บท 2: Gaze Into the Abyss
In the heart of a remote, mountainous village stood a modest two-story clinic that looked entirely out of place.
The crisp mountain air and the hushed whispers of the villagers outside added to the place's ambiance. The clinic was empty, save for a young woman, a doctor, and a midwife.
The dimly lit clinic had wooden walls and the scent of medicinal herbs in the air. It felt like a haven in this remote corner of the world.
With no road access, phones, or electricity, they were completely off the grid, far from the modern world.
Inside the clinic, a woman lay on a comfortable mattress, her face etched with the strains of labor. Next to her was her husband, Darian, the only doctor in the village.
Outside this little village, he was a renowned miracle worker, known for performing them for anyone, good or bad, no questions.
He stood at his wife Eliza's side, his steady hands prepared to bring their child into the world. Their love story was one whispered about by the villagers, and it was rumored that they met in this village… hundreds of years ago.
As Eliza's pain intensified, Darian's soothing words and gentle touch provided comfort, his many years of medical experience reassuring her.
The room was filled with the sounds of her deep, labored breaths, intermingled with the support of the village midwife, who stood on the other side of the mattress.
With each passing moment, the room seemed to crackle; Darian and the midwife knew this was no ordinary childbirth, even by their… exceptional standards.
His wide-open eyes immediately captured everyone's attention as a baby boy entered the world.
They were a striking anomaly, unlike anything they had ever seen before. The sclera of his eyes were black like the void, adorned with tiny, radiant specks resembling distant stars. His pupils were akin to two swirling black holes surrounded by a luminous ring.
Amidst the wonder and amazement, Eliza gasped her final breath, her strength waning after the arduous childbirth. Her life force slowly ebbed away, leaving behind a loud silence in the room.
Darian stared at his departed wife with an unsettling sense of detachment. He had performed countless miracles, but the one person he couldn't save was the love of his life.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of failure, and his voice quivered with grief as he whispered, "What do I do now?"
The midwife stepped forward, placing a hand on Darian's shoulder.
"Darian," she said softly, "we are here for you. The village is here for you. You've saved countless lives, and now I'm sure your people will support you through this."
The baby boy, born into this world amidst sorrow, unaffected by the events in the room, lay still as his eyes continued to shine.
After a long silence, Darian replied in a hushed whisper, "I can't believe I've lost her... I don't want to accept this..."
He turned his attention to his newborn son, gazing deeply into his eyes. A sudden wave of calm washed over him.
"I'll protect you, for as long as I live, for Eliza… and me," he said, "You will become the closest thing to a god, my boy."
He then picked up the baby boy and handed him to the midwife. As the midwife took the newborn boy into her arms, she raised her hand, her fingers gracefully tracing a path through the air above the baby.
The ambient humidity in the dimly lit room began to respond to her gentle movements. Small water particles in the air coalesced and condensed, forming a shimmering, iridescent sphere. With a slow motion, the midwife guided the water ball over the baby's tiny body.
The water ball danced around the newborn, enveloping him in a delicate embrace. It worked its magic, cleansing the baby of the remnants of his birth, leaving him excellent and pristine.
The water ball slowly dissipated, evaporating into a shimmering mist. It left behind a baby boy, completely dry.
The midwife then returned the baby to Darian, who gently cradled him in his arms.
She gave him a small, knowing smile. "He is special, and he'll need your help. Even in a world like ours, his uniqueness is extraordinary," she said.
Darian nodded, his eyes locked onto the baby's celestial gaze. Such a sight in the dimly lit clinic had left an indelible mark on him.
In the tranquility of the moment, he looked up at the ceiling and whispered, "Thank you, Eliza."
As he cradled his newborn son, Darian stood still, mourning the loss of Eliza, but still, her legacy would live on in their son.
"In honor of your grandfather," Darian declared, "your name shall be Kane."
* * *
The first light of dawn kissed the mountain peaks, casting a golden glow upon the village of Elysium. Nestled in the cradle of towering cliffs and verdant valleys, the village seemed to defy gravity as it clung to the mountainsides.
Crystal-clear streams coursed through the landscape, nourishing the vibrant greenery that draped the slopes like a lush tapestry. A luminous, semi-transparent barrier enveloped Elysium.
