C3

After collecting the necessary deed documents for the mansion and town of Clover John and Darcia, picked up their belongings that they had entrusted to the quartermaster, and with heavy steps left the camp.

"Alas, what they said became real, I became Count of Clover and you a court magician. Yet, I fear their other prophecies are going to be realised, more war, more death. Hath we not promised to take them in if they had spoken only in truths even if they foresaw only doom and gloom."

"Hmm"

"Your response is uncertain if you are worried about any devious scheme I can swear to the heavens to forbade their presence near our son."

"John, aren't you missing the bigger picture?"

"That there will be some sort of apocalypse?"

"No. You forget that we will have to prepare our son for the foreshadowed apocalypse. When we were four, we were pushed through trial after trial until, at a tender age of 12, we received our classes and thrown into war. Do you not have nightmares about the first person you had killed? The first life and death battle you had won? The struggle against impossible odds or the sea of corpses attempting to drown you in bloody guilt? Did we not want peace, so our son doesn't have to experience our woes? Then what cost do we have to pay to ensure the safety of our son?"

This time it was John's turn to be silent and unsure, all delusions broken.

"Kekeke, the truth revealed, fears prevailed, did you think we offered to stay, out of kindness, we would rather be burnt and betrayed."

"When the end comes, sky falls, and seas run, no creature will escape their sight, the dimensional bridge will be locked, and the sun will hide its light."

"Muns cracked, land fractured even the horrors can't stand their might. We must ascend, but this event prevents dimensional rend."

"So help we will all provide."

The concern on Darcia's face increased while John's face had slackened.

…

It had been four months since that day. Ashen had taken Bordo as a satellite state and the prince, now the King, had introduced a list of social, economic, educational and legislative reforms, all promoting the growth of Ashen after it had been razed down.

The mansion John was promised was dilapidated, worn down, filled with holes, spider webs and dust. A lot of dust. However, a week's worth of effort had transformed the place, it was now befitting the occupation of a count and countess.

Yet that was merely the third week of the first month. Jonh had spent the other three months creating policies that benefited Clover. Although, most of them compounded on the reforms of the King, so it had transformed from a 'town' with very little trade, to a prosperous commercial hub that raked in more coin than most businesses in the capital. It was even predicted to transition into a city within the next decade. That was if it had not been razed.

To the East was the Iron kingdom. Iron had backed Bordo in the war with funds and troops, and even now the two kingdoms had not called a truce. However, Clover was spared from Iron due to the fast-flowing river, with sharp rocks and a lack of fords dividing them.

Although Clover was still vulnerable if a beast tide were to occur, in that case, hundreds of beasts would swarm over from the northern and western forests with an average level of sixty to eighty, and no amount of reinforcements would secure the walls of Clover.

But the tensions, policies and local geography weren't as significant as project 'Destiny child'. An arena with 16 inches* of hundred skill iron was covertly created underneath the manor, thousands of creatures were placed inside a pseudo space, with each species having a functioning ecosystem, in a corridor off to the side was an extensive library, laboratory and forge. But these were the minor parts of the setup, the project was made up of three initial stages, three intermediate stages and the finale.

But the reason we are reviewing the last four months is that the couple's child would be born today, its birth premature do to Darcia's stress and several spells from the witches, but never the less, today was the day. John was pacing back and forth due to a sense of anxiousness unique only to parents, especially waiting fathers, no birth was without complications. The umbilical cord could wrap around the babies neck, the baby could be born underdeveloped, stunting its future growth.

However, much the midwives prattled on with statistics, experience, sincerity, the time outside of the room would just cause various anxieties to pop up, and the noises would only intensify the father's concerns. But the father would always be the last to know. However, John felt all his worries melt away when he was ushered into the room after hearing a healthy cry, and after seeing the heartwarming smile of his wife holding their child, relive washed over him.

Stepping closer, John broke the almost sacred silence descending onto the room cramped room.

"So what did you name him?"

"Ymdall."

"After the angel of harvest and peace?"

"Yes."