Within the Linn Mansion, an exquisite chamber bathed in soft green light radiated a soothing, almost unnatural calm. Jade colored curtains fluttered gently, and runes carved into the walls pulsed faintly with cooling energy meant to stabilize the body and mind.
Yet this tranquil aura was violently opposed by the agonized cries spilling from the room. Pain cut through the stillness.
Midwives and nurses rushed in and out, their footsteps hurried, their faces pale with urgency. Water was fetched, blood-soaked cloths were replaced, and whispered prayers filled the air. Outside the door, tension grew heavier with every passing second.
An elegant man stood in the hallway, pacing. His presence alone bent the atmosphere. Each step he took released a silent pressure that compelled anyone nearby to lower their gaze. His dark-hued robe swayed as if alive, carried by currents of wind that did not exist. Vital energy flowed around him like a storm held tightly under control.
This was Drake Linn, master of the Linn household. Despite his fearsome presence, his expression betrayed deep anxiety. His fists clenched and unclenched, and his sharp eyes never left the door.
A blonde woman stepped out, holding a basin of bloodied water. Drake moved in front of her in an instant. "How is she?" he demanded. "Is the child still not out?"
"My Lord," she bowed deeply, her voice trembling, "all hands are working to assist the milady. The birth is… difficult."Drake said nothing. His gaze alone was enough to dismiss her, and she hurried away.
Suddenly a piercing infant's cry rang through the mansion. It was followed by a weak, breathless whimper.Drake did not hesitate. He pushed open the doors and rushed inside.
On the bed lay an otherworldly woman drenched in sweat, her silver hair clinging to her face. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, as if she were carved from porcelain. She looked as though the slightest touch might shatter her. Yet her eyes burned with fierce life. "Drake," she whispered, a faint smile touching her lips. "Won't you look at him?"
Drake moved slowly, as though afraid he might wake from a dream. In her arms lay a tiny child, wrapped in glowing cloth, his cries now soft and fragile. "Won't you hold him?" she asked.
Drake hurried forward and carefully took the baby. His hands, which had shattered mountains and slain powerful beings, trembled as they cradled the newborn. "He's… beautiful," Drake murmured in awe. "Freya… thank you." She smiled weakly. "You should give him a name."
Drake thought for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Kael… Kael Linn."
"Kael Linn…" she repeated. "It's a good name." Her voice weakened. "I wish I could watch him grow, but…"
Drake's expression darkened. "What's happening? Are they here again?". She nodded. "They need me for an urgent quest. I can't refuse."
Drake helped her to her feet. Though she was clearly exhausted, her will alone kept her standing.
They stepped outside together. "Please protect him," Freya said quietly. "No matter how dangerous it becomes."
"How could I ever forget you?" Drake replied. "Go. I'll keep him safe."
The air shimmered as a man and four maidens descended from the sky and landed before them, bowing deeply. "Greetings, Saintess," they said in unison.
"Did you bring what I asked for?" Freya asked.
The man stepped forward and held out a jade box. "Saintess, you must reconsider. Once this is given to the child, there is an eighty percent chance he will not survive the power sealed inside."
"I know," Freya said calmly. "That is why I asked for the other thing."
She bit her finger and let blood drip onto the jade box. It absorbed her blood and glowed softly.
"I brought everything you asked for," the man said. "But the clan will not forgive this." She laughed faintly. "If they could see me now, I wouldn't be a saintess anymore."
The group bowed in fear. "Please don't leave us!". Although it might seems simple for her not to be a saintess but they knew the outcome of her decision. "Everyone has a path to walk," she replied. "Even if it leads to death."
She turned to Drake and placed the jade box into his hands.
"Protect him. He is the only one who can solve this crisis. Give it to him when he is ready."
"What crisis?" Drake asked. "What's happening?"
"You don't need to know," she said softly. "Just keep him safe."
Light wrapped around her and the others as they ascended into the sky. "No matter what," Drake vowed, "I will protect him with my life."
As Freya vanished, Drake looked down at Kael and the jade box.
From the shadows, a woman stepped forward and bowed. "Master, what about the others?"
Drake's eyes hardened. "Finish them. No one must know what happened here."
That night, the Linn Mansion would drown in silence and Kael Linn's destiny had begun.