The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over Finhaven Island.
A gentle autumn breeze rustled the golden leaves of an ancient tree as Marjorie wrapped up her tale of valor and sacrifice.
The children ran off, still captivated, their laughter echoing faintly as they faded down the dirt path.
Marjorie let out a soft sigh, watching them disappear into the distance.
"Another morning well spent."
She mused, stretching her arms and savoring the crisp air against her skin.
Finhaven was always like this peaceful, serene.
Unlike the kingdoms across the sea, there were no bustling markets, no political intrigues, no wars brewing on the horizon.
Just tranquility.
As she strolled back toward the village, she passed several familiar faces.
An elderly warrior sat on his porch, methodically sharpening a rusted sword not out of necessity, but because some habits were hard to break.
Once a feared mercenary, he now spent his days in quiet solitude.
Nearby, two former knights bickered over a fishing net, their voices still ignited with the fire of past skirmishes.
"You're tying it wrong, old man!"
"Hey! Who the hell are you to say that? I've been tying nets since before you were born, idiot!"
Marjorie chuckled.
"They just don't change."
Even in retirement, warriors found new battles to fight.
Continuing her walk, Marjorie reached the village square.
Modest wooden stalls lined the square. The baker, a one-time assassin, waved at her while kneading dough.
Not far is a blacksmith, once a renowned berserker, hammered away at a horseshoe, his back bent with age, but his arms remained as strong as ever.
"Priestess Marjorie."
The baker called.
"Finished scaring the kids with your stories?"
Marjorie smirked.
"Oh, please. They love it. You should have seen their faces when I described crushing the Demon King's head."
The baker chuckled.
"Well, if you ever tire of storytelling, I could use an extra pair of hands."
"Tempting, but I'll pass for now. Thanks."
She waved him off and continued her uphill trek toward home, her thoughts drifting back to the past.
Marjorie's POV:
It was a lifetime ago when this island had been just another name on a map.
Now, it was a sanctuary, a refuge for the world's strongest warriors, where they had come to lay down their swords.
But I guess even the most peaceful and simple island had its own secrets.
A few steps ahead, Marjorie finally reached her home.
She pushed open the door to her cottage, inhaling the aromatic scent of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling.
The warmth of the small home enveloped her like an old friend.
Making her way to the kitchen, she rolled up her sleeves, murmuring.
"He should be back by now."
Just then, the wooden gate creaked open outside.
A tall, broad-shouldered man entered, lugging a massive fish over his shoulder.
His black beard was streaked with gray, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Marj!"
Raphael beamed.
"I've got a surprise for you!"
Marjorie smirked as she stirred the pot.
"Another stray dog, old man?"
"Oi! Just one injured beast, and you never let me live it down!"
He let the fish drop onto the counter with a thud.
Marjorie was now behind him, and after a dramatic pause, he turned to reveal something wrapped in cloth.
Marjorie frowned.
"What's that?"
Raphael grinned.
"Go on, take a look."
She wiped her hands and carefully unwrapped the bundle.Then she froze.
"A baby?"
Her breath hitched.
Its tiny face was serene; its fair skin and damp black hair glistened from the sea breeze.
Marjorie's heart raced.
"Raphael! Where did you—?"
"Found him near the shore,"
Raphael answered before she could finish, rubbing the back of his head.
"No tracks, no boats. nothing. Just him, lying there."
Marjorie's fingers brushed over the baby's cheek; he was warm.
Alive, but silent.
"A baby left alone in the wild should be wailing. But this one...?"
She wrapped the cloth tighter around him.
"Inside. Now. He'll catch cold out here."
Raphael blinked, then chuckled as he followed her in.
"So much for asking if we should keep him."
Inside the house...
The scent of roasted fish filled the small cottage as Marjorie placed the last of the wooden plates on the table.
The fire crackled gently, casting flickering shadows across the walls.
Raphael stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh as he took his first bite.
"Mmm. Perfect as always."
Marjorie barely touched her food. Her gaze kept drifting to the silent baby, now ensconced in soft blankets near the fire.
"Raphael?"
She finally spoke.
"Tell me exactly how you found him."
Raphael swallowed and leaned back in his chair.
"Well, on my way back from fishing, I took the forest path like always. That's when I saw something lying on the ground, not moving, just sitting there."
