Shadows

Shadows limped through the rotted woods, their footsteps crackling on the dead leaves in the mud. The moonlight cut through the branches, illuminating their grotesque figures. The smell of leaves and the mud faded as a hideous rotten smell filled the air. Wolves howling and birds chirping went silent as hissing, growling, and grunting noises got louder. Lifeless forest, dead leaves, lake frozen as if a giant mirror or a passage to another world. Perhaps this calm was a sign of a storm.

Baby's crying started echoing the room as Eva cuts his umbilical cord and starts cleaning the baby and she wraps him in a furry blanket of cloth. "He's such an adorable little angel," Eva said as she was holding the baby in her arms and gave the baby to his mother.

Tears started sliding down her cheeks as Isabel looked at her baby boy with a gentle smile. She is looking at the baby's face quietly; her face lightened up with happiness. "Welcome, my little angel. I was waiting for so long to hold you in my arms. You are so beautiful. I can't wait to hear you call me mother". She said.

"I'll go tell his father. He'll be anxiously waiting outside," Eva said and left the room. A moment later a man of tall stature, black hair, and brown eyes rushed into the room. "Hey, hold your horse, big guy," Eva said as she walked behind him into the room. "Could you please give the baby to his father for a moment," Eva asks Isabel in a gentle, low voice?

"Hey there, you little one. So, you were the one kicking her from inside." Alexander said as he was holding the baby, looking at his face. "You have your mother's silver eyes. Could you also be lighting angle like your mother?"

Eva waves her hand in a circle in front of her chest and congers a water spell forming a blob of water and it floats towards Isabel as she points her hand towards her. It sticks and spreads across her legs, cleaning and healing the body. Her pale skin reverted pink as if it filled her with life. "Here, you are now good as before". Eva said and picked up the stained sheet from underneath her. "That's enough, big guy. Let the mother hold the baby. You'll going to have plenty of time to play a father." She says as she takes the baby from Alexander and gives him to Isabel. "You are all healed. However, you don't have mana and you'll feel a little weak for a day or two. But, you'll be feeling okay as soon as mana gathers in your body, and am also here in case you need anything." Eva says.

Suddenly, a young boy wearing a white cape over silver armor walks into the room. His hands and legs were shaking and his voice startled. "Captain, there is something urgent that needs your attention."

"Hey, Jocel. What is it?" Alexander asked the boy as he noticed the boy was shaking. "Is everything okay? You looked terrified". Jocel approaches closer to Alexander and whispers something and left the room.

Alexander slowly walks close to Isabel. "Hey, honey. I have to go. There's something urgent come up." He says in a low voice as he turns his head and saw Eva staring at him. "Let me hold my son one more time".

"Are you leaving your son the night he's born? What that boy told you. Is it that important? More important than your own son." Isabel's voice gets louder. "Tell me, what is it? Isn't this about the walls?" Isabel asked, lowering her voice and looking at Alexander with a concerned face.

"No, it's nothing like that. I am just going to check around the forest." Alexander replied, looking towards the door. "They noticed some movement outside the forest," Alexander says as he lifts the baby in his arms and touches his face with his finger. "My little boy. Can I call you Finral?" He spoke. "Yes, My Finral. It's your name."

"It's a wonderful name for our baby," Isabel replies as Alexander gives the baby back to her. "Be back home safe and may the spirits be with you." Isabel prayed, holding his arm.

As Alexander leaves the room, Eva follows him and stops him outside the room, and asked. "Spill it out. What is it?" Eva asks, glaring at him. "The way he came, and you leaving like this, tells me there's something terrible. Isn't it?"

"I have little time to explain things." Alexander nodes his. "There's a horde approaching this way. Keep Isabel and my son safe".

"You're joking, right?" Eva laughs as she looks at his face as he is looking at her stony face. "Don't tell me it's true. Here, that far from the walls?" She asks, her eyes wide open. "If that's true, then I'll be going with you. You can't go alone. It's way too risky".

"No, stay here with my family." He says in a loud voice. "I can sense his mana, which means they are alright fighting on the walls. However, a horde appearing here is no coincidence." He said, raising his eyebrow. "I think there's someone who brought it here. If that is true, then stay here and take care of my son and wife. She is already out of mana. So, she can't do anything, and am not going alone am taking the knights with me. Do not tell her anything for now. I'll be back soon and tell her myself," and he left with two knights standing outside the house.