Deep in the Savage Demon Mountain Range hid countless canyons, hills, and valleys. Residing within this mountain range was an uncountable number of beasts. Each beast seemed to contain a savage strength behind them, being able to destroy boulders and trees without effort.
Even in summer, snow-capped mountains could be seen regularly within this mountain range. It was a majestic sight to behold as long as you aren't being besieged by beasts.
In an enormous core valley of this mountain range sat a large and expansive city. This city seemed to be built in a medieval European style while there were also shoddily built shacks made of wood and straw. According to the city's residents, they believed that they were the last living settlement in the world. The last of the human race. Deep within this city was a feeling of hopelessness and fear of what may happen.
It is unknown just how long this city has stood in these mountains as parts of history was not recorded or was lost. Since the beginning of the recorded history of the settlement, there wasn't a single hint of contact with the outside world. The city remained isolated in this mountain range for centuries and possibly millennia.
Once these mountains were inhabited by countless people, but now? What remained was countless ruins that skeletons and beasts inhabited. There were traces of above ground and underground ruins everywhere within the Savage Demon Mountain Range. Various things were occasionally salvaged from these ruins, including books and powerful artifacts. Some books were even in obscure or unknown languages.
This world once had a golden era, holding countless powerful warriors and mages. Those of high strength and power formed their own dynasties and kingdoms, warred against each other over land, people, and resources. Alas, that era was long over and an era of desolation had arrived. Legacies were lost, leaving behind unknown ruins everywhere.
---
Vigor City. Fireblood Clan Manor.
A man looking to be around his early twenties could be seen sitting in a high seat. He had black hair, green eyes and was somewhat muscular. Even though his muscles weren't close to the appearance of a bodybuilder, they held power far beyond them.
The room he was in was rather large as well, it was possibly used for large gatherings and meetings. The walls were strangely barren, there were no elegant designs or mysterious paintings. In fact, throughout the whole room, there was only a high chair. There were no decorations at all.
Bam!
Suddenly, a large man wearing leather armor rushed inside the room, causing the young man on the high seat to straighten his back.
"Patriarch! Your wife is going into labor!" A guard with a fierce aura rushed inside and called out.
"Take me to her immediately!" The clan lord stood up and shouted out. A look of worry and joy was plastered on his face. He was clearly happy that he was having a child but also worried because his wife would be in possible danger. Childbirth has always had a chance of the woman dying or the infant being dead.
The guard and the Patriarch quickly rushed out of the hall and moments later, arrived inside a smaller room. Within this room was a midwife and a few maids to assist the Patriarchs wife. They didn't spare a single moment to pay respects to the patriarch and continued their jobs without stopping. The maids brought water, rags, and various other things to help with making the childbirth safer for the wife. Meanwhile, the wife of the Patriarch was screaming as she endured the pain.
Hours seemed to pass as the woman had to go through a long and painful labor. At the climax of the labor, she almost fainted, but thankfully was able to remain awake with the midwife's help.
Finally, after a lengthy amount of time, a pair of boys were born. But, only one screamed while the other was strangely silent.
"Hahaha! Two sons! My dear wife has blessed me with two sons!" The Patriarch yelled out in extreme joy. His face that was previously laced with worry was now only showing joy. His wife also showed a happy expression seeing that she had two sons as well.
"Hmm. This is a bad omen. Not a single noise is coming from him." The midwife suddenly said when she saw that the firstborn wasn't making a single noise. Her words immediately disrupted the Patriarchs joy.
"What do you mean 'a bad omen?'" The Patriarch showed a questioning look that was also threaded with annoyance. He had a feeling he didn't want to hear it, but he asked anyway.
"Your first born isn't making a single sound. He must be a demon or is destined to cause the clan to fall." The midwife responded seriously. Her expression was solemn when she replied.
"You should sacrifice him immediately! He is destined to be evil! A demon!" She urgently continued, nearly shouting at the Patriarch. She seemed to fervently believe every word she said as if it was a doctrine that came straight from a God or Goddess.
The Patriarch's face rapidly changed from curiosity to anger, annoyance, and disdain. He wasn't a superstitious type and in fact, he looked down on those who were. Thus, when hearing the midwife's superstitions, he quickly turned to rage.