"And you knew it was a baby?" she narrowed her brows.
"No! At first, I thought it was a sack of potatoes."
Marjorie shot him an incredulous look. "Potatoes?"
"Hey, it was wrapped up real tight."
Marjorie shook her head.
"Were there any tracks? Any signs of who left him?"
Raphael's expression darkened.
"Nothing. The ground was wet, and the cloth was soaked through like he'd been left there in a rush. The grass was flattened unevenly, like someone had dropped him and barely stopped to wrap him up before bolting."
Marjorie's grip on her spoon tightened.
"Then why wasn't he crying?"
Raphael exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"Surprising, right? That's exactly what I thought. But he just... stared at me. No tears, no fuss. Just this unnerving stillness."
He hesitated before adding.
"Honestly, if I hadn't been looking right at him, I don't think I would've even noticed he was there."
Marjorie frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Raphael shook his head.
"I don't know. It was like... he didn't belong to the world around him. No presence, no weight. just silence. Even the birds in the trees didn't react, as if they couldn't see him at all."
A cold prickle ran down Marjorie's spine.
That wasn't something Raphael would normally say.
And now that he mentioned it…
She realized she had felt the same.
Frowning, she reached out not physically, but with her senses.
Every living being possessed mana, even the weakest of creatures.
It was the pulse of existence, the unspoken proof of life.
Even those without magic carried a faint flow of mana.
But when she focused on the baby.
Nothing.
Her breath caught.
It wasn't just that his mana was weak; it simply wasn't there.
Her fingers twitched as she tried again, reaching deeper into that empty space, searching for any trace of presence.
Yet the air around him was devoid of the natural energy that even plants and insects possessed.
She pulled back sharply, the realization sending chills through her body.
Raphael was watching her closely.
"What is it?"
Marjorie slowly exhaled.
"He has no mana. None at all."
Raphael blinked.
"Wait. Is that even possible?"
"No,"
She murmured.
"It shouldn't be. Even a rock has more presence than him."
Raphael sat up straighter, rubbing his chin. "Marj… what do you think? Why was he left there?"
She met his gaze, her unease deepening.
"I don't know, but something feels off. This child is no ordinary infant."
Raphael was silent for a moment before speaking again, his voice unusually contemplative.
"Maybe this child is more than he seems."
Marjorie frowned.
"You really think so?"
Raphael shrugged, squeezing her hand.
"I don't know. But something about him feels... different. Like he's not meant to be here, but he also doesn't belong anywhere else."
Her gaze drifted back to the child.
He seemed to be sleeping, yet his body was too still; his tiny hands curled near his chest without even the slightest twitch.
"It's strange,"
She whispered.
"We've seen so much in our lives. But I've never felt anything like this before."
Raphael nodded.
"Me neither. He's like a silent storm, Marj. I can't explain it. I can't even read him. But I know… he's special."
Marjorie studied the baby's tiny face.
He was so quiet, so still, that it was almost eerie.
No warmth, no presence.
like the world itself refused to acknowledge him.
And for some reason, that made her heart ache.
She swallowed hard, gently placing a hand near him not touching, just close enough to offer some semblance of warmth.
"This poor child,"
She whispered..
Raphael remained silent.
The fire crackled.
The wind howled outside, rattling the window.
A heavy stillness enveloped the room.
Marjorie turned to the baby again. His tiny chest rose and fell steadily.
His dark eyes remained closed, but even in slumber, he was too still.
Then, she grasped Raphael's hand tightly, her gaze filled with resolve.
"Tomorrow, we ask around,"
She declared.
"Someone must know something."
Raphael frowned.
"Ask? That's awkward. If nobody claims him, what then?"
Marjorie crossed her arms.
"Then we keep him."
Raphael sighed.
"You decided that fast, huh?"
She gave him a knowing look.
"Would you have left him out there?"
Raphael hesitated.
Then a slow grin spread across his face.
"Alright, alright. But instead of asking outright, I'll investigate in secret. If someone lost him, they'd act differently looking around, whispering, something."
Marjorie sighed.
"Just don't do anything reckless."
Raphael smirked.
"Who, me? Never."
Marjorie rolled her eyes and let out a soft chuckle.
And the baby slept peacefully, still as ever.
Like the world itself wasn't aware he existed.
To be continued....