Forbidden Flame Region
While fiddling with the toys for a couple of minutes Ireya grew quite bored very quickly, she wanted something more fun. She snuck towards the door and checked around to see if her parents were looking, after seeing that neither of them had come out of their bedroom yet she opened the door and snuck out.
"Waa...", her eyes opened up wide at the sight of the flowers that lined the path towards the main street, the houses all around were of the utmost beauty which helped to outline the perfect greenery.
In the short time that she was here they had moved between houses in the city many times over, every month they had gone to a new house. This was the first time that she had gotten a proper look at this one.
She heard the sound of a door opening and closing to her left, taking a look she saw another small head pop around the corner. It was their neighbors.
"Hello?"
The small head didn't respond but merely stared at her.
"Want to play?"
This time the head's eyes lit up, "Yes!", a loud cheerful voice popped out.
This time the person moved into a clear view so you could see their entire body.
"My name is Raya!", it was a young girl that looked around the age of 4 or 5.
"Mine is Ireya! Want to be friends?"
"Mhm!", the little girl couldn't be happier. She had been looking for someone to play with for a while.
"What do you want to do Raya?"
"Let's go to the park nearby, there are so many cute animals and birds there!"
"Okay then let's go!"
Raya grabbed Ireya's hand and went running off into the distance, not in the direction of the main street but another side path.
The two kids continued running through alleyways and busy streets to an open field surrounded by a large fence, "Shh... Just follow me!"
Raya took Ireya around to an isolated section of the fence, "I found this place last week and was trying to find someone to take in there with me, I don't want to get in trouble by myself hehe." Raya pointed to a broken section of the fence as she said this.
Ireya was a bit worried but the only thing that could fill her mind at this moment was to have fun, "Is it fun in there Raya?"
"I don't know! But I've heard that this is where they keep a bunch of the animals for nobles to play with and mess around with, so it has to be fun!"
"Let's go in then!"
Raya snuck into the fence first then turned around and put her hand out, "Come on let's go!"
Ireya took her hand and crawled in as well.
"It's so beautiful!", Raya was dumbstruck at the sight.
"Mhm...", Ireya was also lost for words.
"Let's go further in!", Ireya suddenly took Raya's hands and ran in further through the vast field of rivers and flowers. Along the way, they found many small animals, some furry with cute ears, others fearsome with sharp teeth and small ears.
Suddenly orange light covered them from head to toe, they raised their head to be greeted by a beautiful setting sun. "Let's go up there Ireya!", Raya pointed at a small hill.
Without waiting for Ireya to respond Raya ran off into the distance, "Wait for me!"
Ireya quickly caught up to Raya who was standing still at the very top.
Raya then slowly turned around to face Ireya below the setting sun, "Ireya."
"Yes?"
"Let's be family from now on."
Ireya was silent for a moment, "Why?"
"Because your the first person to ever play with me.", Raya looked back at the sun as she said this.
"First? What about your mummy and daddy? They play with you!"
But Raya then quickly began laughing back at her, "I'm just messing with you! Come on and stand next to me, the sunset is too beautiful for you to miss!"
The two girls stood next to each other as the sun slowly fell over the horizon, it's final light gazing at the two curious kids.
"What are you doing Ireya?", a soft yet angry voice suddenly broke the silence between them.
"Ah...", Ireya slowly turned her head to be greeted by blonde hair.
"Daddy..."
"Who said that you could just leave like that...", the anger in his voice grew slightly.
Raya realized what was going on and tried interfering, "I brought her with me to watch the sunset!"
"Hooo...", Seven let out a long sigh, "You don't realize how much you scared me Ireya, we took our eyes off of you for one second and you just disappeared on us."
"I'm sorry Daddy."
"Remember there are a lot of bad guys in this world, although none of them can mess with daddy I won't be there to help you all the time. You have to be careful okay?"
"Okay.", she nodded her head firmly as she stuck his words in her mind, her Daddy would never be wrong.
"And you are...?", Seven turned his eyes to Raya.
"I'm Raya sir! I'm friends with Ireya!"
"Hahaha! This is your first friend now right Ireya? You better take care of her from now on!"
"Of course!", she giggled as he ruffled up her head.
"Let's go home now you two."
---
After bidding farewell to Raya, Ireya entered the house.
"Ireya!", her mum came running towards her and picked her up with a powerful swing.
"I was so worried!"
"I'm sorry Mummy...", Ireya wrapped her small arms around her mummy and tried consoling her with light strokes.
"Don't leave like that without us anymore okay?"
"Okay mummy."
In the background, Seven was giggling to himself at the two. 'Such an immaculate plan to get Ireya her first friend huehuehue...'
That's right, if anyone wanted to sneak away from Seven then he was sorry to say that it was impossible, the entire city was under his surveillance at all times. He let her and Raya both out at the same to meet.
"I'm such a genius..."
"What did you just say? It was all your fault she was able to leave like that in the first place, never let that happen again.", she gave him a menacing glare.
"Okay, okay I'm sorry!", but he couldn't stop giggling.
"Ah! Are mummy and daddy going to fight again?!"
Ireya prepared herself to begin watching the fight, unfortunately for her, she was met with silence instead.
"Hey, Seven."
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we're good parents?"
"Of course!"
"Really?"
"I think so at least..."
Smack!
"Ow!"
"Don't tell me you 'think so'!"
"Okay okay..."
"Haha! Mummy and Daddy fighting more!", Ireya continued clapping on the side.
This silly situation continued for a little while before Seven turned solemn, "It's coming."
"How long will it be this time?"
He laughed bitterly at her question, "We cultivators have no perception of time, for all I know it could be months, years or even decades."
She gripped her hands tightly around his, "You won't get to watch our daughter grow..."
"I'll always be watching.", his eyes lit up with determination, he then continued.
"The fire has been preparing for centuries now, even the other 6 don't know what it is... But I shall show them a surprise that none of them shall ever expect!"
"Are you heading to the Forbidden Flames Region now?"
"Forbidden? Heh...", he snickered.
"It's not forbidden when it's mine!"
"Daddy, Mummy. What are you talking about? Forbidden?"
Her Daddy turned around and bent down to her height, "You see Ireya, in this world there are people we call cultivators. I am one of them, and I'm a very strong one as well. You won't understand for now but your Mummy will teach you while I'm gone okay?"
"Cultivators?"
Her mummy gestured her over, "Come over here Ireya."
Ireya stood over next to her mummy, "Say goodbye to Daddy okay?"
Ireya didn't understand why she had to say goodbye but waved alongside her mummy.
"I'll see you soon honey!", Ireya watched as her Mummy teared up.
"Bye! Ireya, remember to protect Mummy while I'm gone okay?", he teased at them both then disappeared.
Ireya tugged at her Mummy's clothes, "I'll protect you from now on Mummy!"
She smiled at her, "Your mummy doesn't need protection, but remember your Daddy okay?"
"I'll never forget Daddy!", Ireya laughed cheerfully and ran off to her room while skipping and hopping and singing to herself.
"I wonder when I'll get to play with Raya again!"
---
Fanelle watched as her daughter ran off into the distance.
"You left our daughter to face off all of those bastards, you always do this don't you Seven?"
Sigh...
"What did I expect marrying a cultivator? I'll probably meet him in a few dozen years but Ireya... She may not even live long enough to see him again."