"GET OUT! YOU ARE HEREBY FIRED! YOU WILL NEVER BE HIRED BY THE FIREBLOOD FAMILY AGAIN!" He shouted in anger. His entire body was on fire when he heard the woman's words. It was as if a volcano erupted inside the room the moment the young man started shouting. His face turned red as his blood ran hot.
"B-but… clan lord… I-" The midwife's expression suddenly changed and she looked as if she was wronged by him. She looked pitiful after hearing the Patriarch's words. The Patriarch didn't even give her a chance to apologize or beg for forgiveness.
"LEAVE! NOW!" He shouted, cutting the woman off. He didn't want to hear any more of her words. She was talking about his child after all. Who wouldn't be angry when the aide who helped with your wife's birth would suddenly call your child a demon and that they were destined to be evil.
The midwife's face went pale as she left the room in a hurry. She was no longer getting paid, meaning her quality of life will sharply fall. Being employed by a clan for future births usually guarantees the midwife a well-paying job for the rest of their life. But now? She was fired for a few stupid sentences.
"Garth, come hold one of them…" A weak voice sounded out from behind the annoyed Patriarch. He quickly deflated and reverted to the joyous look he had before. But, the moment was already ruined and his face had a mix of annoyance on it.
"Looks like I'm not a good judge of character after all. Here I thought she was a good midwife to have and now she tells me to kill my child." Garth said to himself in annoyance as he moved toward his wife.
"She's gone already, there is no need to be so angry anymore. Although I don't like her either, she is no longer here and no longer employed by you." His wife, Alice responded. Her face also showed a tinge of anger from the incident that occurred moments ago.
"I know. I know." Garth replied as he attempted to beat down his annoyance. He first held the silent child, basking him in his fatherly warmth. He couldn't understand how someone could just go and say that a baby could be evil or WILL be a demon. Babies are born innocent, they can't be evil.
"I think he should be named Solen, after your grandfather," Alice said, referring to the silent child. He seemed to be fast asleep already in his father's arms.
"Then, we should name the loud one Aloysius, after your's," Garth replied with a large smile on his face. They seemed to immediately come to an agreement with the decided names and the atmosphere in the room had turned to a loving warmth. The previous anger and annoyance had faded quickly as they familiarized themselves with their children's features.
The maids had long left the room as the two stayed inside. Alice had long started to heal as among the things used in the birth were expensive herbs. They were used to greatly increase one's healing speed temporarily.
---
About a week and a half later.
A different clan manor.
"Relay to the heir that the 'spy' has arrived." A guardsman ordered a nearby maid. Hearing the order of the guardsman, she quickly moved to send the message to the heir. She nearly sprinted away after hearing the guards orders.
"Young Clan Heir, the 'spy' has arrived and requested an audience with your great self." The maid spoke loudly outside the Clan Heir's study. The hallway she was in was barren of guards and maids.
"Tell the guard to lead her in immediately. We can't have a guest waiting after all." A voice responded from the other side of the door. The maid was startled for a moment, but she quickly moved to relay the message back to the guardsman.
Not too long later a familiar looking middle-aged woman arrived inside the Clan Heir's study. It was a room that had many filled bookshelves lining the walls, a desk in the middle of the room with a chair behind it. Sitting in the chair was a young man who was similar in age to Garth. One could feel an evil aura coming off of the young man that sat patiently in his chair.
"So? What are the results?" He impatiently asked, contrary to his appearance. His eyes seemed to flash with a murderous light. An overbearing aura seemed to radiate off of him as she stared at her.
"H-he didn't accept my words. He seems not to be superstitious." She replied with unconditional respect. She bowed her body to the point that she was staring at the floor as she spoke to him.
"Hmm… he didn't accept it? This is troubling." The young man said to himself as his face turned blank. He seemed to enter this state for over five minutes.
"M-my lord… the-the payment…" The woman hesitantly asked, her face was lit up with greed.
"Ah! Yes, of course. Eddie, you can take her out to the treasury and give her the agreed upon payment." The young man signaled for the two of them to leave. Meanwhile, Eddie unknowingly showed a murderous smirk as opposed to the woman only showing greed. She wasn't able to notice Eddies sudden change. A large greedy smile was plastered on her face, not knowing the doom that awaited her.
Hello everyone, a new writer here! This is my first attempt at writing something and hope that it's possibly good.
Don't hesitate to give me some constructive criticism in the comments as that would help me on the impossible path to perfection!
Thanks for reading and have a nice day!