling at her. Meanwhile the sisters exhibited a displeased expression.
***
In Leona's house, it seems that she will be eating alone again. Since her parents Hirald and Dassia were both sent on a mission again. They are highly skilled individuals that specialises on outskirt missions. This type of missions require outstanding coordination so they'll be assigned with someone they can work with and even then you should have unparalleled skills to be allowed to go, since working outside their continent means unknown danger which makes their job even more valuable.
Leona has a maid named Moka that takes care of her and the house. The woman has worked there even before Leona was born.
'I guess I'll have to eat alone again. Sigh'
"Yaya Moka, do you want to eat with me? I can't finish all this food by myself."
"But of course, my dear."
***
Knock knock
A pregnant lady opens the door.
"Do you know what time it is young man?" She asks
"Sorry mother, the way here was pretty long."
"Why? Where did my sweetheart go to?"
"Just went to a scary place with my friends."
"Well alright, next time don't come home so late. You know how dangerous it is to walk out at night."
Lily the mother of Ethneil had to sit down as she felt it was getting harder to walk and her pelvis is somehow getting heavier. Before knowing she felt that the baby is about to come out.
"Arghh. Ethneil go and call for help. Your sibling is about to come out."
Ethneil understood the situation quickly and called for help as fast as he can.
Running outside he keeps on shouting for help. Until an old man heard him.
"Child, what is the problem that you shouts so loudly in the middle of the night?"
"M-my mother is about to give birth. I need your help. Please help me!"
The old man decided to help and they ran as fast as they could.
Meanwhile in pain, the mother's expression is reflected in a sword of a man menacingly standing in front of the house.
As they were getting nearer to the house, a loud scream was heard coming from the area where his house is located.
'That familiar scream. It's-'
Wishing he was indeed wrong, Ethneil began running even faster.
"Hey brat, wait a second! This old man can't keep up. The old man said while panting due to his lack of breath.
At the same time in a different area another mystery takes place.
Ladrius got near the bedroom and he unknowingly stepped on some kind fluid. Because the place was quite dark, he was unable to identify what it was. But as he looked closer, the fluid's color appears to be much clearer than before. Its dark red color signifies that it is indeed what he smelt it was.
It was blood.
He then looked over the room and it was a complete mess. Yet there was no person in it. Slashes of sword were visible from the ceiling and the walls.
He went outside again only to finally see his mother completely confused and crying.
"Mother!" He shouted as loud as he could.
"Ladrius my son." She cried while hugging him.
"Where have you been?"
"I was just out with my friends. What happened to our house? Where is father? I got so scared cuz there where blood on the floor and-"
"Listen Ladrius, I don't know who did it or where your father is. As soon as I arrived at home, that mess was already there. I've been searching everywhere but no matter where I asked or looked I couldn't find the both of you. Until our neighbor said that she saw you going back home so I went here as fast as I could."
"Then where is father then?
"Let's look for him together okay?"
***
Ethneil finally arrived at his home.
The ineffable moonlight radiates in the entrance of his house. The whistles of the wind and the sound of the chirping birds, yet he couldn't hear any of those.
In this exact moment he couldn't even hear his own strong pounding heartbeat and his extremely heavy breathing as he hyperventilates.
He slowly looked down and is seeing the head of one of the most important people in his life rolling over the floor being reflected on the red sea. He can't even move nor speak and call for help. Every nerve in his body has become numb and his brain has completely dissociated from his body with his vision narrowing and slightly fading. All he could ever think about before completely shutting down was...
'M-Mother?'