It mirrored the natural world, the hues of the sky, and the landscape surrounding it. It exuded a tranquil, sky-blue luminescence in the day, blending seamlessly with the heavens above.
The shield emanated a soft, starlit glow when night descended upon the village, casting a veil over the mountainside.
The barrier was even responsive to the intentions of those who approached it. To those with malicious intent, it hummed ominously, a subtle alert to the inhabitants of Elysium. Yet, to those searching for solace, it opened and invited them in.
Six years had passed since the birth of Kane and the loss of Eliza. The village had remained as isolated as ever, shielded from the outside world.
Every morning, he would carefully tie a blindfold around his eyes. He didn't fully understand why his eyes were so different, but he knew they set him apart.
Even though his parents assured him they were beautiful and unique, he still preferred to cover them up.
As he tied the knot on his blindfold, a knock on his bedroom door drew his attention.
"Come in!" he replied cheerily.
Darian entered, holding a tray containing a steaming bowl of porridge and a glass of juice. He wore a simple pair of brown pants, a white shirt, and a gray waistcoat.
"How are you doing today, Kane?"
"I'm feeling much better," Kane responded with a smile.
"Good to hear," Darian said as he walked toward the bed.
"Your eyes are beautiful, son," Darian commented as he placed the tray on the bed.
Kane let out a little sigh, "You know I don't like it when people stare at my eyes, Papa."
"I know. I'm sorry," Darian said with a little chuckle, "I can't help it. They're… awesome. And it's such a shame for you to hide them, but we've had this conversation before. So, have some breakfast, alright?"
"Yeah, I'm hungry," Kane replied as he picked up the bowl and spooned the porridge into his mouth.
"So, how's work, Papa?" Kane asked between bites.
"Same as always, performing miracles left and right, the usual." He muttered casually without looking away.
Kane giggled. "I bet you do, Papa! You're the most awesome doctor in the whole wide world!"
Darian laughed and shook his head.
"It's unfortunate that we must stay hidden here in Elysium, away from the outside world. Only the wealthy and powerful have access to the miracles I perform," Darian said with a sigh.
Kane placed the bowl onto the tray in his lap and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, "It's fine, Papa. You always do the bestest possible!"
Darian ruffled Kane's hair.
"That's my boy. Remember to always be optimistic." Darian looked around the room and said, "You're already a fine young man, Kane."
"Hey, Papa, do you think Mama is watching over us?" Kane asked as he looked down at his food.
Darian paused, his lips pressed together as he searched for the right words.
"Of course she is," he replied after a moment.
"Yeah? But, I've never actually seen her." Kane said sadly.
"Kane," Darian replied softly.
"I miss Mama," Kane said.
"I know," Darian replied, "but you and I, we have each other. And there are many people in the village who love you," he said as he leaned down to hug his son.
"I love you too, Papa," Kane replied.
Darian patted his head and stood up, "Alright, time to finish your breakfast." He said.
"Papa, when can I start practicing medicine? Like you do?"
"In time," Darian replied.
Kane frowned, looking dissatisfied with the answer. "What time?" He pressed, eager to follow in his father's footsteps, to help others.
"When I think you're ready," Darian said firmly.
"Okay, Papa…" Kane replied obediently.
"Now eat up, alright? I'm going to head off to the clinic," Darian said as he turned and headed toward the door.
"Bye, Papa!" Kane replied, waving enthusiastically.
"Bye, Kane."
As the door closed, Kane turned his attention to his breakfast, his smile fading. He sighed as he picked up the spoon.
"Can't you see that I'm ready, Papa? It's not fair. All the other kids are training!" He mumbled under his breath.
He quickly finished his breakfast and then placed the tray on his nightstand.
Just then, a soft thump on his window interrupted his thoughts. Kane perked up and looked toward the window.
He walked over to the window, lifted the blinds, and 'peered' outside.
"Hello?"
A young girl with long and wavy blonde hair greeted him from below.
She waved her hands at him, her bright blue eyes sparkling excitedly
"Kane, good morning!" She yelled in a chipper voice.
His eyes widened as a bright smile formed on his face, "Sadie! You know I can't see you waving, right?"
