Soft moans echoed from inside a small wooden house.
"Ahh… Uhh… Aahh…"
The house was old, its roof broken in several places. In front of it was a small balcony where a man paced back and forth.
Rekon's footsteps were restless. His mind was drowning in worry.
Every cry that came from inside the house tightened his chest.
The night air felt heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Time moved painfully slowly.
But his thoughts raced faster than ever.
Please… let them be safe.
He kept pacing, over and over again, until the wooden floor creaked beneath his feet.
Finally, the door opened.
The village midwife stepped outside.
She was smiling.
Rekon rushed toward her so quickly he almost stumbled.
"How is my wife? And my—"
Before he could finish, the midwife gently raised her hand.
Her smile widened.
"Calm down," she said warmly. "Your wife is strong. She did very well."
Rekon held his breath.
"And…?" he asked quietly.
The woman chuckled softly.
"And you have a son, Rekon. Congratulations."
For a moment, Rekon simply stared at her.
Then the words finally reached his heart.
"A… son?"
His eyes filled with joy.
"I'm… a father?"
The midwife nodded.
Rekon laughed in disbelief, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand before rushing inside.
Behind him, the midwife continued smiling.
But the moment the door closed…
Her smile slowly faded.
Her eyes filled with worry.
"He will find out soon," she murmured to herself.
"And when he does… what will he do?"
She didn't know.
Inside the house, Rekon carefully approached the bed.
Maria lay there, exhausted but smiling weakly.
In her arms was a tiny newborn.
Rekon's heart melted.
He gently picked up the baby and looked into his small face.
"So this is my son…" Rekon whispered.
The baby's tiny fingers wrapped around his finger.
Rekon laughed softly.
"Look at him… he already has a strong grip."
He kissed the baby's forehead.
Then he leaned down and kissed Maria.
"You were amazing," he said quietly.
Maria smiled faintly.
"Let me see you smile like that every day," she whispered.
Rekon laughed.
But then something crossed his mind.
Something important.
His smile slowly faded.
"The HeavenlySymbol …"
In your world, every child is born with a Divine Symbol granted by the Creator. The symbol appears on the body shortly after birth. It determines a person's natural talent and potential, but their strength still depends on training and experience.
Maria looked at him.
All people in the world were born with a blessing from the great Creator.
That blessing appeared on their bodies as the Heavenly Symbol.
It proved that heaven had granted them power.
Without it… a person was believed to be cursed.
Rekon carefully began searching the baby's arm.
Nothing.
His brows slowly furrowed.
"Maybe… the other arm," he muttered.
Still nothing.
A faint unease crept into his chest.
He checked the baby's face.
Then his stomach.
Then his back.
Then even his tiny bottom.
His breathing became heavier.
"Where is it…?"
He checked the legs.
Then under the baby's tiny sword.
Nothing.
Rekon froze.
His heart began pounding loudly in his ears.
"No…"
He searched again. And again.
Still nothing.
His hands began trembling.
A terrible thought appeared in his mind.
Is… my child… cursed?
"No," he whispered immediately.
"That's impossible."
He shook his head violently.
"My son cannot be evil. He cannot be …"
But the fear refused to disappear.
"Then why…" he whispered weakly.
"Why is there no Heavenly Symbol?"
His head began to ache.
His thoughts spiraled into chaos.
At that moment, Maria slowly opened her eyes.
She saw the fear on his face.
"Rekon?" she said softly.
"What happened?"
Rekon hesitated.
Then he showed her.
Maria's smile vanished instantly.
Her hands began shaking as she checked the baby herself.
Her breathing became uneven.
"No… no…"
Tears filled her eyes.
"They'll kill him…" she whispered.
Rekon clenched his fists.
If the village discovered this…
Their son would be labeled as a devil.
And devils were executed without mercy.
"In front of everyone," Maria cried.
"They'll kill our baby in front of everyone!"
Rekon grabbed her shoulders.
"No one will touch him," he said firmly.
His voice was trembling—but determined.
"He's our son."
Maria looked at him with tears streaming down her face.
"We won't let them take him," she said.
"No matter what."
Rekon nodded.
"No matter what."
Midnight.
Rekon stepped outside with a long sword in his hand.
His face was cold. His eyes were empty.
The first person who knew the truth…
Was the midwife.
Under the light of the full moon, he walked toward her house.
Rekon possessed the Heavenly Symbol of the Swordsman.
Though he was only a low-grade swordsman, he could defeat five men alone.
He arrived at her door.
Knock.
A calm voice came from inside.
"The door is open, Rekon."
Rekon slowly entered.
The woman sat quietly on the bed, as if she had been expecting him.
Rekon sat on a chair and placed his sword on the table.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then the woman broke the silence.
"Are you here to kill the devil child?" she asked.
Rekon slammed his fist on the table.
"He is not a devil!" he shouted.
"He is my son!"
The woman looked at him calmly.
"The church will find out soon, and you know what will happen then."
Rekon lowered his head. Trying to hide his thoughtful face.
"You know I devoted my heart and soul to the church, and in the church's eyes your son will bring a great catastrophe in this world."
After taking a deep breath, the woman said, "Kill this child, Rekon, for this world, for our great god."
"Say that again… and I swear I'll forget you helped bring my child into this world." Rekon said, placing his sword tip in front of the woman's eye with a angrier face.
There was no sign of fear in the woman's eyes. She seems calm, as if she doesn't have any fear of being dead.
She slowly forwards her right hand and gently hits the sword, giving a clue to Rekon to lower his sword.
The woman stared at Rekon and said, "What will you do now? You don't have a way to silence me."
Yes, he doesn't.
He had no money.
No power.
Nothing to offer her.
"You must kill me," she said quietly.
Rekon seems surprised.
"If I live, I will tell the village."
Her voice was steady.
"I will not betray my Creator."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"So choose, Rekon."
"Who will die?"
Her voice softened slightly.
"Me…?"
"Or your son?"
Rekon's hands trembled.
The sword felt unbearably heavy.
She had helped bring his son into the world.
She had saved Maria.
But if she spoke…
His son would die.
Tears rolled down his face.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
He raised the sword.
Then plunged it into her stomach.
The woman gasped.
But instead of anger…
She smiled sadly.
She leaned close to his ear.
"So… you chose your son."
Rekon collapsed to her knees.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
He repeated it over and over like a prayer.
The woman whispered weakly,
"I… already… forgave you…"
Her voice faded.
Then she died.
Rekon buried her body before returning home.
Inside, Maria was waiting with their child.
Rekon spoke quietly.
"We have to make a symbol."
Maria nodded slowly.
Using all her remaining strength, she began creating a fake Swordsman Symbol with magic.
After a long struggle, the symbol appeared on the child's abdomen.
But it looked wrong.
A real Heavenly Symbol glowed with divine power.
This one did not.
Maria forced more magic into it.
Her body trembled violently.
Suddenly—
Blood spilled from her mouth.
"Maria!" Rekon shouted.
"I'm fine…" she whispered weakly.
"The magic will last… one day."
She looked at their baby.
"After that… we must find another way."
The night slowly passed.
Then the sun began to rise.
Rekon, Maria, and their child watched the new morning together.
But in their hearts…
They knew the real battle had only just begun.