"Oh! Oops!" Sadie laughed, "Anyways!"
"How's it going, Sadie?" Kane asked.
"Pretty good. Wanna go get into some trouble?" Sadie replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Definitely!" Kane replied eagerly, following her lead.
"Hehe, wonderful… Then meet me down at the river." Sadie said with a grin.
"I'll be there in a jiffy! Kane said, dropping the blinds and hurrying to change his clothes.
Sadie skipped off toward the river, her golden locks bouncing with each step.
A short while later Kane emerged from his house, he knew the route to the river, having walked it so many times.
With the village bustling with activity, Kane kept his head down. He didn't want any curious looks directed his way, so he swiftly moved through the crowd.
Once he was in the clear, away from the heart of the village, he began to relax.
Soon, he could hear the sound of flowing water as the path became thinner. He continued to follow it until he heard Sadie's voice.
"Took you long enough." She teased.
"Hey! You know how much of a pain it is," he responded, "so what did you have in mind?"
Sadie grinned and said, "How bout we swim across the river?"
Kane looked puzzled. "Huh?"
"Yup, I've been learning how to swim, and it's so awesome!" Sadie said.
"But, isn't it dangerous? We could drown! The current's really, really strong."
"That's exactly why we should try it, Kane! Imagine how cool it'd be when we make it to the other side!"
Kane bit his lip. He wanted to impress Sadie, ut hewasn't aood swimmer.
"Fine! I'll do it! I'm sure I'm a better swimmer than you, anyway." He boasted.
"Oh yeah, wanna bet?" Sadie shot back, crossing her arms.
"You're on!" Kane said.
"Okay, the last one to the river is a loser!" Sadie quipped.
Kane got a bit scared as Sadie was getting ready to dive in, taking her shoes off.
"Uh, wait a second! Y'know, I can't exactly see right now. And I've never swum in a current like this one before."
Sadie chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Just take the blindfold off, or do you want me to hold your hand?"
Kane smiled. "Well, since you're offering," he said.
"Very funny," Sadie deadpanned, reaching out and grabbing his hand.
"Thank you," Kane said.
"Whatever." She replied as she tightened her grip on his hand.
Kane took his blindfold off as they prepared to dive into the water. Staring into the river, he felt a sudden blast of energy burst from it.
Kane immediately froze in his tracks, his head shaking. Sadie also stopped, staring intently at Kane, "What's wrong?"
"You didn't feel that?" He asked.
"Feel what?"
"The huge... blast, or whatever."
"Uhm, nope?"
"I don't know how to explain it, but we cannot go into the river!" Sadie sighed, "Stop trying to get out of this, Kane. You're imagining things. Come on, jump in with me."
"Wait, wait, we can't. Maybe we should…"
Sadie interrupted him, "Come on, please? I want to swim WITH you. If you don't, I'll beat you up."
"Fine…"
"That's the spirit! Ready?"
"…"
"3, 2- GO!" She said as she jumped into the river, pulling Kane behind her.
They both splashed into the water, the cool river enveloping their bodies.
As they began to swim, the current suddenly picked up. It became stronger, causing them to struggle.
But Sadie was a reasonably decent swimmer at her young age, and she was able to stay afloat and check up on Kane.
Her voice was shaky as she managed to utter, "Kane… you okay?"
Kane's voice was barely audible over the sound of rushing water, "I'm not sure." He clung to a rock as the current threatened to pull him away.
Sadie did the same, using the last of her strength to grip the rock. As they clung to the rock, a huge wave crashed down upon them, sweeping them downstream.
It dragged them along, throwing them around like rag dolls. The raging river slammed them against the rocks and debris, leaving them battered and bruised.
Kane could barely keep his head above water as he flailed his arms, desperately trying to get a hold of something, anything.
Sadie managed to grab hold of a rock and reached out for him, her voice barely audible, "Kane, take my hand! Let's get out of here!"
Kane extended his arm, stretching as far as he could. His fingers brushed against hers.
And…
He lost his grip.
The last thing he saw was Sadie letting go of the rock and trying to grab him.
He felt himself falling, his body crashing against the riverbed, and then…
Nothing.
Everything went quiet…
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